Those Capital Knight

"Everyone? You mean the royal family, right?"

"Aye, that's what I mean... But, don't you find it odd? If it were just a random war prisoner, wouldn't our guards be enough? Why have the Capital Knights suddenly taken such an interest?"

"What are you imagining now? You should keep your mouth in check. Sometimes, it could backfire badly," replied the other, snickering.

Despite the jest, I agreed with the man. His point made sense.

Logically, why would the Capital Knights be involved in searching for an "ordinary prisoner of war"?

This person might have a hidden secret known only to a few key individuals.

For instance, she could be the princess of the fallen kingdom, presumed dead.

'And this fits perfectly with my current predicament... damn.'

*Knock Knock*

Lyra quickly turned her head toward the source of the sound. It was a waitress, knocking on the table to get her attention.

"Excuse me. Are you ready to order?"

"Hmm... Soup and bread, please," she replied, choosing her lunch.

Her mind raced with thoughts about the implications of the knights' involvement, but she tried to appear calm and collected.

'Let's think 'bout this after eating.'

* * *

After savoring her lunch, she headed to the restroom at the back of the tavern. But when she returned, she found the atmosphere had grown tense and quiet.

The Capital Knights, accompanied by several guards, had entered through the front door.

'Why am I so unlucky?' she thought.

As fast as she could, she slipped back through the door she had come from, hiding beside a large cupboard in the hallway leading to the restrooms. She strained to hear what was happening.

"We are searching for an escaped war prisoner. Cooperate, and this will be over quickly. Anyone found aiding the prisoner will face severe consequences," the knight declared loudly.

"Stay where you are! Open your capes!" 

The guards moved through the main room, scanning faces and questioning anyone who seemed out of place.

Meanwhile, the knight approached the innkeeper, interrogating her.

"Have you seen any new faces in the past day or two? Anyone acting suspiciously or asking unusual questions?"

"No, Sir Knight, just the usual travelers and traders. But you're welcome to search the premises," the innkeeper replied, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

Perhaps she was irritated by the surprise inspection at such a busy time, which could disrupt her business.

"Thank you. We will be quick."

Another voice interrupted, "There's no one here, sir."

"Search the other rooms."

Following the instruction, some guards headed upstairs, checking rented rooms and storage areas where someone might hide, while others moved toward Lyra's location.

'Back door. Need to reach it quickly.'

Lyra ran to the back but found some guards already in the back alley.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and she felt a cold sweat forming on her brow. Thinking quickly, she decided, 'The window.'

As swiftly and quietly as she could, she jumped through a nearby window into the street beside the tavern. The glass rattled slightly as she slipped through, and she hoped the noise hadn't drawn attention.

Thankfully, the crowd gathered at the front of the tavern was too engrossed in the commotion to notice her.

She blended into the crowd, hoping it would divert the searchers' attention while she considered her next move.

Brightwood Town, nestled within a forest, was known for its woodcraft and serene environment. That morning, she had observed it as a potential hiding place. The town seemed peaceful, with birds chirping and the scent of fresh wood in the air.

But with this sudden situation, it became not safe anymore.

'Maybe I can hide in the forest,' Lyra thought, starting to move again. 'The dense trees and thick underbrush will provide good cover.'

But as she approached the edge of the crowd, she heard a guard's voice.

"Sir, someone saw a person slip out a side window a while ago!"

"That person! The one wearing the cape in the crowd!"

One of the guards shouted, sending adrenaline coursing through Lyra's veins.

'Shit! What now?!' 

Without looking back, she quickly ran toward a nearby alley, trying to reach the outskirts of the market area. She felt the eyes of curious onlookers on her, but she couldn't afford to slow down.

In her run, she spotted a stable and decided it was her best bet to lose the guards and find a means of escape. The stable smelled of hay and horses, and she could hear the soft whinnies and rustling of animals.

Without further hesitation, she sprinted toward the stable, dodging through the crowd and knocking over a few items to create a distraction and block the path.

The noise and commotion caused people to turn and look, but she didn't have time to worry about that.

Upon arrival, she quickly saddled one of the horses amid the chaos, cutting the rope tying its neck with her dagger. Her hands trembled slightly, but she worked quickly and efficiently.

"Hey! That's my horse!!" 

Glancing back, she tossed her pocket money toward the old man and then rode out of the stable, heading for the town's outskirts.

The wind whipped through her cape, but she didn't care as the shouts and sounds of hooves echoed behind her.

"Stop there!!"

At least three knights followed her, their horses faster than hers. However, the earlier commotion had helped create some distance.

Lyra reached the outskirts and plunged into the forest, riding hard.

The dense canopy overhead filtered the sunlight into scattered patches on the forest floor. The sound of the knights and their horses faded slightly as the thick trees began to obscure their view.

But as she pushed deeper into the forest, branches whipped at her face and legs.

Gritting her teeth, she pressed onward, enduring the pain and exertion. She felt the sting of scratches and the ache of bruises forming, but she couldn't stop now.

'Come on, I need to hurry.'

Yet, luck seemed to abandon her from the start.

Her horse, already fatigued, began to slow, its breath coming in harsh gasps. The pursuit was relentless; she could still hear the knights' shouts and the pounding of hooves behind her.

'I-I need to find a place to hide soon.' 

Her mind raced with possibilities, each one seeming more unlikely than the last.

Quickly, she created some false trails by breaking branches and disturbing the ground in one direction, then doubling back quietly to head in a different direction repeatedly.

'Hoping this confusion will buy me some time.'

She headed to a darker part of the forest, frantically searching for a hiding place. Her eyes darted from dense underbrush to a fallen log.

Finally, she spotted a small cave hidden behind a thick curtain of ivy.

With no time to lose, she guided the horse toward it, praying it would be enough.