Legend of Kataria (Draft Version)

Chapter 14

The return trip was made in silence. Greeny trailed Pinky back to the mansion. He dismounted near the gate, and Pinky took his horse, telling him to go inside and that she would be along in a moment. Greeny felt his legs obey, and he stumbled toward the house. He could see Red and Blue standing at the door like eager bloodhounds, and he swallowed the lump of fear in the back of his throat. Were they furious at him? Or did they wish he'd kept riding? He wished he'd had time to prepare himself for what he was about to walk into

Maybe I should run, part of his brain suggested. Escape while no one is looking. Pinky's busy. She couldn't catch me this time. The rest of him knew what a terrible idea that was, however, and it didn't take much to talk him out of it. Besides, where could he run? He no longer had a mount, and he didn't favor his odds of fighting Pinky to steal one back.

He ignored the looks and snickers as he stomped inside, slamming the door as hard as he could behind him. It wasn't until he heard a whisper behind him from Red and a grumble from Blue, that he paused to think. Frowning, he wheeled on them, finding Blue sheepishly handing over a five-dollar bill to Red.

"You bet on me?" Greeny was incredulous.

"Well, not exactly," Red said, smiling as he stuffed the wad of cash into his pocket. "We actually bet on whether or not Pinky could convince you to come back without using some kind of brute force."

Greeny gave up. He groaned, flopped half-heartedly onto the couch, and buried his face in his hands. "And?"

"And I won," came Pinky's voice as the girl slipped back inside, one-handedly catching a bag of change Red had reluctantly scrounged up from his pockets. She immediately moved off to wash the horse stink from her hands and grab a bottle of lemonade from the fridge.

"But, seriously," Red interrupted, "did you really think we wouldn't notice if you suddenly up and left on us? Especially right after we told you who you were?"

Greeny took off his glasses to run his hands up and down his face. "None of this makes any sense," he groaned. "If I were to believe that I am this...missing prince...and I'm not saying I do, just so you know. But if I were, how can you be sure? I'm not the only one Leah hung around, and I'm certainly not king material. Now, someone like Thomas, that's someone who could pull off being king."

"Why?" Pinky snorted, moving toward him and seated herself on a chair underneath a fancy hand-painted picture of an anchored boat on the sea. "Because he's arrogant, pig-headed, and an absolute jerk? Oh, I'm sure that's exactly the kind of person Tapush needs right now. Good thinking, Bush!"

Greeny faintly wondered if he had enough power to drop the painting on her head.

"Truth is," Blue answered with a small frown, "we've been watching you for a long time. We know you're the prince, not because Leah says so, but because it's obvious."

Greeny had no idea what that was supposed to mean and he was too tired of fighting to try and guess. "I'm not following you."

"You look a lot like Zarron," Red replied.

Greeny raised an eyebrow. "I do?"

"Yes," Red nodded. "Red hair, blue eyes, constant scowl. You're practically a mirror image of him."

"I'm not the only redhead on Griffion," Greeny pointed out.

"Yes, but that scowl, that scowl is so unique."

Greeny groaned and threw his hands in the air. "My greatest downfall, the thing that gave me away, was the way I frowned? Unbelievable."

"Grasslake is still being held prisoner," Pinky spoke up, bringing the conversation back to its original purpose. "Bush has seen her."