Mal looks at Riverqo and bursts out laughing, "Hahaha! You're kidding me right? Do you use that line all the other girls or just the really special ones?"
A genuine look of hurt becomes visible on the young prince's face, "You think that I say that to just anyone?"
"You don't think I know what they say about you? How you go around flirting with all the maidens? Please Rivie... I'm nothing like them."
He looks at her earnestly, "I know you're not. So what makes you think that I'd say something like this to them?"
Just then there was a rustle from the bushes, "Shhhh, hush..." she says to him. Mal immediately takes out an arrow and gets into position, "Who's there?" Riverqo places his hand on his sword as well poised for anything that may come out.
What steps out from behind the bushes is a lean figure. Dressed all in brown. The face covered with a hood that gives just enough shadow for only lips to be seen and right now, these lips were curved upward in a smile.
"If you come any closer, I will put this arrow right through your heart and another through your manhood, just for fun" Mal says aloud, hoping that this was enough warning for the bandit.
The smile on the hooded figure becomes wider but before anything can happen, shouting is heard from the distance, "Prince Riverqo! Lady Malora!". For some reason, this causes alarm to the hooded figure who takes one last look at Mal before making a fox-like exit.
"Why didn't you shoot them?" Riverqo asks her softly.
She wipes away the sweat on her nose, "Because when I can, I try not to kill unnecessarily."
Brutus and the rest of the knights emerge and asks if they are okay as they heard shouting from where they were. When the duo convinced the rest of the party that they were completely fine, they all made their way back to the castle. After all, that night there was to be a massive feast and dance in honour of the return of the prince.
-----
"My goodness, how on earth do these ladies do anything in these outfits?" Mal asked the young maiden known as Kirana, who was helping her to get dressed.
"Don't they wear this sort of fashion where you're from, Mi Lady?"
"Heavens no. It's far easier to breathe in what we usually wear."
Still, Mal couldn't help looking at herself. At the transformation in the mirror.
Just a few days ago, she was wearing her usual outfit of black pants and grey blouse. Today she was wearing a simple emerald green silk dress that was adorned with white lace and pearls.
Pearls were what the kingdom was known for in trade. Usually still so fresh from the sea that the scent of the ocean still lingered on them.
After much 'discussion' with Kirana, part of her glorious blue green hair was tied up into a sophisticated up do while the rest was curled and framed her face.
She looked for one final time at her reflection, "Well, this is probably as good as it's going to get..."
