CHAPTER 2– DANGER

HELENA 

I thought I could go on after that. But I didn’t even take five steps before my body refused to cooperate. I looked back, I was already far from the palace, it wouldn’t hurt to rest. I spotted bushes not far from the road. I slowly walked there, dragging my throbbing foot. When I got to the bushes, I looked between the road and where I was, I couldn’t just sleep out in the open and be discovered. 

There was a good enough distance, I sat down and laid back. closing my eyes. My body screamed, it was sore. I ignored the pain and kept my eyes closed. It didn’t take long before I dozed off. Mocking laughter jolted me up from my sleep. I didn’t know how long I was asleep for, but the sun was already high up. 

I heard voices, my heart jumped to my throat, pounding as if it were going to jump right out of my mouth. I stayed low and peeked from the bushes. Bandits, my blood ran cold, but my heart seemed to beat even faster, it boomed in my ears making my mind go blank. Why didn’t I think of these dangers when I decided to run. 

Fear gripped me hard, I couldn’t move. I kept my eyes on the Bandits, they were robbing a carriage with a noble lady, the owner of the carriage, I assumed, sobbing on the side shaking like a leaf in the wind next to the rough looking man. Others were taking bundles out of the carriage, asking for silver and jewellery.

Their sword shone in the sun, sharp and dangerous. Those belonged in the battlefield not on the streets threatening the citizens. The owners looked like they had been through a lot, scars on their faces, cold eyes. I could tell they had taken lives before. That got my stomach twisting in knots.

When they were done with the carriage, they stripped the lady off her jewellery. Roughly pulling off her necklace and hair pins. Her sobs turned to loud wailing. At that moment she didn’t look so noble, she was ugly crying, snot and tears ran down her face, she didn’t bother wiping it. “What are you crying for? we didn’t hurt you and you are crying as if someone died, shut up!” that shut her up instantly.

 

“That’s more like it, you are the daughter of the minister of works, act like it!” I was stunned, that was Susan? I couldn’t believe it. I lowered my head, I couldn’t let her see me, she knew me. if she saw me, she could turn around and say I sent the bandits. She could twist anything to her liking.

The young lady who always had her nose high and looking down on everyone was the one crying like a toddler in front of bandits. I forgot my fear for a moment, and a smile formed on my face, wanting to laugh.

 

But the man next to her looked around and his eyes were fixed in my direction. My eyes widened, the smile that was starting to form on my face froze. I probably looked worse than the noble lady Susan at that point. “Let’s move out!” He called out to his men; I still couldn’t relax. I held my breath not daring to move. 

When they were gone, lady Susan turned to her two guards and snapped. “What are you standing there for? take me home before they come back and do something worse!” she climbed into the carriage leaving the guards bowing. They quickly left and I sighed in relief. But that was short lived.

With the adrenaline gone, the pain from my foot shot through me, I held my breath, as if that would make the pain go away. I sat properly and took off my shoe. When I ran, I didn’t care to check how bad the injury was. Looking at my foot now, I got scared. It was red, swollen and full of blisters. My hand was no better, the skin was raw and red. 

I didn’t know if the gods were punishing me for running away because besides the pain. Cold wind started picking up making me shiver. The palace maid uniform I had on did nothing to shield me from the cold. Then on cue my stomach growled. In that moment I felt a little regret. 

With a foot like that, cold and hunger. I could barely move; my body screamed in pain with every move I made. The body was something else though, when I thought I was in danger and at risk of being discovered by the bandits or worse, lady Susan. I couldn’t feel the pain, cold or hunger. 

Now that I wanted to keep moving, it refused to cooperate. I sat there feeling helpless, I looked at the roof of the palace from a distance. Would the prince even remember that I saved him? if he did, would they reward me or put my head on the chopping block for running away? The thought got me shivering hard.

I couldn’t stay there; I was still close to the capital if I could still see the roof of the palace from where I was. I needed to move, ignoring my sore body, I struggled until I stood. I slowly limped away.

Desperate to find water, wild fruits to eat, plants or herbs to tend to my injuries. Anything that could help with my situation. 

I felt like I had been walking for hours but when I looked back. I had only taken a few steps. Cold sweat ran down my back and forehead. The pain was unbearable, but I couldn’t stop, I had to keep moving, it was going to get dark soon and I couldn’t sleep out there. The thought of wild animals in the night and bandits finding me and doing unspeakable things to me. 

That got me limping forward, faster this time but I got careless, not looking where I was going, as a result, I tripped on a root and went tumbling down hitting the ground hard. I gritted my teeth hard suppressing the scream that almost tore through my throat. Tears blurred my vision and stars danced in front of me. 

I knew then that I wouldn’t make it. Oh, grandma, I thought I could see you one more time, get one of those warm hugs of yours. Eat your red bean soup. My parents died young, my father was a soldier in the army and died there. Mother couldn’t handle the news and followed soon after. 

Grandma took care of me, raised me and made sure I lacked for nothing. We were poor but we never went a day without food, even if it was just one meal a day. I had clothes on my back even if they were rags, they were clean and well taken care of. My life was ten times better when I lived with grandma than it was in the palace.

Oh, grandma. I ran from the palace just to see you one more time, feel your love and warmth. Only to die here, like a stray dog. What a waste! I was about to give in when I heard a voice. “There is someone here!” Fear jolted me awake, my heart pounding. Footsteps rushed towards me.