It was probably the most grotesque penmanship the royals had ever received, but it would do. I squinted in the dark to try to inspect my work.
Arabella,
I’m on the run for Drancos. The marriage law needs to be changed. Please help those who aren’t as lucky as I.
-Aurelia
The words were crooked and varied in size, but it was legible. I folded the stolen letter, and slowly returned it to its delivery crate. A deep satisfied sigh escaped my lungs as I settled back into my hidden corner.
I had done it. I was free and, with any luck, Queen Arabella would reform the law for good. Nothing could stop me now!
My eyes drifted closed as the rocking of the wagon began to lull me to sleep. I had nearly submitted to slumber when the wagon jolted to a stop and a terrifying voice pierced my refuge.
“Good evening. My name is Samuel Colburn, and I need to search your wagon.”
chapter seventeen
I quietly scrambled to my feet to press my ear to the caravan wall.
“I beg your pardon, sir, but this caravan is under the protection of the Isallan military. I can’t allow you to simply rummage through it,” the wagon guard stated firmly.
I exhaled a little too loudly at his reply. Thankfully, I had chosen a protected wagon to travel in. The guard wasn’t likely to let a lowly bounty hunter ransack his ward. I allowed the slightest bit of tension to release from my shoulders, but it was short-lived.
“I don’t believe you caught my name, sir,” Mr. Colburn continued coldly. “I am Samuel Colburn, the Isallan bounty hunter who has aided in the capture of the crown’s greatest threats. As of current, I am following a trail for a missing noble who I believe to be hiding in your wagon.” A deadly silence followed his words, and I could only imagine the challenging looks passing between the three of them.
“Do you have any identification on you, Mr. Colburn?” the guard inquired.
“Indeed.”
My previous anxieties returned. It was only a matter of moments before the guard confirmed his identity and let him search the wagon. My head spun dizzily as I tried to conjure up any plan for escape. My heart continued to race as the sounds of confirmation resonated through the wooden walls and their footsteps grew nearer.
I didn’t have a plan—I didn’t even have any semblance of where I was—but I knew I wasn’t done yet. There was no way I was giving up now, not after how much it took to get here. I refused to become Lady Dugal. They could send as many magical hunters as they wanted, this wasn’t how my story was going to end.
My hands shook with adrenaline as I crouched behind a stack of crates. I pulled my hood up over my head, hoping that by some miracle I wouldn’t be recognized, although, I knew that was wishful thinking at this point. I held my breath as the hatch swung open and the eerie glow of a flickering lantern cast shadows amongst the crates. Voices from the three men carried into the wagon, but I didn’t interpret any of them. My mind was too focused. A light shaking of the wagon indicated that someone was coming inside.
The tall, broad-shouldered man climbed heavily into the wagon, his attention locked forward. His dark hair contrasted the lightest touch of silver streaked behind his ear. The unmistakable mark of a mage nearly distracted me momentarily before my muscles leapt into action.
With all my meager strength, I pushed a stack of crates directly into the hunter. The heavy wooden boxes crumbled out of their positions and tumbled down upon the man. In a split-second, he turned his attention toward my efforts and his dark eyes met mine. A frozen moment of fear took over me as anger poured out through his gaze. His furious expression threatened to do more than just apprehend me as the crates toppled down upon him. A cold shiver ran down my spine as he jumped toward me. But before he could outstretch his hand far enough, the force of the crates pushed him to the ground. He crashed face-first in front of me, his arms angrily stretched out on my direction.
Without turning back, I darted out of the wagon, passing a dumbfounded driver and guard. The guard pulled his sword the moment I ran past him, but he wasn’t prepared enough to stop me.
“You! Stop!” he shouted, but I kept my feet moving.
Angered shouts followed as I darted in and out of the woods. I tried to keep in the direction of the road to avoid getting lost again, but the woods provided better cover. Fortunately, no horse whinnies or hoof clicks could be heard pursuing me. The carriers must have sent the hunter after me on his own. One man was certainly preferable over three on horseback. I had a chance of out maneuvering him.
The hunter clearly had more strength than I did, but I was more agile. I dashed under tight limbs, ran across delicate logs, and squeezed through tight spaces. Being small had the advantage of going wherever only small people could. He would have to go around the obstacles I could go through, and that meant I had a good chance of escape.
My sprint continued without falter for longer than I cared to gauge. I was huffing desperately by the time my feet collapsed out from under me. Once my breath had caught up to me, the searing pain in my ankle reminded me that I had just expended all my adrenaline. A silent forest informed me that I had lost the hunter, at least for now. If I remained still for long, then the likelihood of being found would only increase. I took a moment to recuperate my energy.
Ignoring my swollen ankle, I trotted farther down the edge of the road in search of any recognizable landmarks. My foot had healed a great deal since my last adventure into the woods, but that sprint had reversed a lot of my progress. I probably didn’t have long before it stopped allowing me to walk entirely.
As I continued to tread in and out of the woods, something between the trees caught my attention. I approached the familiar patch of forest and discovered the ruthless ditch that had sprained my ankle in the first place. It wasn’t much of a landmark, but I had an idea where I was now. Also, I had a general idea of where the Oberon estate was from here. A low sigh, that came out more as a growl escaped from my breath.
Looks like I had to go back to my least favorite manor once more. How did this keep happening? It was as if I was trapped amongst an endless race where the start line never stopped following me.
With a dissatisfied groan, I marched back to the Oberon estate. Truthfully, I wasn’t as depressed about going back as I should have been. After all, I would get to see Elias and Bear again. I suppose I missed Bear a lot more than I thought I would. Surely, that was why I wanted to go back.
My slow trudge grew slightly more chipper as a warm joy spread throughout me. Would they be happy to see me? I wonder what Elias would say? What if he was irritated that I kept returning? My footsteps slowed a little at that thought, but I quickly shook it off and continued forward.