Page 1 of The Thief
Prologue
Scarlett Kensington sat next to her cousin Queen Catriona Balfe, holding tightly to her cousin’s hand as they rode in the royal carriage of Elfyre Hollow to the castle Ashaven.
They were there for Catriona’s island visit with Prince Alastair Brannigan. Scarlett had never been to Elfyre Hollow so she had agreed to accompany Catriona on this trip.
Catriona and Scarlett had also been worried something might happen to Catriona due to the quick abdication of Scarlett’s uncle Art Balfe and Catriona’s quick coronation.
Scarlett had offered her protective detail to Catriona to keep them both safe on this trip. Catriona had accepted and so Scarlett had been able to come along.
Scarlett was distracted by the scenery and her thoughts that when the nearest guard to them sneezed, it caused both women to jump, Catriona squeezing Scarlett’s hand roughly.
“Catriona, are you all right?” she asked.
Catriona shook her head and motioned for Scarlett to come closer to her.
Scarlett leaned in close enough for her to whisper, “I think something is going to happen.”
Scarlett looked around, her amber eyes reflecting the fear she felt in her heart.
Catriona pulled her closer again.
“If something starts to happen, I want you to get down and don’t get up. Do you understand? They don’t need you. They would only need me to accomplish anything.”
“Should we go back then?” she asked Catriona, looking at the company of guards.
“I think we should—” Catriona stopped as the shouts of men broke the silence of the ride.
The carriage jolted to a stop and they were surrounded by the entire company of guards.
Scarlett yelped when Catriona dragged her to the floor of the carriage.
She looked at Catriona when she said with a smile, “Why did you have to wear the very scarlet dress today?”
Scarlett smiled back and said, “You know I don’t like dark colors.”
Catriona squeezed and then looked up and around the carriage while Scarlett kept her head down, unable to see anything.
She heard a guard shout, “My Queen, get down! We will take care of them!”
Scarlett looked up at Catriona when she looked down at her.
“Stay here!” she said, Scarlett nodding as she watched her cousin jump out of the carriage and on to the nearest horse to them.
Catriona said something that Scarlett couldn’t hear to the man on the horse, but heard her yell, “Get Scarlett to safety!”
Scarlett was jostled to her side when the carriage took off, but she could sit up straight and look out of the carriage side. She watched as a large group of men dressed all in black took off after Catriona.
“Please watch out for her,” she whispered, going back to sit on the floor of the carriage as it rushed to the castle.
Two hours later, Scarlett heard the guards calling out to someone so she moved back up to the carriage seat.
When she realized that they were talking to the guards on the wall of the castle, she sighed with relief, knowing she was safe now.
She looked back out over the expanse of the land they had ridden over and felt tears coming on, knowing Catriona was not as safe as Scarlett was.
The large gates shut behind the carriage and the land was blocked from her view, making her turn back around to face forward.
The large company of guards surrounded the carriage as they rode through the streets towards the large bridge of Ashaven, the villagers who were at the street market crowding the stalls to ensure they did not get run over.
