The dawn was still a few hours away when Arianne, Rian, and Kael gathered their supplies. The weight of what lay ahead pressed heavily upon them. If Sir Edric had indeed discovered the truth and was heading back to the capital, then every second counted.
Rian stood by his horse, his gaze sharp as he secured the saddle. "We'll ride hard and only stop when necessary. The roads are treacherous at night, but we have no choice."
Arianne nodded, pulling the hood of her cloak over her head. "We have to reach the palace before Edric does. If he exposes us before we get there..."
Kael tightened the straps of his pack. "Then our brothers will be in danger. We have to move."
The Ride Through the Dark
They set off at a gallop, the rhythmic pounding of hooves against the cold earth the only sound in the silence of the night. The wind lashed against their faces, but they pressed on, urgency driving them forward.
Arianne's mind raced. Every decision she had made up to this point had been to protect her family, to stay hidden. Now, there was no turning back. If she failed, the entire kingdom would learn of her true identity—and the consequences would be dire.
Rian rode beside her, his expression unreadable. She knew he had questions, ones he had been holding back since Edric's disappearance. But there was no time for explanations now.
Kael rode ahead, scouting the path. "The bridge ahead is the fastest way, but it's risky. If Edric anticipated our move, he might have set a trap."
Rian considered this. "We take it anyway. We can't afford to waste time."
Arianne's stomach tightened. Every decision carried a risk, but hesitation could cost them everything.
The Ambush
As they approached the bridge, Arianne's instincts screamed at her. The stillness was unnatural.
"Something's wrong," she whispered.
Too late.
Arrows rained down from the darkness, striking the ground near their horses. A shout echoed from the trees, and men in dark cloaks emerged from the shadows, swords drawn.
"Ride!" Rian shouted, drawing his weapon as he turned his horse toward the attackers.
Kael wheeled his mount around, blade flashing as he parried an oncoming strike. "They were waiting for us!"
Arianne's heart pounded. If they were captured now, everything would be over.
She drew her own sword, blocking a strike aimed at her side. Rian was already in the thick of the fight, his movements precise, controlled. His presence steadied her, gave her the confidence to fight back.
Kael disarmed one of their attackers and turned to Arianne. "Go! I'll hold them off!"
"Not alone, you won't," Rian countered, cutting down another enemy.
Arianne hesitated. Leaving them behind felt wrong, but she knew the mission mattered more than the battle.
Rian met her gaze. "Get to the palace, Arianne. Warn your brothers. We'll find you."
She swallowed hard, then spurred her horse forward, breaking through the enemy line.
The Palace in Sight
By the time she reached the outskirts of the city, dawn was breaking. The golden spires of the palace shimmered in the early light, a beacon of hope and danger all at once.
She didn't slow down.
Arianne rode straight through the gates, her hood falling back as she shouted to the guards. "I must see the princes immediately!"
The guards hesitated, their eyes widening in recognition.
"Princess Arianne...?"
She took a deep breath. "Yes. And there's no time to waste."
A New Danger Awaits
Inside the palace, her brothers stood waiting, their expressions a mixture of relief and concern.
"Arianne, what's happened?" the eldest, Prince Aldric, demanded.
"Sir Edric is on his way here," she said, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. "He knows. We have to be ready."
Her youngest brother stepped forward, his usual mischief absent. "And Rian?"
Arianne's chest tightened. "He stayed behind to fight. But he'll come. He has to."
A silence fell over them, the enormity of the situation sinking in.
Then, Aldric straightened. "Then we prepare for war."
Arianne's hands clenched. There had to be another way.
Because if war came, she would lose more than just the throne.
She might lose Rian too.