55 Hunted (1/2)

Lucia held tightly on Tim's waist. Her body hurts from her earlier fall but Timothy's warmth dulled the pain. She wished that they could remain like this. Even though the rain was pouring like stones, even though she was injured, even though it was cold, at least she had Tim.

Lucia tightened her embrace. She didn't want to let go.

Tim must have noticed because he put one of his hands on Lucia's. ”I'm sorry Lucia.”

Lucia shook her head on Tim's back. ”No, it's my fault. I should have known that it will come to this. I was a fool”

”A fool couldn't have protected me. You did and I owe you my life. Thank you. ” Timothy said.

”Do you remember that night we talked in the garden? I said that I will protect you. So I did. It is my duty to protect you Tim.” Lucia again shook her head ”No, calling it a duty might be unfair. I protected you because I care for you”

Timothy laughed ”Stop making my heart jump Lucia. Or else…”

”Prince Timothy!” Captain Bisham interrupted ”Soldiers at the back” he pointed behind.

Lucia and Timothy turned their heads around. Lucia saw dozens of horsemen chasing them.

”Thank the Omniscient! We're saved. Your guards are tough Prince Timothy” exclaimed Escanor as the merchant raised both arms in the air.

”No!” Timothy shouted. He shook his head and turned his head forward. ”They are not my guards. Look at the armor. They are wearing lamellar breastplates.”

Lucia understood Tim. Although mail armor is popular nowadays because of its flexibility and effectiveness, some nations still use lamellar. One of those nations was Wismar.

”Tim. What should we do?” Lucia asked.

”Don't worry. We can lose them. Like what I said, we can survive this. I will not let anything happen to you.” Tim comforted. But Lucia noticed the slight tremor in his voice.

He must also be scared, Lucia thought. This made her like Tim more. Even though he was scared himself, he was trying to act like he wasn't in front of Lucia. He wanted to be her stone, her refuge even though he needed a refuge himself.

”Okay. I trust you” Lucia said.

The chase went on for nearly an hour. It was grueling. Mud and rain splashed like waves of the ocean. Lucia looked behind again and saw that the Wismarines are catching up. At the front of the Wismarines was a tall and muscular man. She recognized him.

When Skall went to Vanadis many years ago, he brought the man along. Lucia saw the man a few times but she didn't know his name.

”Prince Timothy. They are close” Captain Bisham informed.

”I know” Timothy said ”There will be an acute blind curve ahead where they can't see us for a few moments. We must split up after the curve. They will see three diverging hoof prints. With the threat from my guards, they can't afford to also split up so they can only follow one.”

”Okay.” Captain Bisham said. ”We will meet you at the end of the forest. Protect her Prince Timothy.”

”I will. Even with my life”

”Don't say things like that Tim!” Lucia shouted

Timothy remained silent. His silence made Lucia worry. It meant that he might do extreme things just for her. She doesn't want that. She doesn't want to be away from again. After a long time of separation, they were finally reunited.

Just like what Tim said, there was indeed a blind curve. After that they split from Captain Bisham and Escanor.

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Amir and his men stopped. The trails diverged into three and he had no idea which way Prince Timothy and Lucia went.

”Should we split our forces sir?” A soldier looked at him as if begging for his guidance. His men knew how important this mission was. If they fail, Wismar will be dragged into a Castonian Civil War. They need to find the two royals.

”No, we can't. I'm sure Timothy's guards are just behind us. We can't divide our forces” Amir said. He only brought about fourty men with him so they can't afford to be divided.

”Then which way should we go?” the soldier asked again.

Amir looked at the three trails. The rain turned the ground into mud so the hoof prints are clear. He dismounted and examined each of the trails.

”This way” he pointed to the left. ”The hoof prints are deeper so the horse must be carrying two people”

He mounted his horse again and ordered his men to resume the chase. Prince Timothy was smart. But the Prince didn't know that Amir was one of the best hunters in Wismar.

The hunt continues.