Chapter 9 : A fire broke out

Ellie's POV

I walked toward the door leading me to the palace huge garden. It used to be a training ground for Prince Caspian and Clayton for their swordsmanship but the queen changed it to a garden moving the training ground beside the knights quarter outside the palace.

I looked around and saw princess Cassandra making various flower crowns and made one for her dog. I went closer to her with a sweet smile and greeted her.

"Hello there, princess Cassandra. How are you today? I see that you're making some lovely flower crowns there." I greeted her. she looked at me and showed her sweetest smile.

"Hi there, Ellie. I am fine thank you. Would you like one? They'll look good on you." She said and placed one on my head. I went to the small pond in their garden to see my reflection. It looks good like she said.

"It really is lovely. Say do you know where you're brother Clayton is?" I asked.

"He's at the horse's stable feeding the horses." She answered. I bid farewell and went to the palace stable. On my way there I fixed myself making sure I look neat in front of him. I fixed the crown and smiled when I was pleased. I continue walking and arrived at the stables. I looked around to see where he was and I saw him sleeping in the pile of hay. He must be tired. I smiled and walked to him and poked his cheeks.

"Clayton. Prince Clayton. Your highness, it's me, Ellie. I would like to talk to you." I continue poking him till he groaned and opened his eyes. He smiled and stretched before sitting up straight.

"Oh, Ellie it's you. To what do I owe you this pleasure?" He asked while rubbing his eyes. He got down on the pile of hay and dust off the strands. I helped him at the back. When we were done, he looked at me and I responded.

"First, I wish for us to talk in private. Somewhere we are alone." I requested. He looked at me curiously and said to follow him. We went outside and through a small bush beside the stables. He pushes the bush aside revealing a small hole. He went in there and I followed. When I stood up, I saw a small hut and we walked towards it.

"I found this when I was 9. And it's like it was a secret place to me. It's just that, I don't see any reason to tell them about this glorious place. No one knew about this place. Not even my siblings. So far, you're the first person I brought here." He explained as soon as we sat down in one of the chairs. I looked away when I felt my cheeks warming. I calmed myself first before looking back at him. He looked at me and smiled.

"You said you had something to say to me. Well, go on then." He said. I coughed to calmed myself down and cleared my throat. I looked at him and the eyes and started talking.

"I know that you trust Vincent so much and he is your best friend. So what I am about to say is something I hope that cannot ruin your friendship." I paused. He looked serious and somewhat nervous hearing what I just said. I cleared my throat and continued.

"Remember the griffin that came here the other day? Well, the day after that I went over to their farm to ask for some fertilizers and soil for my flower shop. I went to the barn house to take a look and I heard someone came in. I turned around to check who it was, and it was Vincent with a cow. I was about to greet him but he was acting suspicious and closed the door behind him quickly. I hid in the pile of har and took a peek. I saw light-emitting in the cow and its changes into a girl. I didn't quite see her face but I can tell that she was a girl. They were talking to each other for a while. I couldn't hear much but I heard them talking about how she found her brother. After a few minutes, she stood up and changed into a robin, and flew outside. When Vincent was gone, I got out of hiding and looked at where the bird was heading it was heading towards the south, to the reapers den." I explained. I was catching my breath while looking at him seriously thinking. Vincent is someone dear to him and I know it will be hard for him to process these things.

"I remembered he was taking a cow that da somewhere as well. But we can't still be sure that that shapeshifting creature is an enemy or a foe. It wasn't harming anyone or caused trouble. I don't remember any reports of trouble on the following day so she isn't trouble. What bothers me is that why would Vincent hide it from me. He's isn't the type to hide something evil. I've known him for years." He sighed. He seemed frustrated. He was silent for a few minutes and looked at me with a fake smile.

"Let's head back for now." He said and started walking back. I just followed him quietly.

Clayton's POV

I sat down in the window and stared at the town outside. The sun was slowly setting and people are now getting prepared to head home. Slowly, lights are lighting up and the sky emerges into darkness. I just down there and stared. I saw two kids playing outside. I smiled as a memory flashes in me. It was the time I first met Vincent.

* Flashback *

I crept into my brother's room hoping he won't wake up. I went on top of his bed and waited for the bell to rang signaling it was morning. As soon as I heard the first gong I jumped on top of Caspian waking him up.

"Caspian, wake up! It's morning now! You promised to take me outside with you! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" I called on to him. He just groaned at me and turned around to the side.

"Clayton, the bell just rang. Give me 5 more minutes and I'll be up." He replied still closing his eyes. I stopped jumping and laid down in front of him and frowned.

"But what about your promise?" I asked. He opened one of his eyes and chuckled. He rubbed my head and closed his eye.

"I won't break my promise. Just let me sleep for a while." He answered and turned around. I got out of his bed and went outside of his room just in time to see Cora in the hallway walking. I ran onto her hugged her in behind. She was startled and when she saw me she smiled and turned around to hug me back.

"Clayton, don't do that. I could trip over and we might both fell. Oh, and Good morning." She said. I broke the hug and looked at her and smiled at her.

"Good morning, sis. Sorry about that, I won't do it again. I was just sad because Caspian is still sleeping. I wanna go outside now but he is still sleeping." I said and frowned. She chuckled and kiss my cheeks.

"Tell you what, while we wait for him, why don't we have breakfast first then we'll go out first. sounds good?" She said. I smiled at her and followed her to the dining room. We had a small breakfast and went outside.

We first went to the fruit stall to buy some berries. Cora said she was planning on baking a pie. She was picking some ingredients and I told her that I will be by the fountain. I was about to walk to the fountain when a horse carriage was about to hit me. I stood there frozen not knowing what to do and before t could hit me, someone pushed me aside. I hit myself on the ground and I groaned in pain. I looked around and saw that the carriage hit the bread stall and caused a huge mess. I heard someone groaned beside me and I looked at it to see a boy a year older than me had a scratch on his knee and elbow. He sat up straight and grabbed his left arm groaning in pain. He looked at me and checked on me. Soon, Cora ran into me along with some of our knights and maids looking worried at me.

"Clayton, are you okay? What happened? You should have looked at where you were heading." She scolded me. She looked at the boy who stood up and dusted off his clothes and held on his wounded arm.

"Listen to your sister, kid. People in here are busy. You're lucky I saw you before it hit you." He said and walked away. I stood up quickly and finch when I felt pain in my legs.

"Hey, wait!" I called out. "The medic is coming on their way. Let's wait for them and let them treat you." I said. I wanna apologize to him. After all, it was my clumsiness that got him wounded. He shook his head.

"No need. I'll treat it at home. We have some herbal plants at home and these are just scratches nothing to make a fuss about it." He said and continued walking. My sister stood up and grabbed him by the arm. He was about to protest when the medic was here. They treated our wounds and treated his arm. It turns out he sprained his arm. I don't think herbal plants can treat that. When it was over, he said goodbye and left but I stopped him.

"Hey, wait I didn't get your name," I asked. He stopped and turned.

"It's Vincent, Vincent Ward." He said and left.

In the next following days, whenever my siblings invited me out, I always go to the square just to see Vincent. He was the only one who played with me first and I found that his family was well known here. When kids knew he was playing with me and knew who I was, they all played with me then.

* End of flashback *

I smiled thinking of it. Vincent was like a brother to me. I always follow him everywhere he goes. I even learned to hunt because of him. He was really good at hunting.

I looked back at the town and just smiled at them. I looked up when I saw a bright light flying to town. I didn't know what it was so I just stared at it until it landed in one of the houses. It was an arrow with fire in it. I stood up quickly just as when it was getting bigger and more flaming arrows followed. Without a minute to lose, I grabbed my sword and ran outside of the palace. I went outside and saw everyone looking outside. Mom was holding Cora and Cassandra who looked worried watching the city burn. At the front were father and Caspian with their swords and A few men guarding them. I ran beside Caspian and looked at what was happening. In every disaster that may happen to our kingdom, everyone was asked to rush immediately to the palace and escape from behind it leading to high ground. Some men rushed to the village to help the others. I was about to go in as well when something caught my eye. In the distance, there was a dark figure of a group of men in their horses. They were looking at the place burning and minutes later, they charged at us. There were more of them behind than what I saw. Father saw it as well and alerted the guards.

"Veronica, Gilbert, I want you to take the girls to higher grounds. Take care of them make sure nothing and no one will hurt them. I am trusting my family with you." Father said. The girls looked at father with tears. Mother protested saying she would stay. Father didn't listen. Veronica and Gilbert escorted them out and we faced forward ready to fight. Just as when they were closer to the bridge, we charged forward to meet them before they could reach the village.