The Forgotten Princess Rose

"I will always knock when I come to the door and so will the maids. If you find anyone sneaking in, be sure to scream and stab them. I don't trust everyone here so you shouldn't," said Zayne.

Rose inspected the knife in his hands. She didn't need to be told that she should be wary of who was there since she didn't trust anyone. Even the women. She had her fair share of being backstabbed by women. 

Though Zayne did not once show any interest in hurting her, she could not trust him yet.

"Is there more for why you are here?" Rose asked as it felt like there was something he needed to say or something he was expecting her to say. "Oh! Thank you."

"You remind me of a bunny."

"A bunny? What does it look like again?" Rose asked, trying to picture the animal. She had heard merchants yelling that they had the animal selling but she never had any reason to buy one so she never looked at it. 

"You have never eaten a rabbit?" Zayne asked, curious about the meals at the brothel. He had seen a few women be spoiled by good meat. Though, it wasn't Graham who did it but the customers who wanted to sleep with them.

Rose shook her head. Why would Graham feed her rabbit? That was left for himself or his customers. Sometimes he would have her sit before him as he ate because he liked looking at her but her head was always lowered.

There were animals at the back of the brothel but they were mostly horses, chickens, and a few ducks. 

"There used to be a cow in the brothel once. He got it as a gift from a customer he called generous and I have even seen a snake. I faintly remember rabbits being cute animals. The live ones should stay far away from the brothel since it is an ugly place," Rose said, not wanting the brothel to spoil more innocence. 

"I think the cows and the snakes would be offended that you don't think they are cute," said Zayne.  He noticed the look of regret over her words.

"Well," Rose started, but then thought it over. "I suppose cows could be cute but snakes are scary. At least what I saw them be used for. I don't want to see another."

"Yet you wandered through a mountain that I am told has snakes on it. You might have stepped on one as you stumbled through the night and there are worse things you might have passed by. You are lucky to be here not harmed," Zayne said, once more impressed.

"I would have just run if I saw one. Snakes are scary but they are easier to be around than people. I expect animals in the wild to want to hurt me. I have to guess with people. I will leave at sunset. It will be hard for anyone to spot me if I move through the night," said Rose.

She had rested well and eaten enough to start moving. The last thing wanted to do was overstay her welcome. 

Rose had wrapped up some of the food from the first time she was fed so she had something to eat as she walked. Her next meal was uncertain so she would enjoy the meat Zayne brought her.

"I have to travel in the morning and it just so happens to be in the direction you are going. I am not certain how close I will be going to your next destination, but you can get a ride close by. You will have the night to rest here and plan more. What do you want to do?" Zayne questioned, giving her the freedom to decide.

"I promised that I would only stay here until night. I am not welcome here," Rose said, wanting to avoid more trouble.

"If I say that you will spend the night then no one should question it. They are all under my command. Should you wish to stumble through the night and be exhausted by morning, then I will hold the door open for you. If you wish to stay, I shall let you use this room and take you with me in the morning."

Zayne had no interest in begging her to stay. Either she wanted a ride instead of having to walk all night or she was going to end up just like how one of his soldiers found her. 

"I would like to put some distance between me and Graham. What if he were to show up here tomorrow? You were at the brothel when I was still there though you wouldn't have a reason to steal me. I don't want to bring trouble to you," Rose said, knowing how Graham would be if he suspected her here.

"An angry man running a brothel is the least of my concerns. All you know is Graham but there are men with more power than he holds. If he shows up here, he won't find you," Zayne said as Graham would have to be welcomed inside for that to happen. "My soldiers won't speak of your presence here because they do not like your people."

"It would be good to rest and then enjoy a ride away from here. Would you be using a carriage?" Rose asked, excited to sit in one. She had only ever been moved around at the back of a cart when she was taken to the brothel. 

A carriage was one of the things she had always been curious about when she walked around the town. There was a long list of things in her head that she would one day like to try now that she was free. Once she settled down somewhere, Rose hoped to do it all. 

"Yes, unless you would prefer to ride on a horse which I doubt you know how to do. Right," Zayne said after she shook her head. "It is one that I brought here with me by ship. I didn't trust the ones here would suit my taste. You will be the first of your people to ride in it if you stay."

Rose couldn't resist the offer since she didn't know when she might get the chance to ride in a carriage. Travelling at night was dangerous though walking in the darkness might hide her. The carriage might get her where she wanted to go faster than where she might have made it by walking all night. 

"Don't hurt yourself with all the thinking," Zayne said, tempted to flick her forehead. 

"I will join you in the morning, but you must take some of my money or maybe I can clean something now. I don't like getting something for free. It brings more trouble than being told a price now," said Rose.