Ch 1 A Kidnapping?

Kyle sits atop a tree overlooking the military camp and sighs lightly at their extreme lack of security. He shakes his head as none of them notice him, not even the guard sitting against tree beneath him. He checks the stars and smiles at the all too familiar skies of his one time homeland.

Finally the commotion he'd been waiting to hear happens and he turns his attention to see the princess of the current king coming out of the small tent the soldiers had set up for her. She'd likely come out to complain about the lackluster behavior of the guards and her less than abiding abode. Letting a bit of evil slip into his smile he thinks about all the gold her father will likely pay for ransom and about the true prize, the bright green gem hanging around her neck.

As he sits and waits for the right moment the small drake in his pocket sticks its head out and squeaks hungrily, its voice reaching into his head.

"Mmm... That venison smells delicious... where is it coming from?"

"The camp below."

"Mmm.... can't we go?"

"Not yet, they're still too wound."

"How much longer...?"

"They'll start dropping at midnight, then you can eat the venison." He smiles and lightly pets the drake. "You'll only have thirty minutes to do so though, so be quick."

"I will be." The drake purrs softly, slipping back into the pocket.

Kyle sits back and waits as the time ticks by, the prize of his endeavors going in and out of her tent repeatedly, until the time comes and the activity of the camp dies, silently he slings himself over the limb he'd been sitting on and falls effortlessly atop the guard below him, sending the poor man sprawling.

"The night is young and the hunt is on."

~~~~~~_____~~~~~_____~~~~~_____~~~~~

"Hey! This isn't the center of my father's palace!" Annabelle says angrily as she exits her tent, confronting the guard outside. "This is bandit country, it's dangerous. And this is the only security? Three guards and a makeshift fence made of shrubs?"

"We're trying not to draw attention your highness." The guard says lightly, yet kindly, as if he were talking to a child.

"Sure, don't draw attention, see how well that works when someone sneaks up on you." She angrily storms back into her tent. She paces angrily around the tent, kicking at a pile of satin pillows that served as her bed. She throws herself onto the pillows, once again wondering why she's in the middle of bandit country, why she had to be the one for this mission. She sighs as she remembers the day a few days past when her father called her into his throne room.

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"You called father?" She had said as she entered the throne room, her black heels clicking on the flagstones as the hem of her blue gown swished along the floor.

"I've called you here to send you on an important mission."

"A mission father?"

"Yes," He had said, looking up at her from a table strewn with parchments. His black hair was once again slick and shiny under the large golden crown that he always wore, she had never seen him without it. "I'm going to send you to the neighboring kingdom."

"What for father?"

"Because I trust no one else to do this for me." He smiled at her, the thought of being trusted had filled her with pride.

"What's the mission?"

"I want you to open trade routes between the two kingdoms."

"Trade routes? Simple, I'll leave at noon then?"

"Yes, please leave with all due haste."

"Of course father." She then curtsied and left the room. She packed a bag of simple gowns for riding and one luxurious gown for the meet. Then she changed clothes, summoned her personal guard, and had left the palace within an hour.

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Now it was getting close to midnight, Annabelle could hear the soft snoring of the guard outside her tent. Perhaps next time she would make sure two or three from her father's guard accompanied them. As she lays there and listens she notices that the snores are silenced one by one. She gets up quietly, grabbing the small blade she had hidden in her skirts before going to the opening of her tent.

A man, around his late teens to early twenties steps in and gives her a wild smile from behind his long black hair, the glimpses of his eyes too far in shadow for her to see their color but not the intent in them.

"Well girly, you've a sharper blade and wit than your guards, not that it'll help."

"Leave now, while you can." She holds the blade up defensively.

"Oh?" His smile seems to get wilder, a soft squeak coming from outside as a young razor-wing drake flies into the tent and lands on his shoulder, "I seriously doubt you can stop me."

In a flash he moves, the last thing she sees a flash of gold and purple. Kyle stands smiling over the now unconscious princess, the bright crimson of her eyes sending shivers of excitement down his spine.

As he thinks about the beautiful way that the light had left those crimson beauties he sits at her field desk and writes out the ransom note that her pathetic guards would take to their king post haste.

"Kyle, why does this affect you so?" The drake asks.

"Whatever are you talking about?" Kyle replies as he writes out the letter.

"The eyes of your prey, you purposely look into the eyes of each of them as you knocked them out."

"Ravi," Kyle sets his quill to the side and turns to his drake friend, pushing his hair out of his face as he turns. "When you look into my eyes what do you see?

The drake looks deep into his friend's eyes. "I see the colors of magic and power, gold and purple, why?"

"Because, when I look into your deep golden eyes I see not only the stored magical energy you have but a light that seems to come from the core of your being, I can see exactly what kind of person you are and can become, and it touches some darker part of my being to watch as that light fades from this world, be it permanently or temporarily."

"You know, you're scary when you talk that way..."

"I know... that's why I trained in the most nonlethal art I could find, but even still..." He sighs and looks over the letter as he unravels a couple coils of rope from around his wrists, the small weights tied to them hitting the ground causing a cloud of dust to appear. "Well, our work here seems to be done, now all that's left is to tie her up and go."

The drake purrs softly, slipping back into the pocket as Kyle proceeds to tie the Princess up.

~~~~~~_____~~~~~_____~~~~~_____~~~~~

Annabelle awakes to find herself in a large open room, the walls and floors made of stone. Sitting up and looking around she realized she isn't alone. Across the room was a small drake, roughly the size of her hand.

"Aw, what a cute little dragon." She says softly, getting up and slowly approaching it, her hand held out with peaceful intent, "You're adorable, absolutely the cutest little thing..."

"Don't touch me girly." His sharp voice invading her mind, causing a migraine to overcome her and stop her in her tracks.

"You're not a hatchling are you...?"

"I am a good 3000 years old and do not like being handled by stupid people who know nothing." He shifts, his black razor-like wings rattling as he does so.

"You know what I think," She says boldly. "I think you're just a big softy."

In a flash she reaches out and picks up the small drake by its tail, the result causing it to swing wildly.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you princess." A hand comes out of nowhere and scoops up the currently glowing drake, "Ravi go hunting, and I'll lay down the rules of the Keep." The owner of the voice says calmly.

"Of course my friend." The drake flies out of a nearby window, vanishing shortly.

"Where are we? Why am I here?" Annabelle says, rounding on the man.

"Ransom, and welcome to the Keep." He says in the same calm voice.

"I don't see any guards, who else is here?" She asks, going to look out the window to gauge her chances of escape.

"There's no need for such things. What you can't tell from this window is that you're over a cliff."

"Oh well," She leans against the window frame, "Did you even grab my clothes when you kidnapped me?"

"I did actually, though the lovely assortment of knives is no longer there. Your suitcase is in the dungeon downstairs which I will be escorting you to later."

"A dungeon? You're locking me in... A dungeon? Do you have any idea of the filth located in the dungeon?"

"But of course, that's why I'm putting you in only the finest of our dungeons." He says, his voice dripping with sarcasm, as he walks over to a high-backed, stone, chair; the elegant carvings of which stop at the crack that cuts it in half. "Now the rules... First, I am the king of this Keep. Anything I say will be fulfilled whilst you are here. Second, no trying to escape. The water here is scarce and drinkable, and I do not wish to waste it on your baths."

"What's that supposed to mean?" She interrupts him.

"Simple," he quips, "no matter where you run, no matter where you hide I shall find you, and bring you back. Now onto rule three, since the dungeon I'm placing you in has no door or bars, I expect you to be at my dinner table once every evening starting with today. Thank you Ravi for fetching dinner."

Annabelle turns to see the drake fly in with a horse-sized, 20 point buck.

"Would you mind preparing it Ravi while I show our guest to her current quarters so she may freshen up?"

"As long as she doesn't pet me." He growls softly.

"Of course." The man, Kyle, smiles and leaves his throne, walking past her to a door she'd yet to notice, "This way please."

Warily she follows, holding her head high and proud as the princess she is. He leads her through a confusing maze of solid stone and chiseled bricks until he comes to an open room, the only traces of the door that had existed the hinges.

"Trixi." He calls in, a small pixie flies up to the open door.

"Hello master." She smiles, her black hair cut short, her deep green eyes mischievous.

"How many little friends do you have in here?" Annabelle asks curiously.

"Just the three of us." He smiles.

"Is that why you kidnapped me? You're lonely for human companionship?" She quips.

"Of course not." He chuckles.

"Then why?"

"You're worth a lot of money, and this." He touches the gem around her neck.

"Don't touch that!" She slaps his hand away, gripping the emerald tightly, "It's all I have left of my mother..."

"Very well, but before you leave you will be giving it to me." He smiles, a flash of gold coming from one of his eyes as he turns and walks away.

"Over my dead body." She whispers, walking into the room. "So, Trixi, why does the master or king always keep his hair in his eyes?"

"To hide their color." She says softly, going over to Annabelle's suitcase and taking out her gaudy dress, the one intended for the day she would have arrived in the neighboring kingdom's palace. "This dress is just lovely!"

"But why hide them? And I don't want to humor him by wearing it." She sneers.

"Oh no, not for him, for me. I never get to dress anyone up living here; it's absolutely no fun. But you're so lovely, and your hair! Oh the things I could do with your hair!" She sighs wistfully, fidgeting with Annabelle's hair, stringing a rope of pearls through it. She stops before Annabelle's eyes and smiles slightly, "Such pretty eyes as well, and as you know, I'm Trixi, so what might your name be?"

"I'm Annabelle, Princess of the Karamitra kingdom. What is it about his eyes that he doesn't like? I know they're two toned, but why won't he show them?"

"You've seen them?" Trixie asks, nearly dropping the ebony comb in her hand as her eyes go wide with surprise.

"Only the flash of color when he knocked me out, purple and gold..."

"Amazing..." She smiles dreamily.

"You've never seen his eyes?" Annabelle asked skeptically.

"Not even once, and the small handful of random victims he's brought usually can't remember."

"Interesting..." she says softly, moving to grab a pale blue riding dress. Trixie intercepts her, moving in a blur and slipping the other dress over Annabelle's head. The gold satin flowed beautifully to the floor, tied off with a deep purple sash.

"Oh it's perfect!" Trixie squeals.

"Trixie I said no!" Annabelle fusses, trying to get out of the tight dress. Trixie grabs her hand then, pulling her from the room.

"We don't have time for arguing, we're already late for dinner as it is." As Trixie pulls Annabelle through the Keep she catches more of the maze-like path.

"How big is the Keep?" She asks softly.

"Before the time of drakes this was the biggest stronghold there was." Trixi says rapidly.

"Wow... one could get lost here easily..."

"Yes, they could." The two enter the hall she was in before.

"You know how the Master hates tardiness Trixie..." Ravi's voice echoes in the hall.

"She would not stop insisting upon another dress." Trixi pouts.

"Perhaps you should have let her wear it." Ravi says as they enter the room.

The man she met earlier enters after the flying drake. "Please, sit."

"Thank you." She smiles politely, sitting at a long oak table.

He sits across from her at the head of the table. "Now, I'm sure you've questions for me, so, let's get them out of the way."

"Well... what's your name?"

"My name is Kyle Arkins. And you are Princess Annabelle Karamitra of your father's house, and his only daughter."

"So what did you ask from him for my ransom?"

"Well, first of all, that gem around your neck, a dowry fitting of your position and birth, ending with a thousand men to start a thousand man army for me to clean out this land for my own." He smiles at her lightly, "He's a year to comply or else I let you lose into the mountains."

"You intend to keep me here... for an entire year?"

"If need be, if he doesn't comply within the month then he is to send a chest of garments to the place I took you."

"Well at least I know I won't be in the same dress for a year." She says haughtily, glaring at him.

"You will be if he doesn't comply with either." She glares silently, her arms across her chest.

"Oh good, thank you for bringing the stew I asked for." She turns and sees Trixi and Ravi bringing a pot that is bubbling and streaming.

"What happened to the deer....?"

"It's in the stew." Ravi purrs.

"I take it you're a fan?" Annabelle smiles softly at the drake.

"I love deer." He says matter-of-factly. Trixi starts pouring out bowls into one of which Ravi darts. Annabelle giggles softly at the sight.

"Any other questions?" Kyle asks.

"Hmm? Oh, no, that was it..." She answers quietly, swirling a silver spoon in the bowl of stew that Trixie had placed in front of her.

"What did you see in my eyes...?" She asks, nearly unaware she'd said anything until she sees Trixi's shocked stare and realizes that Ravi had stopped eating. "What?"

She turns to find Kyle smiling at her, his hand upon his brow and his miss-matched eyes watching her.

"They've never seen your eyes, why are you showing me...?" Noticing that he'd pulled the hair out of his face.

He chuckles softly, "I saw your future."

"Future? How could you see that?"

"It's written in your soul, do you want to know what I saw?"

"Sure..." She says softly, looking intently into those deep pools of two toned purple-gold eyes.

"You will become the queen of the realm, either through marriage or through blood."

"I knew that..." She says quietly, setting her spoon aside. He smiles darkly. "So what aren't you telling me...?"

"The king at your side is in shadow."

"Can you tell me how tall he is? Is he muscular or scrawny?" She asks sarcastically, smiling curiously as Kyle drops his hair from his forehead and picks his spoon back up.

"In shadow."

"Well that's lovely..." She swirls the spoon in her bowl.

"Now, let us finish our feast." He smiles. She sighs softly as Trixie and Ravi continue eating their stew.

~~~~~~_____~~~~~_____~~~~~_____~~~~~

"Who sent this letter?" The king fumes.

"It bears the signet of the mountain king." The bowed guard says quickly.

"And how did you come by this?"

"The guards who accompanied Princess Annabelle brought the letter this morning sire. They're ready and awaiting their punishments."

"Bring them to me." The king scowls.

"Yes your highness." The guard bows deeper and marches off, returning shortly thereafter with three shackled men. Each of the men bow deeply.

"Unchain them." The king says, "It is unseemly in this hall."

"Yes your majesty." The guard bows again, moving to release the three men from their chains.

"Come now." The king smiles, "Stand."

"We failed your majesty," the first one says.

"It matters not, which of you was the captain and which the lookout?" The king smiles sweetly.

"I was the lookout sir..." the first guard says.

"And I was the captain." The third guard says.

"Please step forward." The king keeps his sweet smile, closing his eyes lightly.

"We were ambushed sir." The guard stumbles slightly as they both step towards the king. The king draws his sword, the cysteine edge catching the light of the dying sun. The king opens his eyes, all the light and joy that was in them replaced with malice and hate.

"Burn." He says, the two soldiers before him instantly catch fire and scream soundlessly as they quickly crumble into a pile of ash.

"Congratulations," He turns to the last man, "You're now the captain, take my best men and my daughter's handmaiden as well as a chest filled with an assortment of her gowns, you are to fulfill his last request so she may still be presentable once you capture this rogue and bring her back."

"Yes your majesty." The man says, obviously shaking as he bows and all but runs from the room.

The king turns to his advisor. "Advise my guard to kill him and dump his body on the way back."

"Of course your majesty." The wizened old man bows and leaves the room.

~~~~~~_____~~~~~_____~~~~~_____~~~~~

The moon was high in the sky when Annabelle slipped out of her bedroom. She wandered through the halls of the keep by moonlight, looking for the best way to escape. She wasn't about to just sit here and wait for an entire year before leaving.

~~~~~~_____~~~~~_____~~~~~_____~~~~~

"Aren't you going after her?" Ravi's voice sounds softly in Kyle's head as he and the drake sit in the rafters, watching as Annabelle leaves her room.

"She's going to run every night, I may as well let her try and see how far she'll get on her own. She needs to know that she has no chance out there. Deadly cliffs to one end, monsters to the other."

~~~~~~_____~~~~~_____~~~~~_____~~~~~

Annabelle felt she had been wandering for hours before finally she came to a hall that seemed to disappear into a mountain wall. Her face lit up in a smile as she felt a soft cool breeze on her skin. Annabelle quickly rushes towards it, thinking it to be a secret door like the ones she used to run through when she was younger. Pressing her palms against it and pushing she feels it give way a little, the "wall" warm beneath her hands.

Suddenly the whole wall moves and she tumbles into a massive cavern, the "wall" she'd been pushing against appearing above her and seeming to move to her right. A massive pillar of stone crashes a few feet from her head, causing her to look up, as she does so she realizes that it isn't a wall but a Stone Guardian Bear, a being long since thought to be extinct. As the bear roars out Annabelle screams, scrambling quickly backward.

Panic stricken she freezes and watches as the massive beast moves to a far unseen wall and falls onto its side, its tossing snores shaking the room. She stands and turns, bumping right into Kyle's chest.

"Isn't she pretty, one of the last of her kind, the other is a male in the peaks of the Eastern Kingdom." He says lightly.

"She's terrifying..." Annabelle says, shaking.

"Oh, she's just a big softy." Kyle smiles, "Unless she had cubs, then she'd rip apart the world to find them. And the only exit is through her cave."

"I think I'd rather take my chances with a rope out my window..." Annabelle says softly, "But I'm afraid I'm lost. Would you... would you escort me back to my room please...?"

He smiles and holds out his arm to her. "Come along then."

"You aren't... angry?" She takes it, looking back to the bear just once before leaving.

"I did tell you I'd come find you." He smiles.

"Yes but... I was sure you'd be angry with me..." She watches the floor as they walk, neglecting to say that her father would have been furious.

"I'm not a dark man, and I never let my temper get the best of me, bad things happen when I do."

"Bad things?" She asks softly, noticing the feel of coiled ropes beneath her hands.

"Yes, the last time I accidentally burned a whole temple down."

"A temple... aren't they made of stone?"

"Yes they are."

"I would never want to be on the receiving end of that fire..." she said softly.

"No one would." He chuckles.

"So... why are there ropes coiled around your wrists...?" She asks softly.

"So you noticed." His smiles fades a little as he rolls his sleeve up, a soft silver aura seeming to emanate from the rope around his arm. "It's a seal, it's to help keep my power in check."

"Power? If you're that powerful why did you take me? You could have simply taken what you wanted from the castle..."

"No, respect is won, not taken through fear."

"Respect..." Annabelle says softly, she was about to say that her mother had once said that, when suddenly she slipped. She was going to land face first on the cold hard tiles, probably bloody her nose. In a flash she was in Kyle's arms. He was looking deep into her eyes, her arms were around his neck and he was still walking, as if nothing had happened.

"Are you ok?" He chuckles softly.

"I... yeah, I'm alright, my ankle just..." she smiles then, giggling softly.

"Good." He smiles and tightened his grip slightly as he helps her through the doorway of her bedroom. He then lays her down, covering her up. "Is your ankle okay?"

"No, I think... I think I twisted it..."

He places a hand in her ankle and smiles, "Just a sprain, you'll be fine in the morning."

"Thank you," She smiles softly.

"Stay off it tonight Annabelle, wander the Keep tomorrow during the light of day." He says softly before leaving the room, his voice floated over his shoulder as he turned down the hall, "Goodnight Annabelle."