Hard knocking interrupted the conversation that Chevalier and Kyle were having about security.
“Come!” growled Chevalier.
One of Emily's guards stepped into the office, panicked, “I can't find Lady Emily.”
Chevalier sighed, “She's in her room.”
“I looked and she's not there,” he said, his eyes were terrified.
Kyle rolled his eyes at Chevalier. Emily had been going through personal guards quickly. Her ability to elude them and escape by herself was becoming a weekly problem. Neither Chevalier nor Kyle could seem to get any control over it.
“Tell me what happened,” Kyle asked the young guard.
“She came and told me she was going for a run. I told her that I'd go change as soon as I could get a replacement, and then we'd go. She said 'alone' and I told her she couldn't go alone,” he said quickly.
“Kyle, go find her,” Chevalier sighed, and Kyle nodded and ran off.
“How did she get away this time?” Chevalier asked the guard, trying to calm him down.
“I don't know! She got mad when I told her she couldn't go out alone, and then she said she'd changed her mind. So a few minutes later I heard her call my name, and when I got inside, she was gone,” the guard said, and then looked down at his hands.
“Damnit, how is she getting out?” Chevalier grumbled. “Did you talk to the balcony guard?”
“Yes and he hasn't seen her. I will go report myself to my Commander,” he replied, standing up.
“No, no, you're fine. If I demoted everyone Emily got away from, we wouldn't have any guards left. Go back to your post.” He shut his eyes. He knew that if heku got headaches, he would have one now.
Kyle knew where she'd gone as he'd gone on runs with her before. He reached the pier quickly, and one of the guards pointed him to the south, where saw Emily jogging along the sand. He watched her for a moment. She'd started jogging a lot lately, and she always wore the sports bra and low shorts that she trained in a few months ago, so he knew it was her. She ran with her hair tied high and her iPod booming in her ears.
Emily felt elated as she ran along the beach. She didn't have to wear shoes to run on the sand, and the warmth felt good to her feet. She had her favorite music playing and let her mind wander as she ran. That's why she didn't see Kyle suddenly appear in front of her and she ran right into him, landing on her butt in the sand.
“Gah, Kyle!” she yelled, getting up and brushing the sand off of herself.
“Emily… why?” he asked, irritated.
She pulled the earphones from her ears and stepped to the side, “Leave me alone. I'm just running.”
“Alone,” he said, stepping in front of her.
“Yeah… alone… get the hint?” She put the earphones back in, but he blocked her way again.
“What??” she yelled at him.
“You know what… time to go back.” He took a hold of her arm.
“Stop being Chevalier's little stooge and let me be for once! I'm not hurting anything.” She put her hands on her hips.
“We're not worried about you hurting anything, and you know it. It's not safe out here. You aren't even inside the cement walls,” he said, pointing to the high gray wall.
“Neither you, nor your Chief Enforcer, are my father, so I can do what I want.” She turned and ran back the way she came.
Kyle growled and ran after her, when she arrived at the pier and kept going along the beach. He caught up to her again and picked her up.
“Put me down,” she demanded.
“No,” he said, heading toward the castle.
“Now!” She tried to squirm free.
“No”
Emily sulked the rest of the way to the castle and her temper flared when Kyle set her down in Chevalier's office.
“What now, Em?” he asked, frustrated.
“Apparently, a little harmless running upset the grouch over here,” she said, nodding to Kyle.
“You're scaring my guards to death. They are afraid I'm going to punish them every time you skip out… which happens to be way too often and way too easily.” He watched her for a reaction.
“Maybe I don't need a guard.”
“Of course you do.” Chevalier hated to remind her of the Valle kidnapping, “How are you getting out?”
“Yeah, like I'm going to tell you,” she said angrily.
“It's ok, Kyle, I have it,” Chevalier said, and Kyle left his office.
Emily turned to face him and it was obvious that she was ready for a fight.
“What's going through your mind? You know it's dangerous.” He tried to reason with her.
“I'm penned up all the time. All I want is some alone time. How hard is that?” she asked, irritated.
“Then go to the barn,” he suggested.
“I spent all morning in the barn, and as you won't let me ride Patra, or even toss hay, then there's not much to do.” She glared at him.
“That's not fair, Emily. You know those were doctor's orders,” he said, and frowned at her.
Chevalier moved to her back and wrapped his arms around her waist, one hand coming to rest of the small bulge in her abdomen, then kissed her neck.
Emily pulled away from him, “Just leave me alone.” She left his office and slammed the door.
Frustrated, Emily walked the halls of the castle for a few minutes then stopped suddenly. Her eyes fell on the door that led down to the dungeon. She thought for a moment, and then walked down the stairs.
“Ma'am?” the closest guard said as she walked into the cell area.
She ignored him and walked toward the first row of cells.
“Ma'am, you can't be in here,” he said, following her.
Emily spun on him, “You going to stop me?”
His eyes grew wide, “Ma'am, the Chief Enforcer said you weren't to be down here.”
“Oh did he? Didn't the Chief Enforcer also tell you all not to savor me?” She raised her eyebrows.
“I… I didn't!” he said, horrified.
“Then I suggest you let me be, or we'll find out who he believes more, you or me.” She stared at him and he turned and walked away, confused.
Emily went cell to cell and watched the reaction of the prisoners. Most ran to the bars, slamming into them and reaching out for her. She didn't flinch or jump back, she just walked past them, not sure exactly what she was looking for. In the last cell on the second