Chapter 254: 254. She is found-or so they believe.
In the Forest of the damned.
"Still haven’t found anything yet?" Thaddeus—Lyle’s right-hand man—asked one of his underlings. It had been two nights and two days searching every corner of the forest, trying to cover as much part as possible, yet the princess had not turned up. It would seem the one who had captured her had taken her out of the forest through another route.
It was a very tiring search because even though they had been able to find an old sorcerer who gave them protection from the souls of the damned in the forest, it was still eerie to be in the place.
It felt like they were being corrupted the longer they stayed in the forest. The feeling was even worse at night due to the creepy sounds that filled the place.
But what could they do? They had been given strict orders to not step out of the forest until every corner was searched.
"Nay. Not a single thing. Lord Thaddeus, if you would permit me to speak—" the man said and Thaddeus simply nodded tiredly. "I do not believe they are still in this forest. If they were we would have found a trace of them at least. What if this damned place has swallowed them up? Will that not mean we are running a fool’s errand?"
"Watch your words!" Thaddeus strictly rebuked and the young man immediately bowed.
"Forgive me if I have misspoken."
"Go, continue the search." Thaddeus ordered and the man nodded. However, Thaddeus let out a deep sigh after him. He was more frustrated than he let on.
The only thing they had found in the damned forest so far were about five different cottages. And all were empty. There was nothing more.
Not even a trace of the horse his master’s assailant had rode off on.
There was nothing.
By the end of the day, he was certain they would have covered the entire forest and if by then they still failed to find anything, it would be a problem.
At this point he was almost thinking of making up something... anything at all to avoid the wrath of his master.
"Come out," he breathed, looking around the forest, "please, I beg of you, be it just a clue, anything at all will do, just come out."
At the end of those words of frustration a sudden loud whistle resounded through the forest. Thaddeus’ head instantly turned toward the direction it had come from.
He waited, listened, and when he heard it again loud and clear, he mounted his horse and they moved in that direction. As swiftly as he could, the horse galloped.
The whistle was to alert others in case something was found... It seemed one of them had found something. Thaddeus found himself praying in his heart that it was the princess who had been found, because deep down, he was getting frustrated with his master’s obsession with finding and having her.
Some of his men who had heard the whistle were also running toward the same direction.
And in a matter of time, they came to a clearing where two of their people stood, one of them had made the call.
"Lord Thaddeus," one called, bidding him to come closer. He came down from his horse, and they parted for him to see.
And there it was... the end to all their search.
Laying on the ground, still in those tattered clothes she had been captured in, with fiery red hair spread across her face and dried leaves tucked into almost every curl...
It was indeed her. The lost princess of Avelah.
Thaddeus immediately breathed a sigh of relieve at the sight of her, his heavy panting quickly dying down. "Is she—"
"Merely unconscious, my lord. She’s still breathing." they assured him.
"And her captor? No signs of him?" He asked as he took cautious steps towards her.
"Nay."
"How did she manage to ward off the spirits if the damned?" He wondered and just as the question had escaped her mouth, his gaze caught a small pouch tightly gripped in her palm.
"She must have stolen it off her captor and fled." One of the men who found her spoke.
"But would it have been possible for her to run from that man? You remember how he was built—"
Thaddeus at that point had crouched down before her, and he simply chuckled, "For a woman like her, nothing is impossible. She is a clever one after all. Must have tricked him one way or the other—left him for death at the hands of the damned."
He let out a satisfied sigh as he rose to his feet, carrying her with him. Gently, he set her atop his horse and climbed up immediately after.
"Search the forest a little further and if by the hour dusk is upon you, you find no thing at all, return then to your stations until further instructions are given."
***
"Ahhhh!" Her scream rang throughout the room as she woke with a start. "Get off me! Get away from me! Lyle! Lyle where are you!" She screamed and kicked with her eyes tightly shut and her hands flying up in the air to shield her from whatever invincible force had gotten a hold of her.
Suddenly, an arm came around her, soothing her, whispering to her, saying, "I’m here. I’m here Neriah, it’s alright. You’re safe now, you’re safe with me. Lyle is here."
Indeed, she looked up and there was the familiar traitor she knew. Blue eyes that once trapped her, hair like fine coastline sand, and that smile she had foolishly fought for...
That same smile she was only now realizing how disgusting it made her feel... that treacherous smile.
It was him.
"Lyle? Oh Lyle!" she cried and fell into his arms with practiced ease.
"Yes my dear, It is I." He held her. "Forgive me for not being able to protect you. I promise my dear, I will not allow anything terrible to happen to youh ever again."
"I know." Neriah smirked into his shoulder. This time around, he was done for.