Page 23
Story: His Forbidden Princess
Relief crashes over me. "Nothing that would be missed immediately. A change of clothes, if you have something plain. We have supplies waiting."
She moves to her wardrobe, pulling out the simple clothes she wore for her night in the city. "How will we get past the guards?"
"Leave that to me." I move to the door, listening for the return of the other guard. "Change quickly. We leave as soon as the east wing diversion begins."
She disappears behind her dressing screen, emerging moments later in the plain trousers and shirt, a cloak over her arm. Her hair is tied back simply, all traces of the princess hidden beneath common garb.
"How long until the diversion?" she asks, fastening the cloak around her shoulders.
"Any moment now." I check the corridor again—still clear. "When it happens, stay close to me. Move only when I move, stop when I stop. If we're separated, make for the eastern postern gate and wait in the shadows. Can you remember that?"
She nods, her expression solemn but determined. "Eastern postern gate. Shadows."
"Good." I reach out to touch her face, allowing myself this brief moment of tenderness. "No matter what happens, know that I?—"
A distant commotion interrupts me—shouts, the sound of running feet. The diversion has begun.
"It's time." I drop my hand, switching instantly to the focused alertness of a soldier in combat. "Stay behind me."
I open the door carefully, scanning the corridor. As expected, the guard hasn't returned—drawn away by the commotion in the east wing where my contacts have staged what appears to be an attempted break-in. I gesture for Lirien to follow, moving swiftlybut silently down the servant's passage that will take us to the lower levels.
We encounter no one as we descend—the night servants occupied with their duties, the day staff long asleep. The few guards stationed along our route have been carefully selected—men who owe me favors, who will conveniently be looking elsewhere as we pass.
At the ground level, we pause in the shadow of a column as a patrol crosses the courtyard. Lirien's breath is warm against my neck as she presses close, her hand gripping mine tightly. When the guards pass, we slip into the kitchen gardens, using the herb beds for cover as we make our way toward the eastern wall.
The postern gate is small, meant for servants bringing supplies from the nearby market. During the day, it's guarded and busy. At night, it's secured with a heavy lock—a lock to which I acquired a key months ago, though at the time I hadn't known why I felt compelled to do so.
Now I understand. Some part of me has been planning this escape since the first time I saw the trapped look in her eyes.
I retrieve the hidden pack from behind a stack of empty barrels, slinging it over my shoulder before approaching the gate. The lock opens with a soft click, and I ease the gate open just enough for us to slip through.
"Almost there," I whisper, guiding her through the narrow opening. "Stay close."
Outside the palace walls, the city sprawls dark and quiet. Most citizens are asleep at this hour, though taverns still spill light and noise onto the cobbled streets. We keep to the shadows, moving quickly but not running—running attracts attention, makes people remember faces and directions.
Lirien matches my pace effortlessly, her hand in mine, her breath coming quick but controlled. In the dim lightof occasional street lamps, I catch glimpses of her face—determined, alert, alive with a fierce joy despite the danger.
"Where now?" she asks as we reach a crossroads.
"The River Road." I lead her down a narrow alley that will take us toward the eastern edge of the city. "Two miles to the stables, then south through the forest. We'll reach the border by dawn if we push hard."
She nods, trusting me completely. The weight of that trust settles on my shoulders—not a burden but a precious responsibility. I will get her safely away from here or die in the attempt.
We continue through the sleeping city, every step taking us further from the palace, from duty, from the lives we were assigned. My training keeps me vigilant—watching for patrols, listening for pursuers, constantly scanning for threats—but beneath that professional awareness runs a current of exhilaration I haven't felt since my first battle.
This is right. This is necessary. This is the only possible path.
As the city thins into scattered buildings and the forest looms ahead, Lirien suddenly stops, tugging at my hand. I turn, instantly alert for danger.
"What is it?" I scan the darkness behind us, one hand moving to the dagger at my belt.
"Nothing." She steps closer, eyes shining in the moonlight. "I just—I needed to do this."
She rises on tiptoe, pressing her lips to mine in a swift, fierce kiss. "Thank you," she whispers against my mouth. "For choosing me over everything else."
My free hand comes up to cradle the back of her head, deepening the kiss for just a moment before reluctantly pulling away. "We're not safe yet."
"I know." She smiles, and in that smile I see a glimpse of the woman she might become, free from the constraints of court and crown. "But for the first time in my life, I believe I could be."
She moves to her wardrobe, pulling out the simple clothes she wore for her night in the city. "How will we get past the guards?"
"Leave that to me." I move to the door, listening for the return of the other guard. "Change quickly. We leave as soon as the east wing diversion begins."
She disappears behind her dressing screen, emerging moments later in the plain trousers and shirt, a cloak over her arm. Her hair is tied back simply, all traces of the princess hidden beneath common garb.
"How long until the diversion?" she asks, fastening the cloak around her shoulders.
"Any moment now." I check the corridor again—still clear. "When it happens, stay close to me. Move only when I move, stop when I stop. If we're separated, make for the eastern postern gate and wait in the shadows. Can you remember that?"
She nods, her expression solemn but determined. "Eastern postern gate. Shadows."
"Good." I reach out to touch her face, allowing myself this brief moment of tenderness. "No matter what happens, know that I?—"
A distant commotion interrupts me—shouts, the sound of running feet. The diversion has begun.
"It's time." I drop my hand, switching instantly to the focused alertness of a soldier in combat. "Stay behind me."
I open the door carefully, scanning the corridor. As expected, the guard hasn't returned—drawn away by the commotion in the east wing where my contacts have staged what appears to be an attempted break-in. I gesture for Lirien to follow, moving swiftlybut silently down the servant's passage that will take us to the lower levels.
We encounter no one as we descend—the night servants occupied with their duties, the day staff long asleep. The few guards stationed along our route have been carefully selected—men who owe me favors, who will conveniently be looking elsewhere as we pass.
At the ground level, we pause in the shadow of a column as a patrol crosses the courtyard. Lirien's breath is warm against my neck as she presses close, her hand gripping mine tightly. When the guards pass, we slip into the kitchen gardens, using the herb beds for cover as we make our way toward the eastern wall.
The postern gate is small, meant for servants bringing supplies from the nearby market. During the day, it's guarded and busy. At night, it's secured with a heavy lock—a lock to which I acquired a key months ago, though at the time I hadn't known why I felt compelled to do so.
Now I understand. Some part of me has been planning this escape since the first time I saw the trapped look in her eyes.
I retrieve the hidden pack from behind a stack of empty barrels, slinging it over my shoulder before approaching the gate. The lock opens with a soft click, and I ease the gate open just enough for us to slip through.
"Almost there," I whisper, guiding her through the narrow opening. "Stay close."
Outside the palace walls, the city sprawls dark and quiet. Most citizens are asleep at this hour, though taverns still spill light and noise onto the cobbled streets. We keep to the shadows, moving quickly but not running—running attracts attention, makes people remember faces and directions.
Lirien matches my pace effortlessly, her hand in mine, her breath coming quick but controlled. In the dim lightof occasional street lamps, I catch glimpses of her face—determined, alert, alive with a fierce joy despite the danger.
"Where now?" she asks as we reach a crossroads.
"The River Road." I lead her down a narrow alley that will take us toward the eastern edge of the city. "Two miles to the stables, then south through the forest. We'll reach the border by dawn if we push hard."
She nods, trusting me completely. The weight of that trust settles on my shoulders—not a burden but a precious responsibility. I will get her safely away from here or die in the attempt.
We continue through the sleeping city, every step taking us further from the palace, from duty, from the lives we were assigned. My training keeps me vigilant—watching for patrols, listening for pursuers, constantly scanning for threats—but beneath that professional awareness runs a current of exhilaration I haven't felt since my first battle.
This is right. This is necessary. This is the only possible path.
As the city thins into scattered buildings and the forest looms ahead, Lirien suddenly stops, tugging at my hand. I turn, instantly alert for danger.
"What is it?" I scan the darkness behind us, one hand moving to the dagger at my belt.
"Nothing." She steps closer, eyes shining in the moonlight. "I just—I needed to do this."
She rises on tiptoe, pressing her lips to mine in a swift, fierce kiss. "Thank you," she whispers against my mouth. "For choosing me over everything else."
My free hand comes up to cradle the back of her head, deepening the kiss for just a moment before reluctantly pulling away. "We're not safe yet."
"I know." She smiles, and in that smile I see a glimpse of the woman she might become, free from the constraints of court and crown. "But for the first time in my life, I believe I could be."