The stream has flooded.

The stream had flooded from a heavy rain during the day, and the prospect of having to cross the deep water with a struggling captive didn’t much appeal to Katsumi. There wasn’t any other way to escape though, so she gripped the Princess tightly and waded forward through the chilly waters. The freezing liquid penetrated her simple outfit with ease and made her chatter and her skin turn numb. Ignoring her discomfort, Katsumi continued on through the stream and reached the safety of the far bank.

Her body ached and begged her to stop and warm up, but Katsumi knew her only chance of survival was the concealing darkness of the forest. Readjusting her hold on her captive, Katsumi slipped into the forest and out of sight of the castle. She walked onwards through the dense trees until she heard the sound of yelling and loud drums behind her; the guards had noticed the disappearance of Takara.

Katsumi knew that even with her head start, she’d be no match for the speed of the Lord’s horsemen. She quickly grabbed a pinch of some knock-out powder stashed in her clothing and **** it down the young princess’s nose. With a whimper the girl fell asleep and Katsumi was able to drag her into a small hole in the ground. She covered the spot with some leaves and dirt and then joined the **** girl inside the hideout. Now she would only have to wait.