t I could n

ure he could hear it. His grip on me was firm but careful, as if h

ere a deep shade of blue I had never seen before. His clothes were nothing like the robes the villagers wore.

with concern. "My lady, are

m, but I could he

naged to say, though

pt his hands close, just in case I slipped

oisonous?" I asked, pointing

them would make you very sick. In some cases, people d

lmost kill

u," I sai

ond, another voice c

s, did y

e saw me standing there. He stepped forward slo

light. His expression was harder, more cautious. His clothes were similar to

she?"

y. The man who caught me t

on berries," he replied calmly.

w and looked at me again. "That

one, and I stood there in a simple linen dress with dirt on my a

mall smile. "I am Prince Valdanus," he said pol

I had just escaped from one kingdom

d in respect. "My name i

come from, Pandora?" he asked. " You definitely don

either. I hesitated. Should I tell them the t

afraid," he said gentl

made my chest loosen sligh

caped from our kingdom," I began slowly

impressed. "What

ng... wanted to force me into a marriage I did no

nus looked troubled. "A forced

odd

er to escape the guards. The current carried us f

ere?" Estevan

of the forest," I replied. "S

tely looked conc

s," I said quickly.

danus," he said quietly, "we don't e

ightly. "She doesn'

gged. "Spies

They were speaking our language, but some of their words sounded s

longs to our kingdom. Most people there speak the local d

ly. "That exp

friend is injured, we

agreement. "Can y

I said

as waiting. The two princes followed beside me, thou

ge. Finally Valdanus spoke again.

. "I was hungry." To my su

erous way to se

that now,"

nd us. "You must not kn

I replied

again. "You grew up i

at him in

id you

fore." Even Estevan let out a quiet chuckle. For the first time since leaving

sitting where I left her. When she saw me walking toward her

" she

called out quickly

wo princes nervously. Vald

Maria," he

surprised.

s, and this is my br

y bowed her head

again, still studying us carefu

"It seems our morning j

ing these two princes would change our