Ripped Pages by M. Hollis

Author:M. Hollis [Hollis, M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-09-21T18:30:00+00:00

Part III: Freedom

Five hours later Val saw the first signs of a city between the mountains that surrounded Belo Vale beyond the end of the forest. There were little houses with gray slated roofs all around, and at the end of the road, a large castle. It didn’t resemble her father’s palace built of marble, with the golden doors and thousands of guards in the area. This one was far older and constructed from ordinary stone.

“Home, sweet home,” Agnes said before they rode down the road.

A few people stopped in their tracks to stare when they saw them. Val felt exposed and increasingly nervous. Did all of them know who she was? Could the news have spread so fast? Would it reach her father’s ears? She tried to hide her face under her cloak and make herself smaller on Hera’s back.

“Val? Come on. We’re almost there,” Agnes said.

Two guards bowed low as they approached the castle. After dismounting from the horses, Nando and Agnes guided her inside.

A young maid with light brown skin and short blonde hair welcomed them at the entry. “They’re waiting for you in the parlor, Your Highness,” she said with a bow. Val froze at those words. How did she know who Val was?

The maid guided them to another long corridor lined with beautiful landscape paintings before they entered a large room where two people chatted over a table. Both had beautiful crowns of bronze colored twigs on their heads. The man was tall with pale skin and a large black and gray beard. The woman had medium-brown skin and dark curly hair tucked under her crown. She smiled seeing the newcomers and opened her arms.

Agnes ran to her and gave her a long hug. “Hello, Mother.”

Mother? Val stared. If that was true… Agnes was the princess and not just a messenger! And Val had treated her as a common girl all this time. No wonder the maid addressed Agnes as royalty. She obviously didn’t know who Val was.

What would her father say about her manners?

He was not here now. She needed to remember that. Nothing bad was going to happen to her.

“I’m so happy you are back,” the queen said to Agnes before looking at the others. “Who is this girl?” She took a step closer, narrowing her eyes.

“This is Val…”

Val brought her hand up, stopping what Agnes was about to say. This was her time to tell her story. To let the world know she was still here, alive, and surviving. No matter what.

“I’m Valentina Sampaio.” She lowered her hood, letting her messy blonde hair fall behind her. “I’m here to ask for help. My father imprisoned me in a tower seven years ago with almost no food and no one to keep me company. He did this against my will, and he would never visit me to see if I was still alive. Please, don’t send me back there.”

The queen brought her hand to her lips. She seemed shaken by the news for a moment, but then took a deep breath.

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