“Let him go. Your business is with me,” Prince Everand barked.
The bandits stopped their horses, and the one with the broadest shoulders chuckled, his hands resting on the saddle horn. “No. I think you might be better behaved if we bring your friend along.”
The prince had no chance to argue or negotiate. Another rider reached into a pouch on his waist, grabbed something, and tossed a white powder at their faces.
“What the—” Hugo muttered, wincing as the stuff stung his eyes and tickled his nose.
“Hugo, don’t breathe!”
But it was too late. Hugo sneezed, and the world went black.
Hugo’s headthrobbed as he woke to a much darker sky and his hands bound with a rough rope behind him. Squinting and blinking against the lingering pain in his eyes, Hugo lookedaround to find that he was at the edge of a camp where the black-masked bandits were now huddled close to a campfire. One person appeared to be working on roasting some rabbits while two others watched, offering advice on how to cook them. Another group was sitting a distance away, talking quietly amongst themselves. Judging by their expressions, the conversation seemed more serious than their next meal.
As Hugo’s foggy brain climbed above the pain and confusion, he remembered what had happened. These bandits had chased him and Prince Everand until they’d fallen from his horse.
But where was the prince now?
Hugo sat on the ground, leaning on a tree, his hands and ankles bound by rope. There was no sign of the prince. Had the royal guard already rescued him while leaving Hugo behind?
No. Absolutely not. He refused to believe Prince Everand would have left him. He might not know what to think of the man, but he was sure he would’ve never left Hugo.
Maybe he was somewhere close, but Hugo couldn’t see him because of how he was positioned. The bandits had left him on the edge of the camp with him partially turned away from them as if Hugo wasn’t permitted to see the camp cook’s special seasonings for roasted rabbit.
“Pr—” Hugo cut himself off at the last second. What if they didn’t know Everand was a prince? What if they thought he was just a rich noble? If they discovered the truth, Everand could be in even more danger. But he had been traveling with the royal guard. Hugo mentally growled. He didn’t know what was going on or what to think. It was best to be cautious and not make their situation worse.
“Ev?” called out in a rough whisper. “Ever?” he tried, mentally wincing at the nicknames. What the devil was he supposed to call a prince and not have his head chopped off?
“I think I prefer Ev, if I’m to have a say in the matter,” the prince stated in a normal voice, sounding very close.
“Where are you?” Hugo demanded, still whispering.
“Other side of the same tree.”
Hugo heaved a heavy sigh of relief. There was something comforting in knowing he wasn’t alone. “Sorry about my impropriety. I just wasn’t sure if they’d guessed your identity, and I didn’t want to put you in danger if they didn’t know.”
“I appreciate your efforts, but they know who I am.”
Hugo hummed softly. “Ah. It was probably because of your shiny buttons.”
Something like a choked laugh came from the other side of the tree. “If you’re going to make fun of my buttons, you can go back to calling me Your Highness.”
“Forgive me, Your Highness,” Hugo replied with a smile.
“I’ve changed my mind. I find I like how it sounds when you call me Ev.”
“Perhaps, but it is best if I stick to your proper address.”
“No fun.” Everand pouted.
Insanely enough, Hugo had to admit that he was having a bit of fun despite the bandits holding them hostage, and not knowing what was going to happen to them next. Maybe he wasn’t as scared as he should be because Prince Everand didn’t sound all that worried. His guards had to be searching for them and were likely close to finding them even now. It was only a matter of waiting to be rescued.
“Hugo?” Everand started again, but this time his voice was far more solemn. “How is your arm?”
“It’s not all that bad. The pain gets lost in all the other aches and pains from tumbling off the horse.”
“I am sorry for getting you mixed up in all this. I would never have intentionally put you in a dangerous situation.”
“This isn’t your fault, Your Highness?—”
