Chapter Text
You and Hunter rested beneath a tree, watching carefully as Anakin and Padme sat in the meadow below. They were using his cloak as a blanket while Padme instructed Anakin in making a chain of flowers. Without much else to do, you and Hunter were enjoying the same task. So far, you had made a chain of daisies long enough to wrap around your wrist, and then you heard Hunter humming. He had his knife, and was whittling with a piece of wood as he sang.
"There's a secret kingdom all my own
With no castles, and no vassals, and no throne.
Just two subjects, you and me,
In my private monarchy,
Where the king is love and love alone."
You set your daisy chain in your lap and looked over at him. His knife worked fast, his fingers deftly avoiding the sharp blade, though you could see a scar or two on his palm. That was to be expected if he was a knight, you supposed.
“What are you making?” You asked, looping two more daisies together.
Hunter chuckled, “It’s a secret.”
“Is it?” You leaned over, trying to get a good look, but Hunter turned away to conceal a smirk.
“Come on! Why won’t you show me?” You giggled, pulling on his shirt sleeve.
Hunter spun around to catch your wrist, his knife discarded safely. He chuckled as he pinned you to the ground, stealing the air from your lungs as he brought your hand to his lips.
“You will see soon enough, milady,” He promised, tenderly kissing your knuckles.
Your heart fluttered, lips parted as you studied his face. His golden eyes never left yours as the wind rippled across the meadow, surrounding you in a snowfall of white flower petals.
You wanted nothing more than to stay like this, forever, with your very own knight in shining armor. In this meadow, your status as a maid didn’t matter. You didn’t have to worry about the princess, or class, or politics, it was just you and Hunter.
You slid your hands up his arms, taking in his muscles before they met behind his neck.
“My lady,” Hunter sighed happily, pulling you upright again. You would do anything to hear him say that to you every day for the rest of your life.
Your thumb traced over his tattoo, marking the difference between ink and skin. It was almost unheard of in the Naboo court for knights to wear ink so proudly, but Hunter and his brothers were unmatched as the newest batch of knights. King Ruwee would be idiotic to banish them from his court if he wanted their support.
Still, curiosity got the best of you. “I have to ask, why the tattoo?”
Hunter chuckled, his large hand covering your smaller one, still resting on the side of his face. Your heart still fluttered every time you saw the ribbon tied securely around his wrist.
“Back during the siege, my brothers and I were sent to the Mandalorians to ask for help. They wore similar markings as a symbol of their family ties, and so my brothers and I adopted a skull symbol to symbolize our closeness. It's not a coat of arms or anything, King Ruwee hasn't granted us any of that, but we all have it on our armor."
He studied you nervously. "It doesn't scare you or anything, does it?"
You shook your head, "It is a bit imposing, at first glance, but that must serve you well in battle."
Hunter laughed, leaning forward so that his head rested against yours. “It does, my lady.”
After a moment, you frowned. “Why won’t you let me see what you’re working on?”
“You’re still on that?” Hunter asked, laughter threatening to bubble out of his chest. “It’s not done yet-”
“I still want to see! Please?” you wobbled your lip to be more convincing
Hunter brushed your nose with his, "Who would I be to refuse my lady?"
Keeping his eyes locked on yours, he reached behind his back, grabbing the piece of wood he'd been working on. Without breaking eye contact, he pressed it into the palm of your hand. You looked down. It couldn't be much bigger than a coin, and you could feel the little ridges around the edge. You ran your thumb over the surface, following the design he'd carved. It was a vine, surrounding a simple flower.
"It's not finished, but it's supposed to be a necklace,” He mumbled sheepishly.
You studied it a moment longer, touched by his craftsmanship. You took the ribbon you’d used for your hair today, and looped it through the hole at the top.
“Help me tie it off?” You swept our hair to the side, noticing the flush that covered his face.
“Is my handsome knight scared of a simple lady?” You teased.
Hunter chuckled at that, and leaned forward, his breath fanning out across your neck as gentle fingers tied a knot in the ribbon to secure it around your neck.
“Trust me, milady,” He whispered, “You are anything but simple.”
Your name echoed across the meadow, and you reluctantly looked up to find Padme waving to you as she and Anakin made their way towards you.
You sighed, and Hunter gently nudged your shoulder.
"Duty calls," He murmured, and big, fat raindrops began to slip through the branches of the tree onto your nose.
—
The very next day, the entire castle was in an uproar. Serenno had declared war on Naboo. It was rumored that Lord Dooku of Serenno was being manipulated by a sorcerer. Others insisted that he was working with this ancient sorcerer of his own will. Due to his ill health, King Ruwee would be unable to lead the troops in battle. He entrusted that task to his good friend, Duke Kenobi, and Kenobi's right-hand man and best friend, Anakin.
Padme was distraught at the idea of the man she loved having to leave for war and possibly never seeing him again, but you didn't have a chance to console her. Hunter and his brothers were to set out immediately and scout ahead for the Naboo army.
His horse was saddled by the time you made it to the courtyard. Hunter noticed you, and shouted something to his brothers before running towards you.
You threw your arms around him, and your feet momentarily left the ground as he held you tightly.
The thought occurred to you to beg him to stay, to be safe.
As if he could read your mind, he cupped your face with his hands, "If I don't go, I leave you and all the kingdom at risk, my lady."
You blinked back tears, pressing a kiss to the palm of his leather glove. "I know."
He gently kissed your forehead. "I will be back soon," He promised.
You nodded, but neither of you moved to let go of the other.
"Be safe?" You whispered. You meant for it to sound like an order, but your voice wavered too much.
He nodded, and before he could change his mind, he pressed his lips to yours. It was your first kiss, and his too, from the flush that coated his cheeks a moment later.
"Hunter! Let's go!" Wrecker called. The rest of his brothers had mounted up, and their steeds were pacing the courtyard anxiously.
"I love you, my lady." He squeezed your hand, and ran to his horse. A moment later, he and his brothers had left the courtyard. The thundering of hooves on the cobblestones rang in your ears, as you pressed your fingers to your lips.
"I love you too."
—
The castle felt eerily empty without the knights, and the sky seemed overcast without the light of your lover's presence.
Princess Padme was determined to not let Anakin's absence erode her into nothingness, but there were days when neither of you were able to keep the other going, and you were left to sit in the windows with your stitching and dream of the men you loved returning through the castle's front gate.
Finally, Queen Jobal was tired of seeing the two of you moping about and infecting the rest of the palace with your melancholy, so she sent the two of you out into the fields surrounding the castle to get some sun. You were surprised when the Queen acquiesced so quickly to Padme's request for no guards, but Naboo was far enough away from Serenno,and guards were limited anyway with the men marching off to prepare for battle.
Being so trusting of the distance would be your downfall.
Padme sat in the center of the open field, weaving another length of daisy chains, and her worried fingers soon used up all the daisies within arms reach.
"Would you bring me those flowers at the edge of the forest, there?" she waved in the direction of the treeline, where garden of white flowers stretched towards the sunlight.
You complied without a word, and the sun beat on your back as you gathered armful of blossoms.
And hand seized your upper arm, but before you could scream, another slapped over your mouth.
"That's it, nice and quiet now, my dear. Don't want to frighten away your mistress now do we?" A voice hissed in your ear. The breath reeked of alcohol, and you couldn't tell if the nausea was from your fear or the stench.
You didn't move, freezing up as a knife pressed up against your back. Your captor dragged you into the shade, where his friends peered out from behind the trees, grinning as they set their sights on Padme. Their clothes looked to be of a fine quality, before wear and tear soiled and tore the expensive fabrics. These were mercenaries and thieves.
The hand removed itself, but before you could demand who hired these men, you were gagged with a somewhat clean cloth.
A hawk screeched in your face, and you looked up to see the leader of these mercenaries, so designated by a wide-brimmed hat and flamboyant feathers.
You could hear Padme calling your name, slowly growing closer. You tried to cry out and warn her to go get the guards, to stay away, but you struggled against the gag. There was a scuffle, out of your sight, and a moment later, Padme was dragged up beside you, her dress sullied with dirt.
She was also quickly gagged, and both of you had a hood pulled over your heads. You were tossed into a cart, the brocade of Padme's dress shoved up against your shoulder, and a moment later the cart began to move, taking you both far away from the palace.
—
Hours later, you had almost fallen asleep when the hood was ripped from your head. You were still in the forest, but it was hard to recognize for the darkness that shrouded the campfire.
"Good Evening, my dear Princess!" The lead mercenary sat on a stump, facing you and Padme as you sat together on a long.
"Who are you?" Padme demanded.
"I am Captain Hondo Ohnaka!" He answered without a pause, "Leader of Florrum's most feared band of mercenaries!"
Padme sat up straight, imagining a crown on her head to add a couple more inches to her height.
"What do you want with me, Captain Ohnaka?" She asked.
The Mercenary Captain tsked his teeth, "Truthfully, Dear Princess, I would have nothing to do with you. War between Serenno and Naboo would reap such profits for me and my men, but oh! The profits Count Dooku offered us for your capture and delivery to his palace, well, that was business we could not refuse!"
Padme glared at your captor, her knuckles growing white as her hands curled into fists.
"My father will have discovered me missing, and he will be sending his best men to find me!"
"Ah! But his best men are already in Serenno, no? By the time they receive the news that you are missing, we will already be under Count Dooku's protection."
You thought of Hunter and his brothers, though Padme was certainly praying for Anakin to leap from the bushes and cut down these brigands to defend her honor. You wanted Hunter to find you, to sweep you up in his arms, and deliver you safely back to the palace.
You and Padme looked at each other. Hondo was right, no matter your dreams, no one would be able to get to you in time.
"What does Count Dooku want with her majesty?" You asked, scooting closer to her. Both of you still had your wrists bound, but you held her hand and she squeezed tightly.
"The Count would not deign to share his plans with a mere mercenary such as myself," Hondo took a bow, waving his hat grandly.
"Though if 'ah 'ad t'say, he's lookin' to get 'Imself 'itched!" Captain Ohnaka's second in command cackled, and the Captain' s pet hawk screeched from his perch on Ohnaka's shoulder.
You and Padme looked at each other in fright.
Ohnaka chuckled, "I.... May know a bit about that, yes. Dinner, anyone?" He held out a biscuit to Padme.
Padme glared at him, so you took it before she could knock it into the fire.
"Princess, you need to eat," You urged her. Ohnaka gave you another biscuit, and left you with the second in command while he went to go check on the rest of his men.
"How are we going to get out of here?" Padme hissed. The mercenary was more concerned with keeping the hawk from annoying him.
You took a bite of the biscuit, it was stale, but flavorless, thankfully.
Padme nudged you gently. "You should run. You're a maid, they won't be concerned if you escape, you can get back to the palace and mount a rescue party."
You glanced over your shoulder. The Captain was coming back towards you.
"You're too valuable," You whispered to her, "If anyone should escape, it's you. Like you said, I'm just a maid. They're not going to be too concerned with me. You have to get away before we get to Serenno."
Ohnaka sat in front of you again, and you both went silent. An escape plan would have to come later.
—
For the most part, you weren't tied up, but you were under constant watch. It was hard to plan anything with ears constantly listening.
Two days after your capture, you crossed the border into Sereno. Trapped in the back of the pirates rickety wooden cart, you watched mournfully as Naboo's magnificent forests thinned out, making way for Serenno's cliffs and mountains.
One of the mercenaries’ scouts reported the distance to Serenno, and Ohnaka rubbed his hands together in delight.
“Tomorrow, Princess,” He took off his hat to give Padme a sweeping bow, “We shall introduce you to your husband!”
Padme blanched as the rest of Ohnaka’s crew jeered with laughter.
The mercenaries set up camp for the night at the base of the cliffs, next to a roaring waterfall. The fresh water seemed to be calling you with a siren song, making you keenly aware of every particle of dirt plastered to your skin. You were hesitant to bathe in front of these men of less than noble intentions, especially with the princess nearby. Her natural curls were limp with sweat, and her dress was covered in mud from sleeping on the ground all night.
“Captain,” You stood to catch Ohnaka’s attention, “If her highness is going to meet Count Dooku tomorrow, wouldn’t it be best for her to be cleaned up?”
The Mercenary thought it over. “You make a good point my lady.”
You grit your teeth as Ohnaka assigned two of his most unpleasant men to escort you to the river's edge, but they also were the two with their belts tied the loosest.
The men escorted you and Padme down to the riverbank.
“Alright now, off with it.” One of them jeered.
Padme glared at him, “Excuse me?”
“You ‘eard him,” His companion insisted, “We’re missing supper ‘bout now.”
While the men eyed Padme like fresh pork in the dining hall you snuck around behind them, eyeing the swords strapped to their belts.
“If you were a gentleman you’d give me some privacy,” Padme said, struggling to undo the ties on the back of her dress by herself.
“I ain’t no gentleman,” The mercenary assured her.
With a huff, Padme undid her dress, pulling it over her head and tossing it at the other man. She was still in her shift, but the men refused to look away. For your purposes, that suited you and Padme just fine.
“Then at least turn around.”
“So you can run away while my back is turned? How stupid do you think I am?”
Padme smirked, “Quite stupid, actually.”
You yanked the swords from their belts in one swift movement, keeping one for yourself and tossing the other to Padme. The both of you had been around Hunter and Anakin long enough to know how to hold your own against an opponent, particularly an unarmed one.
Padme slashed one of them across the face, and you took the other from the back. They both crumpled to the ground, but you could hear sounds from the campsite. Both of you ran.
You ran against the current of the river, hoping that the sound of rushing water would hide your footfalls. There was little to no cover in the canyon, so you hugged the wall as tightly as you could in an attempt to avoid detection.
Padme gripped your free hand tightly as you dove around a corner and into an alcove.
"Do you think we've lost them?" she whimpered.
You squeezed her hand tightly, taking one step towards the corner to look for yourself.
With a screech, Ohnaka's hawk flapped its wings in your face. You tried to fight it off with your sword, but its talons were just as sharp. One of the mercenaries lunged around the corner, yanking on your skirt.
You tried to kick him away, but he grabbed your ankle instead, knocking you off your feet.
"Run, Princess, run!" you screamed.
Padme had a white-knuckled grip on the sword, frozen in fear but desperate to help you. She raised her sword to free you, but another mercenary caught up with you. He swiped his sword at her, and she shrieked, stumbling backwards.
"NO!"
Padme disappeared over the edge of the path, and you heard the splash in the river below.
"No!" Ohnaka moaned, as his prize fell out of sight. The mercenaries went up and down the river, and none of them could find any trace of Padme.
Captain Ohnaka seethed.
"Hold her," He growled, grabbing his sword.
The mercenaries yanked you to your feet as Ohnaka approached
He gripped your chin in his hand, "My dear lady, if you value your life, You will answer my question quickly and honestly.
"Has Princess Padme ever met Count Dooku in person?"
Given that he was supposed to deliver Padme to Count Dooku, and the fact that the two had never met before hadn't mattered until now, you were quite confused.
"N-no, they've never met before." You stammered.
Captain Ohnaka dropped your chin so that it hit your chest. You gasped for breath, offering a silent prayer of gratitude that Padme had gotten away.
Captain Ohnaka took the dress from his right hand man, running the delicate fabric through his fingers.
"Let her go," he told his men.
They glanced at you, but you were just as confused as you were. Still, they dropped your arms, just in time for you to catch Padme's dress as Ohnaka threw it at you.
"Better get dressed, Princess Padme," the Captain grinned. His men began to chuckle darkly as it dawned on all of you what Ohnaka's plan was.
"Tomorrow, we shall introduce you to your future husband!"
—
Hunter wondered why he and his brothers had been summoned to Duke Kenobi’s tent again. They’d given their original report to him already, and clarified any questions the Duke had asked.
Hunter stopped Wrecker outside the tent, and all five of them could hear the shouting within. The Duke made a muffled reply, and the shouter responded. Crosshair swept the curtain aside to find Sir Anakin leaning over the Duke’s desk as he shouted angrily. The Duke was doing his best to remain calm for his brother-in-arms, but from his tense shoulders this had been going on for a while.
“We have to rescue her!” Anakin screamed. It was the only thing Hunter could make out.
“Rescue who?” Hunter asked, though there was only one person on the continent that Sir Anakin would be so protective over.
“Ah, The Bad Batch,” Duke Kenobi smiled at them wearily, happy to put Anakin’s fuming to the side as he beckoned them inside the tent.
“Tech, would you be certain no one is prying outside?” He asked, standing from his chair.
Tech nodded. After a brief perimeter sweep with Echo, they stationed Wrecker outside the tent door to make sure no one came too close.
What I am about to tell all of you cannot be repeated to another,” The Duke warned, “I am about to call off tomorrow morning’s attack on the border, and his majesty even asked me to consider running up the white flag as a precaution.”
A bird’s trill broke through Kenobi’s warning, and Hunter noticed the messenger pigeons roosting in the corner, and a tiny scroll sealed with the royal crest rested in the center of the Duke’s desk.
“Call off the attack?” Crosshair asked.
“If I may say so, your grace, the men will not be very happy about that,” Tech said. The grim twist of the Duke’s mustache proved he’d already considered that.
“We may have no other choice. We have received word from the Castle that the princess was abducted several days ago. The ransom note delivered the day after came from Count Dooku himself. He warned King Ruwee that if we tried anything, her highness would pay the price.”
That explained Anakin’s outburst. Hunter’s throat ran dry as he struggled to take a breath.
“Sir, was the princess the only one abducted?” He asked. Yes, the princess was in danger. But his only thoughts were of you.
“The king’s message didn’t say. Only to ceasefire for now.”
Hunter gulped. You never left Padme’s side, so you very well could be captured with her, or worse, cast aside and killed. Or you could have been the one to report her missing. Hunter tried to breathe and tell himself not to worry about things that couldn’t be helped. He was a knight, you would have had to worry about life or death in your relationship sooner or later.
“How can we sit here while Serenno terrorizes our borders? Their general has cut through five villages already! What of the people?” Echo asked.
“My thoughts exactly,” The Duke said grimly, “Which is where the six of you come in.”
“Six?” Hunter asked, abruptly pulled from his thoughts.
“Yes, Sir Hunter. Anakin will join you and your brothers on a rescue mission. The six of you will sneak across enemy lines, rescue the princess, and bring her back to our camp. Then we can resume our attack on Serenno.”
Crosshair grinned. “High chance of risk, small chance of success. Sounds like our kind of work.”
“Ready your horses,” Anakin said. He pushed past Hunter without waiting for the Duke’s dismissal. “We leave immediately.”
—
It was no wonder to you that Serenno wanted to invade Naboo. As the mercenaries approached the capitol the land became drier and rockier, a stark contrast to Naboo's lakes and lush greenery. These people couldn't farm, and those that stood on the side of the road to watch your procession were gaunt and thin in their ragged clothes. You couldn't look them in the eyes for the hollow, guilty feeling that filled your stomach. No wonder Serenno wanted to invade Naboo. Even as a maid, you went to bed with your stomach full and you knew that you would be guaranteed food the next day. Serenno had none of that.
The dark stone castle was surrounded by a wall ten feet thick, while giant knights armed to the teeth guarded the portcullis and every vantage point. Ohnaka and his men were granted entry, and you knew there was no chance of escape for you now.
A man in a golden crown stood on the steps of the castle, surrounded by his retinue. He had white hair with a neatly trimmed beard, and despite his height, his ermine-trimmed cloak trailed out behind him for a good foot. Count Dooku watched the procession smugly, surrounded by all the wealth and comforts his people could only dream of.
The cart came to a stop at the foot of the steps, and Ohnaka held out a hand to help you down. Padme’s dress twisted around you uncomfortably as you moved, and you hoped the count couldn’t tell how ill-fitting it was.
“My Lord!” Ohnaka said loudly, bowing to his patron, “May I present to you, Princess Padme Naberrie of Naboo!”
The Castle courtyard was silent, all looking to Count Dooku for his reaction. You stood frozen in fear, trying to remember how Padme carried herself. As much as you didn’t want to marry this count who was at least three times your age, if he discovered that you were not who you claimed to be, you would be killed without hesitation. At least alive, you had a chance of survival, a chance for Padme to make it back to the castle or to the army and mount a rescue.
Who were you kidding? You were just a maid. No one would be coming to rescue you.
The Count slowly approached her, his smug smile growing with each step. You could feel Ohnaka’s hand trembling in yours as the mercenary sent you a warning look out of the corner of his eye. He needed this scheme to work as much as you did.
The count took your chin in his gloved hand, carefully studying your face. You swallowed nervously as the Count’s dark gray eyes bored into yours.
Then, with all the gentility a nobleman should exude, he knelt in front of you, taking your free hand and kissing it gently. It took all your self-preservation to not yank your hand away, wishing it was Hunter before you who was kissing you.
“Your highness,” He murmured, still with a self-satisfied smile, “Welcome home.”
—
As fast as Hunter wanted to ride, to rescue the princess and return her home himself if it meant seeing you again, Tech and Crosshair argued that if the rescue were to succeed, they needed the element of surprise.
Still, he and Anakin were at the front of their company, trotting as fast as they dared before Tech would remind them of the nature of their mission. Neither of them mentioned Anakin’s relationship with the princess, and Anakin didn’t try to bring you up either.
As the trees of Naboo began to vanish, they traveled down into one of the canyons to avoid detection, hugging the canyon wall as they followed the course of the river.
“This river leads to the marsh just outside the count’s castle,” Tech consulted his map again, “If we follow it, we should reach the castle by noon tomorrow.”
Hunter’s eye twitched. The Princess may not have until tomorrow.
“Camp, up ahead,” Crosshair warned.
Hunter spotted it too. It appeared abandoned, but there were the remnants of several cooking fires. As they approached, the ashes of the fires appeared fresh.
“This must be the party that captured the princess,” Anakin growled. His horse paced nervously, sensing his master’s anger.
Hunter leaped down from his horse to study the tracks left behind. They were fresher than the last two campsites they’d discovered, and now that they’d crossed the border into Serenno, the mercenaries or whoever the Count had sent to capture Princess Padme had become careless.
“There were two wagons, one loaded down with supplies, and the other not as heavy. Probably for the princess.”
“Can you tell how many men there were?” Echo asked.
Hunter grit his teeth. “About two dozen.”
“Only two dozen?” Wrecker guffawed, laughter echoing off the canyon walls, “We eat that for breakfast!”
Tech hushed Wrecker in warning as a murder of crows took off, spooked by the noise.
Hunter carefully studied the crow’s pattern, in case they warned the Count or anyone else of their unwanted presence. As he watched, the crows began to circle in the air, hesitantly scanning the area they’d just been stationed at.
“What is it?” Crosshair asked him quietly.
Hunter didn’t answer, but he chewed his bottom lip and mounted his horse again, following the river’s rapid course to where the crows finally landed.
There was a woman, washed up on the riverbank.
“Padme!” Anakin screamed her name, urging his horse into a gallop to reach her. He leaped down off his horse, pulling the princess from the water and into his arms. Her breathing was ragged, and she was wearing nothing but her shift. Anakin wrapped her in his cloak as Tech began to see to her condition. Hunter stood back, looking around for any sign of his lady.
“Ani?” Padme murmured, as she began to become cognizant of her surroundings.
“It’s alright your highness, you’re safe now,” Anakin soothed her, brushing her hair back from her face.
“If you’ll pardon me, your highness, you appear to have a fever. I’m going to administer an antidote.” Tech interrupted. Padme nodded, and Anakin helped her sit up to take a drink from one of the many draughts at his belt.
“My apologies if this is rude,” Crosshair spoke up, “But do you mind explaining what happened? How’d you end up in the river?”
“Crosshair!” Echo’s shout informed Crosshair that he had, in fact, been rude to ask those questions.
“‘S fine,” the princess murmured, shivering in Anakin’s arms, “We were captured by mercenaries from Florrum, they were hired by the Count to capture me…as a bride for Dooku.”
Such a revelation filled all the men in earshot with rage. That Dooku would be so vile towards their princess, for one, or that he would use such dishonorable means to gain control of Naboo. All of them preferred a direct fight to these political machinations.
“They had me wash up in the river, and my maid told me to run- they chased me, and I fell into the river. I guess they thought I died.”
“You nearly did.” Tech informed her grimly, but Hunter didn’t hear any of it.
Caught on a rock in the river was your necklace, with the pendant he made for you. He fished it out and held it tight.
You were still captured. Imprisoned by Count Dooku. There’s no telling what that man would do to you as punishment for losing the princess.
None of the others noticed his distress, and the Princess was too delirious with fever to think coherently.
“We have to get her back to our base camp, we can help her rest there, and Duke Kenobi can begin his attack,” Tech said. Wrecker scooped up the princess in his arms, handing her to Anakin once he was settled on his horse.
Hunter only barely registered that the others were preparing to turn around. But you were still in danger, and he refused to leave you behind.
“What about the maid?” He choked out. Your hair, your eyes, your laugh filled his mind, keeping him from thinking of anything but you.
“The maid?” Wrecker asked.
“Yes, the princess was captured with her maid. We have to save her!”
“But Serenno, the army…” Echo looked back up the canyon.
“Hunter, if Dooku has the resources to hire two dozen mercenaries, there’s no telling what kind of army he has at his disposal. We can’t break through all of them for just a maid, certainly not with the Princess sick and under our care,” Tech said.
Hunter grit his teeth.
“Fine. I’ll do it myself.”
With a “HYAH!” He turned his horse around, sending her galloping through the canyon.
“Hunter!” Crosshair screamed as his brother disappeared around the riverbend, “the Duke didn’t say anything about a maid!”
But Hunter was already too far ahead. He didn’t care how many men the Count had. You were in danger, and he was determined to save you.