THE Knight's Hidden Princess

The cricket sounding in the cool night was the only sound I could hear. Their rhythmic calls chirped into the stillness of the night as I took carefully measured steps into the den I was trying to sneak into. I moved quietly and stealthily, blending into the night thanks to the black clothing I wore. Each breathe was deliberate, every breath controlled as if even the faintest sound would shatter the balance of silence.

Carefully, I walked across the roofs, silently counting down how many guards I had seen and now, I've seen like four of them. Two leaned casually against the entrance, sipping wine from a bottle of flask while the other two I saw were busy playing a game of cards under the dim glow of a lantern.

I passed on top of them unseen, my eyes sharp and alert as I searched for the one thing I actually came here to do. I rounded the corner of the roof and froze. There was a solitary house and in front of it were two men who were stationed at the front. Unlike the other guards I saw, these ones looked alert, their hands casually resting on the hilt of their weapons as their eyes scanned around the compound.

So this must be it then? I muse a slow smile creeping on my face as I decided to get ready. I carefully removed the bow behind me and reached for my arrow inside the quiver strapped behind me. With practiced ease, I nock my arrow, pulling the string back smoothly. My breathing slowed as I lined up my shot with each inhale and exhale and then without hesitation, I released the arrow, letting it fly.

Time seemed to come to a standstill, the chirping of the crickets fading into background as the only sound became that of the arrow slicing through the air in a soft whisper, twisting and turning till it found the target.

The arrow hit one of the guard straight in the head, taking him down immediately. The other guard watched in shock and he turned to glare into the night looking for the attacker, but it was too late. I had already released another arrow and that one hit him straight in the throat. He staggered backwards, choking on his own blood before he fell down to his knees, dead.

Wasting no time, I immediately got down from the roof. I grabbed the body of one of the man to a nearby bush and I did the same with the other. Satisfied with my work, I immediately entered the house. At first it was dark and I heard muffled scared whispers. Drawing a deep breath, I grabbed the lantern on the wall and high the brightness.

"Oh gods!" I breathed out as I took in the sight in front of me.

Children! Not just two like I initially thought it would be, or even three or four! There had to be like thirty to fifty children in this room. All of them with dirt caked faces, their small eyes wide with terror as they held on to each other as if to protect themselves from whatever horrors they've been facing. The stench of urine and also fecal matter also hung heavy in the air and I felt my heart breaking at that.

This was going on in my kingdom and I didn't know about it? I asked as I stared at the children, their eyes were hollow but held a bit of defiance in them. Not just boys, but girls too and some were even toddlers. They all held on to each other as if their lives depended on it.

"We haven't done anything wrong." A boy said glaring at me.