The Lost Princess

He slid past a crowd of people and down a dark alley. His face covered by his hood and the shadows as he walked silently towards a wall at the back of the alley. Reaching a dead end he turned around and leaned his back up against the wall as he listened to his surroundings and waited for his contact to arrive.

The streets were crowded with people that morning all with the rumor of the search for the lost princess on their lips. It filled the air like an unwritten drama ready for the stage.

"Have you heard? They say the late king's daughter is still alive," a lady said.

"Are you serious. What is the queen planning to do?" another asked.

"The queen apparently is searching for her," the first First Lady shrugged.

He scoffed as he folded his arms across his c.h.e.s.t and hung his head as he listened on to the foolish woman gossip and more people nearby chimed in.

"Oh, the poor child. She will be locked up in a dungeon cell until the queen feels like killing her," an old wispy voice hissed.

"Yeah, I don't believe for a second that she truly has any motherly love for the king's children," the first lady replied.

"Her own included," a man chimed in as he helped an old lady carry her stuff to her wagon.

"Well of course not. She only keeps the eldest alive because without him she can't hold onto the throne." another snapped.

"He is her last hope though seeing as her other two children have been exiled and stripped of everything." a young lady giggled.

"Oh, I've heard about them, I think they are being held in a dungeon in one of the neighboring kingdoms," A man whispered.

"Well, they do deserve it. They went on a **** campaign and brought shame to Serenity." the old wispy voice replied.

"Oh my, how horrible." the first woman gasped.

"The queen tried to hush it with money and political power, but by the grace of the Ancestors the twins were brought to justice." the man whispered.

"Now she hangs on to her eldest son. Even though he is extremely ill." the young woman whispered.

"What is wrong with the eldest prince again?" the first woman asked.

"What isn't wrong with him is the question you need be asking. He has a weak heart, weak lungs, and fragile legs. It's a wonder how he managed to live for so long." the man shrugged.

"I truly feel sorry for the prince. To be so ill and have such a mother who would rather have you suffer as a caged animal instead of letting you go peacefully." the old wispy voice hissed.

"Any mother would do the same. Could you let your child die." the first woman said

"No, I guess not." the old wispy voice replied.

"So the search for the lost princess is just her way of ensuring her son can one day take the throne?" the young lady asked.

"Yes, after all its what she killed the queen and king for." the first woman answered.

"Shhh, don't speak so loud about such things." the man said.

"Oh yes, the last few that spoke ill of the queen were taken away and put to death publicly." the wispy voice whispered.

"I was there for one of the executions. Such a horrible way to die. The sword was dull so they hacked at the poor girl's neck until it came rolling off." the man said.

"Oh my!" the young lady gasped.

"You could hear her screams of pain and the queen's laughter echo throughout the streets." the man said.

"I remember that. The people had to be there for it as it was mandatory for everyone in that area to see it. Her family especially were given front row viewings." the first woman said.

"The poor girl. She must be haunting the castle even til now." the young lady replied.

"Let us pray that the Ancestor has welcomed her into their castle and she can rest in peace with them." the wispy voice said.

He listened on as the conversations became darker. Each tale laced with a bit of truth and speculation. It was only natural to form rumors in such a manner. The more elaborate the story the better chance there was for someone to believe it.

Hearing footsteps coming towards him he peeked up in their direction and saw a shadow that walked up to him and stood there. The small roundish figure was one he knew well and he smiles to himself.

"Vestin...its good to see you are doing well." The shadow said.

"I see you found your way here without any difficulties." He replied.

"Is it supposed to be hard to enter this town unnoticed?" the shadow replied.

Vestin shrugged his shoulders and chuckled,

"Not really I guess. Anyway, I have some news for you. You and the rest will be extremely happy to hear this."

The man stepped forward and lifted his head slightly. Seeing only his lips and the bottom of his chin clearly he replied,

"What have you found out?"

Vestin pushed up off the wall and walked towards the man. He leaned forward peeked under the man's hood and looked him in the eyes.

"The princess is safe and they have her in Ay Su."

The man's head rose up and he took a step back. Shaking his he looked at Vestin his eyes wide and said,

"Ay Su? She is supposed to be in Mossca."

Balling his fists Vestin stood up straight exhaled deeply. He bit his bottom lip and scoffed,

"From what I heard her life was no longer safe there. It was decided that on her birthday she would be taken to Ay Su secretly."

The man shook his and ran his hand over his face slowly and sighed.

"The king must have had a hard time with his children then. The selfish little brats."

"I hear that she was almost killed."

"Those ungrateful bastards. Mark my words they'll get what is coming to them soon enough."

"Anyway," Vestin scoffed as he walked back over to the wall and leaned back up against it "The Secret King will be sending a small band of men to bring her back. I am the one in charge of this mission. We set off in two days you must have some people ready to follow and be ready to hide the princess if anything gets messy."

"So The Secret King is not just a rumor. I thought the queen's movements were too calculated. She is not that bright to order much of the events that have taken place."

Vestin looked up at the man and folded his arms across his c.h.e.s.t.

"The 'king's' name is Jayel. Have you heard of him?"

"Jayel? That name sounds familiar."

"He is the man that is always speaking on behalf of the queen and her son."

"Ah yes...if not for him the queen and the young prince would have been exiled along with the twins."

"Gotte, he has his own plans for the princess. As the oldest of the children, she is the rightful heir to the throne. Both Jayel and the queen know this. The queen wishes her dead, but Jayel wishes to marry her and in doing so he steps out from the shadows of queen and prince and take the throne for himself."

"Vestin you must protect her at all cost. Reach her before anyone else and bring her to the cave. We will put in motion the next step of the plan."

Vestin walked up to him and looked him in the eyes, a fire burning within him his eyes narrowed and he replied,

"I planned on it. I gave my word to her mother that I wouldn't let anything happen to her. The fact that her life was in danger while she was in Mossca pisses me off, but I don't plan on letting anything happen to her while she is in Ay Su."

"We will see each other again in two days. Get going before someone spots us."

"I highly doubt anyone would be coming into such an isolated area. They are too busy spreading their rumors and gossiping."Vestin joked

"Sometimes rumors and gossip can work in our favor." Gotte pointed out.

"Until we meet again old friend," Vestin said with a wave of his hand.

"Keep out of trouble until then, you little brat." Gotte said with a sigh and his hand on his h.i.p.s.

"No worries, I'm always careful. I had the best teachers after all. Tell the guys I said hello."

"Will do, now get on."

Vestin walked past him and back down the alley. Slipping into the streets he blended himself into a large crowd that entered a bar.

Gotte watched on from the shadows. Looking over the people as they went about their daily lives.

"Soon you shall have your princess back and the Kingdom will be at peace once again." He muttered to them.

He then walked out into the street and disappeared among the people.