The Princess's Secret [completed]

48: Calm Before The Storm.

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Caspian.

There was an electric energy in the air, and the wind smelled of the coming spring rain. Winter was coming to an end. A glance at the sky warned of a coming storm, and he suspected hail. It had been two days since he’d allowed the barbarians to escape with the map.

Below, the Black Knights were mounting their horses, preparing to leave. Their mission was to rescue Herschel, and discover the size of Thaddias’s troops. Hiram was leading the group, while Jamaal and Isidro stayed to help with the kingdoms.

A hand found his back, massaging one of the many knots that had gathered over the last few days of planning and rewriting Adrelawin’s laws. The Kingdom had been in shambles, it’s only strengths were the number of people, the castle treasury, and the military. The city and villages had been falling apart from within.

Now, he could see the growing ease of the people, and their growing joy whenever he and Tamar made an appearance. He knew she would have loyal people when the time came for him to return to his own people. But still he found himself dreading that day more and more.

“What’s going on in your head right now?”

He blinked, remembering he wasn’t alone. He tilted his head to her and offered a smile. “Just planning ahead, and assessing where everything is at.” He nodded towards the men leaving the courtyard. “You came to see them off?”

Her gaze shifted to the men below. “Herschel may have been on the side of my captors, but he also saved my life. I suppose I have finally decided that I trust him. I hope they find him alive and well.”

He straightened as the men disappeared from sight, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and turning her back towards the castle. “Standing here waiting won’t hurry time along. What do you say we go for a ride, maybe check in with some of the locals?”

A smile quickly found her lips. “The orphanage perhaps?”

His own smile became real, remembering their last visit. Over the past week, they had gone out to visit the orphanages for the first time since arriving, and had enjoyed several hours of handing out small toys, and chatting with the children.

The smiles they recieved were so precious, the eyes of the children wide with awe as the King and Princess spoke to each of them.

“I’ll tell Isidro to arrange for the horses.” He promised, leaving her at the door to her room so she could get ready. He quickly found the bodyguard, informing him of their plans.

Something in Isidro’s posture relaxed when he mentioned the orphanage, and Caspian realized that he wasn’t the only one needing a break from the castle and duties.

Minutes later, they were riding out the castle gates, into the city streets. All around, people were stopping their work and bowing in respect as they made their way through the streets.

All except for the young children, who were to young to know better and just stared, some waving. Tamar waved back at a little girl, much to the astonishment of others, causing the girl to bashfully hide behind her mother’s dress.

He had to laugh, recieving a look from Tamar. He just raised his eyebrows at her, returning his focus to the people. It was still surprising to see the change that had come over them since he’d first arrived.

The first time he’d walked these streets, they had shouted and spit on him, throwing anything they could get their hands on. Now all that remained were the looks of shame and occasional fear.

He felt his smile fade slightly, but hid it. He had to maintain the happy, kind image he’d created, at least until the people trusted him more.

He almost wished he hadn’t left the castle, but one look at Tamar’s beaming face, and Isidro’s relaxed one, made him determined to making things work.