23: Rebellion

I was awoken by the loud sound of shouting and explosions.

"Your majesty!" my personal knights barged in with worried expressions

"What is happening?" I asked

"The Palace is under attack, your majesty, the rebellion lead by your mother's associates have started and is now breaking into the palace gates." Dame Therese said

"What is the current situation? Can we defend the palace?" I asked

"To be honest, we have the underhand, your majesty, they have surrounded all the possible entrance and exit points of the palace." Sir Charles said

"Not all." I said and went to the windows

"Your majesty," they called worriedly when I held the window lock

"You're not possibly thinking of jumping from the window, are you, your majesty?" Dame Maia asked

I pulled it down, locking it in from the inside then I pulled the curtains to block the view from the outside.

"Why did you lock the window?" Knight Stephen asked

"To make sure we can escape safely." I answered and went to the workshop.

"Emergency sequence activated." I said

"Yes, princess."

A thick metal covered the windows, everything associated with our secret escapades disappeared, and as soon as I closed the door, I heard the door clicking. It's now locked from the inside.

"Lock the door." I said and Sir Charles did as I say

"You should change into something that won't take their attention." I told my knights

"Your majesty?" they got dumbfounded so I went to my closet and opened Zairo's stuff

'Hey, Zai, I'll just lend your clothes to my knights. We need to escape, the palace is under attack.' I said and took out a pair of Zairo's clothes

"I'm not sure if these will fit you." I said as soon as I went out and threw the shirt and pants to them

I chose the larger pair of clothes that Zairo has then I also took two of my largest clothes and handed it to Maia and Therese.

"Please change into those quickly." I said and went to my closet

I changed into a pair of jeans and a shirt then I tied my hair up, making sure that I hide the prominent golden streaks in my hair using the colored hair spray that Zairo gave me in case of emergency. I placed the luggage inside the secret vault and locked the closet from the outside.

"That's good, follow me," I said after closing my closet

"Where are we going, your majesty?" Dame Therese asked

"Escape." I answered and pressed the bricks that would trigger the secret passage to open

"Follow me," I said and they followed me

"Where are we heading, your majesty?" Knight Stephen asked

"We'll be escaping but we have to retrieve something first." I said and we headed to the library

Thankfully, there wasn't anyone there yet when we arrived so I headed to where the secret room is located and opened the door. I went in and took the book then I took the King's seal, I left the Queen's crown because I don't have that much of a space left inside the small bag I brought.

The door had just closed and I saw that my knights are outside as well, I took the book that would give the code to the secret room to make sure no one can decode the answer to the lock.

"Your majesty, we must leave," Dame Maia said

"Keep your voice down," I told her

"There's someone here!" someone shouted

"Inside, quick!" Sir Charles said and we entered the passageway again

I followed the path leading outside the palace, the marketplace.

"Where are we, your majesty?" Knight Stephen asked

"We're in the nearest market to the border of Astrae, the center point of trade from other kingdoms." I answered

My knights are trained to move stealthily so moving around unnoticed is not a huge challenge for them. I don't know anywhere we can stay for the meantime so I opted for my one and only resort, the secret house.

"Her majesty should go ahead, we'll block them off." Sir Charles said when we reached the forest

"We have to leave together, Sir Charles, I'm not taking a chance of you not dying in the hands of them. That's an order." I said seriously and we went inside the forest

"Surround the queen, make sure no harm is to come to her." Sir Charles said

"They're here!" a loud sound of multiple quick footsteps followed that shout so we had no choice but to run.

We continued running, some parts of my cloak is already getting torn by the branches as we decided to pass through the thick forest instead of the cleared path. This is a shorter route to the valley of Laughter however, it is a little far from where exactly the house is but I'm not taking the chances of us being followed and its location being revealed.

"Where exactly are we going, your majesty?" Sir Charles asked as we run

"Our escape house," I answered and stopped when we arrived at the Valley of Laughter

Sir Charles saw a small cave so we went inside and hid there until we heard footsteps, possibly from those who are chasing us.

"We lost them."

"They can't be far."

"That queen wouldn't possibly survive a further distance."

"Search the location, spread around."

I was already breathing heavily as we sat inside the cave. Dame Maia and Dame Therese are standing beside me, while Sir Charles and Knight Stephen are serving as our lookout.

'I'm safe, we're safe, we're on our way to the escape house.' I informed him

"I'll go there tomorrow, don't worry about the stocks, I've replenished it." He replied through inner voice

'Thank you for your help, Zai.' I replied and closed my eyes

We're only waiting for their signal that the coast is clear and we can continue our escape.

"They must be back in Astrae again."

We heard several footsteps, followed by the sound of horse gallops. I looked at Sir Charles and he shook his head meaning it's not yet safe, I turned to Knight Stephen and he shook his head as well.

We waited a little more to make sure they won't catch us right on the spot of escaping and catch us.

"Coast is clear, your majesty." Knight Stephen said and we all carefully exited the cave

Checking from time to time that no one could see us before Sir Charles gave us the clearance to run. They were quick and if this was my first time running and covering lot of distance, I might have not make it this far. I'm now thankful for all those running I did whenever I was escaping the palace and going here.

"We're here." I said breathing heavily when we stopped in front of the marking

I was already panting so we had to stop to catch our breaths. The route we took was quite further than the route I usually take.

"There's nothing in here, your majesty." Knight Stephen said confusedly then it hit me

I can see the house because of the pin I always wear, however they can't see it because of the barrier that Zairo had put up.

"Hold on to me, you will lose me if you don't." I said and they held on my arm as I lead them in

I lead them to the escape house and started catching my breath when I stopped by the tree near the house, the lights are open but it's unnoticeable at first glance because of the dark curtains.

"Whose house is this, your majesty?" Sir Charles asked with his hand in his sword's stilt

"It's in the middle of nowhere…" Dame Maia mumbled while looking around

"Your majesty?" I looked at Dame Therese when she called me

"Were we followed?" I asked nervously

It's unlikely because of the barrier that cloaks this place but I can't take the chances of putting my guard down and get caught.

"No, your majesty. Look at this." She shook her head then I looked at where she's looking at

The sky is changing into a lighter color as the sun is already starting to rise. It's giving enough light for all of us to be able to read the carving on the tree.

|ZATRICE'S SECRET BASE|

|no one else is allowed

| – unless it's an emergency |

I almost face palmed because of our silliness as kids. We were kids when Zai and I decided to carve that to mark the place as our 'territory'. It wasn't just that before, there used to be a paper that serves as a signage that states that it's a private property there too.

"It's an emergency." I chuckled

"Welcome to our escape house," I said and stood up

"Is this place safe, your majesty?" Dame Maia asked with her hand on the stilt of her sword

"It is, unless we've been followed." I replied and they surrounded me as we approach the house

I approached the house and entered the pin, I looked at my knights and I almost chuckled when they all averted their eyes from the pin.

"So, you're here."