Rosalind woke to the sound of a trumpet. Her first thought was that a search party had been sent out for her and had succeeded in its job. But as it sounded again, she realized it was the bugle of a hunting party. Quickly gathering up her pack, she had only enough time to slip into a bush before the dogs came barking and the horses thundering. The dogs all stopped by Rosalind's bush and began sniffing curiously. Rosalind tried to scramble backwards but that only caused a good deal of noise and attracted more attention. She screwed her eyes shut, whispering a prayer. Suddenly there was a sharp twang and something whizzed past her ear. She screamed and then clapped her hand to her mouth, staring at the arrow with wide eyes. A friendly voice spoke now, "By golly, that's not a doe, Sir Ransford, it's a woman."
Rosalind watched frightenedly as the knight who had spoken dismounted and then crouched by the bush, peering in at her. "Hello. You needn't fear. We shan't hurt you." He glared back at the knight who had fired and turned again to Rosalind with a friendly smile. He offered her his hand, and, after hesitating for a moment, she took it and allowed him to help her out of the bush.
"What is it, Sir Drake?" A gruff old voice asked abruptly. Sir Drake raised his eyebrows and replied, "It is a girl, Your Royal Highness."
Royal Highness? Rosalind spotted the old man. Certainly dressed like a king, and behind him...a small groan escaped Rosalind's mouth. It was Prince Raphael, Prince of Hulluth. The old man must be King Samuel, then, King of Hulluth. Prince Raphael had been one of Rosalind's potential companions as her mother called them. He caught her eye now, grinning cockily. Rosalind turned her gaze back to the king and kneeled. "Your Majesty." She greeted him.
"Rise," he replied nonchalantly, then asked, "And who are you?"
"It's the princess of Mirkdale, father," Prince Raphael replied with a grin. The king raised an eyebrow and looked Rosalind over. "Eh? And what are you doing in the forest?"
Rosalind shook her head, tilted up her chin, and looked straight into his eye. "What's it to you what I'm doing, Your Majesty?"
Sir Drake raised an eyebrow, trying to hide a smile. The king raised both of his and replied, "Well, you're on my land, I think I have a right to know what you're doing here."
Rosalind tilted her head and replied, "Last time I checked, your land only came as far as Hulluth Bridge. I've been following Dormouse Lake, a bit of the tail alone of which is your property, and I had gone well past the tail to the leg at least. So really, I am the one who has the right to ask you what you are doing on my land. However, you need not answer that question; I can see very well that you are hunting."
Sir Drake was trying very hard not to laugh now, and the other knights were all staring fearfully between Rosalind and King Samuel. The King flared his nose and said, "Impertinent child. I suppose you're running away?"
Rosalind opened her eyes wide in mock surprise. "Who, me? Why on earth would I run away? I've only got a perfectly beastly life back at home. And what about me looks as though I was running away? It's not as though it's perfectly clear I've been out in the woods for some time, oh, look, I'm wearing a commoner's dress and I've got a satchel of food and a flask of water, why, by golly, you're right, I am running away, NOW WHAT'S IT TO YOU?"
Sir Drake's eyes had widened and he was surveying Rosalind, impressed. Not many people would snap back at a king. Everyone waited, Sir Drake in amusement, Rosalind in indignation, and the others in fear.