Kings Secrets(Chapter 1: Grace)

Chapter 1Grace)

My long legs cut swiftly through the knee-high forest shrubbery. Heart racing, I slid under a fallen tree, dirt and muck staining my knees brown. An arrow whizzed by my head, barely missing me, and I looked to my left automatically. My best friend, and well known partner-in-crime pulled back his bow and let an arrow fly at the angry mob behind us.
"Nick! Keep to your left!"
Nick ducked, grabbing my arm and pulling me up a small ledge.
"This was your idea!"
"Well it's not my fault-"
"Hey, watch it!"
He pointed to an enemy scout that had whipped out his bow. This honestly was my fault, I admitted to myself as I aimed a successful shot to the scout's shoulder, but I definitely was not going to admit that. Robbing a passing cart on a mission for the King was stupid, but I've been a sticky-fingered thief my whole life. Me and Nick had been placed leaders of a small army mission to spy on King Oscar's opposing kingdom. I have no loyalties or Kings. Just me. Nick is the one with all the grand ideas of "Loyalty to the King" and "Honoring his Position". It's a wonder we met in the first place.
I snapped out of my thoughts as something hard knocked into the back of my thigh, knocking me down. It felt like I had been kicked, but that next moment the pain came. It burned deep within my skin and bubbled all over my body. I bit my lip. Hard. No one had seen me fall. If i keep silent the enemy wouldn't find me. That slim hope disappeared as one of them called to the other,
"We got the girl!!"
"Don't finish her yet! The King wants this one!"
I dug my fingers into the cold soil, trying to force myself to move, to get away. Someone was coming. Hands fastened around my waist and I flinched.
"Don't say anything. It's me."
I recognized the deep voice almost instantly.
"Nick, you have to go. Get everyone to safety."
"Just keep quiet, okay?"
I almost screamed as the arrow in the back of my leg was ripped out. Instead, I let out a muffled Yelp.
"Sorry! Sorry."
Nick picked me up carefully, one hand under my knees and the other around my back. Voices from the back got louder and louder, but all I remembered was his steady breathing as I blacked out.