Missing!

Adara stood gazing after Sir Adrian for a moment. Then she turned to the man.

“What are you going to do with me?” she asked, indignantly.

He looked at her silently.

“Well?” Adara exclaimed.

“Get your horse,” he ordered.

Adara untied her mare. The man led a horse from the bushes. Then he asked curtly, “Do you have a scarf?”

She nodded. The man held out his hand. Adara slowly unwound it and handed it to him. He took it, blindfolded her and then helped her mount her horse. Taking her reins, he led her horse.

They rode for some time in silence. Adara wished that she could see where she was. But as she could not tell whether he was looking at her or not, she dared not remove the scarf from her eyes.

Suddenly they stopped. The man dropped back beside her.

“We are going to ford a river,” he explained gruffly.

Then he rode ahead again. He took her reins once more. Adara then felt them go down a bank. Water sprayed on her dress and soaked it. They splashed along. Then the horses began swimming. Finally, they reached the other side. They mounted the slippery bank. The man paused once more, to rest the horses, then they continued.

* * * * *

At the palace, King Raymond paced the floor.

“War!” he cried, “I do not want to declare war!”

“You do not have to,” this came from the man, sitting across the room, “King Leon has attacked your fort. He has declared war.”

“Yes, yes!” exclaimed King Raymond, impatiently, “But I do not wish to fight him! I will, but I don’t want to!”

Lord Garth smiled, “Of course you will!” he exclaimed, “You are merely defending your kingdom and people.”

“Yes,” said the King, “I would give everything for my people. They love me, they trust me! I would give my life for them, if it would add to their welfare.”

Lord Garth smiled quietly.

“I’m sure you would. That is noble of you, but, luckily, it is not necessary.”

“I know,” said King Raymond. He walked over to Lord Garth and laid his hand on his shoulder, and spoke, “I know not what I would do without you. You are my greatest advisor.”

“Thank you, I am honored,” Lord Garth replied.

“But this war!” exclaimed King Raymond, “It will create havoc in my kingdom!”

“Yes,” said Lord Garth, “It will change much. But that is the problem with war.”

King Raymond resumed his pacing. Then there was a knock.

“Come in,” called King Raymond.

The door opened, and there stood Kylos.

“Yes, my son?”

“Father, do you know where Adara is?”

King Raymond looked surprised, “Is she not in the garden?”

Kylos shook his head. “I have searched everywhere.”

The King clapped his hands. A servant entered.

“Jeremy, do you know where the Princess is?”

The servant looked surprised. “Why, she and Sir Adrian left five hours ago to go on a short ride.”

“Five hours ago!” exclaimed the King.

“Yes, I was to inform you, but I had special orders not to interrupt you,” answered Jeremy, “I assumed that they had already returned.”

“Check the stables and see if her horse has returned.”

Jeremy disappeared, and King Raymond continued pacing.

“Where could they be?” he said, “They should have returned by now.”

He turned to Kylos. “Where have you been?”

“I was doing my lessons with Master Blake,” Kylos replied.

Jeremy returned. “The Princess’s horse is not in the stable, Sire.” he told them.

King Raymond frowned. “Send a messenger to the DeWitt castle, with all haste. Perhaps they are there.”

Jeremy obeyed. The messenger saddled and rode off at full speed to the DeWitt castle. When he arrived, the door was opened by a maid. She led him to the parlor where Lady Grace, Sir Adrian’s younger sister, was.

She frowned when the messenger delivered his message.

“My brother returned home three hours ago. He packed his bags and left. He seemed extremely upset. When I asked him what was wrong, he mumbled something about going on a journey. He left right after that. He was not here even an hour,” she informed the messenger.

“Was he alone?” asked the messenger.

“Yes.”

“Thank you, Lady Grace. I will tell his Majesty what you told me.”

The messenger left, leaving a worried Lady Grace behind him. The messenger arrived at the palace and delivered the information to Jeremy. Jeremy returned to the King and told him.

“He returned alone?” asked the King.

Jeremy nodded.

“Then where was Adara? She has not arrived yet, and it has been more than three hours since Sir Adrian returned.”

The King paced some more. Then he whirled around, and said, “Send out search parties immediately!”

Jeremy hurried away. Kylos met his father’s eyes.

“You think Adara is in danger?” Kylos inquired.

King Raymond nodded.

“But why would Sir Adrian have returned?” Kylos asked.

“Perhaps he ran away. But that is hard to believe. The only son of my best friend, a coward! Impossible!” exclaimed the King.

* * * * *

Meanwhile, Adara rode on her horse, blindfolded. They stopped, and the man whistled.

“Is that you, Derek?” asked a voice.

“Aye,” answered the man with Adara.

Adara heard a gate squeak open. And then they rode on. The horses were walking on cobblestones. Then they halted. Adara was ordered to dismount. A hand gripped her arm, and the muzzle of a pistol pushed into her back. She was led through corridors. Then they began to go up steps. They went up and up and up. Finally, they stopped. Another door squeaked open on rusty hinges. She was forced inside. Her blindfold was pulled off and thrown on the floor.

Adara found herself in a small cell. The iron door clanged shut behind her. Footsteps echoed as they faded away. Adara looked about her cell. There was a window opposite the door. Adara walked over to it. Gazing out, she beheld forests spreading in all directions. Nothing else was to be seen.

She stood looking across the treetops. Why did this man, Derek, make her his prisoner? He had said he wanted her for someone else. But who?

End of Chapter Three

(What do you think? Have I been living my life with the idea that I write pretty well, when that is complete nonsense? I hope not! :) That would be very sad...)