Chapter Seven: Death
I stared at Michael in confusion at what he just told me. Maybe he was running a fever and was delirious to what he was saying.
I pressed the back of hand against his cheeks but he felt normal, maybe even cold.
He flicked my hand off and sat up. I watched him get dizzy from the simple movement but he continued to get up.
"What are you doing? Ray said you should rest," I reminded him, trying to push him back down.
He didn't listen and just shifted his shoulder so it wasn't at risk of opening the wound again. He grabbed his backpack while I tried to hold him back.
"Grab whatever you think is important," Michael told me.
"What? What the hell are you doing?" I asked him.
"Protecting you. Now let's go before they find us," Michael told me.
"Who? Who's gonna-," I started.
"Do you want to die or what?" He snapped at me. I shrunk back against his wrath but did as he asked.
"What's going on?" Geoff asked as he walked in. He looked at me but when I shrugged he glared at Michael.
"Gavin needs to go. If he knows he was a prince, then he's in danger," Michael told him.
To my surprise, Geoff's eyes flashed with sorrow and realization. He nodded and left the room.
When he returned he held a small box. He walked closer to me, tears beginning to appear in his blue eyes. He handed me the box and pressed my hand down on it.
"Your parents gave me this when I took you. They told me to give it to you when I told you about them," Geoff told me. He removed his hand from mine and I opened it.
Inside was an incredibly soft silk blanket. On top of that was a necklace with a creeper face. And on top of that was a tiny golden crown.
"Your parents thought these were the most important things for you to have," Geoff told me. He reached inside and took the creeper necklace out and gently put it around my neck.
I grabbed at it and ran my thumb across it. My breath caught in my throat when I felt an electricity type thing shoot through my thumb after touching it.
"It's enchanted," Was all he said.
Michael pulled his backpack over his shoulders and watched me as I gently picked up the crown and rubbed the gold. It was as if memories were made just by touching the crown.
"Gavin," Michael breathed. I nodded and grabbed the backpack Geoff was handing me.
"You'll be back, won't you?" Geoff asked. I shrugged and looked at Michael.
"He might be able to visit but... I don't think he'll be able to stay in one place too long," Michael told him. Geoff nodded and sighed.
He hugged me tightly and smiled at me. I nodded to him and mouthed 'I'll be back'. He smiled even broader and pulled me closer to him.
"Do you trust him?" Geoff asked me. I nodded slightly, surprised by how quickly I answered him.
"Good. If something happens... I won't think any less of you, you hear?" Geoff asked me. I cocked my head at him but he just pushed me towards Michael.
I led Michael outside and over to the stables. Topaz was whinnying until Michael rushed over to him and rubbed his nose. I smiled at them and grabbed my horses gear.
Boomerang began pawing at the ground when I got near. She always got excited when I began getting her gear around.
I walked into the stable and pulled the blanket over her back, then the saddle. I tightened the girth around her and grabbed her reins. While I was pulling it on I heard Michael mount Topaz and hush him.
"He's quite a loud horse," I said. Michael laughed a little and adjusted his reins.
"Yeah, he gets excited," Michael muttered to me.
I smiled and led Boomerang out of her stable. She stomped her hooves while I adjusted her saddle. She was always so impatient.
I finally mounted her and followed Michael out of the stable. Michael trotted Topaz around while he adjusted his shoulder. Even if he didn't admit it, I knew he was probably in a lot of pain.
"Where to?" I asked him.
"The kingdom. I'll run in and grab some supplies and then we'll be off," Michael told me.
I nodded and trotted after him and Topaz. I began to wonder what Michael planned on doing. He had a kingdom to run and he acted like he didn't need to stay there and run it.
Was he gonna run away?
I found it awfully strange that Michael would drop everything just to help me out. He was someone that wasn't exactly quick to lend a helping hand. I'd only know him for about a week and he was basically helping me flee the kingdom's territory.
I was dropped from my thoughts as Michael broke into a full on gallop.
"Okay, here's the plan, I don't want anyone to know I'm back. They won't let me leave if I do so you need to make a distraction. You've got your bow, right?" Michael asked. I nodded and pulled it off my back.
"Good. Shoot a couple arrows over the wall. Draw attention to you. I'll go in, take the supplies and get out. Quick and quiet," Michael explained. I nodded, surprised that he knew exactly what to do.
Before I could ask about any flaws in the plan, Michael was gone.
"Okay then..." I breathed.
I pulled an arrow from my pouch and knocked it in my bow. I aimed up and let it fly. Satisfied with my aim, I kicked Boomerang and I began riding around the walls perimeter. I heard an explosion, which confused me but I shrugged and continued guiding Boomerang about.
I once again, found myself lost in my thoughts about Michael. What if he did all this just to lure me into the kingdom and finally kill me. I wouldn't put it past Michael. He was a genius when it came to trickery.
But... Something in the way he acted around me made me question whether he was actually doing this for his kingdom. I wouldn't say I trusted him fully just yet, but I did trust him, even if he did try to kill me a few hours ago.
I heard a shout and instantly remembered what I was doing. I kicked Boomerang again and urged her to go faster. She picked up her speed and broke into a sprint.
I wrapped my legs tightly around Boomerang and aimed my bow behind me. I pulled back the bow and aimed down at the horses hooves. It spooked them and they whined in fear, throwing off the Knights that rode them. It tripped up the rest and I was able to ride the rest of the perimeter with no issues.
A few minutes later, I was back at the main gate. I smiled and waited for Michael in the shadows.
I heard the galloping of hooves and I turned Boomerang around to greet Michael.
Instead, I was greeted with an arrow.
I ducked and deflected the arrow. It still skimmed my arm though and I fell off Boomerang in the process.
When I looked up, I was greeted with an arrow aimed at my head. I pulled my hands up to show I surrendered. The knight smiled evilly at me and released the arrow.
I felt blood spatter my face and I waited to be greeted with a bright flash of light or whatever.
However, when I opened my eyes again, I was greeted by darkness instead.
I was still alive.
When my eyes adjusted to what was happening, I saw Michael standing over a decapitated body. He had a blank look on his face and offered me a hand to pull me up. I took it, but instantly felt the burn of my wound.
I collapsed into Michael's embrace and he caught me. His hand went over my wound and I cried out in pain. Michael pulled his hand back, noticing the blood dripping between his fingers. He held me for a few more seconds before helping me onto Boomerang again.
"I'll wrap it when we get to the forest. Right now, we still have the Knights after us," Michael told me. I nodded slowly and kicked Boomerang to follow Michael into the darkness.
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Author's Note:
Okay, so I apologize for not updating any of my stories. I've been busy but next week my Christmas vacation starts so hopefully I'll get some writing done.
Anyway, thanks for reading! Please leave some feedback. It'll be greatly appreciated and it really motivates me to write.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy.
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