Adam. Justina released her grip on the handle of the dagger. It wasn’t worth losing her brother.
The monster paused beside another man, a man the same size as he with brown hair. The two spoke. And then, slowly, they both turned to her. The second man nodded. His eyes pierced her with perceptiveness.
Justina rose, seizing Adam’s arm. They had to get out of there. She pulled him back into the crowd, hoping to disappear amongst the throngs of villagers and merchants. She moved quickly, hauling Adam behind her, holding his arm in a tight grip.
“What?” he hollered. The farther away from the road they moved, the louder the environment became. Merchants shouted about long burning candles; one merchant promised to grant youth with his potion.
As they neared the candle maker’s shop, Adam broke free from her hold. “What did I do? Why are we leaving?”
Justina scanned the crowd for the monster or his friend. She knew they would be coming for her. Why couldn’t she have just kept her mouth closed? “It’s time to leave.”
“Why? We’ve got the entire day!”
Justina glanced at Adam. “You’ve seen your princess. It’s time to go home.”
“I don’t want to go back yet.”
“Adam,” she said sternly, grabbing his arms, and shaking him slightly. “I promised you’d get to see your princess. You have. We have to leave.” She took his hand into hers and whirled, leading him toward the road.
They hurried in silence for a moment, until Adam asked, “What happened?”
Justina’s hand tightened around Adam’s instinctively, protectively. She had endangered his life. Lord, if anything happened to her brother. If anything... She couldn’t tell him. He could never know how their father had died. Ignorance might save his life. “I almost ran into your princess. They might want to throw me in the dungeon.”
“Nay,” Adam insisted, turning to look over his shoulder. “They would never throw you in the dungeon. Lady Aurora would understand.”
Justina didn’t stop. “You can say that. But she is a lady and I almost crashed into her. We must hurry before the guards come.”
Adam was silent.
Justina thought the issue was over. She thought Adam would understand the offense she was fleeing from. Yet, it was a much bigger issue she faced than almost crashing into a lady. That monster. She recognized him. She was certain he would not risk her telling others that he had killed her father. He couldn’t let her live, she was certain.
