“One Should Never Trust Another”

The search parties searched in vain. There was no sign of the Princess. Little did they know she was lying in a tower, a prisoner.

King Raymond paced back and forth. The look on his face grew more and more worried as each of the search parties returned, to report failure.

“I cannot believe Sir Adrian would abandon my daughter!” exclaimed the King, “He would not do so!”

“Ah, perhaps he is a coward, and now you know,” said Lord Garth.

“Sir Adrian? A coward?” declared the King, “Impossible!”

“Not necessarily,” replied Lord Garth, “Sometimes someone you trust and rely on, turn out to be not quite what you thought they were.”

King Raymond turned to look at him. Something in Lord Garth’s tone captured his attention.

“Anyhow, you need not worry about your daughter, she is perfectly safe,” said Lord Garth.

“What do you mean?” demanded the King.

“I know she is safe, because she was captured according to my orders,” answered Lord Garth calmly.

“Your orders!” exclaimed King Raymond in astonishment, his face pale.

Lord Garth clapped his hands. Five men in black entered.

“Take them to the dungeon!” ordered Lord Garth.

“What!” cried King Raymond, “I trusted you, Lord Garth!”

Lord Garth laughed evilly. “That was a foolish thing to do.” he said, “One should never trust another.”

With that, the five men turned to go, King Raymond and Prince Kylos in their midst. They were thrust into a cell, in the deepest part of the dungeon under the palace.

* * * * *

Lord Garth sat in the throne room, rubbing his hands with together. He chuckled, everything was going according to plan.

He had known that Sir Adrian and Kylos were going to go riding together. He also knew that Master Blake disapproved of Kylos’s carelessness, and love of sports rather than books. Master Blake took his hint rather nicely. And that ridded Kylos of the scene. Naturally Sir Adrian would ask Adara to riding with him instead, and just as naturally she would accept. They were betrothed, so there was no reason for Jeremy to object, since the King was not to be interrupted. An order that Lord Garth gave.

Lord Garth had estimated Sir Adrian correctly; he had fled at the sight of danger. He would be ashamed enough of his behavior to not tell anyone.

Lord Garth smiled in satisfaction. Everything was going perfectly! Of course, this war was a bit bothersome, but it did not upset the general scheme of things.

* * * * *

Sir Adrian pressed his horse to the limit. He desperately fled, or tried to flee, the knowledge of his cowardice. He, a man that the King trusted so much as to promise his daughter to him, had run away at the sight of danger. A coward! The Princess herself declared that she never wanted to see him again, and he did not blame her. He was a coward!

For a moment he paused, to consider returning. But no! He must flee the country. Perhaps join a ship as part of the crew. If he changed his name, dressed differently, and grew a beard, perhaps no one would recognize him as Sir Adrian DeWitt.

Yes, he would become someone else! He would forget the past! He would start over with life! Thinking only the future! He shuddered at the thought of the King’s anger when he found out that he, Sir Adrian, was a coward! He, who had handed the Princess over to who knows what kind of ruffian!

Sir Adrian shook his head, as if to clear it. Forget the past, he told himself, Forget it! Start over without the stain on my reputation! Forget the past!

* * * * *

Adara stood, staring out the window. She did not understand why she was here. Perhaps she was being held for ransom.

Adara heard footsteps coming up the stairs. She heard a key grate in the lock, and a voice muttering. The iron door screeched open. Adara turned and saw Derek, standing in the doorway.

“Why do you hold me prisoner?” she asked indignantly, “If it’s money you want, my father will pay much to have me back.”

Derek merely looked at her and waited for her to finish. Then he said, “Perhaps my master can explain that.”

And Derek stepped aside. Another man stepped forward.

“Lord Garth!” shrieked Adara.

She flung herself at him.

“Save me!” Adara pleaded, “Lest they harm me!”

Lord Garth pushed her away, disgustedly. Adara stared at him in amazement. This was a man she had known all her life. What was he doing here? Suddenly, what Derek had said, dawned on her. His master?!? Adara pointed a shaky finger at Lord Garth.

“You!” she cried, “You ordered me to be kidnapped and held prisoner?”

“Prisoner?” said Lord Garth, “What made you think that you’re a prisoner?”

Adara gazed at him, “What made me think that I was a prisoner?” she repeated. She waved a hand about the cell.

“Ah, that.” Lord Garth shrugged.

Suddenly Adara understood. “You’re not going to help me, are you?” she asked in a low voice.

Lord Garth smiled.

“I trusted you! My father trusted you!” Adara cried, growing hysterical, “You will pay! My father will not let you get away with this!”

“Your father will do nothing, and neither shall your brother.” Lord Garth said fiercely.

“What have you done to them?” Adara cried.

She threw herself at him, beating him with her fists. He thrust her away, and as she crumpled to the floor, he sighed.

“Such a pity,” he murmured. Then he turned and left.

The door clanged shut behind him. His footsteps receded, and there was silence. The only noise was the sound of Adara’s sobs as she lay on the stone floor.

No one could help her! Not her brother, not her father, not Lord Garth, since he was her enemy. Not even Sir Adrian! She shuddered at the thought of Sir Adrian. He had run off and left her! What Lord Garth would do to her, she could not imagine. But whatever he wanted, she would not give him! Lord Garth could not and would not conquer!

Adara rose and went to the window. Looking out, she clenched her hands. She would not give in! She would fight! She would not lose hope! Over and over she said this, but even as she did, hope was fading away. It was crushed by a sense of despair. What could she, a girl of seventeen, do against a grown man? But she would fight, for her kingdom, for her father, for her brother! Tears filled her green eyes at the thought of her father and brother. What had Lord Garth done to them?

End of Chapter Five

(Are you still enjoying it? Did this chapter surprise you? Let me know if you want to be tagged when a new chapter comes out!)