Ch. 9: The King of Thieves
Alanna couldn't think. She didn't think. All that was going through her head was the need to save the prince of Tortall. The next couple of seconds seemed to go in slow motion for her, the violet vile kissing the prince's lips, the sparkling goblet turned slightly, and the steady hand slowly allowing the liquid to come closer to its destination. A realization flashed through Alanna's mind. 'I won't be able to make it in time. He's too far away.' But she wouldn't give up, she couldn't.
Suddenly, like a flash of lightning, a man in hiding jumped out from behind a fine, turquoise curtain and quickly knocked the poisoned glass out of the Prince's hand. The Lioness watched as the fine china flew into the air, shattering as it struck the expensive, marbled floor, spilling its bitter contents. Everything seemed to freeze, wide eyes turned, shocked. The prince was standing in a puddle of punch, glass surrounding him, too stunned to move.
"It's the King of Thieves!" a booming voice exclaimed, harshly cutting into the silence. "Catch him!"
The rescuer swiftly surveyed his surroundings, plotting an escape. Soldiers quickly poured in from the entrances of the grand room grasping swords and bows in their hands.
"Block the exits! Don't let him escape!"
The clever thief swiftly leaped onto a nearby piano and then jumped quickly, grabbing the ledge of the next level in his hands, pulling himself up and swinging his long, lean legs over the railing. He then pulled out his silver, carefully crafted, sword and gripped the green curtain in his hands, pulling it down.
Arrows suddenly started piercing the air, arising terrified cries as women clung to their suitors. Alanna stood below watching in awe as the mysterious man threw down the curtain, landing on many below, blocking the view of soldiers. The thief aroused surprised gasps and dropped chins as he unexpectedly leaped into the air barely managing to grasp the bottom of the shiny, exquisite chandelier, his body swinging through the air. He released his hold and soared through the air, his sword positioned in front of him. The weapon struck the glass of a nearby window, shattering it. The man flew through the shards of glass out the now open window, permitting his escape. There was a loud splash as his body hit the icy waters of the glistening lake outside.
"GET HIM!" the commander shouted as the soldiers quickly exited in hopes of catching up to the witty thief.
The confusion and panic of the nobles and servants slowly released as the buzzing of their whispers filled the room. Alanna stood mystified staring at the broken window. That man stirred up feelings of curiosity in her. 'Who was he?' She jumped startled as she felt someone's hand on her shoulder and turned quickly.
"Jonathan!"
The prince pulled her in a quick embrace. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. How about you?"
"Just a bit shaken up."
"Prince Jonathan," a young soldier interrupted. "You're going to have to come with us for safety measures."
The prince sighed and nodded in agreement as he grasped Alanna's small hand in his big one, pulling her with him. They quickly walked through the deserted hallways and into a small room where the king, queen, and many other soldiers were residing. They sat down on royal blue chairs, everyone quiet.
A knock interrupted the silence as Sir Gareth of Naxen the senior entered. "It was indeed poisoned. Someone tried to murder the prince." He stated gravely.
The queen let out a cry as she buried her face into her hands. Her husband put his arm around her shaking shoulders, trying to comfort her. Jon gripped Alanna's hand painfully tight, his knuckles turning white.
"And the man?" the King questioned.
"Escaped without a trace."
"He...He tried to poison my son!" the queen hiccupped.
Jon glanced up in surprise. "No Mother, he saved me! If it weren't for him, I'd be dead!"
"Your mother's right Prince Jonathan. We have reason to believe that the King of Thieves planted poison into your cup."
"What?!" Alanna exclaimed without thinking. "Then why'd he save him? How dense could you be? Maybe you should inspect other people that are more likely to have done it, like maybe your dear Ro-"
She was cut off harshly, "Lady Alanna, it would be best if you hold your tongue or we will have to escort you out."
"You don't have to, I'm sure I can find my way out." She retorted, her temper flaring to life. Alanna turned to the prince, her face softening. "Thank you for escorting me to the ball tonight your highness." Her eyes held his for a moment; then faced the King and Queen. "Milord, milady," she whispered, showing respect, curtsying. With that she spun around and exited the room, her dress swooshing behind her.
Lady Trebond walked through the quiet corridors, trying to shake the accusation that this conspiracy had to do with Roger. Her dislike for him, though only conversing with him once, made her distrust him more than ever. She knew one thing for certain though, the man in that room two nights ago had to be involved in this. He just had to be.
She pulled out her golden key and slipped it through the knob, opening the door. It was dark and she could hardly see as she placed her belongings on the bed. Alanna sat down tiredly and pulled off her tight shoes freeing her small feet and released the clip in her hair, causing her copper curls to cascade gently, encircling her shoulders.
The Lioness stiffened as she felt someone watching her. She spun around hastily and there, sitting on her window ledge under the moonlight, was a man with auburn hair shifting with the wind, a slightly large, crooked nose that looked as if it had been broken various times, and warm, dancing hazel eyes. She froze.
"You...You're..."
The man's eyes lit up amused watching her fight for words. "The King of Thieves," he said, opening his arms as if to present himself. "At your service milady."
A/N: Review please!! I value your opinions! :)
Till Next Time,
*~*SportzGurl*~*
PS: If you want to be on my update list, give me your email address in your review! Thanks!
Alanna couldn't think. She didn't think. All that was going through her head was the need to save the prince of Tortall. The next couple of seconds seemed to go in slow motion for her, the violet vile kissing the prince's lips, the sparkling goblet turned slightly, and the steady hand slowly allowing the liquid to come closer to its destination. A realization flashed through Alanna's mind. 'I won't be able to make it in time. He's too far away.' But she wouldn't give up, she couldn't.
Suddenly, like a flash of lightning, a man in hiding jumped out from behind a fine, turquoise curtain and quickly knocked the poisoned glass out of the Prince's hand. The Lioness watched as the fine china flew into the air, shattering as it struck the expensive, marbled floor, spilling its bitter contents. Everything seemed to freeze, wide eyes turned, shocked. The prince was standing in a puddle of punch, glass surrounding him, too stunned to move.
"It's the King of Thieves!" a booming voice exclaimed, harshly cutting into the silence. "Catch him!"
The rescuer swiftly surveyed his surroundings, plotting an escape. Soldiers quickly poured in from the entrances of the grand room grasping swords and bows in their hands.
"Block the exits! Don't let him escape!"
The clever thief swiftly leaped onto a nearby piano and then jumped quickly, grabbing the ledge of the next level in his hands, pulling himself up and swinging his long, lean legs over the railing. He then pulled out his silver, carefully crafted, sword and gripped the green curtain in his hands, pulling it down.
Arrows suddenly started piercing the air, arising terrified cries as women clung to their suitors. Alanna stood below watching in awe as the mysterious man threw down the curtain, landing on many below, blocking the view of soldiers. The thief aroused surprised gasps and dropped chins as he unexpectedly leaped into the air barely managing to grasp the bottom of the shiny, exquisite chandelier, his body swinging through the air. He released his hold and soared through the air, his sword positioned in front of him. The weapon struck the glass of a nearby window, shattering it. The man flew through the shards of glass out the now open window, permitting his escape. There was a loud splash as his body hit the icy waters of the glistening lake outside.
"GET HIM!" the commander shouted as the soldiers quickly exited in hopes of catching up to the witty thief.
The confusion and panic of the nobles and servants slowly released as the buzzing of their whispers filled the room. Alanna stood mystified staring at the broken window. That man stirred up feelings of curiosity in her. 'Who was he?' She jumped startled as she felt someone's hand on her shoulder and turned quickly.
"Jonathan!"
The prince pulled her in a quick embrace. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. How about you?"
"Just a bit shaken up."
"Prince Jonathan," a young soldier interrupted. "You're going to have to come with us for safety measures."
The prince sighed and nodded in agreement as he grasped Alanna's small hand in his big one, pulling her with him. They quickly walked through the deserted hallways and into a small room where the king, queen, and many other soldiers were residing. They sat down on royal blue chairs, everyone quiet.
A knock interrupted the silence as Sir Gareth of Naxen the senior entered. "It was indeed poisoned. Someone tried to murder the prince." He stated gravely.
The queen let out a cry as she buried her face into her hands. Her husband put his arm around her shaking shoulders, trying to comfort her. Jon gripped Alanna's hand painfully tight, his knuckles turning white.
"And the man?" the King questioned.
"Escaped without a trace."
"He...He tried to poison my son!" the queen hiccupped.
Jon glanced up in surprise. "No Mother, he saved me! If it weren't for him, I'd be dead!"
"Your mother's right Prince Jonathan. We have reason to believe that the King of Thieves planted poison into your cup."
"What?!" Alanna exclaimed without thinking. "Then why'd he save him? How dense could you be? Maybe you should inspect other people that are more likely to have done it, like maybe your dear Ro-"
She was cut off harshly, "Lady Alanna, it would be best if you hold your tongue or we will have to escort you out."
"You don't have to, I'm sure I can find my way out." She retorted, her temper flaring to life. Alanna turned to the prince, her face softening. "Thank you for escorting me to the ball tonight your highness." Her eyes held his for a moment; then faced the King and Queen. "Milord, milady," she whispered, showing respect, curtsying. With that she spun around and exited the room, her dress swooshing behind her.
Lady Trebond walked through the quiet corridors, trying to shake the accusation that this conspiracy had to do with Roger. Her dislike for him, though only conversing with him once, made her distrust him more than ever. She knew one thing for certain though, the man in that room two nights ago had to be involved in this. He just had to be.
She pulled out her golden key and slipped it through the knob, opening the door. It was dark and she could hardly see as she placed her belongings on the bed. Alanna sat down tiredly and pulled off her tight shoes freeing her small feet and released the clip in her hair, causing her copper curls to cascade gently, encircling her shoulders.
The Lioness stiffened as she felt someone watching her. She spun around hastily and there, sitting on her window ledge under the moonlight, was a man with auburn hair shifting with the wind, a slightly large, crooked nose that looked as if it had been broken various times, and warm, dancing hazel eyes. She froze.
"You...You're..."
The man's eyes lit up amused watching her fight for words. "The King of Thieves," he said, opening his arms as if to present himself. "At your service milady."
A/N: Review please!! I value your opinions! :)
Till Next Time,
*~*SportzGurl*~*
PS: If you want to be on my update list, give me your email address in your review! Thanks!