Attack the Prince to break Free

I immediately lunged at him, but didn't have the strength to make it as far as I thought I could. I ended up falling at his feet.

He grabbed a fistful of my hair, dragging me to my feet. I had to cover myself with both arms, and was too weak to break free.

He looked me straight in the eyes, and slapped me across the cheek. I squeaked in surprise, feeling the lingering sting.

"Bad girl," he muttered. "They're going to kill you if you don't put up with me, you know."

I swallowed.

He peered at me, trying to read my thoughts.

After a tense moment, he threw me back down on the dungeon floor.

I grit my teeth, crawling back against the wall.

He switched back to English. "Alright, good talk. Guard, have the royal architect meet me in my room, if you please. I'd like to have a cage installed."

"Yes sire," the guard said.

The Prince took one last good look at me. "Thanks for trying," he said, and indicated to the doorway where the King had disappeared. "Better luck next time."

He walked away, my hard expression unchanged.

I lay down, staring at the ceiling for a while before falling back to sleep.

.

~ ~ ~

.

The Prince returned to my cell with a handful of crackers.

"Come here, Akira," he ordered in Elvish.

Leaning weakly against the wall, I dragged myself to sit in front of him.

He held his hand out to me with a cracker on it, as if he were feeding a horse.

"Go on, eat it."