The Devil's Temptation!

Chapter 13: Dead Or Alive

The royal guards heavily marched towards the hall as the bell continuously rang in a very alarming manner, notifying everyone in the castle that there had been an escape by a prisoner.

That alone left the hall with a very tense atmosphere, like a really bad omen would befall on the castle after losing a prisoner and not just any prisoner. it felt rather suffocating, even for the King himself as he tapped his fingers on the arm of his royal chair.

Sir Arlow was already with the king, whose expression had turned grim after figuring out the maiden actually escaped from the dungeon. His eyes were filled with disappointment as he never expected Annalise to take that extraordinary step.

“How she did it, it still baffles me.” Sir Arlow cryptically muttered as he paced back and forth before the guards who stood at attention adjacent his direction.

When the guards came to inform him about her escape, he didn’t believe it because he made sure she was locked in one of the most secured cells in the palace. He couldn’t torture her due to the king’s order and kept her in a secured cell instead, only to go witness it himself and what surprised him more, it was still locked.

“How did she escape? Even with the lock, she managed to escape without leaving a single trace..”

“Maybe the heavens finally decided to save a maiden from the cruelty of Euphrasia.” Calista firmly spoke as she elegantly made her way to the royal hall, catching the attention of both sir Arlow, her father and the rest of the high generals present in the royal hall.

.....

It was never in her nature to intrude in her father’s affairs, most especially in such a very sensitive topic as this but something told her she had to be here. Gathering enough courage and keeping her face straight, she proudly stepped past Sir Arlow to stand before the altar, warmly meeting the gaze of her father who hasn’t uttered a word since he got the information.

“Father.” She bowed politely in greeting, rising up a few seconds after receiving a nod from her father.

Sir Arlow half glared at the princess who barely paid any sort of attention to his side, he knew exactly why she showed up here and knowing he couldn’t say anything rude to the king’s daughter only aggravated his mood.

“What are you implying, princess?” He asked in a very polite manner as he met her gaze, but Calista already knew that politeness was nothing but forced.

“I thought you were smart,” she half teased and immediately faked her expression with a look of thoughtfulness, “I meant, an innocent soul shouldn’t be punished for something she hasn’t committed, who knows, the heavens above must have heard her prayer and freed her from the bondage you kept her in.”

“That is impossible!”

“Nothing is impossible for the Lord.” She shot back with a look of seriousness, causing sir Arlow to keep mute as he lowered his head. This princess! How could he not have seen that response coming, she’s trying to make him look as though he’s defying the Lord’s name.

“Your majesty,” he turned his attention to the King instead, “the choice is yours to make, but I suggest we go after her before she leaves Euphrasia, we shouldn’t let her escape, if she’s as innocent as she claimed to be, she wouldn’t have escaped in the first place. Her conscience must have caught up with her.”

King Olis remained quiet after listening to sir Arlow’s words, obviously he was pondering over everything and this time around, he chose to believe his trusty guard. Arlow had already warned him that Annalise would escape when she gets the tiny bit of chance but he didn’t believe it.

He knew Anna to always stay back and fight for her rights cause she had always done that while living in the palace, he even came to terms with it that if she doesn’t make any plans of escaping, he’d release her from the crime committed and investigate the situation further, but to his bafflement, she escaped which means she actually caused the death of those people, that proves it!

“Search every corner of Euphrasia and make sure to bring her back to the castle. Dead or alive.” He declared, causing Calista’s eyes to widen in disbelief as she whipped her head to her father’s direction, dead or alive????

“Father!_”

“My words are final Callie!”

Her lips sealed almost immediately at the sound of her father’s tone, instead, she darted an angry glare at Sir Arlow who mockingly smiled in a way only she would take notice of.

“As you wish, your majesty.” Sir Arlow turned to leave while ordering.

“You heard the king, search every corner of Euphrasia until you find her!”

“Yes sir!!” The guards chorused.

~

Along the forest path of Euphrasia, Annalise rode faster while hiding her face under the cloak she wore, hurrying through the narrow path whose sides were covered with Green bushes, and with only one aim in mind, to make it out of Euphrasia before she gets caught by those guards.

Knowing fully well they’d be at her tail now.

The forest path was the easiest route she could take to avoid being seen by the people of Euphrasia and to avoid the sight of guards who normally patrol the streets. If the people of this clan ever gets to spot her, she’d be reported to the King before she counts to ten.

The fatigue was starting to hit her greatly and her body was still a bit sore from staying in that cold bloody cell. That dizziness she felt disturbed her greatly, but she shook it off, flapping the ropes of the horse to encourage it to ride faster.

Even if she plans on passing out, she doesn’t wish to pass out at this particular spot. The forest might be the easiest, but it was equally the most dangerous because you never know what might be lurking in between the thick bushes that silently whispered danger to her ears. Which is why she tries her best to make it out of the forest and hopefully burst out to an open place where she might not be recognized.

Taking a deep breath to strengthen herself up, she continued on her journey but that was until a sudden feeling rushed through her nerves and her heart uncontrollably sped up at the feeling. More like she sensed it and it wasn’t a good sign according to her knowledge.

Adhering to the strange intent she felt, she immediately stopped the horse, forcing it to come to a forced halt and at that moment, an arrow flashed by before her eyes, an arrow so close that if she had taken even a tiny step forward, it would have pierced through the side of her head.

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