The Last Bandit of Ren

By: People

Preface

            Why do people lie? Just because of one extravagant lie all of my comrades got put in jail for something that we didn’t do. I would rather be stuck in jail with them being held captive, instead of out here worried about them. Their verdict has not been decided, but everyone is sure that it is death. The only person that can prove we are innocent is hidden in a land far away.

            Lately, I have been unraveling what happened and how they framed us. I have seen evil people do evil things. I think I know where the key to proving we are innocent is, but if I am wrong, it could be the death of me. My comrades have been charged with taking and killing princess Saphira. Though, I think I know where she is.

Chapter 1

            Saphira was looking out of her window at a wide expanse of featureless plains. She sat there for a long while waiting for the sun to set. After she watched the sun set, she turned to go back into her room. Right before she closed her window shutters, an eagle flew up to her window and hopped inside. He dropped a piece of paper wrapped in silver cloth on her bedroom floor. She reached down and opened the parcel. Inside, it said this…

Dear Saphira,

            I hope you get this message, and I hope that this is really you. If it is, I want you to know a few things. Sadly, before I can tell you, you need to write back and tell me what you remember. So I can know this is really you.

                                                                                    With Love,

                                                                                    Your Friend

Saphira rushed to her desk to get a stylus and a pot of ink. She looked around for something to write on. On the corner of her bed, she saw a small piece of parchment. She wrote back,

Dear Friend,

            All I know is that some strange person locked me up in this tower. I know they must care for me a little because there is food when I wake up. So if you are kind enough will you help me?

Also, who are you?

                                                            From,

Saphira

            She grabbed the piece of silver cloth and wrapped it  around her message. She then took a piece of twine and tied it to the eagle’s talon. Then, she motioned for the eagle to leave her. She lingered at her window, watching the eagle fly away.

            She fell onto her bed exhausted from the long day. She then quickly fell asleep and started to dream.

I was walking in a strange room filled with people who seem to care about me. The room was filled with very important looking people who wore invaluable jewels and extravagant clothes. I walked to a back patio with a gorgeous view of a forest. Someone walked up behind me and told me not to say a word. Then, I felt this huge pain in my head and blackness overtook me.

                        Saphira woke up sweating from her dream. She felt stifled by her surroundings and had wished that she were still sleeping. She got up and went to her window where her food usually was, but was shocked to find nothing there. One of the most vital things in living was gone from her life. She went back to her bed and started weeping. She was being held captive in a lofty tower and now she has no food. She walked back over to her window and thought about jumping from the balcony. She thought about the long plummet and decided that starving would be a better way to die.

            All of a sudden, a huge metallic clank came from behind her. She looked around and saw a scary grappling hook. She ran inside and hid in her corner, terrified. She looked and saw a strange man in front of her window wearing a black mask.

            “Who are you?” she asked, “ Why are you wearing a mask? Are you the strange man sending me the messages?”

            “ Calm down. I not here to hurt you,” he said in a reassuring voice, “ I am here to help you.”

Chapter 2

“Why are you here?” Saphira asked, still terrified.

            “To help you. Follow me and we can get out of here.” He replied.

            “How are we to escape?” asked Saphira, now marginally curious.

            “I said, just follow me and hold my hand.” He said as he reached out his hand for her to grab.

            Saphira took his hand and stood up slowly. He led her over to the window and then jumped out of it. As he pulled Saphira with him she screamed. He pulled her closer so she would not fall and they began their journey down the lofty tower. She then realized that he might be meaning to put her in jeopardy, to kill her. She disregarded that thought once they reached the ground safely.

            “Scared?” he asked kindly.

            “Yes! You almost killed me. What were you think-,” she said before he cut her off

            “Well, are you safe now?” he said.

            “I think so.” She said quietly because she could feel that she could trust him.

            “Come on we have to begin our expedition. You are going to accompany whether you like it or not, because you are my proof.” He said sternly.

            “You can’t force me to do anything! I will only go if you tell me my story and if you take your mask off.” She argued.

            “I will tell you my story, but you can’t know what I look like.” He said reluctantly. “ You are princess Saphira of the country of Ren. You were supposed to be married to Prince Nikolas. He fell in love with your step-sister, Jezebelle. At your bridal shower you were kidnapped and stuck in your tower. Then my comrades were charged with taking and killing you. They assumed you were dead since no one has seen you in 6 months. Anyways they locked you in the tower so they could be wed.”

            “Oh.” She said astonished.

            “Now, come one we have a long perilous journey ahead of us.” He said and started walking.

Chapter 3

                        It took them 2 days to arrive at the city of Ren. They rested at a convenient inn. Inside there were people doing all kinds of childish antics. It was weird how no one noticed them. They went into the tavern and rested for a little bit. While they were drinking tea, they watched some people get into a skirmish. They left right after the skirmish ended. The barkeep kicked the people in the skirmish out one of them declared their triumph. Saphira thought it was quite entertaining since she had had no human interaction in forever. The man told her to stay underneath the shade of a tree while he went to go get his comrades.

            “When will you be back?” she asked.

            “When I want to be back.” He answered. “ Now stay put.”

            Saphira watched him walk away. She was sitting underneath the tree for a good 15 minutes. She started to worry about him and realized that she had grown closer to him and that she cared for him. She was wondering if he had been detained and was being held captive. She looked up to where he had disappeared and saw at least 10 men walking toward her. One of the people stood out of the group and she realized it was him. He had unveiled his face to her. He had gorgeous green eyes and olive skin. As they got closer, she heard one of the men call him Jason.

            “So this is the Princess.” One of the guys said.

            “Yep it looks like her.” Said another.

            “Come on.” Jason said to her.

            “Where are we going?” Saphira asked.

            “The Prince and your step-sister are being wed today. We are going to stop it now. I know the way into the castle.” He said to her.

            He helped her up and they started walking to the castle. He led her up through a secret corridor. They walked for about 10 minutes, dodging guards and other people.

            “Shh,” He said. “We are about to reach the wedding ceremony. You are going to present yourself and tell your story. Then we can handle the rest.”

            “Okay.” She said scared and then she started to walk closer to the ceremony. When she got there she heard the pastor say, “If anyone objects with this marriage speak now or forever hold your peace.”

            “I object.” She said sheepishly.

            The audience gasped, and all looked at her. She told her story to the king and queen who were sitting on the front row. They were relieved to see her well and alive.

            In the end, the Prince and Jezebelle were banished. She ended up marrying Jason and they ruled the kingdom happily. Jason’s comrades got promoted to captains in the royal guard. They all lived happily ever after, except for Nikolas and Jezebelle.