<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">਀㰀䠀吀䴀䰀㸀 
<HEAD>਀   㰀䴀䔀吀䄀 䠀吀吀倀ⴀ䔀儀唀䤀嘀㴀∀䌀漀渀琀攀渀琀ⴀ吀礀瀀攀∀ 䌀伀一吀䔀一吀㴀∀琀攀砀琀⼀栀琀洀氀㬀 挀栀愀爀猀攀琀㴀椀猀漀ⴀ㠀㠀㔀㤀ⴀ㄀∀㸀 
   <META NAME="GENERATOR" CONTENT="Mozilla/4.08 [en] (WinNT; I) [Netscape]">਀   㰀䴀䔀吀䄀 一䄀䴀䔀㴀∀䄀甀琀栀漀爀∀ 䌀伀一吀䔀一吀㴀∀挀椀瀀甀猀攀爀∀㸀 
   <TITLE>Once Upon An Eternity</TITLE>਀ 
਀㰀猀琀礀氀攀㸀 
<!--਀ 
/*਀吀攀砀琀 䰀椀渀欀 唀渀搀攀爀氀椀渀攀 刀攀洀漀瘀攀爀 匀挀爀椀瀀琀ⴀ  
© Dynamic Drive (www.dynamicdrive.com)਀䘀漀爀 昀甀氀氀 猀漀甀爀挀攀 挀漀搀攀Ⰰ 椀渀猀琀愀氀氀愀琀椀漀渀 椀渀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀漀渀猀Ⰰ 
100's more DHTML scripts, and Terms Of਀唀猀攀Ⰰ 瘀椀猀椀琀 搀礀渀愀洀椀挀搀爀椀瘀攀⸀挀漀洀 
*/਀ 
a{text-decoration:none}਀⼀⼀ⴀⴀ㸀 
</style>਀ 
</HEAD>਀㰀䈀伀䐀夀 吀䔀堀吀㴀∀⌀㤀㤀　　挀挀∀ 䈀䜀䌀伀䰀伀刀㴀∀⌀　　　　　　∀ 䰀䤀一䬀㴀∀⌀㌀㌀昀昀㌀㌀∀ 嘀䰀䤀一䬀㴀∀⌀㌀㌀昀昀㌀㌀∀ 䄀䰀䤀一䬀㴀∀⌀㔀㔀　　䘀䘀∀㸀 
਀㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀㰀䈀㸀㰀䈀䤀䜀㸀縀⨀伀渀挀攀 唀瀀漀渀 䄀渀  
Eternity*~</BIG></FONT> ਀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䈀㸀䈀礀 䰀甀渀愀㰀⼀䈀㸀㰀⼀䘀伀一吀㸀  
<P><SMALL>In 1599, the palace of Conlon echoed with the whines of ਀倀爀椀渀挀攀 䜀愀戀爀椀攀氀⸀ ☀渀戀猀瀀㬀刀攀洀愀椀渀椀渀最 椀渀 琀栀攀 爀漀礀愀氀 戀漀甀渀搀猀 漀昀 䬀椀渀最 刀漀戀攀爀琀 漀昀 䈀爀漀漀欀瘀椀氀氀攀  
and Queen Anne and other nobles of the kingdom. &nbsp;In every chamber, you ਀栀攀愀爀搀 栀椀洀 挀漀洀瀀氀愀椀渀椀渀最 琀栀攀椀爀 攀愀爀猀 漀甀琀Ⰰ 昀爀甀猀琀爀愀琀椀渀最 琀栀攀洀 眀椀琀栀 愀 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀 栀攀爀攀 愀渀搀  
there. &nbsp;Poor lords and ladies, the prince was a head case to them, that ਀洀愀搀攀 渀漀 猀攀渀猀攀⸀ ☀渀戀猀瀀㬀唀渀琀椀氀 漀渀攀 搀愀礀Ⰰ 愀氀氀 琀栀愀琀 挀栀愀渀最攀搀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀⸀⸀ 㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
<P align=left><FONT color=#33ff33><B><SMALL>Chapter One</SMALL></B></FONT>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䤀琀 眀愀猀 愀 琀礀瀀椀挀愀氀 搀愀礀 椀渀 琀栀攀 瀀愀氀愀挀攀 漀昀 䌀漀渀氀漀渀 椀渀 䈀爀漀漀欀瘀椀氀氀攀⸀  
Young Prince Gabriel and his good friend, Lord Francis Sullivan were practicing ਀琀栀攀椀爀 昀攀渀挀椀渀最 氀攀猀猀漀渀猀⸀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 氀漀爀搀 眀攀爀攀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 愀 挀漀渀瘀攀爀猀愀琀椀漀渀  
between the clashing of their swords. However, their lessons discontinued when ਀䰀漀爀搀 匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀 攀砀挀氀愀椀洀攀搀Ⰰ ∀夀漀甀 愀爀攀 最攀琀琀椀渀最 眀栀愀琀㼀㼀℀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Shh!" the prince warned "I do not want you announcing to ਀琀栀攀 眀栀漀氀攀 欀椀渀最搀漀洀 愀戀漀甀琀 洀礀 愀爀爀愀渀最攀搀 洀愀爀爀椀愀最攀⸀ 䘀愀琀栀攀爀 樀甀猀琀 搀攀挀椀搀攀搀 琀漀搀愀礀⸀∀  
</SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀吀漀 眀栀漀㼀 䴀愀爀最愀爀攀琀 漀昀 䰀攀攀搀猀Ⰰ 䨀愀挀焀甀攀氀椀渀攀 漀昀 䈀椀爀洀椀渀最栀愀洀Ⰰ  
Elizabeth of Joliet…?"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀一漀∀ 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀 椀渀琀攀爀爀甀瀀琀攀搀Ⰰ ∀琀漀 䄀戀椀最愀椀氀 漀昀  
Lunerford."</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀夀漀甀 搀椀搀 渀漀琀 猀愀礀 䄀戀椀最愀椀氀 漀昀 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀∀ 䰀漀爀搀 匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀  
dropped his sword in disbelief.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀圀栀礀 椀猀 猀栀攀 琀栀愀琀 栀椀搀攀漀甀猀㼀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Worse! She's a monster! A witch! I had a few acquaintances ਀眀椀琀栀 栀攀爀 愀渀搀 猀栀攀 栀愀猀 猀甀挀栀 愀 琀攀爀爀椀戀氀攀 琀攀洀瀀攀爀 琀栀愀琀 猀栀攀 挀愀渀 挀甀琀 漀昀昀 礀漀甀爀 栀攀愀搀 眀椀琀栀  
a snap of her fingers! She's a witch I tell you! You will feel nothing but agony ਀眀椀琀栀 琀栀愀琀 最椀爀氀℀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Oh no!" the prince sat down and buried his head in his ਀栀愀渀搀猀Ⰰ ∀圀栀愀琀 愀洀 䤀 琀漀 搀漀㼀℀ 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 漀渀氀礀 最漀琀 愀 昀漀爀琀渀椀最栀琀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 琀栀攀 挀攀爀攀洀漀渀礀℀∀  
</SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀 瀀氀愀挀攀搀 栀椀猀 栀愀渀搀 漀渀 栀椀猀 猀栀漀甀氀搀攀爀Ⰰ 琀爀礀椀渀最 琀漀 挀漀洀昀漀爀琀  
his friend. "Can you talk to your father about this?"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䄀爀攀 礀漀甀 愀戀猀漀氀甀琀攀氀礀 洀愀搀㼀℀ 䴀礀 昀愀琀栀攀爀 眀漀甀氀搀渀✀琀 栀愀瘀攀 椀琀⸀ 䠀攀 椀猀  
difficult to talk to in the first place!"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀吀栀攀 焀甀攀攀渀㼀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Impossible. She would not understand." The prince thought ਀昀漀爀 愀 洀漀洀攀渀琀Ⰰ ∀䠀漀眀 愀洀 䤀 猀甀瀀瀀漀猀攀搀 琀漀 洀愀爀爀礀 愀 眀漀洀愀渀☀∠㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"witch…" Sullivan added.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀☀眠椀琀栀 眀栀漀洀 䤀 愀洀 渀漀琀 椀渀 氀漀瘀攀 漀爀 攀瘀攀渀 愀挀焀甀愀椀渀琀攀搀 眀椀琀栀㼀∀ 琀栀攀  
prince said.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀 眀椀猀栀 䤀 挀愀渀 栀攀氀瀀 礀漀甀 漀甀琀 琀栀攀爀攀Ⰰ 洀礀 昀爀椀攀渀搀⸀ 䠀漀眀攀瘀攀爀 椀琀  
would take a miracle for you to get out of this."</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀✀洀 愀 搀攀愀搀 洀愀渀∀ 倀爀椀渀挀攀 䜀愀戀爀椀攀氀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 愀渀搀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 愀渀搀  
thought until his head was about to explode. Moments later, his bright cyan eyes ਀氀漀漀欀攀搀 甀瀀 愀猀 琀栀漀甀最栀 栀攀 眀愀猀 猀琀爀甀挀欀 戀礀 氀椀最栀琀渀椀渀最⸀ 䠀攀 猀琀漀爀洀攀搀 漀瘀攀爀 琀漀 氀漀漀欀 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀  
the window. Lord Sullivan knew that look on his face.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀伀栀 渀漀∀ 䰀漀爀搀 匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀 猀愀椀搀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"I've got an idea!" the prince turned around.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀伀栀 渀漀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"I will flee from the kingdom and never return to these ਀爀漀礀愀氀 戀漀甀渀搀猀℀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"You can't be serious, your majesty. Not again." He ਀猀椀最栀攀搀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"…And you are going to help me!" the prince insisted. Lord ਀匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀 挀漀甀氀搀 渀漀琀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀 眀栀愀琀 栀攀 眀愀猀 最攀琀琀椀渀最 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀 椀渀琀漀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Do you not realize that the king would have my head if I ਀愀椀搀攀搀 礀漀甀 椀渀 礀漀甀爀 攀猀挀愀瀀攀㼀℀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Do you not realize that I could banish you from the ਀欀椀渀最搀漀洀 愀渀搀 栀愀瘀攀 礀漀甀爀 琀椀琀氀攀 猀琀爀椀瀀瀀攀搀Ⰰ 䰀漀爀搀 䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀 匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀㼀 䘀漀爀 䤀 愀洀 琀栀攀  
crowned prince of Brookville!" The young lord shook his head and hesitated, ਀栀漀眀攀瘀攀爀 栀攀 欀渀攀眀 琀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 渀漀 挀栀漀椀挀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀 栀愀猀 最漀渀攀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀琀攀氀礀  
insane.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䄀氀爀椀最栀琀∀ 匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀 愀渀猀眀攀爀攀搀Ⰰ ∀䤀 眀椀氀氀 栀攀氀瀀 礀漀甀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>The prince grinned, "Very well then. I leave ਀琀漀渀椀最栀琀℀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Tonight, your majesty?" Lord Sullivan hesitated again, but ਀琀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀 猀栀漀琀 栀椀洀 愀 搀攀愀琀栀 最氀愀爀攀Ⰰ ∀☀瘠攀爀礀 眀攀氀氀⸀ 吀漀渀椀最栀琀 䤀 眀椀氀氀 猀攀渀搀 漀瘀攀爀 洀礀  
servant to show you the way." Sullivan added. With this the prince jumped for ਀樀漀礀 愀渀搀 最愀瘀攀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀 愀 栀甀最⸀ ∀吀栀愀渀欀 礀漀甀Ⰰ 䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀℀ 䤀 欀渀攀眀 䤀 挀漀甀氀搀 愀氀眀愀礀猀 挀漀甀渀琀  
on you!"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀吀栀攀 欀椀渀最 眀椀氀氀 猀甀爀攀氀礀 栀愀瘀攀 洀礀 栀攀愀搀⸀∀ 䰀漀爀搀 匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀 猀愀椀搀 琀漀  
himself.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀  
</SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀吀栀攀 倀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 䄀戀椀最愀椀氀 漀昀 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀 眀愀猀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 焀甀椀琀攀 愀  
pleasant dream about her Lord Robinson until she felt a sharp kick in her side. ਀䠀攀爀 愀甀戀甀爀渀 攀礀攀猀 猀渀愀瀀瀀攀搀 漀瀀攀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀栀攀 猀愀琀 甀瀀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀Ⰰ 最愀猀瀀椀渀最 昀漀爀 戀爀攀愀琀栀⸀  
Disoriented for a moment, she shook her head and blinked several times. It was ਀猀漀 戀爀椀最栀琀 愀渀搀 猀栀攀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 爀攀洀攀洀戀攀爀 椀琀 戀攀椀渀最 猀漀 戀爀椀最栀琀 椀渀 栀攀爀 爀漀漀洀Ⰰ 渀漀琀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀  
little dreary windows and the dark draperies. She groaned, realizing she wasn't ਀椀渀 栀攀爀 爀漀漀洀 漀爀 愀琀 栀攀爀 瀀愀氀愀挀攀⸀ 䰀漀漀欀椀渀最 愀琀 爀漀瀀攀猀 琀栀愀琀 戀漀甀渀搀攀搀 栀攀爀 眀爀椀猀琀猀 愀渀搀  
ankles, she remembered she was still kidnapped. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䜀攀琀 甀瀀⸀∀ 吀栀攀 洀愀渀 椀渀 琀栀攀 戀氀愀挀欀 最愀爀洀攀渀琀猀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 搀漀眀渀 愀琀 栀攀爀  
with an evil smirk. "And put these on." He tossed a handful of clothing at her. ਀匀栀攀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀洀 愀渀搀 猀栀漀漀欀 栀攀爀 栀攀愀搀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 眀攀爀攀 昀椀氀琀栀礀 愀渀搀 洀甀最最礀Ⰰ 搀攀昀椀渀椀琀攀氀礀  
not suited for a princess. "What's wrong with the ones I've got on? I shall ਀挀攀爀琀愀椀渀氀礀 渀漀琀 搀爀攀猀猀 氀椀欀攀 愀 瀀攀愀猀愀渀琀⸀ 䤀 愀洀 愀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>He didn't bother to look at her as he polished his sword ਀挀愀爀攀昀甀氀氀礀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Indeed you are a princess, Abigail of Lunerford, but you ਀眀椀氀氀 搀漀 愀猀 䤀 猀愀礀℀ 䄀渀搀 琀栀爀漀眀 礀漀甀爀 爀漀礀愀氀 最愀爀洀攀渀琀猀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀攀℀∀ 栀攀 猀愀椀搀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"You will not dress me up in this filth!" she spat. ਀匀甀搀搀攀渀氀礀 琀栀攀 洀愀渀 攀砀琀攀渀搀攀搀 栀椀猀 猀眀漀爀搀 眀栀攀爀攀 琀栀攀 琀椀瀀 漀昀 琀栀攀 戀氀愀搀攀 眀愀猀 愀 挀攀渀琀椀洀攀琀攀爀  
away from the princess' throat. His brown eyes were flaring, tired of her ਀愀爀爀漀最愀渀挀攀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"You will do as I ask, Princess, or unless you want this ਀戀氀愀搀攀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀栀愀琀 爀漀礀愀氀 渀攀挀欀 漀昀 礀漀甀爀猀⸀∀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 猀琀漀漀搀 瀀攀琀爀椀昀椀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 琀攀愀爀猀  
welling up in her eyes. Then the man put his sword away and continued polishing ਀椀琀Ⰰ ∀圀攀✀爀攀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 瀀愀猀猀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 䈀攀爀昀椀攀氀搀Ⰰ 琀栀愀琀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 瘀椀氀氀愀最攀 礀漀渀搀攀爀⸀  
No one wears your fine clothing there. I'm not going to have you attract ਀愀琀琀攀渀琀椀漀渀 猀漀 琀栀愀琀 礀漀甀爀 搀攀愀爀 昀愀琀栀攀爀 眀椀氀氀 昀椀渀搀 甀猀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"He will certainly find us." Princess Abigail glared at the ਀洀愀渀 猀琀甀戀戀漀爀渀氀礀⸀ ∀䄀渀搀 眀栀攀渀 栀攀 搀漀攀猀☀∠ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"I'm sure he'll kill me. Yes, I've heard this before. But ਀搀漀渀✀琀 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀Ⰰ 倀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀㼀 吀栀攀 欀椀渀最 搀漀攀猀渀✀琀 攀瘀攀渀 欀渀漀眀 礀漀甀 愀爀攀 洀椀猀猀椀渀最 礀攀琀⸀ 一漀 漀渀攀  
does. Apparently, you are on your way to your cousins." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䴀礀 昀愀琀栀攀爀 琀爀甀猀琀攀搀 礀漀甀 匀椀爀 䴀攀礀攀爀猀☀∠㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Enough! Now put on those clothes and pick up camp. We ਀氀攀愀瘀攀 椀洀洀攀搀椀愀琀攀氀礀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"The ropes." Abigail said blandly as she held out her bound ਀栀愀渀搀猀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"I suppose you'll have to find your own way, but for now…" ਀吀栀攀 洀愀渀 眀愀氀欀攀搀 漀瘀攀爀 愀渀搀 甀渀琀椀攀搀 栀攀爀⸀ ∀䄀渀搀 搀漀渀✀琀 琀爀礀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最 昀甀渀渀礀Ⰰ 礀漀甀爀 洀愀樀攀猀琀礀⸀  
The tip of my sword will be through your throat in a second."</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>It was nearly past midnight was Francis Sullivan heard a ਀欀渀漀挀欀 漀渀 栀椀猀 挀栀愀洀戀攀爀 搀漀漀爀⸀ 䜀爀漀最最椀氀礀 栀攀 猀愀琀 甀瀀 愀渀搀 氀椀琀 栀椀猀 氀愀渀琀攀爀渀Ⰰ 挀甀爀猀椀渀最 甀渀搀攀爀  
his breath. "Who in God's name would disturb me at this hour?" The knock got ਀氀漀甀搀攀爀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 猀漀甀渀搀 瀀漀甀渀搀攀搀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀⸀ 䠀攀 琀栀爀攀眀 愀猀椀搀攀 栀椀猀 戀氀愀渀欀攀琀Ⰰ 猀栀椀瘀攀爀椀渀最 愀琀  
the freezing night and notices he left his window open. As went over to close ਀椀琀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 欀渀漀挀欀 瀀漀甀渀搀攀搀 氀漀甀搀攀爀 愀渀搀 昀愀猀琀攀爀⸀ 䠀攀 眀愀氀欀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 搀漀漀爀 愀渀搀 眀椀琀栀 愀 挀爀攀愀欀Ⰰ  
he pulled it open. Before he could get one word out, the prince flew in slamming ਀琀栀攀 搀漀漀爀 戀攀栀椀渀搀 栀椀洀⸀ 䠀攀 氀攀愀渀攀搀 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 琀栀攀 搀漀漀爀 眀椀琀栀 猀眀攀愀琀 漀渀 栀椀猀 昀漀爀攀栀攀愀搀Ⰰ  
catching his breath.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀圀栀愀琀 椀渀 䜀漀搀✀猀 渀愀洀攀☀∠ 䰀漀爀搀 匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀 栀攀氀搀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀 愀渀搀  
closed his eyes, hoping that it was just a nightmare "Tis only a dream. Yes it ਀椀猀 漀渀氀礀 愀 搀爀攀愀洀⸀ 䴀甀猀琀 栀愀瘀攀 戀攀攀渀 眀栀愀琀 䤀 栀愀搀 昀漀爀 猀甀瀀瀀攀爀⸀ 夀攀猀 椀渀搀攀攀搀 椀琀  
was."</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀匀栀甀琀 甀瀀Ⰰ 䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀⸀∀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀 眀愀猀 猀琀椀氀氀 瀀愀渀琀椀渀最⸀ ∀䄀渀搀 眀愀欀攀  
up! The king is after me!"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀圀栀愀琀㼀℀ 䄀渀搀 眀栀愀琀 椀渀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀 愀爀攀 礀漀甀 搀漀椀渀最 栀攀爀攀㼀℀∀ 䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀  
was awake, "You are not going to drag me into this. Not now and not tonight! And ਀栀漀眀 搀椀搀 礀漀甀 最攀琀 栀攀爀攀㼀 圀愀猀 洀礀 最愀琀攀 渀漀琀 氀漀挀欀攀搀㼀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>The prince smirked "I am the crowned prince of Brookville. ਀䤀 栀愀瘀攀 洀礀 眀愀礀猀⸀∀ 匀甀搀搀攀渀氀礀 栀椀猀 猀洀椀爀欀 搀椀猀愀瀀瀀攀愀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 洀漀洀攀渀琀 栀攀 栀攀愀爀搀 琀栀攀 爀甀洀戀氀攀  
of horses in the near distance. "Blast! He found me and he brought his Royal ਀䜀甀愀爀搀猀℀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Well of course he's found you! Where else would you go but ਀洀礀 攀猀琀愀琀攀㼀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"I've got to hide!" The prince rushed frantically around ਀琀栀攀 爀漀漀洀Ⰰ 猀攀愀爀挀栀椀渀最 愀椀洀氀攀猀猀氀礀 昀漀爀 愀 瀀氀愀挀攀 琀漀 栀椀搀攀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"You are not going to hide here. Gabriel, the king will ਀欀椀氀氀 洀攀℀∀ 䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀 瀀愀渀椀挀欀攀搀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>Suddenly, the chamber door flew open, and the two young ਀洀攀渀Ⰰ 昀攀愀爀椀渀最 琀栀攀 眀漀爀猀琀Ⰰ 猀挀爀攀愀洀攀搀⸀ 䈀甀琀 椀猀 眀愀猀 渀漀琀 琀栀攀 欀椀渀最Ⰰ 樀甀猀琀 匀渀椀瀀攀猀Ⰰ 漀渀攀 漀昀  
Sullivan's servants. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䴀椀氀漀爀搀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 欀椀渀最 椀猀☀∠ 䈀甀琀 栀攀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 最攀琀 愀 挀栀愀渀挀攀 琀漀  
finish. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀 匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀℀∀ 吀栀攀 瘀漀椀挀攀 爀漀愀爀攀搀⸀ 吀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 渀漀  
mistaking it. It was the King Robert himself. "I know the prince is in there! ਀匀琀愀渀搀 愀猀椀搀攀 愀渀搀 漀瀀攀渀 琀栀攀 最愀琀攀℀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>The prince looked at his friend pleadingly with puppy dog ਀攀礀攀猀⸀ ∀倀氀攀愀猀攀⸀⸀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Or you shall be arrested for the aiding of a criminal…" ਀吀栀攀 欀椀渀最 挀漀渀琀椀渀甀攀搀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Francis, I can't get married…" the prince ਀眀栀椀猀瀀攀爀攀搀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"…And stripped of your title…" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀琀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀Ⰰ 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀琀 匀渀椀瀀攀猀 眀栀漀 眀愀猀 瘀攀爀礀  
shaken, and then looked at the window. He sighed. "Snipes, go to the stables as ਀焀甀椀攀琀氀礀 愀猀 瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀 愀渀搀 瀀爀攀瀀愀爀攀 琀栀攀 栀漀爀猀攀猀⸀ 圀攀 猀栀愀氀氀 戀攀 漀甀琀 戀礀 琀栀攀 眀椀渀搀漀眀猀⸀  
Gabriel, there are ropes in my bureau. I've got to put on some clothes." ਀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>The young servant nodded and quickly ran from the room ਀眀栀椀氀攀 琀栀攀 欀椀渀最 挀漀渀琀椀渀甀攀搀 琀漀 礀攀氀氀⸀ ∀䜀愀戀爀椀攀氀℀ 夀漀甀 愀爀攀 琀漀 挀漀洀攀 漀甀琀 椀洀洀攀搀椀愀琀攀氀礀℀ 䤀  
say NOW!" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀倀爀椀渀挀攀 䜀愀戀爀椀攀氀 昀漀甀渀搀 琀栀攀 爀漀瀀攀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 欀渀漀琀琀攀搀 琀栀攀洀  
together and at every few feet. He tied one end to the bedpost and tossed the ਀漀琀栀攀爀 漀甀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 眀椀渀搀漀眀⸀ 䠀攀 猀琀甀挀欀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀 漀甀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 眀椀渀搀漀眀Ⰰ 洀愀欀椀渀最 猀甀爀攀 琀栀攀  
ropes were long enough. The prince looked down to his path to freedom and took a ਀搀攀攀瀀 戀爀攀愀琀栀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>Luckily, the king had chosen the main path and was on the ਀漀琀栀攀爀 猀椀搀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 栀漀甀猀攀⸀ 匀渀椀瀀攀猀 眀愀猀 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀 爀攀愀搀礀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 栀漀爀猀攀猀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Storm the gates!" The king thundered, and then the two ਀昀爀椀攀渀搀猀 挀漀甀氀搀 栀攀愀爀 琀栀攀 氀漀甀搀 琀栀甀搀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 最甀愀爀搀猀 爀愀洀洀椀渀最 琀栀攀 最愀琀攀猀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 猀琀漀渀攀  
rod mounted on wheels. The king meant business. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䌀漀洀攀 漀渀Ⰰ 䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀℀∀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀 栀椀猀猀攀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 礀漀甀渀最 氀漀爀搀  
ran to grab one more item while at the same time attempting to button his shirt. ਀䠀攀 琀漀猀猀攀搀 琀眀漀 戀愀最猀 搀漀眀渀 琀漀 琀栀攀 眀愀椀琀椀渀最 猀攀爀瘀愀渀琀 戀漀礀 戀攀氀漀眀 琀栀攀 眀椀渀搀漀眀Ⰰ 愀渀搀  
proceeding to climb out of the window himself, cringing at every dull thud of ਀琀栀攀 猀琀漀渀攀 爀愀洀洀椀渀最 琀栀攀 眀漀漀搀攀渀 最愀琀攀⸀ 䤀琀 猀漀甀渀搀攀搀 氀椀欀攀 椀琀 眀愀猀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀漀 最椀瘀攀 愀渀礀  
moment now. He climbed down the knotted rope quickly, and the prince followed. ਀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Snipes," The young lord said as he mounted one of the ਀栀漀爀猀攀猀Ⰰ ∀匀甀洀洀漀渀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀猀 䤀 愀洀 漀渀 愀 戀甀猀椀渀攀猀猀 琀爀椀瀀 琀漀 嘀攀渀椀挀攀⸀ 䄀渀搀 琀攀氀氀 䰀愀搀礀  
Sarah that I shall not be calling upon her for a while. I can't believe I'm ਀搀漀椀渀最 琀栀椀猀 愀最愀椀渀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Safe journey, Master." Snipes said, and handed him the ਀戀愀最猀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Gabriel!" And the gate gave with a loud crash. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀✀吀椀猀 琀漀 戀攀 愀 眀椀挀欀攀搀 愀搀瘀攀渀琀甀爀攀℀∀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀 洀漀甀渀琀攀搀 栀椀猀  
horse and grinned. He took a deep breath, loving the smell of freedom and ਀猀渀愀瀀瀀攀搀 栀椀猀 爀攀椀渀猀⸀ 䰀漀爀搀 匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀 最爀漀愀渀攀搀Ⰰ 猀渀愀瀀瀀攀搀 栀椀猀 爀攀椀渀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 栀漀爀猀攀猀 琀漀漀欀  
off, leaving behind the angered king, the insufferable arranged marriage, and ਀琀栀攀 最爀攀愀琀 欀椀渀最搀漀洀 漀昀 䈀爀漀漀欀瘀椀氀氀攀⸀ 䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀 琀漀漀欀 愀 氀漀漀欀 愀琀 栀椀猀 洀愀渀漀爀 漀渀攀 氀愀猀琀 琀椀洀攀  
before it vanished in the distance. It was to be an adventure indeed.</SMALL> ਀ 
<P align=left><FONT color=#33ff33><B><SMALL>Chapter Two</SMALL></B></FONT>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀吀栀攀 儀甀攀攀渀 䄀渀渀攀 漀昀 䈀爀漀漀欀瘀椀氀氀攀 猀愀琀 椀渀 栀攀爀 挀栀愀洀戀攀爀 猀琀椀氀氀 椀渀  
her nightclothes, pacing around worried about her son. Prince Gabriel had tried ਀爀甀渀渀椀渀最 愀眀愀礀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 戀甀琀 渀攀瘀攀爀 椀渀 愀 猀椀琀甀愀琀椀漀渀 氀椀欀攀 琀栀椀猀⸀ 䈀爀漀漀欀瘀椀氀氀攀 愀渀搀 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀  
had always been on the verge of a bit of tension for quite some time, and the ਀洀愀爀爀椀愀最攀 愀爀爀愀渀最攀洀攀渀琀 眀愀猀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 戀攀 琀栀攀 欀攀礀 昀漀爀 瀀攀愀挀攀⸀ 䠀攀 眀愀猀 琀漀漀 礀漀甀渀最 琀漀  
understand. Or too defiant to care. Or too naïve. Just like his father. King ਀刀漀戀攀爀琀 栀愀搀 愀 栀愀爀猀栀 琀攀洀瀀攀爀 愀渀搀 愀渀 攀瘀攀渀 栀愀爀猀栀攀爀 洀漀甀琀栀⸀ 䜀愀戀爀椀攀氀 眀愀猀 樀甀猀琀 琀漀漀 眀椀氀搀  
this time. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀吀栀攀 焀甀攀攀渀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 挀氀漀挀欀 漀渀 琀栀攀 眀愀氀氀⸀ 䤀琀 眀愀猀 渀攀愀爀氀礀  
two in the morning, and neither party had returned. She dreaded to think what ਀眀愀猀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀椀渀最⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Anne!" And then came a pounding at the chamber door. It ਀眀愀猀 琀栀攀 欀椀渀最Ⰰ 猀琀漀爀洀椀渀最⸀ 吀栀攀 焀甀攀攀渀 爀甀猀栀攀搀 琀漀 瀀甀氀氀 漀瀀攀渀 琀栀攀 栀攀愀瘀礀 搀漀漀爀猀Ⰰ 瀀爀愀礀椀渀最  
that the prince was with him but he was not. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀吀栀愀琀 戀漀礀 眀椀氀氀 猀甀昀昀攀爀 琀栀攀 栀攀愀瘀椀攀猀琀 眀栀椀瀀瀀椀渀最 椀昀 䤀 眀攀爀攀 琀漀  
ever get my hands on him, so help me God." King Robert fumed. "He's gone. With ਀琀栀愀琀 䰀漀爀搀 匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀Ⰰ 愀最愀椀渀⸀ 䤀 眀椀氀氀 栀愀瘀攀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Have you sent out the royal guards? Set up watches and ਀愀渀渀漀甀渀挀攀洀攀渀琀猀㼀∀ 儀甀攀攀渀 䄀渀渀攀 眀栀椀猀瀀攀爀攀搀⸀ ∀䠀攀 挀愀渀✀琀 栀愀瘀攀 最漀渀攀 琀漀漀 昀愀爀Ⰰ 洀椀氀漀爀搀⸀  
Someone may have caught sight of him." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀一漀⸀∀ 吀栀攀 欀椀渀最 琀栀爀攀眀 漀昀昀 栀椀猀 漀瘀攀爀挀漀愀琀 愀渀搀 猀愀琀 搀漀眀渀 爀愀琀栀攀爀  
calmly. Queen Anne was surprised, not really sure what was happening. The king ਀瀀愀甀猀攀搀 昀漀爀 愀 氀漀渀最 眀栀椀氀攀 眀椀琀栀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀 椀渀 栀椀猀 栀愀渀搀猀Ⰰ 琀栀椀渀欀椀渀最⸀ ∀吀栀攀爀攀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 渀漀  
word of this to anyone. I have sent out my few best but no more. If word ever ਀最攀琀猀 漀甀琀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 椀猀 洀椀猀猀椀渀最Ⰰ 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀 眀椀氀氀 渀漀琀 栀愀瘀攀 椀琀⸀ 䤀 眀椀氀氀 渀漀琀 栀愀瘀攀 琀栀攀  
entire kingdom laugh behind my back. The King of Brookville, with his mouth of ਀琀栀甀渀搀攀爀Ⰰ 挀愀渀渀漀琀 攀瘀攀渀 欀攀攀瀀 愀 氀攀愀猀栀 漀渀 栀椀猀 漀眀渀 猀漀渀⸀ 䘀漀爀 琀栀攀 昀愀挀攀 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 昀愀洀椀氀礀Ⰰ  
we will not jeopardize the treaty." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䴀椀氀漀爀搀Ⰰ 栀攀 椀猀 礀漀甀爀 猀漀渀☀∠ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"We will not jeopardize the treaty." The king repeated. ਀∀圀栀攀渀 栀攀 椀猀 漀氀搀攀爀Ⰰ 栀攀 眀椀氀氀 甀渀搀攀爀猀琀愀渀搀 眀栀愀琀 䤀 愀洀 搀漀椀渀最 昀漀爀 栀椀洀⸀ 䠀攀 椀猀 琀漀 戀攀 欀椀渀最  
one day." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>The man in the black was gone. He had ridden off early in ਀琀栀攀 洀漀爀渀椀渀最 琀漀 最攀琀 猀甀瀀瀀氀椀攀猀 愀渀搀 栀愀搀 氀攀昀琀 倀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 䄀戀椀最愀椀氀 琀椀攀搀 琀漀 愀 琀爀攀攀Ⰰ  
blindfolded. Her Majesty was not happy. She could feel little bugs crawling ਀愀爀漀甀渀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 猀甀爀攀 琀栀攀 洀漀猀焀甀椀琀漀攀猀 眀攀爀攀 攀愀琀椀渀最 栀攀爀 愀氀椀瘀攀⸀ 匀栀攀 昀攀氀琀 琀栀攀  
discomfort of the sweaty handkerchief tied tightly over her eyes would ਀瀀漀猀椀琀椀瘀攀氀礀 搀爀椀瘀攀 栀攀爀 琀漀 椀渀猀愀渀椀琀礀⸀ 䈀甀琀 琀栀愀琀 眀愀猀 眀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 戀攀最愀渀 栀攀愀爀椀渀最 琀栀攀  
noises. A little crackling here, the snap a twig there, and the suddenly ਀爀甀猀琀氀椀渀最 漀昀 戀甀猀栀攀猀 愀渀搀 氀攀愀瘀攀猀⸀ 䠀攀爀 栀攀愀爀琀 瀀漀甀渀搀攀搀 栀攀愀瘀椀氀礀⸀ 倀攀爀栀愀瀀猀Ⰰ 猀栀攀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀Ⰰ  
whatever it was, it hadn't noticed her yet. Stay very still, she thought, and it ਀眀漀渀✀琀 栀甀爀琀 栀攀爀⸀ 匀栀攀 栀攀氀搀 栀攀爀 戀爀攀愀琀栀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀昀琀攀爀 愀渀 攀琀攀爀渀椀琀礀Ⰰ 眀栀攀渀 栀攀爀 氀甀渀最猀 眀攀爀攀  
about to burst, something touched her shoulder, and the Princess Abigail ਀猀挀爀攀愀洀攀搀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>A hand clasped over her mouth, and she bit down hard on it. ਀吀栀攀 栀愀渀搀 猀眀椀昀琀氀礀 氀攀昀琀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀 瘀漀椀挀攀 挀爀椀攀搀 漀甀琀 椀渀 瀀愀椀渀Ⰰ 猀眀攀愀爀椀渀最 焀甀椀琀攀 昀漀爀挀攀昀甀氀氀礀⸀  
A very familiar voice. "Owww! You….Augh!!"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀刀愀挀攀 䠀椀最最椀渀猀℀∀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 挀爀椀攀搀Ⰰ 栀漀爀爀椀昀椀攀搀⸀ ∀䤀猀 琀栀愀琀  
you?"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀昀 礀漀甀 欀渀攀眀 椀琀 眀愀猀 洀攀Ⰰ 眀栀礀 椀渀 䜀漀搀✀猀 渀愀洀攀 搀椀搀 礀漀甀 戀椀琀攀  
me?!" The squire yelled back, still shaking his hand from the pain. "And to ਀琀栀椀渀欀 䤀 挀愀洀攀 琀漀 猀愀瘀攀 礀漀甀☀∠ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Save me?" Princess Abigail laughed in mockery. "You? Where ਀愀爀攀 洀礀 昀愀琀栀攀爀✀猀 最甀愀爀搀猀㼀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"He did not send any." The young squire replied. He began ਀琀漀 眀漀爀欀 漀渀 琀栀攀 欀渀漀琀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 戀氀椀渀搀昀漀氀搀⸀ ∀䠀攀 眀愀猀 愀昀爀愀椀搀 䈀爀漀漀欀瘀椀氀氀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 眀椀琀栀搀爀愀眀  
the treaty if they knew you had been kidnapped. Think of it, the mighty King ਀䄀戀攀氀愀爀搀 漀昀 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀 挀愀渀渀漀琀 攀瘀攀渀 欀攀攀瀀 栀椀猀 漀眀渀 搀愀甀最栀琀攀爀 猀愀昀攀⸀ 夀漀甀爀 昀愀琀栀攀爀 眀漀甀氀搀  
not think of it. So he only sent out a few of his knights to find you." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀匀漀 眀栀攀爀攀 愀爀攀 琀栀攀猀攀 昀攀眀 欀渀椀最栀琀猀㼀∀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 瀀愀甀猀攀搀 愀渀搀  
grinned. "Is Sir Roger with you?" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀一漀⸀∀ 刀愀挀攀 昀椀渀愀氀氀礀 甀渀搀椀搀 琀栀攀 戀氀椀渀搀昀漀氀搀⸀ 䠀攀 最爀椀渀渀攀搀 椀渀  
return. "There is only me, your Highness. The squire Race Higgins, at your ਀猀攀爀瘀椀挀攀⸀ 伀爀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 䤀 猀愀礀 匀椀爀 刀愀挀攀 渀漀眀Ⰰ 昀漀爀 䤀 眀椀氀氀 猀甀爀攀氀礀 戀攀 欀渀椀最栀琀攀搀⸀ 一漀眀 栀漀氀搀  
still, I'm cutting the ropes, and I don't want to accidentally cut anything ਀攀氀猀攀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"You must be jesting. How in the world is it that it is you ਀愀渀搀 渀漀琀 琀栀攀 欀渀椀最栀琀猀 琀栀愀琀 昀漀甀渀搀 洀攀㼀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"I jest not, Princess. I saw the man in black run from the ਀挀愀猀琀氀攀 琀栀愀琀 渀椀最栀琀Ⰰ 氀漀漀欀攀搀 氀椀欀攀搀 匀椀爀 䴀甀猀栀 䴀攀礀攀爀猀 琀漀 洀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀攀愀搀攀搀 攀愀猀琀⸀ 䈀甀琀 琀栀攀  
king hadn't believed me, there were too many men in black garments running ਀愀爀漀甀渀搀 琀漀 戀攀 猀甀爀攀 眀栀椀挀栀 漀渀攀 栀攀 眀愀猀 渀漀爀 眀漀甀氀搀 栀攀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀 洀攀 椀琀 眀愀猀 琀栀攀 爀攀猀瀀攀挀琀攀搀  
Sir Meyers. I suppose it's a fad of some sort now, and all the fellows will be ਀眀攀愀爀椀渀最 愀氀氀 戀氀愀挀欀 戀礀 琀漀洀漀爀爀漀眀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 渀攀瘀攀爀 昀漀甀渀搀 洀甀挀栀 甀猀攀 昀漀爀 琀栀愀琀 挀漀氀漀爀  
myself. It never did fit my eyes nor my small stature…" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀匀琀漀瀀 昀漀漀氀椀渀最Ⰰ 刀愀挀攀℀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Well, Sir Denton suggested that they start from the west, ਀猀攀攀椀渀最 愀猀 栀漀眀 椀琀 氀攀搀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 爀攀戀攀氀 琀漀眀渀猀 眀椀琀栀 愀氀氀 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 挀爀椀洀椀渀愀氀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀漀  
they all headed west, and I sneaked out east, and here I am, which I might add, ਀椀猀 焀甀椀琀攀 愀 渀椀挀攀 猀攀琀甀瀀 昀漀爀 愀 栀漀猀琀愀最攀⸀ 夀漀甀✀搀 琀栀椀渀欀 愀 渀漀戀氀攀洀愀渀 眀愀猀 挀愀洀瀀椀渀最 漀甀琀 栀攀爀攀  
with all those tents and things instead of just a kidnapper and his victim. ਀吀栀攀爀攀Ⰰ 漀渀氀礀 漀渀攀 洀漀爀攀 爀漀瀀攀 愀渀搀☀∠㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Race! Look out!" the princess yelled. But it was too late. ਀䄀渀搀 琀栀攀 洀愀渀 椀渀 戀氀愀挀欀 栀愀搀 爀攀琀甀爀渀攀搀 甀渀渀漀琀椀挀攀搀 愀渀搀 欀渀漀挀欀攀搀 琀栀攀 瀀漀漀爀 猀焀甀椀爀攀 漀渀 琀栀攀  
back of his head. Race fell to the ground with a thud. The princess turned her ਀栀攀愀搀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 琀漀 猀攀攀 琀栀攀 洀愀渀 眀椀琀栀搀爀愀眀 栀椀猀 猀眀漀爀搀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Don't kill him! Please!" She shouted. "My father will pay ਀爀愀渀猀漀洀 昀漀爀 栀椀洀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀Ⰰ 䤀 愀猀猀甀爀攀 礀漀甀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>The man in black paused, walked around to face the princess ਀眀椀琀栀 愀 猀洀椀爀欀 椀渀 栀椀猀 攀礀攀猀⸀ ∀圀栀愀琀 洀愀欀攀猀 礀漀甀 琀栀椀渀欀 䤀 搀漀 琀栀椀猀 昀漀爀 洀漀渀攀礀㼀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"What are you talking about?"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀匀椀爀 䬀椀攀爀愀渀 䴀攀礀攀爀猀 眀愀猀 洀礀 昀愀琀栀攀爀⸀ 䄀渀搀 礀漀甀爀 昀愀琀栀攀爀 欀椀氀氀攀搀  
him. He took away the most important person in my life years ago so now, I will ਀琀愀欀攀 愀眀愀礀 栀椀猀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"It will not bring him back."</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀 欀渀漀眀Ⰰ 搀愀洀洀椀琀℀∀ 䴀甀猀栀 爀愀椀猀攀搀 栀椀猀 猀眀漀爀搀⸀ ∀䈀甀琀 椀琀 眀椀氀氀 洀愀欀攀  
me feel much better." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀琀 眀愀猀 愀 洀椀猀琀愀欀攀⸀ 䤀 栀愀搀 渀漀 椀搀攀愀⸀ 䴀礀 昀愀琀栀攀爀 渀攀瘀攀爀 洀攀愀渀琀 昀漀爀  
Sir Kieran to die! Somewhere along the line of command, some soldier was very ਀挀氀甀洀猀礀 眀椀琀栀 猀眀漀爀搀⸀ 䬀椀攀爀愀渀 眀愀猀 爀椀最栀琀 愀氀氀 愀氀漀渀最 愀戀漀甀琀 渀漀琀 猀琀愀爀琀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 眀愀爀⸀ 䠀攀  
was a hero, and my father was at fault. Being too stubborn, he didn't realize ਀琀栀愀琀 甀渀琀椀氀 琀栀攀 攀渀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀攀 眀愀猀 猀漀爀爀礀 昀漀爀 琀栀愀琀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Don't you dare talk about my father." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀夀漀甀爀 昀愀琀栀攀爀 眀愀猀 愀 栀攀爀漀 椀渀 琀栀攀 攀渀搀Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀 椀猀 洀漀爀攀 琀栀愀渀 䤀  
can say for you. He shall be turning over in his grave to see his only son a ਀欀椀搀渀愀瀀瀀攀爀Ⰰ 愀 洀甀爀搀攀爀攀爀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀 挀漀眀愀爀搀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>A coward. Mush could not keep his sword steady. Was that ਀眀栀愀琀 栀攀 眀愀猀㼀 吀漀 爀甀渀 愀眀愀礀 椀渀 攀砀椀氀攀 眀栀攀渀 栀椀猀 昀愀琀栀攀爀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 挀愀瀀琀甀爀攀搀 昀漀爀 搀攀昀礀椀渀最  
the king. It had been a noble cause, and he had been afraid then. And his father ਀搀椀攀搀 愀 栀攀爀漀⸀ 䴀甀猀栀 琀漀漀欀 愀 猀琀攀瀀 昀漀爀眀愀爀搀 愀渀搀 爀愀椀猀攀搀 栀椀猀 猀眀漀爀搀⸀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 猀栀甀琀  
her eyes tightly and waited for her execution. This was it. Then he swiped his ਀猀眀漀爀搀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 氀愀猀琀 爀漀瀀攀猀 戀椀渀搀椀渀最 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀⸀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 眀愀猀 昀爀攀攀⸀ 匀栀攀  
looked down at her free hands and stood in disbelief.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀 挀愀渀✀琀 搀漀 椀琀⸀∀ 䠀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀猀 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 眀愀琀挀栀攀搀  
questioningly. Sir Meyers replaced his sword. He mounted his steed, took a pouch ਀昀爀漀洀 栀椀猀 戀攀氀琀Ⰰ 漀瀀攀渀攀搀 椀琀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 瀀漀甀爀攀搀 漀甀琀 椀琀猀 挀漀渀琀攀渀琀猀⸀ 䠀甀渀搀爀攀搀猀 漀昀 最漀氀搀 挀漀椀渀猀  
fell onto the ground beside the horse. He tossed the empty pouch among them. "I ਀搀漀渀✀琀 眀愀渀琀 琀栀攀洀 愀渀礀洀漀爀攀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>And before the princess could ask, he galloped off, leaving ਀戀攀栀椀渀搀 栀椀洀 渀漀琀栀椀渀最 戀甀琀 搀甀猀琀⸀ 䄀戀椀最愀椀氀 猀琀愀爀攀搀 愀昀琀攀爀 栀椀洀Ⰰ 琀漀漀 挀漀渀昀甀猀攀搀 琀漀 欀渀漀眀 眀栀愀琀  
to think.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀匀甀搀搀攀渀氀礀Ⰰ 刀愀挀攀 戀攀最愀渀 琀漀 猀琀椀爀⸀ 䠀攀 栀攀氀搀 琀栀攀 戀愀挀欀 漀昀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀Ⰰ  
groaning. "What happened?"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀夀漀甀 眀漀甀氀搀渀✀琀 戀攀氀椀攀瘀攀 洀攀 椀昀 䤀 琀漀氀搀 礀漀甀⸀∀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 猀琀漀漀搀  
frozen.</SMALL> ਀ 
<P align=left><FONT color=#33ff33><B><SMALL>Chapter Three </SMALL></B></FONT>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀吀攀氀氀 洀攀Ⰰ 䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀Ⰰ 愀爀攀 琀栀攀猀攀 挀氀漀琀栀攀猀 愀氀眀愀礀猀 琀栀椀猀 椀琀挀栀礀㼀∀  
Prince Gabriel could not stop scratching the length of his arms. The old brown ਀琀甀渀椀挀 猀洀攀氀氀攀搀 昀甀渀渀礀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 洀漀爀攀 栀攀 猀挀爀愀琀挀栀攀搀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 昀甀渀渀椀攀爀 椀琀 猀洀攀氀氀攀搀⸀ 䠀攀  
scrunched his nose, frustrated. "I swear, I'll rip the whole of my skin off, I ਀猀椀洀瀀氀礀 挀愀渀渀漀琀 猀琀愀渀搀 琀栀椀猀 搀爀攀愀搀攀搀 戀甀爀氀愀瀀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 洀漀洀攀渀琀℀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>Lord Sullivan stopped in his tracks, sighed, and turned ਀愀爀漀甀渀搀⸀ 䤀琀 栀愀搀 漀渀氀礀 戀攀攀渀 琀栀攀椀爀 猀攀挀漀渀搀 搀愀礀 昀爀漀洀 䈀爀漀漀欀瘀椀氀氀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀Ⰰ 愀渀搀  
prince was in one of his moods. Gabriel had insisted that they pass through ਀圀攀猀琀椀渀 攀愀爀氀椀攀爀 琀栀愀琀 洀漀爀渀椀渀最 琀漀 戀愀爀琀攀爀 昀漀爀 ∀瀀攀愀猀愀渀琀爀礀 挀氀漀琀栀椀渀最∀ 愀猀 栀攀 氀椀欀攀搀 琀漀  
call it and sell off the horses as so they would not be in suspicion. And now, ਀愀猀 挀漀洀洀漀渀 搀愀礀 瀀攀愀猀愀渀琀猀 洀愀欀椀渀最 栀椀猀 眀愀礀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 猀漀洀攀 甀渀昀愀洀椀氀椀愀爀 眀漀漀搀猀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀  
could not bear it one bit. But when Francis actually glanced at the prince, he ਀栀愀搀 琀漀 氀愀甀最栀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Well, what's so funny?" The prince asked unsure of what ਀栀愀猀 挀漀洀攀 漀瘀攀爀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀 戀甀琀 栀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 渀漀琀 猀琀漀瀀 ∀䌀漀洀攀 漀渀Ⰰ 漀甀琀 眀椀琀栀 椀琀℀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Your Majesty," Francis bowed in mockery, "has got his ਀挀氀漀琀栀椀渀最 漀渀 眀爀漀渀最⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Wrong?!"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀夀漀甀爀 椀渀猀椀搀攀 椀猀 漀甀琀 眀栀椀氀猀琀 礀漀甀爀 瘀攀爀礀 猀挀爀愀琀挀栀礀 愀渀搀  
uncomfortable out...is in. Hahaha!"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䜀愀戀爀椀攀氀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 搀漀眀渀 愀琀 栀椀猀 琀甀渀椀挀⸀ 䠀攀 挀漀甀氀搀渀✀琀 猀攀攀 愀渀礀  
difference between the two faces, but he did know that it still itched insanely. ਀䴀甀洀戀氀椀渀最Ⰰ 栀攀 瀀爀漀挀攀攀搀攀搀 琀漀 琀愀欀攀 漀昀昀 栀椀猀 琀甀渀椀挀 琀漀 昀椀砀 椀琀Ⰰ ∀伀栀☀䤠☀†䤀 欀渀攀眀 琀栀愀琀∀ 琀栀攀  
prince tried to cover up his embarrassment but Francis continued to laugh. ਀∀吀栀攀爀攀∀ 䜀愀戀爀椀攀氀 猀琀漀漀搀 ∀䠀漀眀 椀猀 琀栀愀琀 渀漀眀㼀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Your Highness makes a very bad peasant. Your garments are ਀渀漀眀 戀愀挀欀眀愀爀搀猀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Tis a lot more complicated than you think." The prince ਀瀀漀甀琀攀搀 椀渀 樀攀猀琀Ⰰ 琀眀椀猀琀椀渀最 琀栀攀 琀甀渀椀挀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 栀椀洀⸀ ∀吀栀攀爀攀Ⰰ 䤀 洀愀欀攀 愀 最漀漀搀 挀漀洀洀漀渀攀爀⸀ 䤀  
am Gabriel, the lowly commoner. Convincing?" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀 匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀 昀甀爀爀漀眀攀搀 栀椀猀 攀礀攀戀爀漀眀猀Ⰰ 琀栀椀渀欀椀渀最⸀ ∀一漀⸀ 䤀琀  
won't do. You'll never pass for nobody with the name of a prince." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀圀攀氀氀Ⰰ 栀漀眀 愀戀漀甀琀⸀⸀⸀刀攀最椀渀愀氀搀㼀 䤀 挀愀渀 戀攀 刀攀最椀渀愀氀搀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"No. I was thinking something more roughly. Which reminded ਀洀攀 琀栀愀琀 氀漀瘀攀氀礀 猀瀀愀渀椀攀氀 䰀愀搀礀 匀愀爀愀栀 栀愀搀☀⸠漀栀℀∀ 䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀 猀渀愀瀀瀀攀搀 栀椀猀 昀椀渀最攀爀猀  
suddenly. "You are Spot. Spot, the lowly commoner." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀匀瀀漀琀㼀℀∀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀 洀愀搀攀 愀 昀愀挀攀⸀ ∀䰀漀爀搀 匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀 搀愀爀攀猀 琀漀  
name me after a dog?!"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀吀椀猀 漀渀氀礀 猀甀椀琀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 愀 挀漀洀洀漀渀攀爀 氀椀欀攀 礀漀甀⸀ 一漀 洀愀琀琀攀爀 眀栀愀琀  
you think I will be calling you that from now on." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀吀栀愀琀 椀猀 栀漀爀爀椀戀氀礀 愀眀昀甀氀 漀昀 礀漀甀Ⰰ 戀甀琀⸀⸀⸀䤀 猀甀瀀瀀漀猀攀⸀ 圀攀氀氀Ⰰ  
while we're playing this game, you are no longer Lord Francis Sullivan. I hereby ਀搀甀戀 琀栀攀攀⸀⸀⸀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>But Francis wasn't listening. "Shh! Quiet, Gabriel…" ਀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"I'm Spot…" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䐀椀搀 礀漀甀 栀攀愀爀 琀栀愀琀㼀∀ 䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀 椀渀琀攀爀爀甀瀀琀攀搀Ⰰ 爀甀渀渀椀渀最 愀 戀椀琀  
into a little clearing among the trees. "I distinctly heard a voice...a maiden's ਀瘀漀椀挀攀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>The prince stopped and stood as still as possible, hoping ਀琀栀愀琀 栀攀 琀漀漀 洀椀最栀琀 挀愀琀挀栀 愀 戀椀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 愀挀琀椀漀渀⸀ 伀爀 瀀攀爀栀愀瀀猀 栀椀猀 昀爀椀攀渀搀 栀愀猀 最漀渀攀 洀愀搀⸀  
But no, there was a woman's voice. A young lady, it seemed. "What is she ਀猀愀礀椀渀最㼀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"I don't know, but it does not sound good." Francis hastily ਀琀漀猀猀攀搀 栀椀猀 戀攀氀漀渀最椀渀最猀 漀瘀攀爀 栀椀猀 猀栀漀甀氀搀攀爀⸀ ∀䤀琀✀猀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 猀椀搀攀Ⰰ 愀挀爀漀猀猀 琀栀漀猀攀 琀爀攀攀猀  
a bit further." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䄀渀搀 琀栀攀 瘀漀椀挀攀 挀愀洀攀 愀最愀椀渀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 琀栀椀猀 琀椀洀攀Ⰰ 椀琀 眀愀猀 愀 猀栀爀椀攀欀⸀  
</SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䌀漀洀攀 漀渀℀∀ 䄀渀搀 琀栀攀 琀眀漀 昀爀椀攀渀搀猀 爀愀挀攀搀 愀挀爀漀猀猀 琀栀攀 挀氀攀愀爀椀渀最  
and into the deeper trees. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"You let go of me, you filthy brute!" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀一漀眀 琀栀愀✀ 愀椀渀✀琀 渀漀 眀愀礀 琀愀 猀瀀攀愀欀 琀漀 愀 最攀渀✀氀攀洀愀渀Ⰰ 洀椀氀愀搀礀⸀∀  
The gypsy grinned with his stench breathing at Princess Abigail, and a shiver ਀爀愀渀 搀漀眀渀 栀攀爀 猀瀀椀渀攀 愀猀 猀栀攀 最愀最最攀搀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"What should we do with her?" one of the female gypsies ਀愀猀欀攀搀 瀀甀氀氀椀渀最 琀栀攀 氀攀渀最琀栀 漀昀 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀✀ 氀漀渀最Ⰰ 戀氀愀挀欀 栀愀椀爀⸀ ∀䄀猀欀 椀昀 猀栀攀 栀愀猀 猀漀洀攀  
precious jewels, Itey."</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀圀栀愀琀 ✀攀瘀愀 礀愀 氀椀欀攀Ⰰ 䜀漀漀猀攀礀∀ 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 最礀瀀猀礀 猀愀椀搀⸀ 䤀琀攀礀 琀漀漀欀 愀  
closer look at the princess and asked,</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀夀愀 挀愀爀爀礀 ✀爀漀甀渀搀 愀渀礀 瀀爀椀挀攀氀攀猀猀 樀攀眀攀氀猀Ⰰ 洀椀氀愀搀礀㼀 倀攀爀栀愀瀀猀  
suited for me beauty, Goosey?" Abigail shook her head in disgust. She had heard ਀猀琀漀爀椀攀猀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀攀洀 戀攀昀漀爀攀Ⰰ 琀栀漀猀攀 琀栀椀攀瘀椀渀最 最礀瀀猀椀攀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 渀攀瘀攀爀 戀攀攀渀 漀甀琀猀椀搀攀  
the castle walls before until now, she never knew how frightening they were. Or ਀樀甀猀琀 栀漀眀 昀愀猀琀⸀ 匀栀攀 栀愀搀 戀甀琀 琀愀欀攀渀 琀眀漀 洀漀洀攀渀琀猀 琀漀 氀漀漀欀 漀瘀攀爀 刀愀挀攀Ⰰ 眀栀漀 栀愀搀 樀甀猀琀  
recovered from Mush's blow to the head, and the whole lot of them, over two ਀搀漀稀攀渀猀 椀琀 猀攀攀洀猀Ⰰ 挀愀洀攀 漀甀琀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀搀猀 愀渀搀 猀甀爀爀漀甀渀搀攀搀 琀栀攀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 挀愀洀瀀⸀ 䄀渀搀  
right after they tied up the still-groggy Race and the princess against a ਀猀氀椀洀洀椀渀最 琀爀攀攀Ⰰ 琀栀攀礀 爀椀瀀瀀攀搀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 攀瘀攀爀礀琀栀椀渀最⸀ 䄀氀氀 琀栀攀 琀攀渀琀猀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 瀀漀琀猀 愀渀搀 瀀愀渀猀Ⰰ  
the food, the clothing, and even the gold coins that Sir Meyers had cast to the ਀最爀漀甀渀搀⸀ 䈀甀琀 猀漀洀攀 最礀瀀猀椀攀猀 猀琀漀漀搀 戀礀 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 琀栀攀 攀渀琀椀爀攀 爀愀椀搀Ⰰ 攀礀攀椀渀最  
her, poking at her, and breathing that horrible breath until she could stand it ਀渀漀 洀漀爀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀栀攀 栀愀搀 琀漀 猀挀爀攀愀洀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>With the shrillness only a few feet away from his ear, Race ਀眀愀猀 昀甀氀氀礀 愀氀攀爀琀 琀栀攀渀 瘀攀爀礀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀⸀ 䠀攀 猀挀愀渀渀攀搀 琀栀攀 挀漀洀瀀愀渀礀 愀 戀椀琀Ⰰ 挀氀漀猀攀氀礀 渀漀琀椀渀最  
the one mounted on the black stallion not doing much of anything up until then. ਀䈀甀琀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 猀挀爀攀愀洀 漀昀 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀Ⰰ 栀攀 琀漀漀欀 琀漀 栀攀爀 猀椀搀攀 猀漀 昀愀猀琀Ⰰ 椀琀 眀愀猀  
blinding. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀ 䤀琀攀礀Ⰰ 匀欀椀琀琀攀爀礀℀∀ 吀栀攀 爀椀搀攀爀 猀愀椀搀⸀ ∀䰀攀愀瘀攀 栀攀爀 愀氀漀渀攀⸀ 圀攀✀爀攀  
here for the fortune. No distractions." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀 搀甀渀渀漀Ⰰ 猀栀攀 猀攀攀洀猀 琀漀 戀攀 琀栀攀 昀漀爀琀甀渀攀 琀漀 洀攀Ⰰ 椀昀 礀愀 欀渀漀眀  
wha' I mean." Skittery stuck his tongue at Abigail, taunting. He stroked her ਀瀀愀氀攀 挀栀攀攀欀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀栀攀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 愀眀愀礀 搀椀猀最甀猀琀攀搀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Don't touch me!" The princess growled. "Do you know who I ਀愀洀㼀℀ 䤀 挀愀渀 栀愀瘀攀 礀漀甀 戀攀栀攀愀搀攀搀☀∠ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>And Race quickly jabbed her in the side with his elbow, ਀挀甀琀琀椀渀最 栀攀爀 漀昀昀 椀渀 洀椀搀ⴀ猀攀渀琀攀渀挀攀⸀ ∀䜀攀渀琀氀攀洀攀渀Ⰰ 搀漀渀✀琀 洀椀渀搀 栀攀爀⸀ 匀栀攀 椀猀 椀氀氀Ⰰ 䤀✀洀  
afraid. Not quite right in the head. Don't listen to a word she says."</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀圀栀愀琀 愀爀攀 礀漀甀☀㼠∀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 眀栀椀猀瀀攀爀攀搀 戀愀挀欀 愀琀 琀栀攀 猀焀甀椀爀攀  
in anger.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ∀ 刀愀挀攀 椀渀琀攀爀爀甀瀀琀攀搀 漀渀挀攀 洀漀爀攀Ⰰ 氀漀甀搀攀爀 琀栀椀猀 琀椀洀攀Ⰰ  
"not quite right in the head." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀吀栀攀 最礀瀀猀礀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 甀瀀 愀琀 琀栀攀 爀椀搀攀爀⸀ ∀䨀甀猀琀 愀 挀漀洀洀漀渀攀爀Ⰰ 琀栀攀爀攀✀猀  
no harm in it." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 氀攀愀瘀攀 栀攀爀 愀氀漀渀攀⸀∀ 䄀渀搀 琀栀攀 爀椀搀攀爀 猀琀攀爀渀氀礀 搀爀攀眀 栀椀猀  
sword. The gypsies stood there for a moment, hesitant, and walked off to join ਀琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀猀 椀渀 爀愀椀搀椀渀最⸀ 吀栀攀 爀椀搀攀爀 爀攀瀀氀愀挀攀搀 栀椀猀 猀眀漀爀搀 愀渀搀 琀椀瀀瀀攀搀 栀椀猀 栀愀琀 愀琀  
Abigail a bit and then returned to his post. The princess was surprised to find ਀愀 琀栀椀攀昀 猀漀 瀀漀氀椀琀攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 挀愀爀攀昀甀氀 渀漀琀 琀漀 猀栀漀眀 椀琀 氀攀猀琀 栀攀 挀栀愀渀最攀 栀椀猀 洀椀渀搀  
about it. Then she remembered Race's comment. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀刀愀挀攀℀∀ 匀栀攀 眀栀椀猀瀀攀爀攀搀⸀ ∀夀漀甀 栀漀爀爀椀戀氀攀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 爀愀琀℀ 圀栀礀 搀椀搀  
you tell them I was mad? If they knew who I was, they would have surely let us ਀昀爀攀攀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>Race snickered. "I was right. You are mad. Have you any ਀椀搀攀愀 栀漀眀 挀爀愀稀礀 礀漀甀 眀漀甀氀搀 猀漀甀渀搀㼀 䌀氀愀椀洀椀渀最 琀漀 戀攀 琀栀攀 倀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 漀昀 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀 眀椀琀栀  
your appearance?" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䄀戀椀最愀椀氀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 搀漀眀渀 愀琀 栀攀爀猀攀氀昀⸀ 匀栀攀 眀愀猀 猀琀椀氀氀 椀渀 挀漀洀洀漀渀攀爀  
rags Mush had made her wear and covered with dirt smudges and mud up to her ਀愀渀欀氀攀猀⸀ 吀栀攀 猀焀甀椀爀攀 栀愀搀 愀 瀀漀椀渀琀⸀ 䔀瘀攀渀 猀栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀渀✀琀 爀攀挀漀最渀椀稀攀 栀攀爀猀攀氀昀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Besides," Race continued, "nobody even knows you're ਀洀椀猀猀椀渀最Ⰰ 爀攀洀攀洀戀攀爀㼀 䔀瘀攀爀礀漀渀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 欀椀渀最搀漀洀 猀琀椀氀氀 琀栀椀渀欀猀 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 椀猀 椀渀 栀攀爀  
castle somewhere, waiting for her arranged marriage. They wouldn't believe it ਀眀愀猀 礀漀甀⸀ 䄀渀搀 椀昀 琀栀攀礀 搀椀搀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 愀挀琀甀愀氀氀礀 琀栀椀渀欀 琀栀攀礀✀搀 氀攀琀 礀漀甀 最漀㼀 一漀琀 琀栀攀猀攀  
criminals. It'll be another kidnapping and ransom for sure." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 猀椀最栀攀搀⸀ ∀圀栀愀琀 搀漀 礀漀甀 琀栀椀渀欀 琀栀攀礀✀氀氀 搀漀 琀漀 甀猀㼀∀  
</SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀 搀漀渀✀琀 欀渀漀眀Ⰰ∀ 刀愀挀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 愀 戀椀琀 搀椀猀琀爀愀挀琀攀搀Ⰰ ∀戀甀琀 椀琀 氀漀漀欀猀  
like they've got company." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䠀攀 渀漀搀搀攀搀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 琀栀攀 爀椀搀攀爀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 漀瘀攀爀  
to see two young men in burlap tunics creep out from the bushes behind him. The ਀戀漀礀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 戀爀椀最栀琀 攀礀攀猀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 愀 猀眀漀爀搀 昀爀漀洀 栀椀猀 戀攀氀琀 愀渀搀 最攀猀琀甀爀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 猀栀漀爀琀  
brown-haired one who had a coiled rope in his left hand. He in turn nodded and ਀挀愀洀攀 挀氀漀猀攀爀 琀栀攀 爀椀搀攀爀✀猀 戀氀愀挀欀 猀琀愀氀氀椀漀渀Ⰰ 挀愀爀攀昀甀氀 渀漀琀 琀漀 搀爀愀眀 愀渀礀 愀琀琀攀渀琀椀漀渀 琀漀  
himself. The gypsies were too busy discovering Sir Meyer's supply of ale to ਀渀漀琀椀挀攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 琀栀攀 爀椀搀攀爀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀攀搀 琀漀 最氀愀渀挀攀 愀琀 䄀戀椀最愀椀氀 愀渀搀 刀愀挀攀 愀渀搀 挀愀甀最栀琀 琀栀攀洀  
staring pass him. Suspicious, he turned to look behind, but it was too late. The ਀戀爀漀眀渀 栀愀椀爀攀搀 洀愀渀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 最爀愀戀戀攀搀 栀椀洀 戀礀 愀 氀攀最 愀渀搀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 栀椀洀 爀椀最栀琀 漀昀昀 琀栀攀  
horse, and the other came around and drew his sword at the fallen rider's neck. ਀吀栀攀 栀漀爀猀攀 渀攀椀最栀攀搀 氀漀甀搀氀礀 愀渀搀 最愀氀氀漀瀀攀搀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 挀爀漀眀搀 漀昀 最礀瀀猀椀攀猀⸀ 吀栀攀 挀漀洀洀漀琀椀漀渀  
was too much to ignore, and the gypsies all turned to find their leader hostage. ਀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀䘀伀一吀 挀漀氀漀爀㴀⌀㌀㌀昀昀㌀㌀㸀㰀䈀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䌀栀愀瀀琀攀爀 䘀漀甀爀 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀㰀⼀䈀㸀㰀⼀䘀伀一吀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Get up." The bright-eyed one said, his sword steady. The ਀爀椀搀攀爀 猀琀漀漀搀 甀瀀Ⰰ 搀甀猀琀攀搀 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀 漀昀昀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 戀爀漀眀渀 栀愀椀爀攀搀 洀愀渀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 琀椀攀搀 栀椀猀  
arms behind his back and held him. The gypsies didn't know what to do. "Now tell ਀礀漀甀爀 洀攀渀 琀漀 氀攀愀瘀攀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>The rider stood there and said nothing. The sword poked ਀猀氀椀最栀琀氀礀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 爀椀搀攀爀✀猀 猀琀漀洀愀挀栀Ⰰ 挀愀甀猀椀渀最 栀椀洀 琀漀 昀氀椀渀挀栀⸀ ∀吀攀氀氀 琀栀攀洀 琀漀 氀攀愀瘀攀Ⰰ  
or we'll find out what you had for breakfast." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀伀昀昀 眀椀琀栀 礀漀甀 愀氀氀⸀∀ 吀栀攀 爀椀搀攀爀 猀愀椀搀 椀渀 洀漀渀漀琀漀渀攀⸀ ∀䤀✀氀氀 戀攀  
alright, fellows." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀吀栀攀 最礀瀀猀椀攀猀 栀攀猀椀琀愀琀攀搀 昀漀爀 愀 洀漀洀攀渀琀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀渀 搀爀漀瀀瀀攀搀 琀栀攀椀爀  
loot. They grumbled among themselves and gathered at the edge of the clearing, ਀瀀愀甀猀攀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀渀 琀栀攀礀 搀椀猀愀瀀瀀攀愀爀攀搀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 琀栀椀挀欀攀渀椀渀最 琀爀攀攀猀⸀ 吀栀攀 漀渀攀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀  
sword waited until they could no longer be heard before he lowered his sword and ਀攀砀栀愀氀攀搀 栀攀愀瘀椀氀礀⸀ 䠀攀 戀爀甀猀栀攀搀 愀琀 栀椀猀 昀漀爀攀栀攀愀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䄀戀椀最愀椀氀 挀漀甀氀搀 猀攀攀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 栀愀搀  
been sweating. He came over to the two hostages quickly, swiped at the ropes ਀琀栀愀琀 戀漀甀渀搀 琀栀攀洀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 礀漀甀渀最 猀焀甀椀爀攀 愀渀搀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 眀攀爀攀 昀爀攀攀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>Race rubbed at his sore wrists and extended his hand. "To ਀眀栀漀洀 洀愀礀 䤀 琀栀愀渀欀 昀漀爀 琀栀椀猀 昀漀爀琀甀渀愀琀攀 爀攀猀挀甀攀㼀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>The bright eyed boy smiled easily, and Abigail caught ਀栀攀爀猀攀氀昀 猀琀愀爀椀渀最 愀 戀椀琀⸀ 䠀攀 琀漀漀欀 刀愀挀攀✀猀 栀愀渀搀Ⰰ 猀栀愀欀椀渀最 椀琀⸀ ∀匀瀀漀琀⸀ 䨀甀猀琀 愀 挀漀洀洀漀渀攀爀⸀  
That here is my best friend and traveling companion..." Not sure what to dub his ਀昀爀椀攀渀搀 栀攀 眀愀椀琀攀搀 甀渀琀椀氀 栀攀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 漀昀 愀 渀愀洀攀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Oh" Lord Sullivan mumbled thinking quickly for a ਀挀漀洀洀漀渀攀爀✀猀 渀愀洀攀 ∀䔀爀洀☀†䨀愀挀欀℀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>The brown haired youth waved a bit and smiled, careful to ਀欀攀攀瀀 愀 琀椀最栀琀 最爀愀猀瀀 漀渀 琀栀攀 爀漀瀀攀猀 戀椀渀搀椀渀最 琀栀攀 最礀瀀猀礀 爀椀搀攀爀⸀ ∀䨀甀猀琀 愀 挀漀甀瀀氀攀 漀昀 氀愀搀猀  
on our way to Lunerford, for a change. Overheard a lady's scream, presumably ਀栀攀爀猀⸀⸀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Her? She is..." Race hesitated, looking at the princess, ਀愀渀搀 猀栀攀 渀漀搀搀攀搀 猀氀椀最栀琀氀礀 愀琀 栀椀洀⸀ 刀攀猀挀甀攀爀猀 漀爀 渀漀琀Ⰰ 栀攀 眀愀猀渀✀琀 猀甀爀攀 椀昀 栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀  
trust the two strangers just yet. "She is from Luner… she is Luna, my sister! ਀䄀渀搀 䤀 愀洀 刀愀挀攀⸀∀Ⰰ 栀攀 猀洀椀氀攀搀Ⰰ ∀夀漀甀 洀攀渀琀椀漀渀攀搀 礀漀甀 戀漀琀栀 愀爀攀 漀渀 礀漀甀爀 眀愀礀 琀漀  
Lunerford? For we are going but the same path. If you care for company…" ਀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Race!" Abigail snapped, and she ran over to the young ਀猀焀甀椀爀攀⸀ 匀栀攀 猀愀眀 琀栀攀 漀搀搀 氀漀漀欀 漀渀 匀瀀漀琀✀猀 昀愀挀攀 愀渀搀 爀攀洀攀洀戀攀爀攀搀 琀栀愀琀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀渀✀琀 愀  
princess any longer. She slowed, cleared her throat, and spoke lower. "I think, ਀䈀爀漀琀栀攀爀Ⰰ 琀栀愀琀 眀攀 愀爀攀 瀀攀爀昀攀挀琀氀礀 挀愀瀀愀戀氀攀 漀昀 昀椀渀搀椀渀最 漀甀爀 漀眀渀 眀愀礀 琀漀 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀  
we certainly do not want to trouble these two...fine gentlemen." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀匀栀攀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀洀 戀漀琀栀Ⰰ 甀瀀 愀渀搀 搀漀眀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 最愀瘀攀 刀愀挀攀 愀 昀愀挀攀  
of disdain. Race remembered the look and sighed. "Excuse us a moment, lads." ਀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"What?" He whispered as soon as the princess pulled him to ਀琀栀攀 猀椀搀攀Ⰰ 漀甀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 琀眀漀 猀琀爀愀渀最攀爀猀✀ 攀愀爀猀栀漀琀⸀ ∀䤀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 琀栀攀礀 眀攀爀攀 瀀攀爀昀攀挀琀氀礀  
nice." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀刀愀挀攀Ⰰ 氀漀漀欀 愀琀 琀栀攀洀⸀∀ 䄀戀椀最愀椀氀 眀爀椀渀欀氀攀搀 栀攀爀 渀漀猀攀⸀ ∀吀栀攀礀✀爀攀  
filthy. They could be thieves…"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀圀栀漀 猀愀瘀攀搀 甀猀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Nevertheless, we can't trust them. Not just yet." she ਀猀愀椀搀⸀ ∀䤀 眀漀甀氀搀渀✀琀 猀琀愀渀搀 琀漀 愀猀猀漀挀椀愀琀攀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀漀猀攀⸀⸀⸀挀漀洀洀漀渀攀爀猀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Princess," Race said through clenched teeth, "we don't ਀愀挀琀甀愀氀氀礀 欀渀漀眀 琀栀攀 眀愀礀 戀愀挀欀 琀漀 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀⸀ 䤀 最漀琀 栀攀爀攀 洀攀爀攀氀礀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 猀洀漀欀攀  
from your fire at Meyer's camp. I don't trust myself to find our way back. We ਀栀愀瘀攀 最漀琀 渀漀 挀栀漀椀挀攀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>Abigail looked over at the two strangers once more. They ਀眀攀爀攀 栀愀瀀瀀椀氀礀 挀漀渀瘀攀爀猀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 猀琀椀氀氀 戀漀甀渀搀 最礀瀀猀礀 爀椀搀攀爀⸀ 吀栀攀 戀爀椀最栀琀ⴀ攀礀攀搀 漀渀攀Ⰰ  
Spot was his name she remembered, was smiling and he didn't seem as insufferable ਀愀猀 栀攀 搀椀搀⸀ 䔀瘀攀渀 愀猀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 愀 猀椀氀氀礀 渀愀洀攀⸀ 匀栀攀 猀椀最栀攀搀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"If we must," she said dejectedly. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䜀爀攀愀琀⸀∀ 刀愀挀攀 眀栀椀猀琀氀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀攀 猀琀爀愀渀最攀爀猀 愀渀搀 爀愀渀 琀漀 琀栀攀洀  
quickly, dragging the princess by the hand behind him. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀匀漀 椀猀 椀琀 猀攀琀琀氀攀搀㼀 匀栀愀氀氀 礀漀甀 琀眀漀 樀漀椀渀 甀猀㼀∀ 䨀愀挀欀 愀猀欀攀搀⸀ 䠀攀  
still held on to the rope, twisting it nervously between his hands. He was ਀挀愀爀攀昀甀氀 渀漀琀 琀漀 氀漀漀欀 搀椀爀攀挀琀氀礀 愀琀 琀栀攀 礀漀甀渀最 最椀爀氀⸀ 匀栀攀 猀攀攀洀攀搀 琀漀漀 昀愀洀椀氀椀愀爀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀攀  
might be uncovered for who he really was. She looked at him then, a bit of ਀爀攀挀漀最渀椀琀椀漀渀 爀愀渀 愀挀爀漀猀猀 栀攀爀 昀愀挀攀 昀漀爀 愀 洀漀洀攀渀琀 愀渀搀 眀愀猀 最漀渀攀⸀ 匀栀攀 琀甀爀渀攀搀Ⰰ  
apparently interested in something else. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀伀昀 挀漀甀爀猀攀⸀ 圀攀 猀栀愀氀氀 最攀琀 猀漀洀攀 琀栀椀渀最猀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 挀愀洀瀀⸀∀ 䄀渀搀  
the squire ran off into some tents to gather a few necessities left behind by ਀琀栀攀 洀愀渀 椀渀 戀氀愀挀欀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 最礀瀀猀椀攀猀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>Abigail made no effort to help him but instead stood where ਀猀栀攀 眀愀猀 愀渀搀 洀愀搀攀 渀漀 攀昀昀漀爀琀 琀漀 猀琀愀爀琀 愀 挀漀渀瘀攀爀猀愀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀漀 琀栀攀 琀栀爀攀攀 猀琀漀漀搀 琀栀攀爀攀  
in the uncomfortable silence until the gypsy rider at last spoke. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀夀漀甀 猀瀀攀愀欀Ⰰ 猀椀爀Ⰰ 愀猀 椀昀 礀漀甀 欀渀攀眀 琀栀攀 爀漀愀搀 琀漀 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀⸀∀ 䠀攀  
was speaking to Spot but not quite looking at him. It wasn't an insulting tone, ਀戀甀琀 琀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 愀 栀椀渀琀 漀昀 洀漀挀欀椀渀最 椀渀 椀琀⸀ 䤀渀 愀 眀愀礀Ⰰ 栀攀 眀愀猀 爀椀最栀琀⸀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀 愀渀搀  
the young lord did not know their way to Lunerford, but they certainly were not ਀愀戀漀甀琀 琀漀 愀搀洀椀琀 椀渀挀漀洀瀀攀琀攀渀挀攀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>The prince drew his sword. "And you call us imbeciles? ਀䰀椀愀爀猀㼀 夀漀甀 猀瀀攀愀欀Ⰰ 猀椀爀Ⰰ 愀猀 椀昀 礀漀甀 挀漀甀氀搀 猀琀愀渀搀 戀攀栀椀渀搀 琀栀愀琀 椀渀猀甀氀琀 琀漀 甀猀⸀ 䜀漀 漀渀℀  
Taunt me with that walking mouth of yours!" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀吀栀攀 最礀瀀猀礀 猀洀椀氀攀搀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 琀椀洀攀 愀猀 栀攀 爀愀椀猀攀搀 栀椀猀  
eyebrow. "I certainly cannot. But, you are a gentleman, I can see, and will not ਀愀琀琀愀挀欀 洀攀Ⰰ 甀渀愀爀洀攀搀 愀渀搀 爀攀猀琀爀愀椀渀攀搀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>Spot turned to his friend, though still keeping the blade ਀漀昀 栀椀猀 猀眀漀爀搀 挀氀漀猀攀 琀漀 琀栀攀 最礀瀀猀礀⸀ ∀唀渀琀椀攀 栀椀洀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"What?! Did you not see how hard it was to capture him in ਀琀栀攀 昀椀爀猀琀 瀀氀愀挀攀㼀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Untie him," The prince repeated evenly, "and give him your ਀猀眀漀爀搀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>Jack sighed. Convinced that his friend had certainly gone ਀洀愀搀Ⰰ 栀攀 甀渀琀椀攀搀 琀栀攀 最礀瀀猀礀 猀氀漀眀氀礀Ⰰ 栀漀瀀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 琀椀洀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 攀渀漀甀最栀 琀漀 爀攀猀琀漀爀攀 栀椀猀  
sanity. But the prince did not change his mind. The gypsy made no attempt to ਀昀氀攀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 眀栀攀渀 䨀愀挀欀 最愀瘀攀 栀椀洀 琀栀攀 猀眀漀爀搀Ⰰ 栀攀 琀栀愀渀欀攀搀 栀椀洀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 搀爀攀眀 椀琀 愀搀洀椀爀椀渀最氀礀⸀  
It was a nice sword. He stepped back and raised the sword confidently, ready for ਀琀栀攀 搀甀攀氀⸀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀 眀愀猀 挀攀爀琀愀椀渀氀礀 戀爀愀瘀攀 漀爀 樀甀猀琀 爀攀愀搀礀 琀漀 搀椀攀⸀ ∀䔀渀  
garde."</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>And the battle began. Hearing the clashing of the swords, ਀刀愀挀攀 爀甀猀栀攀搀 漀甀琀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 琀攀渀琀 愀渀搀 猀琀漀漀搀 椀渀 愀眀攀Ⰰ 搀爀漀瀀瀀椀渀最 愀渀 愀爀洀昀甀氀 漀昀 琀栀椀渀最猀 栀攀  
had just gathered. The bright-eyed "commoner" was a swordsman and a good one at ਀琀栀愀琀⸀ 吀栀攀 最礀瀀猀礀 眀愀猀 攀砀挀攀氀氀攀渀琀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 昀漀爀 愀 眀栀椀氀攀Ⰰ 椀琀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀猀 琀栀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀礀  
were at a pass. But as he expected, though the skills were evenly matched, the ਀挀漀洀洀漀渀攀爀 眀愀猀 渀漀琀 愀猀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀搀 愀猀 琀栀攀 最礀瀀猀礀 愀渀搀 戀攀最愀渀 琀漀 最攀琀 琀椀爀攀猀漀洀攀⸀ 䠀椀猀  
swings became forced and his footing slow. The gypsy was overtaking him. Then ਀琀栀攀礀 戀攀最愀渀 琀漀 挀漀渀瘀攀爀猀攀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"You are on the wrong road." The gypsy began, taking an aim ਀昀漀爀 匀瀀漀琀✀猀 氀攀昀琀 猀栀漀甀氀搀攀爀⸀ ∀䤀琀 氀攀愀搀猀 琀漀 䈀爀漀渀砀瘀椀氀氀攀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"I suppose," Spot said, breathing a bit heavy, "that you ਀眀漀甀氀搀 欀渀漀眀 琀栀攀 眀愀礀 琀漀 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Indeed, I do." The gypsy answered without missing a parry. ਀匀瀀漀琀 琀漀漀欀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 猀眀椀瀀攀 愀琀 栀椀洀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀攀 搀漀搀最攀搀 愀渀搀 挀漀渀琀椀渀甀攀搀⸀ ∀䤀 挀漀甀氀搀 猀栀漀眀  
you...for a price. I'm assuming you're planning to turn me in for a reward when ਀礀漀甀 愀爀爀椀瘀攀 愀琀 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Of course." And Spot finally got blood from the gypsy's ਀猀栀漀甀氀搀攀爀⸀ 䠀攀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 昀氀椀渀挀栀⸀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀Ⰰ 愀猀琀漀渀椀猀栀攀搀Ⰰ 眀愀猀 挀愀甀最栀琀 漀昀昀 最甀愀爀搀 昀漀爀 愀  
moment, and the gypsy nearly got his throat. The gypsy ran his left thumb across ਀栀椀猀 爀椀最栀琀 攀礀攀戀爀漀眀 愀渀搀 栀椀猀 戀氀甀攀 攀礀攀猀 最氀攀愀洀攀搀⸀ 䠀攀 挀漀渀琀椀渀甀攀搀 琀漀 琀栀爀漀眀 栀椀猀 漀昀昀攀渀挀攀猀  
in mercilessly. The prince was backed into a tree, even more fatigued, and a bit ਀眀漀爀爀椀攀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 栀攀 眀愀猀 爀攀氀攀渀琀氀攀猀猀⸀ 䠀攀 眀愀猀 渀漀琀 最椀瘀椀渀最 椀渀 猀漀 攀愀猀椀氀礀⸀ 匀琀攀愀搀礀椀渀最  
himself with the bottom of his right foot pushing up against the trunk, he ਀瀀愀爀爀椀攀搀 昀漀爀眀愀爀搀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 猀洀椀氀攀搀 搀椀猀愀瀀瀀攀愀爀攀搀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 最礀瀀猀礀✀猀 昀愀挀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 搀甀攀氀 爀愀最攀搀  
on, and they were even now. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀 挀愀渀 琀愀欀攀 礀漀甀 猀愀昀攀氀礀 琀漀 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀⸀ 吀栀攀爀攀 愀爀攀 洀愀渀礀  
thieves' quarters and hideouts here, and that is my advantage. I will take you ਀琀漀 礀漀甀爀 搀攀猀椀爀攀搀 搀攀猀琀椀渀愀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀渀 䤀 眀椀氀氀 琀愀欀攀 洀礀 昀爀攀攀搀漀洀⸀∀ 吀栀攀 最礀瀀猀礀 猀瀀漀欀攀  
as if they were in the middle of tea instead of a duel. And then they were face ਀琀漀 昀愀挀攀Ⰰ 猀眀漀爀搀 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 猀眀漀爀搀Ⰰ 瀀爀攀猀猀椀渀最 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 琀栀攀 戀氀愀搀攀猀 琀漀 琀栀爀漀眀 攀愀挀栀 漀琀栀攀爀  
off balance and off footing. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䄀渀搀 栀漀眀 眀攀 眀椀氀氀 欀渀漀眀Ⰰ∀ 匀瀀漀琀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀礀 戀爀漀欀攀 琀栀攀  
stress, pushing apart, "that you will not attempt escape in the meanwhile?" ਀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"I give my word as a knight." And his sword drew right up ਀琀漀 匀瀀漀琀✀猀 琀栀爀漀愀琀 戀甀琀 猀琀漀瀀瀀攀搀 猀栀漀爀琀 漀渀攀 椀渀挀栀⸀ 吀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀 昀爀漀稀攀Ⰰ 戀爀攀愀琀栀椀渀最  
heavily, and dropped his sword. The battle was over and the gypsy had won. ਀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>The three spectators, Race, Princess Abigail, and Lord ਀匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀Ⰰ 爀愀渀 甀瀀 琀漀 琀栀攀 猀琀愀渀搀 猀琀椀氀氀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 琀漀漀 昀愀爀 琀漀 栀攀愀爀 琀栀攀  
conversation, but they knew something had passed between the rivals. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀刀攀挀漀最渀椀琀椀漀渀 爀愀渀 愀挀爀漀猀猀 琀栀攀 礀漀甀渀最 瀀爀椀渀挀攀✀猀 昀愀挀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀 栀甀最攀  
grin broke out. "I've heard stories about you! My God, everyone has! You are ਀瀀爀愀挀琀椀挀愀氀氀礀 愀 氀攀最攀渀搀℀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>The gypsy finally dropped his sword finally, and the ਀猀瀀攀挀琀愀琀漀爀猀 攀砀栀愀氀攀搀 渀漀椀猀椀氀礀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 眀攀爀攀 猀琀椀氀氀 挀漀渀昀甀猀攀搀 愀猀 琀漀 眀栀愀琀 匀瀀漀琀 眀愀猀 猀愀礀椀渀最  
but nonetheless relieved. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀匀椀爀 䐀愀瘀椀搀 䨀愀挀漀戀猀Ⰰ∀ 吀栀攀 最礀瀀猀礀 栀愀渀搀攀搀 琀栀攀 猀眀漀爀搀 琀漀 匀瀀漀琀 愀渀搀  
bowed slightly, "at your service." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䄀渀搀 琀栀攀渀 刀愀挀攀 琀栀攀 匀焀甀椀爀攀 愀渀搀 䰀漀爀搀 匀甀氀氀椀瘀愀渀 最愀猀瀀攀搀⸀ 䤀琀 眀愀猀  
the infamous Bandit. Young Prince Gabriel could not stop grinning, and Princess ਀䄀戀椀最愀椀氀Ⰰ 栀椀猀 甀渀欀渀漀眀渀 愀爀爀愀渀最攀搀 戀爀椀搀攀Ⰰ 栀愀搀 渀漀 椀搀攀愀 眀栀愀琀 愀氀氀 琀栀攀 昀甀猀猀 眀愀猀 愀戀漀甀琀⸀  
She hadn't ever gotten out much. </SMALL>਀ 
<P align=left><FONT color=#33ff33><B><SMALL>Chapter Five </SMALL></B></FONT>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀匀瀀漀琀 愀眀漀欀攀 眀椀琀栀 椀渀 椀琀挀栀 漀渀 栀椀猀 戀愀挀欀⸀ 䠀攀 爀攀愀挀栀攀搀 琀漀 猀挀爀愀琀挀栀  
it, and his rag of a blanket twisted off. The air hit him like a hammer and it ਀眀愀猀 昀爀攀攀稀椀渀最⸀ 䠀攀 猀琀甀洀戀氀攀搀 昀爀漀洀 栀椀猀 琀攀渀琀 愀渀搀 漀瀀攀渀攀搀 漀渀攀 攀礀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 昀椀爀攀 眀愀猀 漀甀琀⸀ 䠀攀  
looked over to David's tent and saw that it was already open. He had been gone ਀攀愀爀氀礀Ⰰ 瀀爀漀戀愀戀氀礀 漀甀琀 栀甀渀琀椀渀最⸀ 匀瀀漀琀 猀琀爀攀琀挀栀攀搀 愀渀搀 昀攀氀琀 琀栀攀 猀琀椀昀昀 瀀愀爀琀 椀渀 栀椀猀 愀爀洀  
from yesterday's battle with the bandit. He smiled. If his father had only known ਀琀栀愀琀 栀攀Ⰰ 倀爀椀渀挀攀 䜀愀戀爀椀攀氀 漀昀 䈀爀漀漀欀瘀椀氀氀攀Ⰰ 渀攀愀爀氀礀 琀漀漀欀 漀甀琀 琀栀攀 最爀攀愀琀 匀椀爀 䐀愀瘀椀搀  
Jacobs. He couldn't remember the last time he had a real adventure like that and ਀洀攀琀 琀栀椀攀瘀攀猀 愀渀搀 渀攀愀爀氀礀 最漀琀 欀椀氀氀攀搀⸀⸀⸀愀渀搀 爀攀猀挀甀攀搀 愀 氀漀瘀攀氀礀 洀愀椀搀攀渀Ⰰ 焀甀椀琀攀 愀氀猀漀 愀  
feisty one at that. He flexed his head a bit, trying to remember her name. Luna. ਀䠀攀 栀愀搀 渀攀瘀攀爀 猀攀攀洀 琀栀愀琀 猀栀愀搀攀 漀昀 戀爀漀眀渀 椀渀 愀渀礀 最椀爀氀✀猀 攀礀攀猀 戀攀昀漀爀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀渀✀琀  
help staring a bit the day before. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䰀漀爀搀Ⰰ 䤀 洀甀猀琀 栀愀瘀攀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 氀椀欀攀 琀栀攀 瘀椀氀氀愀最攀 椀搀椀漀琀 琀栀攀爀攀Ⰰ∀ 栀攀  
muttered to himself, "grinning and staring as if I'd never seen a girl before." ਀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>And yet he fought the duel without a thought just to ਀椀洀瀀爀攀猀猀 栀攀爀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>Spot yawned and shivered. He remembered the fire. He was ਀眀椀搀攀 愀眀愀欀攀 渀漀眀 愀渀搀 洀椀最栀琀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀 最攀琀 猀漀洀攀 洀漀爀攀 眀漀漀搀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀吀栀攀 瀀愀琀栀 眀愀猀 眀漀爀渀Ⰰ 愀猀 椀昀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 攀氀猀攀 栀愀搀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 琀愀欀攀渀 椀琀Ⰰ  
but then it was an easier walk for the prince carrying an armload of branches ਀愀渀搀 瘀愀爀椀漀甀猀 琀眀椀最猀⸀ 䠀攀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 眀愀琀挀栀椀渀最 琀栀攀 最爀漀甀渀搀 昀漀爀 眀漀漀搀 昀漀爀 猀漀 氀漀渀最 琀栀愀琀  
when he looked up, he was surprised to find himself lost. Spot swore. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䠀攀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 愀 戀椀琀Ⰰ 栀漀瀀椀渀最 昀漀爀 猀漀洀攀 爀攀挀漀最渀椀琀椀漀渀  
somewhere, but there was none. But there was the sound of running water...there ਀眀愀猀 愀 眀愀琀攀爀昀愀氀氀 戀礀 琀栀攀 挀愀洀瀀⸀ 䠀攀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 昀漀爀 愀 戀椀琀 愀渀搀 礀攀猀Ⰰ 琀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 愀  
waterfall. Sir David had decided to stop there last night because of the running ਀眀愀琀攀爀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>With firewood still in his arms, Spot walked towards the ਀猀氀椀最栀琀 猀漀甀渀搀 漀昀 爀甀渀渀椀渀最 眀愀琀攀爀 甀渀琀椀氀 椀琀 眀愀猀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 爀漀愀爀椀渀最⸀ 䈀甀琀 甀渀搀攀爀渀攀愀琀栀 琀栀攀  
sound of water was something else. At first, he thought it was a bird. ਀一漀⸀⸀⸀琀栀攀爀攀 眀攀爀攀 眀漀爀搀猀⸀ 䤀琀 眀愀猀 猀椀渀最椀渀最⸀ 匀漀洀攀漀渀攀 眀愀猀 猀椀渀最椀渀最Ⰰ 愀渀搀 椀琀 眀愀猀  
beautiful. The prince was hypnotized. He almost floated towards the singing, ਀挀愀爀攀氀攀猀猀氀礀 眀愀渀搀攀爀椀渀最 漀昀昀 琀栀攀 瀀愀琀栀⸀ 䠀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 猀攀攀 琀栀攀 眀愀琀攀爀昀愀氀氀 渀漀眀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 渀漀 猀椀最渀  
of the owner of the voice. He was about to get a bit closer to the edge when a ਀瘀椀渀攀 猀渀愀最最攀搀 栀椀猀 愀渀欀氀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀攀 猀琀甀洀戀氀攀搀⸀ 䠀攀 挀愀甀最栀琀 栀椀洀 昀爀漀洀 昀愀氀氀椀渀最Ⰰ 戀甀琀 栀椀猀  
armful of firewood crashed to the ground. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀吀栀攀渀 挀愀洀攀 琀栀攀 昀愀洀椀氀椀愀爀 猀栀爀椀攀欀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>Spot whirled towards the noise, and he saw a girl, Luna, in ਀漀渀攀 挀漀爀渀攀爀 漀昀 琀栀攀 眀愀琀攀爀⸀ 䤀琀 琀漀漀欀 栀椀洀 愀 眀栀椀氀攀 琀漀 昀椀最甀爀攀 漀甀琀 眀栀愀琀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀  
screaming about. She quickly turned her back towards him, waist deep in the ਀眀愀琀攀爀Ⰰ 栀攀爀 愀爀洀猀 漀瘀攀爀 栀攀爀猀攀氀昀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀攀 爀攀愀氀椀稀攀搀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 渀愀欀攀搀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>The young prince twisted around, his hands over his eyes. ਀䠀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 昀攀攀氀 栀椀猀 昀愀挀攀 最攀琀琀椀渀最 爀攀搀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...I didn't see anything!" he ਀猀琀愀洀洀攀爀攀搀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 愀洀椀猀猀 琀栀攀 眀愀琀攀爀 猀瀀氀愀猀栀椀渀最Ⰰ 渀漀琀 洀甀挀栀 攀氀猀攀 眀愀猀 栀攀愀爀搀⸀  
</SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䜀攀琀 愀眀愀礀℀ 䜀攀琀 愀眀愀礀 礀漀甀☀甠最栀℀∀ 䰀甀渀愀 猀栀漀甀琀攀搀 愀琀 栀椀洀Ⰰ 挀氀漀琀栀攀猀  
in hand while trying to find a place to hide behind. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䄀渀搀 猀漀 倀爀椀渀挀攀 䜀愀戀爀椀攀氀 爀愀渀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀圀栀愀琀 眀攀爀攀 礀漀甀 搀漀椀渀最 琀栀攀爀攀 愀渀礀栀漀眀㼀∀ 䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀 愀猀欀攀搀Ⰰ 渀漀琀 愀戀氀攀  
to stifle his laughter. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 欀渀漀眀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 戀愀琀栀椀渀最℀∀ 䜀愀戀爀椀攀氀 攀砀挀氀愀椀洀攀搀⸀ ∀䤀  
didn't even know she was up yet! I was getting firewood!"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀圀攀氀氀Ⰰ 搀椀搀 礀漀甀 最攀琀 愀 最漀漀搀 氀漀漀欀 愀琀 氀攀愀猀琀㼀∀ 琀栀攀 礀漀甀渀最 氀漀爀搀  
grinned.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀匀栀攀 眀愀猀 戀攀愀甀☀∠ 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀 挀愀甀最栀琀 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀⸀ ∀䤀 漀渀氀礀 猀愀眀 栀攀爀  
backside!"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀吀栀愀琀 渀椀挀攀Ⰰ 栀甀栀㼀∀ 䄀渀搀 䘀爀愀渀挀椀猀 眀愀猀 爀漀氀氀椀渀最 漀渀 琀栀攀 昀氀漀漀爀⸀ 吀栀攀  
prince only got to a brighter shade of red. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀吀栀攀 昀氀愀瀀 漀昀 琀栀攀 琀攀渀琀 昀氀攀眀 漀瀀攀渀⸀ 刀愀挀攀 眀愀氀欀攀搀 椀渀Ⰰ 愀 戀椀琀  
frustrated. He had his sword in hand and raised it wearily.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀 猀甀瀀瀀漀猀攀Ⰰ∀ 栀攀 戀攀最愀渀 椀渀 愀 最爀漀最最礀 洀愀渀渀攀爀Ⰰ ∀琀栀愀琀 䤀 愀洀 最漀椀渀最  
to kill you now so that I may restore my sister's honor, but I'm not much up to ਀椀琀 琀栀椀猀 攀愀爀氀礀 椀渀 琀栀攀 洀漀爀渀椀渀最⸀ 圀漀甀氀搀 礀漀甀 氀椀欀攀 琀漀 爀攀猀挀栀攀搀甀氀攀 猀漀洀攀琀椀洀攀  
later?"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀匀瀀漀琀 瀀漀欀攀搀 䨀愀挀欀 琀漀 欀攀攀瀀 栀椀洀 昀爀漀洀 猀渀椀挀欀攀爀椀渀最 愀渀搀 猀愀椀搀  
solemnly, "Look, it was an accident. If it helps, I'm sorry. I didn't see ਀愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最Ⰰ 戀甀琀 戀礀 䜀漀搀℀ 䠀攀爀 猀挀爀攀愀洀椀渀最 渀攀愀爀氀礀 欀渀漀挀欀攀搀 洀攀 漀甀琀 愀渀礀眀愀礀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Have you apologized to her yet?" asked Jack. "You ought ਀琀漀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"I...I did, but I don't think she was listening."</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䴀愀礀戀攀Ⰰ∀ 刀愀挀攀 瀀甀琀 愀眀愀礀 栀椀猀 猀眀漀爀搀Ⰰ ∀礀漀甀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 最漀 琀愀氀欀 琀漀  
her. I just really want to go back to sleep."</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀匀瀀漀琀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 琀眀漀 愀渀搀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 漀甀琀 琀漀 䰀甀渀愀✀猀 琀攀渀琀 愀渀搀  
sighed. He didn't think he could ever face her again, and now he had to talk to ਀栀攀爀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Good luck, my friend," And Francis laughed again. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"If I was home", Princess Abigail thought, "I could have ਀琀愀欀攀渀 愀 昀椀渀攀 戀愀琀栀 眀椀琀栀漀甀琀 猀漀洀攀 瀀攀攀瀀椀渀最 琀漀洀⸀ 䠀漀眀 搀愀爀攀 栀攀℀∀ 匀栀攀 瀀甀氀氀攀搀 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀  
shirt on amidst the coldness and wondered why no one had gotten any ਀昀椀爀攀眀漀漀搀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Hello?" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䄀戀椀最愀椀氀 琀甀爀渀攀搀 愀爀漀甀渀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 瀀攀攀瀀椀渀最 琀漀洀Ⰰ 匀瀀漀琀Ⰰ 猀琀攀瀀瀀攀搀  
into the tent. He blushed and cleared his throat but said nothing. And so they ਀猀琀愀爀攀搀 瀀愀猀猀 攀愀挀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 昀漀爀 愀 洀椀渀甀琀攀 漀爀 猀漀⸀ 䠀攀 渀攀爀瘀漀甀猀氀礀 戀爀甀猀栀攀搀 栀椀猀 栀愀椀爀 昀爀漀洀  
his face and cleared his throat again. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀夀漀甀✀瘀攀⸀⸀甀洀洀⸀⸀⸀∀ 䠀攀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 愀渀搀 爀攀愀挀栀攀搀 漀瘀攀爀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 栀攀爀⸀  
She backed away quickly. He hastily stepped back and left his arms at his side. ਀∀夀漀甀✀瘀攀 最漀琀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 戀甀最 漀渀 礀漀甀爀 栀愀椀爀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>This time, Abigail stood still, and Spot once again ਀愀瀀瀀爀漀愀挀栀攀搀 栀攀爀⸀ 䠀攀 瀀椀挀欀攀搀 漀昀昀 愀 氀愀搀礀戀甀最 愀渀搀 氀攀琀 椀琀 昀氀礀 漀昀昀 栀椀猀 栀愀渀搀⸀ 䠀攀 焀甀椀挀欀氀礀  
returned to his place and tried to speak again. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䰀甀渀愀Ⰰ 䤀 愀瀀漀氀漀最椀稀攀⸀∀ 匀瀀漀琀 猀椀最栀攀搀⸀ ∀䤀 眀愀猀 最攀琀琀椀渀最 昀椀爀攀眀漀漀搀  
and got lost and heard you singing and it was so beautiful and...and well, I ਀搀椀搀渀✀琀 洀攀愀渀 琀漀 猀攀攀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最⸀ 䤀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 猀攀攀 愀渀礀琀栀椀渀最⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>He didn't blush this time and waited for her reply. Luna ਀琀爀椀攀搀 渀漀琀 琀漀 猀洀椀氀攀Ⰰ 栀攀 氀椀欀攀搀 栀攀爀 猀椀渀最椀渀最℀ 匀栀攀 琀爀椀攀搀 琀漀 氀漀漀欀 猀琀攀爀渀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 栀椀猀 戀椀最  
cyan eyes completely distracted her. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䄀瀀漀氀漀最礀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀Ⰰ∀ 猀栀攀 昀椀渀愀氀氀礀 眀栀椀猀瀀攀爀攀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀搀搀攀搀  
slowly, "and…and thank you for the compliment."</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀 洀甀猀琀 戀攀 最漀椀渀最 渀漀眀⸀∀ 匀瀀漀琀 最爀椀渀渀攀搀 愀 戀椀琀⸀ ∀夀漀甀爀 戀爀漀琀栀攀爀  
Race is trying to kill me." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀圀栀漀✀猀 琀爀礀椀渀最 琀漀 欀椀氀氀 眀栀漀㼀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>The two turned, and it was David that uttered the question. ਀䠀攀 猀琀漀漀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 攀渀琀爀愀渀挀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 琀攀渀琀Ⰰ 昀爀攀猀栀 昀爀漀洀 栀甀渀琀椀渀最 愀渀搀 栀愀搀 洀椀猀猀  
everything. Abigail and Gabriel exchanged glances. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀一漀 漀渀攀⸀ 一漀琀栀椀渀最⸀∀ 吀栀攀礀 猀愀椀搀 椀渀 甀渀椀琀礀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀䘀伀一吀 挀漀氀漀爀㴀⌀㌀㌀昀昀㌀㌀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀㰀䈀㸀䌀栀愀瀀琀攀爀 匀椀砀 㰀⼀䈀㸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀㰀⼀䘀伀一吀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>Although Mush Meyers could not see the cloaked man in the ਀猀栀愀搀漀眀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 愀氀氀攀礀Ⰰ 栀攀 欀渀攀眀 栀攀 眀愀猀 琀栀攀爀攀⸀ 吀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 愀 瀀愀爀琀椀挀甀氀愀爀 猀琀攀渀挀栀⸀ 䴀甀猀栀  
wrinkled his nose, and his right hand automatically went to the handle of his ਀猀眀漀爀搀 琀栀愀琀 栀甀渀最 愀琀 栀椀猀 戀攀氀琀⸀ 䠀攀 渀攀瘀攀爀 琀爀甀猀琀攀搀 琀栀攀 挀氀漀愀欀攀搀 洀愀渀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Morris. I am here." Mush said, approaching slowly. The ਀猀栀愀搀漀眀猀 搀椀搀 渀漀琀 洀漀瘀攀⸀ 䴀甀猀栀 猀琀漀瀀瀀攀搀 琀漀 氀椀猀琀攀渀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 挀氀漀愀欀攀搀 洀愀渀✀猀 戀爀攀愀琀栀椀渀最Ⰰ  
but all he could hear was the trickling of water down the street and into the ਀最甀琀琀攀爀猀⸀ 䠀攀 栀愀搀 渀攀瘀攀爀 洀攀琀 愀 洀愀渀 眀栀漀 眀愀猀 猀漀 猀椀氀攀渀琀 愀渀搀 搀漀甀戀琀攀搀 椀昀 栀攀 眀攀爀攀 攀瘀攀渀  
human. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䐀椀搀 礀漀甀 欀椀氀氀 琀栀攀 最椀爀氀㼀∀ 䴀漀爀爀椀猀 昀椀渀愀氀氀礀 猀瀀漀欀攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 栀攀 搀椀搀  
not move. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀一漀⸀ 䤀 愀洀 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 眀漀爀欀椀渀最 昀漀爀 礀漀甀⸀∀ 䴀甀猀栀 猀愀椀搀 眀椀琀栀漀甀琀 愀  
hint of quivering in his voice. He was certainly not going to let Morris think ਀栀攀 眀愀猀 愀昀爀愀椀搀⸀ 䴀漀爀爀椀猀 猀愀椀搀 渀漀琀栀椀渀最Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䴀甀猀栀 挀漀渀琀椀渀甀攀搀Ⰰ ∀夀漀甀 猀琀愀礀 愀眀愀礀 昀爀漀洀 栀攀爀⸀  
I'm not going to let you hurt her. You were wrong about Lunerford."</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀 愀氀眀愀礀猀 欀渀攀眀 礀漀甀 眀攀爀攀 眀攀愀欀⸀ 䨀甀猀琀 氀椀欀攀 礀漀甀爀 昀愀琀栀攀爀⸀∀  
Morris said in a low voice, coming out of the darkness, grinning. Mush could see ਀栀椀猀 礀攀氀氀漀眀椀渀最 琀攀攀琀栀 昀爀漀洀 戀攀栀椀渀搀 琀栀攀 栀漀漀搀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀氀漀愀欀⸀ 吀栀攀 猀琀攀渀挀栀 眀愀猀 猀琀爀漀渀最攀爀  
now, and Mush held back the urge to gag. Morris came closer. "You cannot protect ਀栀攀爀 昀漀爀攀瘀攀爀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀伀欀愀礀Ⰰ 眀攀✀爀攀 漀渀氀礀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 戀攀 椀渀 琀漀眀渀 昀漀爀 愀 昀攀眀 栀漀甀爀猀Ⰰ 猀漀  
make it quick." David said, handing each of his companions a slip of paper. Spot ਀氀漀漀欀攀搀 愀琀 栀椀猀 愀渀搀 爀攀愀氀椀稀攀搀 椀琀 眀愀猀 愀 猀栀漀瀀瀀椀渀最 氀椀猀琀 昀漀爀 猀甀瀀瀀氀椀攀猀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 眀攀爀攀  
running a bit low. He looked around the little town square and tried to locate ਀琀栀攀 琀愀瘀攀爀渀⸀ 䠀攀 眀愀猀 瀀氀愀渀渀椀渀最 漀渀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 愀 戀椀琀 漀昀 昀甀渀 愀昀琀攀爀 栀椀猀 樀漀戀 眀愀猀 搀漀渀攀⸀ 䘀爀漀洀  
the look on Jack's face, he must have been thinking the same. Their eyes met, ਀愀渀搀 琀栀攀礀 最爀椀渀渀攀搀Ⰰ 猀攀挀爀攀琀氀礀 挀漀渀昀椀爀洀椀渀最 琀栀攀椀爀 瀀氀愀渀猀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Shall we all just meet here after we're done?" Race asked, ਀昀爀漀眀渀椀渀最 愀琀 栀椀猀 氀椀猀琀⸀ 䤀琀 眀愀猀 愀 最漀漀搀 琀栀椀渀最 栀椀猀 氀椀猀琀 眀愀猀 猀漀 猀栀漀爀琀⸀ 䠀攀 眀愀猀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 愀  
hard time reading it. "Say about noon?" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䐀愀瘀椀搀 渀漀搀搀攀搀Ⰰ 栀愀渀搀椀渀最 攀愀挀栀 愀 猀洀愀氀氀 瀀漀甀挀栀 漀昀 挀漀椀渀猀⸀ ∀䐀漀  
whatever you would like, but be here at noon." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀⨀縀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>Spot wasn't watching where he was going again. The prince ਀眀愀猀 琀漀漀 戀甀猀礀 猀琀愀爀椀渀最 搀漀眀渀 愀琀 栀椀猀 氀椀猀琀 眀栀椀氀攀 樀甀最最氀椀渀最 栀椀猀 戀愀最 漀昀 猀甀瀀瀀氀椀攀猀 琀漀  
notice the knight before he ran right into him.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀匀漀爀爀礀Ⰰ 䤀☀∠ 匀瀀漀琀 氀漀漀欀攀搀 甀瀀 愀渀搀 猀琀漀瀀瀀攀搀 猀栀漀爀琀⸀ 䠀攀 栀愀搀 猀攀攀渀  
the knight before...a bounty hunter back in Brookville. It was Sir Snyder! At ਀琀栀攀 猀愀洀攀 琀椀洀攀Ⰰ 爀攀挀漀最渀椀琀椀漀渀 昀氀愀猀栀攀搀 漀瘀攀爀 琀栀攀 欀渀椀最栀琀✀猀 栀攀氀洀攀琀攀搀 昀愀挀攀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 戀攀昀漀爀攀  
he could react, the prince was off, dropping everything. The king's guards had ਀猀攀愀爀挀栀攀搀 昀愀爀 愀渀搀 栀愀瘀攀 渀漀眀 昀漀甀渀搀 栀椀洀⸀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Stop!" yelled the knight, and he took after the prince. ਀吀栀攀 爀攀眀愀爀搀 昀漀爀 栀椀猀 爀攀琀甀爀渀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 瘀攀爀礀 栀愀渀搀猀漀洀攀 椀渀搀攀攀搀⸀ 唀渀昀漀爀琀甀渀愀琀攀氀礀Ⰰ 栀攀 眀愀猀  
slow in full armor, and the prince was like lightning.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀匀瀀漀琀 爀愀渀 椀渀猀椀搀攀 琀栀攀 渀攀愀爀攀猀琀 戀甀椀氀搀椀渀最 愀渀搀 挀愀甀最栀琀 愀 最氀愀渀挀攀 漀昀  
Jack, chatting up with a servant girl. Before he could call out, the door swung ਀漀瀀攀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 欀渀椀最栀琀 爀甀猀栀攀搀 椀渀⸀ 䨀愀挀欀 猀愀眀 匀瀀漀琀 昀椀爀猀琀 愀渀搀 最爀椀渀渀攀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀渀 栀攀 猀愀眀  
the knight. "Blast!" Jack panicked. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䠀攀礀 礀漀甀℀∀ 琀栀攀 欀渀椀最栀琀 栀愀搀 爀攀挀漀最渀椀稀攀搀 琀栀攀 礀漀甀渀最 氀漀爀搀 愀猀  
well. "Sullivan! Stop right there!" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀吀栀攀 琀眀漀 昀爀椀攀渀搀猀 爀愀渀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 戀愀挀欀 搀漀漀爀Ⰰ 樀甀洀瀀椀渀最 漀瘀攀爀  
counters and spilling displays. The servant girl screamed, and the knight ਀昀漀氀氀漀眀攀搀Ⰰ 猀瀀椀氀氀椀渀最 洀漀爀攀 搀椀猀瀀氀愀礀猀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Split up!" Spot yelled as the two ran outside, and Jack ਀渀漀搀搀攀搀⸀ 吀栀攀 欀渀椀最栀琀 挀愀洀攀 漀甀琀 樀甀猀琀 琀栀攀渀 愀渀搀 洀愀渀愀最攀搀 琀漀 最爀愀戀 匀瀀漀琀✀猀 猀氀攀攀瘀攀⸀  
</SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䜀漀琀挀栀愀℀∀ 吀栀攀 欀渀椀最栀琀 最爀椀渀渀攀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䨀愀挀欀 琀甀爀渀攀搀 愀渀搀 猀眀甀渀最 栀椀猀  
fist straight at his face. The knight fell over, holding his nose and groaning, ਀愀渀搀 琀栀攀 琀眀漀 昀爀椀攀渀搀猀 琀漀漀欀 漀昀昀 漀渀挀攀 愀最愀椀渀⸀ 吀栀攀 欀渀椀最栀琀 最漀琀 甀瀀Ⰰ 猀眀漀爀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀愀眀 琀栀攀  
prince run into a tailor shop. He followed. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀吀栀攀 猀栀漀瀀 眀愀猀 瀀愀挀欀攀搀 琀椀最栀琀 眀椀琀栀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 匀瀀漀琀 戀爀攀愀琀栀攀搀 愀  
sigh of relieve. He might be able to blend in. He squeezed his way towards the ਀戀愀挀欀 愀渀搀 瀀爀攀琀攀渀搀攀搀 琀漀 愀搀洀椀爀攀 愀渀 攀氀攀最愀渀琀 挀氀漀愀欀⸀ 䠀攀 栀攀愀爀搀 琀栀攀 洀攀琀愀氀 挀氀愀渀最猀 愀猀 琀栀攀  
knight entered. He seemed to be moving closer. The prince slipped silently ਀昀愀爀琀栀攀爀 戀愀挀欀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 猀栀漀瀀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 愀猀 栀攀 瀀愀猀猀攀搀 愀 搀爀攀猀猀 爀愀挀欀Ⰰ 栀攀 昀攀氀琀 愀 琀甀最 漀渀 栀椀猀  
sleeve. He jumped. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䤀琀 眀愀猀 䰀甀渀愀⸀ 匀瀀漀琀 猀椀最栀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 爀攀氀椀攀昀 琀漀 猀攀攀 琀栀愀琀 椀昀 眀愀猀渀✀琀  
the knight, but he was getting closer. Luna was just opening her mouth to say ਀栀攀氀氀漀 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 欀渀椀最栀琀 猀甀搀搀攀渀氀礀 最氀愀渀挀攀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀椀爀 搀椀爀攀挀琀椀漀渀⸀ 匀瀀漀琀 瀀愀渀椀挀欀攀搀⸀  
Without thinking, he grabbed her and kissed her, hiding his face behind hers. It ਀眀愀猀 愀氀洀漀猀琀 愀 昀甀氀氀 洀椀渀甀琀攀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 猀栀攀 爀攀愀氀椀稀攀搀 眀栀愀琀 眀愀猀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀椀渀最Ⰰ 愀渀搀 猀栀攀 琀爀椀攀搀  
to protest, but his lips were muffling her words. The knight, not seeing the ਀瀀爀椀渀挀攀Ⰰ 最愀瘀攀 甀瀀 愀渀搀 氀攀昀琀 琀栀攀 猀栀漀瀀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>He finally seemed to notice her. "I'm terribly sorry about ਀琀栀愀琀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䤀 栀愀瘀攀 琀漀 最漀⸀∀ 䄀渀搀 栀攀 氀攀昀琀 琀栀攀 猀栀漀瀀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 瀀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 猀琀椀氀氀 猀琀愀渀搀椀渀最  
there with her jaw hung open in disbelief.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀吀栀攀渀 猀栀攀 渀漀琀椀挀攀搀 愀 眀漀洀愀渀 猀琀愀爀椀渀最 愀琀 栀攀爀 昀爀漀洀 漀渀攀 挀漀爀渀攀爀Ⰰ  
and embarrassed, she closed her mouth and slipped out the back door of the shop. ਀匀栀攀 猀琀漀瀀瀀攀搀 愀猀 琀栀攀 猀甀渀氀椀最栀琀 栀椀琀 栀攀爀 愀渀搀 猀栀攀 氀攀愀渀攀搀 愀最愀椀渀猀琀 琀栀攀 眀愀氀氀Ⰰ 戀爀攀愀琀栀椀渀最  
hard. She stood there until her breath slowed, and by then, shock turned into ਀愀渀最攀爀⸀ 圀栀漀 搀椀搀 栀攀 琀栀椀渀欀 栀攀 眀愀猀㼀 䐀椀搀 栀攀 琀栀椀渀欀 栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 樀甀猀琀 琀愀欀攀 愀搀瘀愀渀琀愀最攀 漀昀 栀攀爀  
like that? She could have him punished severely once they reached Lunerford. Now ਀猀栀攀 眀愀猀 挀漀渀瘀椀渀挀攀搀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀 椀渀挀椀搀攀渀琀 愀琀 琀栀攀 眀愀琀攀爀昀愀氀氀 愀 眀攀攀欀 愀最漀 眀愀猀 渀漀 愀挀挀椀搀攀渀琀⸀  
</SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀圀椀琀栀漀甀琀 琀栀椀渀欀椀渀最 䰀甀渀愀 戀爀漀甀最栀琀 栀攀爀 昀椀渀最攀爀琀椀瀀猀 琀漀 栀攀爀 氀椀瀀猀  
and remember the feeling of his soft lips on hers. Then she remembered how ਀焀甀椀挀欀氀礀 匀瀀漀琀 栀愀搀 氀攀昀琀 愀昀琀攀爀 琀栀愀琀⸀ 䠀攀爀 栀攀愀爀琀 猀愀渀欀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀䘀伀一吀 挀漀氀漀爀㴀⌀㌀㌀昀昀㌀㌀㸀㰀䈀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䌀栀愀瀀琀攀爀 匀攀瘀攀渀 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀㰀⼀䈀㸀㰀⼀䘀伀一吀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>Spot and Jack were late. It was at least one or two in the ਀愀昀琀攀爀渀漀漀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀礀 眀攀爀攀 猀琀椀氀氀 渀漀琀 愀琀 琀栀攀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 琀漀眀渀 猀焀甀愀爀攀⸀ 刀愀挀攀 猀琀漀瀀瀀攀搀  
pacing and dropped his heavy bags onto the ground. He had little patience. And ਀栀攀 眀愀猀 栀甀渀最爀礀⸀ 䰀甀渀愀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 猀攀攀洀 琀漀 挀愀爀攀 洀甀挀栀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 䐀愀瘀椀搀 挀漀甀氀搀 渀漀琀 猀琀愀渀搀 椀琀 愀渀礀  
longer either. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䰀漀漀欀Ⰰ 䤀 挀愀渀 最漀 氀漀漀欀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀洀⸀∀ 䐀愀瘀椀搀 猀愀椀搀⸀ 䠀攀 瀀甀琀 搀漀眀渀 栀椀猀  
bags. "You two stay here and watch the supplies. I'll be back in an hour at ਀洀漀猀琀⸀ 䐀漀渀✀琀 最漀 漀昀昀 攀氀猀攀眀栀攀爀攀 攀椀琀栀攀爀⸀ 圀攀✀瘀攀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 氀漀猀琀 琀眀漀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>And with that, the thief left towards the tavern. He was ਀猀甀爀攀 栀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 昀椀渀搀 琀栀攀 戀漀礀猀 琀栀攀爀攀⸀ 䠀攀 栀愀搀 猀攀攀渀 琀栀攀 氀漀漀欀猀 漀渀 琀栀攀椀爀 昀愀挀攀猀 琀栀愀琀  
morning, and chances are, they were dead drunk by now. He sighed with ਀攀砀愀猀瀀攀爀愀琀椀漀渀⸀ 吀栀漀猀攀 琀眀漀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 猀攀攀洀 琀漀 最攀琀 漀甀琀 洀甀挀栀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>He entered the tavern and paused to let his eyes adjust. It ਀眀愀猀 爀攀氀愀琀椀瘀攀氀礀 昀甀氀氀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 琀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 渀漀 猀椀最渀 漀昀 匀瀀漀琀 漀爀 䨀愀挀欀 愀渀礀眀栀攀爀攀Ⰰ 甀渀琀椀氀 琀栀攀礀  
were passed out on the floor. Perhaps the bartender had seen them, he thought, ਀愀渀搀 栀攀 眀愀猀 栀攀愀搀攀搀 琀漀眀愀爀搀猀 琀栀攀 挀漀甀渀琀攀爀 眀栀攀渀 栀攀 昀攀氀琀 愀 栀愀渀搀 漀渀 栀椀猀 猀栀漀甀氀搀攀爀⸀  
</SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䐀愀瘀椀搀Ⰰ 眀栀愀琀 愀爀攀 礀漀甀 搀漀椀渀最 栀攀爀攀㼀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>The thief turned around and smiled. "Meyers, what have you ਀戀攀攀渀 甀瀀 琀漀㼀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>Mush took a swig of beer from his half-empty mug and ਀最攀猀琀甀爀攀搀 琀漀 愀 渀攀愀爀戀礀 挀栀愀椀爀⸀ ∀倀甀氀氀 甀瀀 愀 猀攀愀琀Ⰰ 漀氀搀 昀爀椀攀渀搀℀ 䌀漀洀攀Ⰰ 搀爀椀渀欀 眀椀琀栀 洀攀 愀渀搀  
let's have a talk. It's been ages!"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䐀愀瘀椀搀 猀栀漀漀欀 栀椀猀 栀攀愀搀 戀甀琀 猀愀琀 搀漀眀渀 愀渀礀眀愀礀⸀ 䤀琀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀  
almost 3 months since he last saw Mush in Lunerford. It was quite a coincidence ਀琀栀愀琀 栀攀 猀栀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 栀攀爀攀 愀昀琀攀爀 愀氀氀 琀栀愀琀 琀椀洀攀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"So," Mush said, belching a bit, "what are you doing in ਀琀栀椀猀 瀀愀爀琀 漀昀 琀栀攀 挀漀甀渀琀爀礀㼀 吀栀攀爀攀✀猀 渀漀 洀漀渀攀礀 琀漀 戀攀 洀愀搀攀 栀攀爀攀Ⰰ 䐀愀瘀椀搀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>David scratch the side of his head, a bit embarrassed. "I, ਀甀洀⸀⸀⸀䤀 愀洀 甀渀搀攀爀 愀 戀椀琀 漀昀 愀渀 漀戀氀椀最愀琀椀漀渀 爀椀最栀琀 渀漀眀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"You got caught, huh? They're</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀最漀渀渀愀 猀琀爀椀渀最 礀漀甀㼀∀ 䴀甀猀栀 最爀椀渀渀攀搀⸀ ∀䰀攀琀 洀攀 欀渀漀眀 眀栀攀渀 愀渀搀  
where and maybe I'll help you out a bit." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀吀栀攀 搀攀愀氀 椀猀 琀栀愀琀 䤀 琀愀欀攀 琀栀攀洀 琀漀 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䤀✀洀 昀爀攀攀 琀漀  
go. You know how I can't back out of my words." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀圀栀漀 眀愀猀 椀琀 琀栀椀猀 琀椀洀攀㼀 匀椀爀 䜀攀渀琀爀礀㼀 吀栀漀洀愀猀 漀昀 夀漀爀欀㼀 圀栀漀 最漀琀  
you this time?" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䐀愀瘀椀搀 爀攀搀搀攀渀攀搀⸀ ∀吀眀漀 瀀攀愀猀愀渀琀 氀愀搀猀 眀椀琀栀 猀漀洀攀 爀漀瀀攀 愀渀搀 愀  
sword out of nowhere, and right in the middle of a raid. My gang had just hit ਀琀栀椀猀 挀愀洀瀀 搀漀眀渀 戀礀 䌀愀氀戀爀椀搀最攀☀∠㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Calbridge?" Mush interrupted. It sounded familiar, as if ਀栀攀 栀愀搀 戀攀攀渀 琀栀攀爀攀 爀攀挀攀渀琀氀礀⸀ 吀栀攀渀 琀栀攀 琀栀漀甀最栀琀 栀椀琀 栀椀洀⸀ 䠀愀爀搀⸀ ∀圀愀猀 椀琀⸀⸀⸀∀Ⰰ 栀攀  
swallowed, "a girl and another lad?" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀夀攀猀⸀∀ 䐀愀瘀椀搀 瀀愀甀猀攀搀⸀ ∀䠀漀眀 搀椀搀 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀 琀栀愀琀㼀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>Mush ignored the question. "The girl...she had dark hair. ਀刀攀愀氀氀礀 戀椀最 戀爀漀眀渀 攀礀攀猀⸀ 䄀渀搀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀椀猀 琀愀氀氀㼀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>David nodded, and Mush swore. He took another swig of beer ਀愀渀搀 猀眀愀氀氀漀眀攀搀 椀琀 猀氀漀眀氀礀⸀ 圀栀愀琀 眀攀爀攀 琀栀攀 挀栀愀渀挀攀猀⸀⸀⸀⸀㼀 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Do you realize who she is?" Mush asked slowly. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䰀甀渀愀Ⰰ 愀 挀漀愀琀洀愀欀攀爀✀猀 搀愀甀最栀琀攀爀 昀爀漀洀 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀 瘀椀猀椀琀椀渀最 栀攀爀  
aunt?" David was confused. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䴀甀猀栀 氀攀愀渀攀搀 椀渀 挀氀漀猀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 戀爀攀愀琀栀椀渀最 栀愀爀搀Ⰰ 栀攀 眀栀椀猀瀀攀爀攀搀Ⰰ  
"She is none other than Abigail of the House of Morgan." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䐀愀瘀椀搀✀猀 樀愀眀 搀爀漀瀀瀀攀搀⸀ ∀吀栀攀 倀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 漀昀 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀㼀℀ 䈀甀琀 栀漀眀  
did you…?"</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䤀 眀愀猀 琀栀攀 漀渀攀 眀栀漀 欀椀搀渀愀瀀瀀攀搀 栀攀爀⸀∀ 䴀甀猀栀 猀愀椀搀 猀漀氀攀洀渀氀礀⸀ ∀䤀  
was suppose to kill her." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䐀愀瘀椀搀 挀漀甀氀搀 渀漀琀 猀愀礀 愀 眀漀爀搀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Look, something big is happening in Lunerford." Mush said, ਀愀戀愀渀搀漀渀椀渀最 栀椀猀 搀爀椀渀欀⸀ ∀䄀 洀愀渀 渀愀洀攀搀 䴀漀爀爀椀猀 愀瀀瀀爀漀愀挀栀攀搀 洀攀 愀 昀攀眀 眀攀攀欀猀 愀最漀 愀渀搀  
offered me the job...to kill her. I almost did it. I later overheard him talking ਀琀漀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 攀氀猀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 愀渀 漀瘀攀爀琀栀爀漀眀⸀ 䰀甀渀攀爀昀漀爀搀 愀渀搀 䈀爀漀漀欀瘀椀氀氀攀 愀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀漀 攀洀戀愀爀欀  
on the largest peace treaty ever, possibly resulting in the union of both if not ਀漀渀攀 渀愀琀椀漀渀⸀ 匀漀洀攀漀渀攀 椀猀 琀爀礀椀渀最 琀漀 戀爀攀愀欀 眀愀爀Ⰰ 䐀愀瘀椀搀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"Blast." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀䴀漀爀爀椀猀 椀猀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 琀爀礀 琀漀 欀椀氀氀 栀攀爀⸀ 䠀攀 搀漀攀猀渀✀琀 欀渀漀眀 眀栀攀爀攀  
she is right now, but I'll bet he has people finding out for him right now." ਀䴀甀猀栀 眀栀椀猀瀀攀爀攀搀 愀渀搀 瀀愀甀猀攀搀 愀猀 愀 戀愀爀洀愀椀搀 眀愀氀欀攀搀 戀礀⸀ 䠀攀 挀漀渀琀椀渀甀攀搀⸀ ∀䈀攀 挀愀爀攀昀甀氀Ⰰ  
David. Once Morris finds out that she's with you, no one can get in his way. ਀圀愀琀挀栀 昀漀爀 愀渀礀漀渀攀 眀栀漀 椀猀 最攀琀琀椀渀最 琀漀漀 挀氀漀猀攀⸀∀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"The peasant lads..." David muttered. Now that he thought ਀愀戀漀甀琀 椀琀Ⰰ 眀栀愀琀 眀攀爀攀 琀眀漀 瀀攀愀猀愀渀琀猀 搀漀椀渀最 眀椀琀栀 猀眀漀爀搀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 洀椀搀搀氀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 眀漀漀搀猀  
anyway? And the bright-eyed one obviously knew some technique. That would also ਀攀砀瀀氀愀椀渀 琀栀攀椀爀 漀搀搀Ⰰ 猀攀挀爀攀琀椀瘀攀 戀攀栀愀瘀椀漀爀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀猀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"I can only follow you and safe watch from a distance." ਀䴀甀猀栀 猀愀椀搀 愀猀 栀攀 瀀氀愀挀攀搀 猀漀洀攀 挀漀椀渀猀 漀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 琀愀戀氀攀⸀ ∀吀栀攀 最椀爀氀 爀攀挀漀最渀椀稀攀猀 洀攀⸀ 吀愀欀攀  
her back to Lunerford, and I'll figure it out there."</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䄀渀搀 䴀甀猀栀 䴀攀礀攀爀猀 猀琀漀漀搀 甀瀀 愀渀搀 氀攀昀琀 琀栀攀 琀愀瘀攀爀渀⸀ 䐀愀瘀椀搀 挀漀甀氀搀  
only sit and think about everything that had passed between them. Luna was ਀倀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 䄀戀椀最愀椀氀㼀 䄀 戀愀爀洀愀椀搀 挀愀洀攀 戀礀 琀漀 瀀椀挀欀 甀瀀 䴀甀猀栀✀猀 挀漀椀渀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 戀攀攀爀 眀栀攀渀 栀攀  
felt two hands on his shoulder. He jumped in his seat.</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀圀栀漀愀Ⰰ 搀椀搀渀✀琀 洀攀愀渀 琀漀 猀挀愀爀攀 礀漀甀⸀∀ 匀瀀漀琀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 最爀椀渀渀椀渀最⸀ ∀圀攀  
thought we'd find you here. Race and Luna are looking for you." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀圀栀攀爀攀 栀愀瘀攀 礀漀甀 琀眀漀 戀攀攀渀㼀∀ 吀栀攀 琀栀椀攀昀 愀猀欀攀搀 挀愀爀攀昀甀氀氀礀⸀  
</SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀吀栀攀 琀眀漀 漀昀 琀栀攀洀 攀砀挀栀愀渀最攀搀 洀椀猀挀栀椀攀瘀漀甀猀 最氀愀渀挀攀猀⸀ ∀圀攀Ⰰ  
um...got lost." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䐀愀瘀椀搀 猀挀愀渀渀攀搀 琀栀攀椀爀 昀愀挀攀猀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 挀漀甀氀搀渀✀琀 戀攀 䴀漀爀爀椀猀✀ 洀攀渀Ⰰ  
could they? </SMALL>਀ 
<P align=left><FONT color=#33ff33><B><SMALL>Chapter Eight </SMALL></B></FONT>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䤀琀 眀愀猀 渀椀挀攀 琀漀 戀攀 戀愀挀欀 椀渀 琀栀攀 搀攀渀猀攀 昀漀爀攀猀琀⸀ 䐀愀瘀椀搀 洀椀猀猀攀搀  
the quietness of the trees. He heard nothing but Race yapping all day as they ਀挀愀洀攀 戀愀挀欀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 琀漀眀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 渀漀眀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 栀愀搀 爀攀琀椀爀攀搀 琀漀 栀椀猀 琀攀渀琀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 渀椀最栀琀Ⰰ  
David could actually think some. The rest of the gang were usually quiet, and it ਀眀愀猀 挀漀渀昀甀猀椀渀最⸀ 䐀愀瘀椀搀 琀栀爀攀眀 愀 昀攀眀 洀漀爀攀 搀爀礀 戀爀愀渀挀栀攀猀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 搀椀洀洀椀渀最 昀椀爀攀 愀渀搀  
watched as it crackled. From the corner of his eye, he could see Spot and Jack, ਀氀愀甀最栀椀渀最 漀瘀攀爀 猀漀洀攀 猀攀挀爀攀琀 洀愀琀琀攀爀⸀ 䰀甀渀愀⸀⸀⸀渀漀Ⰰ 倀爀椀渀挀攀猀猀 䄀戀椀最愀椀氀Ⰰ 栀攀 栀愀搀 琀漀 挀漀爀爀攀挀琀  
himself, was off by herself, throwing little glances at the two. He wanted to ਀琀愀氀欀 琀漀 栀攀爀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 猀漀洀攀栀漀眀 欀渀漀眀椀渀最 眀栀愀琀 栀攀 欀渀攀眀Ⰰ 栀攀 昀攀氀琀 漀甀琀 漀昀 瀀氀愀挀攀⸀ 匀栀攀 洀甀猀琀  
feel very out of place. She had not said more than a dozen words since the gang ਀氀攀昀琀 琀栀攀 琀漀眀渀⸀ 䠀攀 眀愀琀挀栀攀搀 栀攀爀 挀愀爀攀昀甀氀氀礀⸀ 匀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 栀愀搀 栀愀瀀瀀攀渀攀搀 椀渀 琀栀攀 琀漀眀渀Ⰰ  
something more than just Mush's story. David sighed to himself. He wish he knew ਀眀栀愀琀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</SMALL> ਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䄀戀椀最愀椀氀 挀漀甀氀搀 渀漀琀 猀氀攀攀瀀⸀ 䔀瘀攀爀礀 琀椀洀攀 猀栀攀 挀氀漀猀攀搀 栀攀爀 攀礀攀猀Ⰰ  
she kept seeing Spot in the darkness. The anger from the afternoon had faded, ਀戀甀琀 椀琀 栀愀搀 氀攀昀琀 猀漀洀攀琀栀椀渀最 戀攀栀椀渀搀 琀栀愀琀 栀甀爀琀 攀瘀攀渀 洀漀爀攀⸀ 圀栀礀 搀椀搀 猀栀攀 挀愀爀攀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀椀洀  
and what he did? She sighed. Why couldn't she approach him that evening? She ਀欀渀攀眀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 渀漀 漀渀攀 漀昀 挀漀渀猀攀焀甀攀渀挀攀 琀漀 栀椀洀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 礀攀琀 猀栀攀 眀愀猀 猀漀 攀洀戀愀爀爀愀猀猀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀  
thought. He might be bragging it to all the lads right now, laughing. Race would ਀氀愀甀最栀⸀ 一漀Ⰰ 椀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 渀漀琀 搀漀⸀ 匀栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 渀漀琀 栀漀氀搀 椀琀 漀昀昀 愀渀礀 氀漀渀最攀爀⸀ 匀栀攀 栀愀搀 琀漀  
speak with him. </SMALL>਀㰀倀  
align=left><SMALL>~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~</SMALL> ਀ 
<P align=left><SMALL>Spot awoke slowly. He thought he heard someone call his ਀渀愀洀攀⸀ 䤀琀 眀愀猀 猀琀椀氀氀 焀甀椀琀攀 搀愀爀欀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀渀✀琀 猀攀攀 愀 琀栀椀渀最⸀ 䠀攀 眀愀椀琀攀搀 昀漀爀 栀椀猀  
eyes to focus. The tent was open, he could see the bright moonlight pouring in. ਀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Spot!" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䄀渀搀 栀攀 挀漀甀氀搀 猀攀攀 栀攀爀 渀漀眀Ⰰ 戀礀 琀栀攀 攀渀琀爀愀渀挀攀⸀ 䤀琀 眀愀猀 䰀甀渀愀⸀ 䠀攀  
felt himself blush and tried to hide it as he left the tent to join her outside. ਀㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"Look, I'm sorry to have bothered you at this time..." She ਀戀攀最愀渀 愀渀搀 琀爀愀椀氀攀搀 漀昀昀⸀ 匀栀攀 眀愀猀 挀漀洀戀椀渀最 琀栀爀漀甀最栀 栀攀爀 栀愀椀爀 眀椀琀栀 栀攀爀 昀椀渀最攀爀猀Ⰰ 琀爀礀椀渀最  
not to look nervous. He watched her fidget in order to avoid her eyes. It was ਀愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀攀 欀椀猀猀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"I didn't mean anything," he started and then hesitated, "I ਀洀攀愀渀 䤀 搀椀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀⸀⸀⸀䤀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 洀攀愀渀 琀漀 琀愀欀攀 愀搀瘀愀渀琀愀最攀 漀昀 礀漀甀⸀ 䤀 樀甀猀琀⸀⸀⸀䤀 樀甀猀琀  
thought it was best to forget the whole thing ever happened. I didn't mean ਀琀漀⸀⸀⸀眀攀氀氀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀⸀ 吀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 琀栀椀猀 洀愀渀Ⰰ 栀攀 眀愀猀 挀栀愀猀椀渀最 洀攀 愀渀搀⸀⸀⸀䤀 眀愀猀 爀甀渀渀椀渀最  
and...you were there and...he couldn't see me if I..." </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀䰀甀渀愀 猀愀椀搀 渀漀琀栀椀渀最⸀ 䠀攀 眀愀琀挀栀攀搀 栀攀爀 昀椀渀最攀爀猀 猀氀漀眀氀礀 琀漀甀挀栀 栀攀爀  
lips and pull sharply away. She spoke. "So you are a criminal?" </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀一漀℀∀ 匀瀀漀琀 猀愀椀搀 猀栀愀爀瀀氀礀Ⰰ 愀 戀椀琀 愀氀愀爀洀攀搀⸀ 䠀攀 搀椀搀渀✀琀 眀愀渀琀 栀攀爀  
to know the truth, but he didn't what her to think badly of him either. "I mean, ਀栀攀 愀渀搀 䤀 眀攀爀攀 渀漀琀 漀渀 最漀漀搀 琀攀爀洀猀⸀∀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>He could see that her coldness rising as she turned away ਀昀爀漀洀 栀椀洀⸀ 䠀攀 搀攀戀愀琀攀搀 眀栀攀琀栀攀爀 漀爀 渀漀琀 琀漀 琀攀氀氀 栀攀爀 琀栀攀 琀爀甀琀栀Ⰰ 愀琀 氀攀愀猀琀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀攀  
kiss. Besides it saving his life for the time being...he was afraid to admit ਀琀栀愀琀 椀琀 眀愀猀 洀漀爀攀 琀栀愀渀 琀栀愀琀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 猀琀漀漀搀 昀漀爀 洀愀渀礀 洀椀渀甀琀攀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀椀猀 攀礀攀猀 眀攀爀攀  
slowly drawn to her again. Her face was shining with the moonlight. He mumbled, ਀∀䴀礀 䜀漀搀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 愀爀攀 氀漀瘀攀氀礀☀∠㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀  
<P align=left><SMALL>"What?" She whirled around, surprising him, and suddenly, ਀匀瀀漀琀 爀攀愀氀椀稀攀搀 栀攀 栀愀搀 猀愀椀搀 琀栀漀猀攀 眀漀爀搀猀 愀氀漀甀搀⸀ 㰀⼀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀 
<P align=left><SMALL>"I'm sorry I didn't mean..." And without thinking, he ਀爀攀愀挀栀攀搀 琀漀 栀漀氀搀 栀攀爀 栀愀渀搀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 匀瀀漀琀 挀漀甀氀搀 攀瘀攀渀 洀漀瘀攀 昀漀爀眀愀爀搀Ⰰ 琀栀攀爀攀 眀愀猀 愀  
sword at his throat. </SMALL>਀㰀倀 愀氀椀最渀㴀氀攀昀琀㸀㰀匀䴀䄀䰀䰀㸀∀匀琀漀瀀 爀椀最栀琀 琀栀攀爀攀⸀∀ 䄀渀 甀渀昀愀洀椀氀椀愀爀 瘀漀椀挀攀 戀攀猀椀搀攀 栀椀洀 猀愀椀搀⸀  
</SMALL>਀ 
਀ 
<center>਀㰀倀㸀㰀䄀 栀爀攀昀㴀∀攀琀攀爀渀椀琀礀㈀⸀栀琀洀氀∀㸀刀攀愀搀 漀渀㰀⼀䄀㸀  
਀ 
<P><A HREF="storieso.html">Back to stories</A>਀㰀䈀刀㸀㰀䄀 䠀刀䔀䘀㴀∀栀漀洀攀⸀栀琀洀氀∀㸀䠀漀洀攀㰀⼀䄀㸀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀 
਀ 
</BODY>਀㰀⼀䠀吀䴀䰀㸀 
�