The Forbidden, Caleb Baker [well read books .txt] 📗

can trust all of you?" she asked accidentally. 

Gabriel stopped in his tracks, turning around to look at her. Awen and Simon stopped behind the Princess. 

"I thought you'd ask that," he said calmly. 

She nodded fervently. She didn't mean to ask it, although she wanted to know, she didn't want to come off as rude. 

"Let me see if I can guess what you're thinking," he continued, "I'm Duran's son. So why should I help you when my own father wants you killed? Shouldn't I just lead you right to him?"

"That's about it," Alexandria breathed. 

She could hear Awen's armor shifting behind herself. 

"We don't want a war," Gabriel said, "I know what it must look like, but, we are only here for your protection. You may not know it yet, but you are the end to this war before it even begins."

"What makes you so sure?" she asked, as Gabriel began to walk again. 

She was following him once more, the two knights behind her beginning their walk too. 

"I have a feeling."

A feeling? Alexandria was surprised to get such a short and cryptic answer from him. Gabriel, up until this point was giving satisfying explanations.     

The East District was slowly turning into the North. The archaic stores and groceries were morphing into homes and schools. The North District was the richest place in all of Almaria. It was where the poor desired to be and where the rich scoffed at their lessors. The homes were gorgeously built, with tapestries and thresholds of pure gold, while each house (or mansion) was built with only the finish wood and stone.      Even the streets were beautiful. They were no longer cobbled. Instead, they were made with the rocks found outside of the Kingdom that were said to cast mysterious Magicks upon those who walked them. They were carved with very intricate designs, swirling to and fro.  "Where are we going?" Alexandria couldn't help but ask as she marveled over the beautiful District.  She had never ventured this far into Almaria. She was prohibited by her advisors. She was only allowed to meander the streets of the Western District, which was where she was born. 

"Yes, where are we going?" Simon echoed from behind Awen. 

Alexandria thought it odd that even he did not know. 

"We are getting out of the city," Gabriel answered quickly. 

He took a left turn into a darkened alleyway where the light at the end of it seemed very far away. The Princess and her protectors followed him into the darkness, just hoping that he knew where they were headed. 

"Sir Gabriel," Awen began, "I may not know this city well, but isn't the quickest way out through the Western District?"

"Yes, it is, Awen . . . But we are not looking for the quickest way out."

"What do you mean? You said we are trying to get out of the city," Simon said, "I'd imagine it would be best to be unseen."

"Well, yes, that would seem best. But, I want to cause a commotion. I want them to know we are leaving," Gabriel said stopping again. 

"Why, sir?" Awen asked humbly. 

"If they think she's out of the city then they won't look for her here. We need them to believe she's out so we can get into the Castle."

"Into the Castle?!" Alexandria repeated, "why would we do that? I'm on the top of the list to be killed, I'd be turning myself over. You said I could trust you, you said you wanted to protect me--"

Gabriel cut her off with just the look on his face. It was clear he was serious.  "

I am going to protect you. With my life, my lady. But, there is only one way we can get to General Quest. And that is through the castle. The old King's army is being held up in the dungeons, and if I can get there--"

Now Gabriel was cut off, this time by Awen. 

"I didn't sign up for a suicide mission!"

"Sir, he's right," Simon began, "she is important but is she that important?"

Alexandria whipped around, a disgraced look upon her face. 

"Yes, she is," Gabriel said gently as he placed a hand on Alexandria's shoulder, "she is the Princess of the Forbidden. She is the present, past and future of this country. My father knows this, that is why she is at the top of his list. Her kind, your kind are being hunted and there is only one way to stop it."

"So we wage war to end war," Simon murmured. 

"Exactly."Gabriel turned around, releasing Alexandria.

He started a slow walk. A few more paces and they were out of the alleyway.   

The sun was beginning to set, or so it seemed because it was hard to tell with the clouds being so dense. But, Alexandria could tell it was getting darker. The rain, if it was possible, was starting to come down harder, making anything in front of them practically unseeable.    

The alleyway was far behind them now. They were on route for the North District exit, and they were coming up on it fast. The exit out of the Kingdom was heavily guarded over the past week. It normally wasn't, but since the recent order of the King all the passages have been set up with watch guards.    

Gabriel stopped abruptly behind a giant stone slab. He crouched low behind it while everyone else maintained behind the wall next to him. Alexandria tried to peer over the slab to see why they stopped so short, but Awen quickly grabbed her by the collar and pulled her away. She was about to turn around to ask why he did that when Simon shushed her. 

Gabriel sidled along the wall to return to his group. 

"The King's Guard is on watch right now," he said quietly, "there's going to be no getting through without a fight."

"It's what you wanted, isn't it?" Awen muttered. 

Gabriel didn't answer. 

"So, what's our move?" Simon asked. 

Again, Gabriel didn't answer. He seemed to be racking his brain for ideas. 

"We fight," Alexandria whispered.

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Publication Date: 05-29-2013

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