C.S.C. Book 1: The Deadly Forest

Chapter 2

Jacinta 

Brian took the blindfold off the boy's face and I immediately turned around, grabbing Colleen by the sleeve and dragging her out of the clearing.

"What are we gonna do?" Coll asked me, glancing back at the boy.

"Well there's not much we can do... Brian isn't likely to just let him go. Our only chance I guess is to hope he doesn't remember us."

"He's our cousin! Do you really think he's just going to forget we ever existed?"

"I was only thinking out loud," I told her, crossing my arms.

"Jacinta, Colleen, what are you doing?"  Judy asked, walking toward us.

Colleen looked at me for a quick answer and I stuttered a little as I came up with an excuse.  

"Um...We-We're, uh, doing...Target...Practice!"

I quickly grabbed my throwing knife and barely glanced at the target before tossing the knife, the blade burring itself right where I had intended.

"Would you look at that? Still just as good as five minutes ago! Welp, see ya!" I answered, clapping my hands together and starting to walk off.

"Brian said you and Colleen have to watch the prisoner."

"NO!" Coll blurted out before she could stop herself.

"I mean, I have to make dinner."

"But Cinta doesn't."

I inwardly let out a giant groan and slowly turned, walking back to the blearing. The prisoner was being tied up to the tree and I took a deep breath, walking over to him and sitting beside him. I thought it better then in front, mostly because here I could turn my head away.

So I did just that, then started to pull a loose thread on my shirt.

That was when Matt just 'had' to forget where the water skins were stored, and just 'had' to ask me. I let out a big sigh and stood up, showing Matt and promptly telling him never to forget again.

Then I simply turned around and walked back, trying to keep my face out of view. But I failed miserably.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't little Cinta," David cooed, giving me a saucy grin. 

I looked around nervously to see if anyone had noticed, but they hadn't and I shot a stone faced expression at David, sitting on a rock a yard and a half away from him.

"We all thought you were dead."

"Not hardly," I answered, grabbing my knife and sharpening the blade.

"So this is where you've been...In the woods living with a bunch of common smugglers."

I glared at him and grabbed the blade of my knife and threw it, hearing the satisfying 'thunk' as the blade buried itself only centimeters from his head.

Then I walked over to him and pulled my knife out, looking him strait in the eye with a hard glare.

"I wouldn't say that if I were you," I hissed in a lowered tone.

"Well I'm sure your commander over there would just love to hear who you really are."

"And I'm sure he'd just love to hear that he has the Prince in his custody," I smiled, in an un-friendly way. 

That annoying grin immediately disappeared from his face and he looked down at the ground letting out a sigh.

When I thought about it, this wasn't really the David I remembered. He had always been a fairly nice boy, this wasn't like him at all.

"The truth is...I don't really blame you for fighting against the crown," He mumbled, still looking at the ground.

"Who ever said we were-"

"Oh let it go! I know who you guys are. You're not fooling anyone. Sure, you have a good charade as simple woods men...Or girls...But I know enough about what's going on too know that there aren't enough people around here who can afford meat, which means no business for woods men."

Huh, I thought. He's really not as dumb as I thought...Or hoped.

"Well then, why do you not blame us?" I asked, slightly changing the subject.

"Look, I don't agree with what my dads doing either. You can't make up your mind about me before I even tell you who's side I'm on."

I wanted to believe him, but in this business, you can't.

"Well I'm afraid you won't get the chance to tell me," I said stubbornly, turning around and asking Matt to keep watch.

At that point, Matt would do anything to keep from making dinner with Coll.

"So how did that go?" Colleen asked as I started to chop onions angrily.

"He remembers us...Unfortunately."

"Well I guessed that already. But is he going to tell Brian?"

"I don't think so. I told him that we could tell Brian who he was, and that shut him up...I think."

"Is that all?"

I looked at Coll who didn't return the glance. She knew that we didn't just talk about turning each other in.

"No. He said he wasn't on his dad's side."

"So he's on our side?"

"Well he didn't directly say that either...I don't know if I believe him. He could be just saying that to ensure that I don't turn him in."

"Maybe...Here, let me do those onions."

"Why?"

Coll looked at me and grabbed the onions away from me.

"I think they've suffered enough."

<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

"Colleen, if you keep making dinners like this, I'll have to marry you," Jack joked.

"Hear that Cinta? You'd better start making the dinners," Coll said in a very serious tone.

"Why?" I smiled.

"I'm too young to get married. Plus, it's bad form if the younger sister gets married before the older one."

"But if I start making dinner, then he'll want to marry me."

Colleen seemed to consider the question then nodded slightly.

"You're right. Men are too shallow."

"Oy!" Jack said, pretending to take deep offense.

"Hey, you were the one who only likes me for my cooking," Coll told him, taking his bowl away.

This was how most evenings went. Somebody would make a dumb remark and then everyone else would leap on the opportunity.

Anyway, everyone knew Coll would NEVER marry Jack...And vice-versa.

"Matt, why aren't you watching the prisoner?" I asked, suddenly realizing that he was laughing at the exchange.

"I asked Luke to take over."

Then we both looked at Luke who only said one word, "Uh oh!"