Bound by Shadows

Aspin

Three days.

Three days since I'd walked out of my castle and into the unknown. Three days since I'd left behind my family, my people, and, most frustratingly, Torin and his infuriating presence. Kind of.

Three days too many.

I paced the small room Kaia had so graciously offered me. The walls were a dull gray stone, and the air was stale, but it was better than being outside where everyone seemed to be staring at me.

At first, I'd told myself it was paranoia. No one here knew who I was. They couldn't. Olinn and Eldora had been at odds for years, but my face wasn't plastered on wanted posters, and no one could possibly guess that the missing princess was standing right in front of them.

Could they?

I glanced down at my dress—a deep blue one that Kaia had lent me. It was simple compared to my usual gowns, but the fabric was finer than anything the common folk here could afford. I'd tried to explain to Kaia that I didn't need to look "presentable," but she'd waved me off, muttering something about blending in better if I didn't look like a beggar.

Blending in. Right. Because nothing screams "low profile" like looking too well-fed in a starving city.

I sighed, sitting down on the edge of the cot. My fingers traced the hem of the dress absentmindedly. Maybe the extra looks I'd been getting were because of the clothes—or maybe I'd just been here too long.

Kaia's voice broke through my thoughts as she entered the room with a tray of bread and cheese.

"You're pacing again," she said, setting the tray on the small table. "What's on your mind?"

"Oh, nothing," I said lightly, forcing a smile. "Just thinking about my next move."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Your next move, huh? You never did tell me where you're headed—or why."

I stiffened, trying to keep my expression neutral. Kaia was sharp, much sharper than I'd initially given her credit for. Her dark eyes seemed to see right through me, peeling back the layers of half-truths I'd fed her.

"I told you," I said carefully, "I'm just passing through. Needed a break from... everything."

"Everything, huh?" she echoed, sitting across from me. "You know, you remind me of someone."

My pulse quickened. "Oh?"

"My best friend," she said, her tone casual but her gaze intent. "She used to get that same look in her eyes when she was hiding something. Like the weight of the world was on her shoulders."

I forced a laugh. "Well, I wouldn't say the weight of the world, but... sure."

Kaia didn't press further, but the suspicion in her eyes lingered. She was putting the pieces together—I could feel it.

I need to leave.

⸻

That night, as the city grew quiet, I sat by the single window in Kaia's room, staring out at the shadowy streets. The plan forming in my head wasn't great, but it was better than nothing.

Get out of Olinn. Get back to Eldora.

Simple, right? Except for the part where I had to sneak out of the city without being recognized, cross the border, and avoid Torin's inevitable wrath when he found me.

If he found me.

I shook the thought away, guilt creeping in. He was probably searching for me now, worried out of his mind. The memory of his stern voice, his piercing gaze, haunted me. He'd called me reckless. He wasn't wrong, but I'd been too stubborn to admit it.

Well, Torin, you'll have the pleasure of saying his favourite phrase, "I told you so" once I get home.

Assuming I made it home.

⸻

I waited until Kaia was asleep before grabbing my bag and slipping out of her house, careful not to make a sound. The streets were eerily quiet, the air heavy with tension.

As I crept through the alleyways, my mind raced. The plan was simple: head to the outskirts, find a way past the guards, and start the long journey back to Eldora. Easy, right?

Wrong.

The sound of voices stopped me in my tracks. I pressed myself against the wall of a building, heart pounding. Two men stood nearby, their uniforms marking them as Olinn's royal guards.

My breath hitched.

"The whole kingdom's buzzing about it. Apparently, there's a reward if anyone finds her and brings her to the king."

They must be talking about me. Great, just great.

The other guard chuckled darkly. "The king's been waiting for a chance to strike Eldora. If their princess is missing, it's the perfect time."

My stomach dropped. An attack on Eldora?

I barely had time to process the words before one of the guards turned his head, his eyes landing on me.

"Hey! You there!"

Panic surged through me as I froze, my mind scrambling for an escape.

"It's her," the other guard said, his voice filled with certainty. "It's the princess!"

I didn't wait to hear what came next. Spinning on my heel, I ran as fast as the dress would allow, the sound of their shouts echoing behind me.

Reckless, Torin? I thought bitterly. You have no idea.