The journey back to the city started out uneventful, until they reached the outskirts of the forest. Three Knights were there, just about to break camp. They saw Rebecca and rushed forward, weapons drawn.
“Princess! You’re alive!” one of them said. Then he saw Alex. “Get behind me, you’ll be safer!”
Rebecca stayed where she was. “These are my friends,” she said. “Put your swords away, NOW!”
The last part of her sentence was accompanied by an aura of power that surrounded her body. “I am not in danger with these people! Whatever my mother told you was a lie told to her by the Priests. They have been lying to us since the first day that they stepped into the castle.”
The knights seemed uncertain of what to do. Their Princess had some kind of power, and they did not want to find out just what kind of power it was. That, and the boy behind her had his weapon drawn and seemed prepared to come to her defence if necessary. Then, they came forward, knelt in front of her and offered her their swords.
“Forgive us, Highness,” they said in turn. Then, their leader looked up at her, and Rebecca recognised him as the Captain of the Guard, Richard Gallia.
“Princess, what kind of power is this that you have?” he asked.
“Magic.”
The knights looked up sharply and looked at her nervously.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I won’t hurt you. And stand up! You’re embarrassing me!”
They stood up quickly and sheathed their swords. Richard looked at Samuel, a smile spreading across his face.
“You are the son of the Duke of Rilavara, aren’t you?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Richard seemed amused. “You do not recognise me, do you?” he asked. “I was assigned to be your father’s bodyguard for a year. He’s a good man, but he needs to control his temper.”
Samuel blinked, and then burst out laughing. “True!” he said. “Very, very true!”
Richard noticed Mary, and smiled. “And you are Mary,” he said. “It seems that a year has only added to your beauty.”
Mary went red. “Thank you,” she said.
Alex sighed. “I do not mean to interrupt,” she said. “But we must really be going now.”
Richard glanced at her. “You didn’t kidnap the Princess, did you?”
Alex gave him a very sharp look. “No,” she said. “I only rescued her from certain death. The Priests were going to sacrifice her to their god.”
Rebecca twisted around and looked at her. “You never told me that!” she said.
“I did not want to alarm you,” Alex said. “Chigaro was obviously sent to kill you, since it seemed unlikely that these Knights would arrest me and take you back to the castle.”
Richard’s expression darkened. “Why would the Queen allow such a thing?”
“Because she believes that it’s the only way to save her kingdom,” Alex said. “They have told her that if Rebecca is not sacrificed, Claraxis will destroy the city.”
Rebecca just stood there, shaking. “Mother…” she said. “Why…?”
Suddenly, a massive aura of power surrounded her and she drew her sword. She held it in front of her, and said one word: “Angelheart.”
Her blade seemed to glow for a moment, before the light exploded, forcing everybody present to either cover their eyes or go blind. When the light died down, the sword had changed into a 5-foot silver blade with a white handle and hilt. The cross guard looked like two angel wings, pointing upwards and outwards towards the tip of the blade. Rebecca held the sword in one hand easily, her eyes glowing a bright green. “I. Am. Going. To. KILL THEM!”
With that, the light surrounding her flashed once and then she was gone.
“This cannot be good,” Alex said. “She’s gone to fight the False One!”