Arin Helev and Iria were now standing outside their tent. Most of the other participants already depart for the Brinet Forest but the two were waiting for the King and Queen who were making their way towards them. Prince Orius, Rion and Antony were also standing a few steps away from them.
"Are you all set to leave now?" King Regan asked the couple when he reached where they stood.
"Yes, Father. Please be careful not to suffer an accident," Arin promptly said.
"I will," King Regan replied and shifted his attention to Iria. "You just recovered, so you should be extra careful, Crown Princess."
"I understand," Iria responded.
When they were about to leave, King Regan glanced at his son's quiver and raised a brow. "You changed your symbol? You always went with the bonsai."
Arin simply nodded but he didn't say anything. This made his father more confused and the Queen was no exception. They knew that the Crown Prince always used bonsai as his symbol ever since he started participating in hunting. It was because of the ornament with the shape of a bonsai which his late mother gifted to him.
Why did he suddenly change his symbol?
Iria looked at the Crown Prince's quiver when he noticed the amazement on the faces of the King and Queen. Then she blinked. The symbol Arin chose was... a sun?
She recalled herself giving him the sun shaped ornament.
Was that why?
Before Iria could say anything, King Regan spoke up.
"We should go. Others are already on their way."
With that said, they all left the camp and made their way to the Brinet Forest.
* * *
Everyone must go in their separate ways according to the rule. As such, the Crown Prince and Antony separated from Iria after they entered the Brinet Forest. Though Arin felt reluctant, it can't be helped. So, he told Rion to inform him if anything happened.
"It's our first time here and this forest is the largest in Qalagon. There is a high possibility for us to lose our way," Prince Orius remarked when they started to enter the deeper part of the forest.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. When I realized that it's custom for royals to participate, I asked a guard to bring me here," Rion responded. "We explored this forest yesterday evening."
"The Crown Prince thought that you are from Qalagon. That's why he is not worried about us losing our way," Iria said to the second Prince.
"I don't know that you would be stubborn enough to participate while you just recovered. If I know it, I will prepare beforehand." The Prince's voice hinted at sarcasm and Iria barely refrained from sighing.
Seemed like he was still angry at her for leaving the camp alone that day!
"I only want to prevent more troubles," she replied.
"I already figure out that," Prince Orius simply said and glanced around. "Then what's your plan? To gain victory in this hunting competition?"
"Why would I do that only to create suspicion?" Iria replied and finally let out a sigh. "I used to think that you're smart, Your Highness."
"Are you mocking me, Commander Iria?" Prince Orius Aventine asked with an unpleasant tone. Displeasure was written all over his face.
"I dare not," Iria promptly replied without even thinking twice.
pαпᵈα-noνɐ1·сoМ Hearing their argument, much more like bickering, Rion blinked in surprise.
Since when did his Commander and the second Prince grow this close? The scene he witnessed now... never once happened in Jerivia!
Well... this wasn't Jerivia and maybe things changed. In his eyes, it seemed like the second Prince wasn't a bad person as he appeared to be. Just like Crown Prince Zaro, he seemed to care for his Commander.
Rion's thoughts were interrupted when he suddenly heard his Commander's low yet serious voice.
"Someone followed us," Iria Alewine muttered. When Rion tried to turn around, she quickly said, "Let's feign ignorance for now. Let's maintain our normal pace."
"That will be risky but it's best for now. Let's go to a place which will be suitable for us to make a move," Prince Orius paused and briefly glanced at Rion. "Can you think of such a place?"
Rion gave a quick thought and nodded. "If we ride for a while in the left, we will find a suitable place."
The three instantly shifted their direction to the left and maintained their normal pace just as Iria suggested. Throughout their way, Iria and Prince Orius concentrated on the sound to know the number of persons who followed them. Then they were about to reach the place Rion mentioned.
"I think it's a single person, the one who followed us," Iria stated and Prince Orius nodded.
"Maybe he's just following us to spy on us. One person isn't enough to harm us," the Prince remarked.
"I will go and check it out," Rion quickly said. "It's best to make things clear."
Iria gave a quick thought and nodded when she thought that there wasn't a better option. She didn't know who the person was and she can't make a move while being the Crown Princess. That's too risky and putting the Prince in danger was one thing to be never considered.
"Be careful. We will wait here," she said to Rion. The latter nodded and suddenly, he turned his horse around and ride back.
The moment Rion made a move, the one who followed them instantly turned his horse around and tried to run away while Rion chased him.
Though Rion was chasing the one who spies on them, Commander Iria and Prince Orius were on high alert. They both believed in one thing.
If someone truly wished to hurt them, there's no way for the enemy to send just one person. There should be something behind this strange incident.
It wasn't just an assumption until...
Some men suddenly appeared from behind the rough rocks at a distance above and shot several arrows at them!
Iria Alewine was about to move but... Prince Orius hold her back as he swiftly unsheathed his sword and strike the wooden part of the arrows before it could reach them.
"I can handle this. Use your sword only when there is no other way." Orius Aventine paused and added, "If we don't kill them all, you will be in danger."
Iria quickly took an arrow from her quiver and shot towards one of the men who was releasing his arrow. Her arrow pierced through his and then landed on his chest. The man instantly collapsed and fell!
"I can still use my arrows," she replied to the Prince who slightly smirked.
When several archers aimed their arrows at them, the Prince murmured, "We should run."
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