THE Knight's Hidden Princess
Chapter 191: Out Into Freedom

Chapter 191: Out Into Freedom

DAHLIA POV

We probably should have thought of a better plan when we decided to escape the fortress. The moment we opened the gate, we were all so happy. The excitement in the air was so palpable one could almost taste it. We had ran out into the snow, laughing and giggling at the taste of freedom. But after walking for hours, that moment was short lived because there was nothing outside. Nothing existed for miles other than snow. To make matters even worse we were journeying on foot. There was no much difference between inside and on the outside. The only difference was we are free and do not get punished. On the good side, we get to die quickly. If the snow storm doesn’t kill us then hunger will.

I walked ahead, smiling at the people who were starting to look too tired. I went forward, pushing my way to go towards Branderson who was leading us. I didn’t say anything and clamped my mouth tighter even though I could feel Branderson’s eyes on me. I cleared my throat as I tried to figure out the best way to talk to him. The truth was that there was still awkwardness between us which was mostly from me because I didn’t know how to act around him.

But we were just simply helping each other out, so I cleared my throat again except no words came out. Seriously, Dahlia, just get on out with it already! I chastised myself before I cleared my throat again prepared to speak.

Branderson turned his head slightly as he gave me a side way glance. "Do you have a frog stuck in your throat?"

I blinked at him in response, "I’m sorry what?"

"It’s just that you’ve been clearing your throat beside me and I’m starting to wonder if there is something stuck in there."

"Nothing is stuck there, I’m fine!" I said with more bite than necessary.

Branderson arched a brow up at me but didn’t say anything. We were back to being walking silently again. He didn’t say anything and didn’t push even though he knew that something was wrong with me. It was time like this that I wished he would push, probe and find out what exactly was going on. But then, Branderson wasn’t big on conversations. He mostly kept to himself, which is why I was a little bit surprised when he had told Ilyana he was going to come.

Although I wished he would say something in moment like this since I was too coward to say anything. But then again, what the hell? "Are we there yet?" I blurted out.

Branderson turned to arch a brow up at me, "What are you? Five?"

I rolled my eyes at him, "If I don’t ask, someone else will."

"And they will get no response from me, just like you." He responded without turning to look at me.

"Okay do you even have any idea where you are going?"

"I’ve walked this earth longer than you have kid, you shouldn’t question me."

"Yeah well, you’ve spent ten years locked inside a cell, world has long changed since then Brandy!"

The moment my brain registered what I had just said, it was already too late. I winced internally while mentally cursing myself for saying such a statement knowing that my father was the one who put him there. How could I be so insensitive? I cleared my throat, an apology already forming on my lips when all of a sudden, Brandy let out a loud laugh that startled.

The sound was dry and scratchy from the lack of not being used in a very long time, yet it was genuine and there was no denying the warmth inside of it. For a small moment, it looked like the weight had been lifted off Branderson’s shoulders. He looked happy if I dare say so myself.

I was stunned as Branderson continued to laugh and I wasn’t the only one. Others shared a look amongst themselves, no doubt thinking the same time. Branderson hasn’t laughed in years, in fact I didn’t think he was capable of doing it. It was the first time that I had seen him display such emotions.

Branderson breathed out a deep sigh before turning to look at me, "Now there she is." He said and I furrowed my brows in confusion, "I was starting to think she has been locked away by those bastards."

"Okay, I’ve never been more confused in my life."

A smile formed on Branderson’s face. "You’ve been acting different with me." He said and I looked down trying to hide the shame that threatened to claw back up, "I take it you heard my story then? To be honest it wasn’t something I expected from you. You pulling away and walking around like your father’s sin are yours."

"Except they are." I answered him, "The blood of a Westward course through my brain no matter how I try to deny it."

"I am going to stop you right there. You are nothing like your father. I will admit it when I first saw you, it wasn’t my finest moment. Seeing you just brought out so many painful memories but then you remind me so much of my daughter which was why it hurts to talk to you. She was the same age as you, you know? She wa beautiful, strong willed and stubborn to a fault. She was also the only one who made me laugh and I failed to protect her and seeing you was proof of that."

There was no denying the pain in his voice when he spoke of his daughter. I suddenly now understood where he was coming from and why he kept his distance from me. It wasn’t because he thought I was like my father but because seeing me reminded me of how he failed as one.

I stared at up at him, "I am sorry."

"You shouldn’t apologize kid, you are good. You did good, getting us all out of here." Branderson said as he turned to look back at the people who were walking.

Smiling, I offered him a brief nod. "So um, where will you go?" I asked him because I knew my father destroyed his kingdom, there was nowhere left for him to go.

Branderson arched a brow down at me, "You worried about me kid?" He asked and I rolled my eyes at him, "Do not worry about me, I’ve got a few places where I can stay."

"So you’d become a wanderer?" I asked causing Branderson to chuckle at me.

"Damn I never thought about it like that." He said, "But then, being a wanderer doesn’t sound so bad. Lots of places to see, food to eat, cultures and tradition to be explored." He said smiling down at me with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

I understood how he felt in that moment. He had been a king once, a powerful being and this is how he had been reduced to an ordinary man who will wander the earth while carrying the reminders of how he had lost those dear to him in his chest.

"It’s not fair though."

"Life ain’t fair kid."

"Yeah, it’s not." I mumbled before I patted him on his back, "Well, I’m glad that I met you Brandy."

Branderson arched a brow up at me, "Do you have a death wish kid?" He asked me but there was a hint of smile on his face as he spoke.

"Well I’ve been known to do." I said and Branderson released another laugh and I found myself laughing along with him as we navigated our way out to freedom.

***

I must have fallen asleep at one point because my eyelids felt heavy when I opened them and tried to blink. A layer of snow had fell into my cold, making the chills coming from the wind worse. A quick look around showed that the fire we started must have died over the night. I also noticed that everyone seemed to have fallen asleep, huddled together to keep themselves warm. Even the people we had selected to keep watch rested against the trees which blankets wrapped around them. The night had been cold and we were all exhausted from walking all through the nights. Our bones were aching and needed to be rested so I couldn’t blame them for it.

A small weight in my abdomen suggested that it was time to relieve myself. Groaning, I stood up while taking the blanket with me as I trudged into the snow, looking for a comfortable place to relieve myself when all of a sudden, I saw a figure standing with it back turned to me.

I blinked as I moved closer and the closer I got I saw that the figure was familiar and it wasn’t alone. Confusion swirled in my mind as I got closer only to see the gleam of silver in the night sky.

"No." I breathed just as the figure turned to look at me.

My chest tightened at the betrayal that stared at my face.

"No, no, no," I whispered as my gaze swept across the dozen of guards who had surrounded us, "EVERYBODY RUN!"