ZARA'S POV
They took us to a place, which looked like their base. there were a lot of bandits there and also a lot of hostages. They were locked in cages like animals.
The soldiers who were sent to accompany me, were also captured. Just about thirty of them, the rest were killed.
They took Lia to the cage where they kept women and took me to the cage, where they kept men.
I wanted to scream at them to take me to where they keep women because I'm a woman but I decided against it.
I sat in the cage, along with my remaining soldiers and other men.
"Your high... I mean Captain, I'm sorry we couldn't protect you," Jamie apologized, and I was glad he was still alive.
"It's okay, we just need to figure out to get out of this place."
"But prin..., I mean Captain, that seems nearly impossible, this place is heavily guarded.
"Even so, we still have to get out of here."
I looked around and saw that most of the men were alive, but they look dead. Probably because they were tortured.
"If you are thinking of escaping, you should just remove the thought from your mind, because if you get caught, they will kill you immediately," a man said, he looked worn out and a little thin.
"What's your name?" I asked.
He was quiet for some minutes, before answering.
"My name is Theon?"
I thought he was going to ask me my name, but he didn't and I was glad because I didn't know which name to tell him.
"Theon, why are these men like this?"
"Can't you see, we were tortured, and we worked all day and also get Little food. They all lost the hope of living because it was either we were killed, or sold. But we mostly get killed only women get sold, but if you are lucky, they could sell you."
I sighed, this was not going to be easy as I thought. Lia, oh my God Lia, I just hope they don't sell her. Now I wished we were in the same cell. I'm sure she would be really scared.
I need to think of a way to get us out of here. I felt someone sniffing me, and I turned around.
It wasTheon, he was sniffing me like a dog.
"What are you doing?" I asked
"You smell nice, and you have a pretty face, too pretty to be a boy, you must be from a wealthy family, You don't have to worry, I'm sure they will sell you," Theon muttered with a sad smile.
He looked at Jamie and sighed.
"Sorry man, I'm sure they will make you work with us with those muscles of yours, and in just a few days your muscles will disappear."
"Theon, you are not like the others," I mumbled.
How? He asked
"At least, you're still talking to us."
"That because unlike them, I will always hold on to my hope, until the day I die, or if I'm ever going to get out of here alive," he replied.
I smiled, I already like him and if we make it out of here alive, I'm going to ask him to be one of my soldiers.
"I like you Theon," I blurted out, smiling at him.
"It's an honor to be liked by such a pretty boy, you are even more pretty than all the girls I've seen my entire life, Theon said, and Jamie cleared his throat.
"He has a wife," Jamie muttered and I chuckled.
"Your wife must be lucky then."
He faced Jamie, eyeing him from head to toe.
"You know I used to be like you, Theon muttered moving closer to Jamie.
Jamie eyed him, then he chuckled.
How so? Jamie asked
"I used to have muscles like you and I was also the Captain of a gang, who used to guard a rich merchant, but we were ambushed, and they fled leaving me behind. So now you understand, when I tell you that soon, all your muscles will be gone, and you will look thin like a stick."
Theon was a lively person, I was really glad that even with everything that had happened to him, he still didn't give up.
I sighed, thinking of a plan that will get us out of here.
"Theon, do you know how many bandits are here?" I asked.
"I think close to five hundred or more than."
"And how many hostages are here?"
"A thousand or more."
We are more than them, I thought, there is still hope after all.
"Jamie, Theon, I have a plan"
My soldiers surrounded me while I sat in their center.
"Theon, when do they take the men out for work?"
"Usually in the morning," he replied.
"Then, we have to fight them,"
"And how do we do that? they usually chain our hands," Theon muttered.
"But do they chain them when you work?"
"No, they take off"
"Then that's when we strike?"
"How many men and how many women are here?"
"Three hundred men, and at least seven to eight hundred women, but with you and these soldiers, it should be Three hundred and thirty-one men.
More women and fewer men is a disadvantage, but we can work with that.
"Captain, how do we carry on with your plan, when they've all lost hope," Jamie questioned and the soldiers nodded in agreement.
"Then, we just have to give them that hope again."
I stood up, looking at the men lying on the floor.
"If you are going to die, why don't you die fighting, at least you can fight to survive, don't just give up without even trying?"
By now, almost all the men were standing up, and I smiled, looks like I was getting to them.
"Don't be cowards, we are more than them, if we stand together, I'm sure we can be free from these monsters.
All of them were now standing up, they no longer looked dead, but have hope in their eyes, perfect.
" I think maybe you were captured for a reason, and that reason was to save us," Theon muttered and they all nodded in agreement.
"Now tell us the plan pretty boy," Theon said
"We wait till mourning when they bring us out to work and after that, one of us has to go free the women, so they can join us in the fight. I know it's easier said than done, but we have to try it."
"You're right, we just have to risk it," Jamie muttered.
That night, they brought us food and threw it into the cage-like we were dogs. The food was small and barely enough to feed us all. So I told my soldiers to just let the men eat since we ate something before we were captured. Hopefully, we could have something, in the mourning, that's if they give breakfast.
We all slept immediately after eating, we needed the strength, because tomorrow was going to be a tough day.
We woke up to loud noises, the bandit was hitting the gates, telling us to wake up.
I stretched my body, still feeling sleepy, it was as if the night was just a minute. I sighed, rubbing my eyes.
I was surprised to see that the bandits, were giving us breakfast, and it was more than last night's dinner. It was enough for all of us.
"Theon, how come they give a lot of food in the mourning," I asked.
"Because we have to work, they want us to have a lot of strength. but don't expect lunch and dinner are usually very small."
We all dug into the food, eating like hungry lions, and when we were done eating, they took us to where we were going to work.
Some were asked to make swords, while others were asked to dig wells and break stones.
I turned and signaled the men that it was time.
ZARA'S POV We grabbed our weapons, fighting the men who were close by and before you know it there was chaos. Everyone was fighting one man or the other even the women had been released and some already fled running for their lives. By the time the fight was over, most of the men are women were dead including the bandits, some were dead, while some fled. There were just about a hundred and fifty men and like three hundred women. Even my soldiers were just a few now like seven men remaining. "Captain, someone called, and I turned around to see Jamie and Theon walking toward me. I was so happy that they were alive, and I ran towards them, hugging them. Jamie cleared his throat and I chuckled. " Where is Lia? I suddenly remembered. I twirled, looking around toward where the women were. Lia, I yelled. "Jamie, you have to find Lia." "Lia, is that your wife?" Theon asked and I could help but laugh. Y...yes, I shuttered. I wanted to tell him, that I was a woman, but I decided t
CARL'S POV What did she just say, she's the princess? "What did you say?" I asked to be sure "I am princess Zara of Azrael." "But you are a man," one of the council members blurted out and I glared at him. Is he so foolish that he can not see that the person in front of him was a woman? "I'm not," she muttered removing the boy's wig she was wearing, letting her long dark hair fall freely. How beautiful, I thought, letting out a breath of relief and the council members also did the same. Oh, I didn't they were also scared of having an ugly queen. "Then why is this woman dressed as the princess, and you're dressed as a man," Jerald asked. "I was embarking on a dangerous journey, so I needed to protect myself," she replied. That doesn't change the fact that she fooled me into thinking that the ugly woman was the princess. She could have easily changed when she got to Everton, but she choose to fool me, for that I would make her life miserable. ZARA'S POV When I entered Eve
ZARA'S POV Lia and I turned to see a cute Little boy who looked like Carl. He was so cute with chubby cheeks and I couldn't help but pulled them."Uhh, what a cute little kid," Lia said also pulling his cheek, and he pouted his mouth angrily."You lady's have no respect, how dare you pull the cheeks of a man," he muttered, making Lia and I laugh."What's your name, and how old are you?" I asked the kid with a smile."My name is Prince Aiden, and I'm five years old."It's a pleasure to meet you, Prince Aiden," I said with a smile."The pleasure is mine," he replied raising his shoulder. He looks arrogant and adorable.What do you expect, he is the devil's brother."I heard you will be marrying my brother, does that mean, I'll be marrying that little lady with you?" Aiden muttered, pointing at Lia and I chuckled."Look here kid, I'm not Little, and I'm way older than you, so there is no way I'm marrying you," Lia muttered.""What's wrong, I'm handsome and hot, many girls are dying t
CATHERINE'S POVI purposely sent Zara to the king's room, because I knew he was with that witch Gwen. I really didn't like her. Carl was my son and I didn't want that woman to trap him.She may pretend in front of everyone but I knew she was a corning woman.I watched as Zara staggered into the room. She was drunk and it makes my plan even more perfect.I smiled when Zara walked into the room, I could just imagine the look on both Carl and Gwen's faces.I walked closer to eavesdrop on their conversation. "What are you doing?" Someone said from behind, making me jump in fear. I turned to see Aiden staring at me."You scared me," I said holding my chest."Mom are you eavesdropping on Carl," Aiden muttered with his eyebrow raised."Of course not," I replied, with an awkward smile.He looked at me suspiciously, before he walked away. For a five years old, he acts like an adult. I looked at the door one last time before walking away, I didn't want anyone else to catch me eavesdroppi
ZARA'S POV"Did you sleep well, Princess?" The arrogant jerk asked with a smirk, and I suppressed the urge to scoff.I put on the fakest smile anyone had ever seen, showing him my teeth."I slept well Carl," I Muttered, calling him by his name, and I saw his eyes turn dark. He didn't expect that I would call him by his name."How did you sleep, Carl?" I asked, emphasizing the Carl with a smirk."You should address me as your Majesty," he said angrily, and I scoff."But that's not your name is it," I questioned, trying to get on his nerves.He looked at me like he was going to kill me. I'm the one who is supposed to be angry after he kept me on the balcony. Stupid jerk, I just hate him."So, what if it's my name, you have no right to call me by my name," he muttered, walking closer to me.I looked at him, anger evident in his eyes, but I didn't back down, I met his gaze head-on. "Okay, your Majesty," I said in a mock tone. The way he was looking at me, if looks could kill, I'll be
ZARA'S POVAfter eating, I went straight to take my bath because I stinked. I sat in the bath, with my eyes closed, loving the feeling of the warm water on my skin, Lia also sat beside me helping me to bathe.Zara, Someone yelled and I opened my eyes to see Catherine. She walked towards me with an apologetic look, I guess she feel guilty for what her evil son did to me. "Zara, I'm sorry for how my son treated you, I can't believe that stupid son of mine would lock you up in a dungeon, I only got to know about it a while ago," Catherine said."It's okay, you don't have to apologize to me, it's not your fault."She smiled, patting my head then she walked away.I walked into the devil's room after my bath, to put on my clothes. It was a good thing that he was not in the room, because maybe apart from being evil and arrogant, he may also be a pervert.I thought about leaving the room to find another room for myself, but I changed my mind. I grinned evilly, as I thought about what
ZARA'S POVLia and I sneaked around in the palace like thieves. We hid behind pillars and furniture. But that was enough. I was sure that if we didn't leave the palace soon, Carl would find us."Princess I have an idea," Lia whispered."What idea?" I asked, also in a whisper."I think we should ask queen Catherine for help, even if she is Carl's mother, she likes you a lot and I'm sure if we ask her she would help," Lia said."But how are we going to go to queen Catherine's rooms, there are guards everywhere," I replied."You are right princess, I didn't think of that.""Ladies," a tiny voice said, startling me and Lia.We both twirled in the direction to see prince Aiden looking at us. "Aiden, what are you doing here," I questioned, and he rolled his little eyes."I'm a prince, and this is my palace, I could go wherever I want," he replied, and I realized my question was actually foolish."Now it's my turn to ask what you are doing sneaking around like thieves?" Aiden asked.
CARL'S POV I walked into my chambers, feeling tired after the stressful day I had. I saw that annoying princess lying on the bed, but I was too tired to care, so I left her. I walked into my closet, changing into something else, before going to bed. Immediately my head touched the pillow, I slept off. You won't blame me, it's not easy being the king. I have been working for two days without rest. **** I woke up, still feeling sleepy, but I had to get up early to discuss important matters with my council members. I took a glance at my side to see the annoying princess still sleeping peacefully and I scoffed, climbing down from my bed. I didn't like the annoying princess staying in my room, but last night I was so tired. once I'm done with the council meeting, I will throw her out of my room. I didn't bother to have a bath or change my clothes, I just went straight to the throne room. When I walked past some servants, they greeted me and looked at me strangely before immediat