The Sleeping Prince by Melinda Salisbury

Author:Melinda Salisbury
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Published: 2016-02-04T00:00:00+00:00

I watched from the edge of the woods as the house went up, slowly at first, so slowly I thought it would burn out before it caught. I almost went back to give it a helping hand. But then a gust of wind carried burning embers to the thatch; I heard the whoosh as the flames took hold. I watched as dozens of soldiers ran to try to put the fire out, watched them dash to the well to get water and curse the missing bucket, all of them standing helpless as the blaze consumed Unwin’s home. I almost, almost, forgave Silas then.

I had relied on Unwin going straight to the soldiers to report me, instead of returning home, when I decided on my plan, and I’d guessed well. He arrived when the house was beyond saving. I gave myself a few more precious seconds to enjoy the rage and confusion on his still-bloody face; then I took my chance and darted down along the edge of the forest, creeping my way to the soldiers’ encampment, staying out of sight of the soldiers running towards the village. I suppose they thought the smoke was the start of an attack.

When I was sure it was empty, I moved swiftly, checking the largest tents for my mother, in case they were still holding her there, my stomach twisting every time I pulled back a flap to find the tent empty. From the largest one I stole a leather satchel, a water skin, a map of the realm, and a second, opal-handled knife.

I used that knife to liberate one of the few horses in the makeshift stables, a sleek-looking bay with watchful eyes. She didn’t balk when I approached her, or saddled her, or even climbed on to her back.

I took my stolen horse, my stolen clothes, my stolen food and my stolen knife and rode as fast as I could out of Almwyk.

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