CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER TWELVE

Bryan thought of what to say to stop her from asking him questions before he would end up telling her the real reason he didn't tell her he knew her secret

"I... don't know"He said and looked away

Brenda knew he had to have a reason he didn't tell her he knew her secret but she couldn't force him to tell her so she didn't ask him another question about it.

She smiled.

"Whether or not you had a reason for not telling me,it doesn't really matter anymore does it?"She asked "Thanks for not telling anyone though,I really appreciate"She said.

He faced her.

"Thanks also for showing up to help me back at Griffin Empire. I probably would have been dead by now if you hadn't shown up"She chuckled "No one asides my brother has ever really helped me that way before.For what's it worth,you were the first friend I ever made"She said "if you're thinking of Derek,I only got to know him because he was friends with my brother and that doesn't really count as making friends does it?"

He chuckled.

"He's still your friend though"He said.

"I guess" She smiled.

"You... really don't have any friends?" He asked.

"No"She shook her head and faked a smile.

"But it doesn't really bother me,I have my brother so..."She lied.

"Then me being your first friend doesn't really count as anything"He said.

"No,of course not,I didn't mean it that way"

"I was joking"He laughed.

"Wh...I didn't know you tell jokes"She said,she had thought he was being serious.

"I do... sometimes"

"Says the man who hardly even smiles"

"I do...also sometimes"He said.

"Well,I think you should smile more often,it suits you"She said,smiling.

He smiled,staring at her.

He brought his hand to her hair and brushed back the strands of hair lingering on the right side of her face.

She stared at him.

His hand came in contact with her cheek and he slowly brought it down to her neck.

She could feel her goosebumps rising already as he leaned close to her, bringing his lips closer to hers.

Shane and Derek got back to the cave with woods in their hands.

"We got the..."Shane was about to announce their arrival to Bryan and Brenda but Derek elbowed him, stopping him from completing his sentence and then made a head gesture towards Bryan and Brenda.

Bryan heard Shane's voice and snapped out of his trance.

He looked back and saw Shane and Derek walking towards them.

He stood up and faced them.

He almost kissed princess Brenda again.

' You're not doing a very good job in hiding your feelings from her' His brain taunted him.

"We just wanted to let you two know that we got the woods to make the fire,you can continue whatever it is you were doing"Shane said when he and Derek got to them.

"We weren't doing anything,we were just..."

"Talking" Brenda completed Bryan's sentence and stood.

"Really?"Derek arched his brow.

"Yes"Brenda said"Let's go inside"She said and began walking back to the cave.

Shane followed her.

"Something is going on between you two isn't it"He asked her.

"No"She said sharply and hurried her steps in order to avoid more of Shane's questions

Shane smiled as he watched Brenda enter the cave.

He knew his sister and he knew she liked Bryan.

"So,were you about to kiss her?"Derek asked Bryan while they were both walking to the cave.

"What?"Bryan asked, pretending not to hear what Derek said.

"Come on,I saw the both of you"

"We were just talking"

Derek frowned.

"I'll make the fire" Bryan took the woods from him.

After Bryan made the fire,they sat down to discuss how they would rescue the innocent people imprisoned in Griffin Empire.

"Before we start discussing,I do hope the plan involves us going back to our kingdom to get back up so we can have higher chances of coming back alive from Griffin Empire after we go there to rescue those people" Derek said.

''No,we can't do that" Shane said.

"Why not?"Derek asked.

"It'll be more quick if we do it ourselves. We have no idea what Griffin Empire has planned out for those people we left behind after you and I escaped and it's easier to go to Griffin Empire from here, it's not going to take us much time but if we were to return to Cyan Haven, it's only going to be a waste of time,trust me. I mean,the journey from here to our kingdom alone is time consuming"

"King Shane is right "Bryan said.

"Okay,accepted but there's no way the four of us can rescue those people ourselves, we'll only get ourselves killed. It's Griffin Empire we're talking about"

"We have to try. If Bryan and Brenda didn't try coming to rescue us, we'll still be prisoners"Shane said.

Derek sighed.

"But you do know the security is going to be more tight after what happened today" Derek said.

"I know"Shane responded.

"So, what's your plan?"Brenda asked

First,we have to get ourselves the uniforms worn by Griffin Empire guards so it'll be easy to go round the palace without arousing suspicion" Shane said "And to do that, we'll have to take the second entrance to the palace, defeat the guards and then get their uniforms"

"Okay..."Derek nodded

"Derek, you're familiar with the palace right?You know your way round"Shane asked.

"Not...really"

"Well you'll have to because you'll help us find our mother while I'll be helping the prisoners escape" Shane said "Brenda and Bryan, you'll be on the watch out and take care of any guard that tries to stop us, understood?"

Bryan and Brenda nodded.

"Now, let's get some sleep. We'll leave before the sun rises tomorrow"

Derek had already fallen asleep beside Bryan while Bryan was still fully awake.

Shane laid beside Brenda,they were both still awake.

"So,are you going to tell me?"Shane asked Brenda quietly,facing her.

"Tell you what?" Brenda asked.

"About Bryan,you like him don't you?" He asked.

"No"

"Come on" He urged her.

"Fine,I do"She said.

He smiled.

"I'm glad you do, he's a good person"

"Yet you had to put him on a three months test before you can make him one of the leaders of Cyan Haven's army?"

"I... it's not what you think,trust me,I really see him as a good person"

"Then why did you have to put him on a three months test?"

"It's been a while since we've had a young person be among the three leaders of Cyan Haven's army. I wanted to know if he was up to the task and if he was really ready for it. It's not an easy responsibility you know. And,I also wanted to know if he was in support of the decision of him becoming one of the leaders of the kingdom's army"

"I'm sure Bryan is more than ready to shoulder that responsibility. I've been with him enough to know that. He's a really great soldier"She said "And a good teacher"

"Yeah,your archery skills is a proof of that"Shane smiled.

She smiled also.

"Good night"He patted her hair.

"You too"

Before the sun rose the next day,they were already awake and were prepared to go to Griffin Empire.

"Shane, which do you prefer? A bow or a sword?" Brenda asked.

"Bow"Shane said.

Brenda brought out a bow from her bag and gave it to him.

"What about me?" Derek asked.

"Are you even good at anything?" She asked.

"No,but I think I can manage a sword?"He said and Brenda tossed him a sword.

"How many things are in your bag?"Shane asked.

"A lot" Brenda smiled.

"And you're going to carry it all by yourself?" Derek asked.

"Yes,I carried it myself yesterday"

"Bring it, I'll help"Shane said.

"I'll carry it"Bryan smiled and took the bag from her.

She smiled also.

"Let's hope we get out of Griffin Empire alive so we can plan your wedding"Derek said, grinning.

"Don't take him serious"Brenda said to Bryan"He jokes a lot"

"I don't. I'm the most serious person you'll ever come across in your life"Derek said.

"Let's be on our way and hope you don't get yourself killed instead"Shane said to Derek.

Shane took the lead and they followed behind.

He knew they were embarking on a journey where their return was not certain but they had no choice,they had to give it a try.

He knew the people he left in the dungeon would be in danger after he and Derek escaped and he didn't want to take any chances by returning to Cyan Haven to get back up.

Things would only get delayed and that was a chance he was not willing to take.

What if something happened to those people because they wasted time by returning to Cyan Haven...

TBC...