My 8 E-books written over the years by Alina Udrea - HTML preview

Chapter 6:

Angela could hardly wait to be finally in the safety of her small

orphanage room, the one she was sharing with Rose. Rose was following her like a small puppy without making a sound. When they were finally in their room, Rose asked her what had happened in the canteen earlier.

“Ange, how did you defeat those brutes?”

“I’m not sure…It has something to do with this ring. The moment I put it on my finger I felt weird, but in a good sense. I felt immeasurably strong. It was as if I was invincible. I felt no pain or fear. It was freaky but I loved it. Too bad you fainted, Rose. You should have seen me kick their asses….”

“What ring? What are you talking about?”, Rose asked her while examining her for any evident concussion which may have led to her being delirious.

“This one, Rose! Look how the two rubies shine!”

“Wow! Where did you get that from? It looks expensive!”, said Rose relieved that Angela wasn't delirious but wondering where she could have filched it from and fearing repercussions. “It doesn’t matter. And if you think we are going to get into trouble for it, don't worry! As long as you don't tell anyone about it.”

“I won't!”, Rose promised her in a hurry. She didn’t care where the ring had come from and she wasn't a snitch. Before falling asleep that night, Angela examined the snake

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shaped ring until she drifted away in the land of dreams… Next morning she decided to go to the cabin in the forest once again and hunt some deer. She wondered if wearing the ring would improve her shooting and her aim. There was only one way to find out, right? So after the measly breakfast she left for the woods again. She was almost running to get there faster, take her bow from the cabin and go hunting a bit. The hunting bow was where she had left it. The king's men hadn't taken it as it was worthless to them, they had far better bows than that crappy one. But for her, it was good enough. She took it from the wall and took the quiver she had hidden under an old desk filled with the arrows she had made herself. She left the cabin and decided to put the bow to the test, or rather herself to the test. If she wasn't mistaken, her combat skills had been improved due to the ring she was wearing. She quietly examined the ground and listened for any sign of movement through the bushes. She advanced slowly through the grass, examining every twig and every track on the soft ground. She found deer tracks and decided to follow. She crept through the bushes just like a snake, ready to jump on its prey. Then she saw it, a magnificent stag a few feet in front of her, peacefully grazing, totally unaware of the danger lurking from the grass.

She raised the bow as adrenaline was pumping once again.

Now it was the thrill of the hunt. Hunter and prey. It felt so unreal, she was well aware that all her senses were heightened to the maximum and she was sure it had everything to do with the snake ring she was wearing. She swiftly put an arrow and aimed. She pulled the string of the bow and then released the

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arrow. It flew through the air with the speed of lightning and hit the stag right between its eyes, offering it a swift death. She couldn't believe it. A perfect headshot! She and Rose would eat deer meet tonight!

She took out her knife and approached the stag when a large

golden retriever started wagging its tail next to her. What the…? But she quickly remembered: she knew this dog! “Princess! Ssh, be quiet! I am not allowed to hunt the king's game! Go away!”

“Too late for that, Miss! We meet again”

“Oh, Daniel, right?” Angela asked puzzled as she knew he was one of the king's hunters. Then the other two also appeared next to him, Adrian and George. “Do you know the penalty for hunting the king's deer?”, Daniel addressed her, trying to look mad when he was in fact thrilled that he saw this wild angel again.

“Well, maybe the king should take better care of his people so they don't starve! Then they wouldn’t need to hunt his game!”

“My people are starving?”, Daniel said losing his temper and revealing the truth about his identity. He was red with anger. “Your people? What do you mean, your people!?”, Angela asked starting to have a hunch of what he meant as things started to make sense. “Do you mean you are the king?”

“Well, not yet, but I'm his son if that counts, I'm the Prince and his only heir. Now that you know, you can bow before me.”

“Ha-ha-ha”, and Angela started laughing but she was not going to bow before him.

“I could have you whipped for your audacity! How dare

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you?”. Now Daniel was really mad at her especially as Adrian and George were giggling silently behind him and he could hear them although they were trying to hide it. “I’d like to see you try!”, Angela said while feeling the power coming from the snake shaped ring and enveloping her in a pleasant rush of adrenaline at the possibility of imminent danger.

“Men, seize her! Let's teach this young lady a lesson!”, Daniel addressed Adrian and George more to try to preserve his Self- esteem before them rather than really meaning what he said. Then, fearing that they might hurt her and not wanting that to happen, he added in a whisper “But be gentle with her!”.

Adrian and George drew their swords but Angela was

faster. She drew her bow and arrows and she hit their swords from their hands, making them drop their blades without hurting them, though. It all happened so fast that all three were looking at her puzzled and not sure of what had just happened. “See you, gentlemen!”, Angela mocked them as she started running back to town the way she had come, leaving them standing there dumbfounded.