It was essential to fulfill the princess' wishes if Mori chan was to keep on living so comfortably and conveniently.

With mixed feelings he would therefore accompany his mistress after the blessing of the priest, who finished the church service. So, ... what else could he do?

"Aren't we taking any guards with us?" he asked anxiously as they separated from the rest of the servants.

"Are you a man or not? Who needs guards on a romantic walk?" She giggled and pushed him forward.

"Then... I insist! What if thieves attack us ... or ...? It would be definitely irresponsible if something happened to you," Mori kept trying, but was only made fun of.

"How thoughtful of you to be concerned. Our forests are safe, I made sure of that. Now come on," she pushed him further, hacked under his arm and accelerated her step. Mori chan started to pray because he couldn't during the service, as his thoughts were only with his admirer and future kidnapper. Would Torin Hood really dare to steal him in front of the princess? He did not want to imagine the reaction of the woman to the possible incident.

Accordingly tense and always looking around him, he let her lead him over a small bridge onto the narrow path into the forest. Johanna talked incessantly about her plans for the next few days, paying no attention to the gloriously chirping birds, the lush green of the fresh leaves, nor to the nervous man next to her. She visibly enjoyed not being interrupted, chatting and chattering non-stop. Only when they reached a little sunny place, did she stop and turn to Mori chan.

"I have a suggestion for you, little man. Since I know you hate your nickname, I will have it banned ... if ..." The girl for everything automatically flinched at this last word. "...when you..." But she also made it really exciting. "...to prove your manhood."

"... hey? ... What?!" stunned and horrified, his mouth remained open. Was this an offer now? She wants me as a lover?!'

With one blow his halfway intact world broke apart. His hard-earned secure income, his quite good reputation and his own soft warm bed, had he now lost everything again? A little helpless and looking for words, he stood there, wishing a hole would open up under him and swallow him. Even if he ended up in hell, it would be more tolerable than this.

But since the ground didn't open up, he slowly stepped back, stumbling awkwardly over rocks and roots, but quickly recovered and ran off as if the devil himself were after him. Escape was all he could think about at the moment. How good that they hadn't taken any guards with them, so he could rather manage to hide in the forest or run to the next town. No matter where, the main thing was to get away from here.

Torin, who was sitting high up in a tree, watched everything, of course. He couldn't hear the conversation, but it was obvious what the princess wanted from the slim curly head.

"I understand him. In his place, I would have gone far away, too. He looked at what was going on and decided to follow him. This servant would certainly know where to find Maid Mori chan and that was Torin's only thought. For almost a week he had nothing else in his head, only this voice that followed him at any time of day or night. If he couldn't meet her here, this man was to help him. But then the screaming voice of the woman left behind, echoed through the whole forest:

"Mori! Damn it, Mori chan! What a fool you are!" The blond man listened up and his eyes widened. However, the princess was not finished with her threats: "You'll never get this chance again in your life! I swear, if you don't come back right away, I'll have someone look for you and your nickname will be on your wanted poster!" The folk hero did not hear the further insults and swear words anymore. Skilfully he swung from branch to branch, finally jumping to the forest floor and scurrying after his prey like a hungry wolf.

Torin thought with excitement and crouched down deeply to avoid being seen, but the small man in front of him was much too frightened to register anything anyway; he ran across the field like a startled deer and tried not to fall. The underwood was very dense, small trees blocked his way again and again and far hanging branches whipped into his face. He felt as if he was in a hunt, was already out of breath and stopped briefly to orientate himself, but he had no idea where he was and where he wanted to go. His fingers drove nervously through the dark curls in which leaves, and fir needles hung. Single strands of hair were already sticking in his wet forehead as he began to sweat, and the red cheeks betrayed that he was not used to such excursions.

A passing shadow finally spurred Mori on to run on again.

"Oh no, that too! I forgot all about that bearded rascal. If Torin Hood is now on my heels as well, I'm done for..." He did not want to be crushed by the princess or strangled by the rough paws of the folk hero, who certainly expected a woman, but Mori was obviously a man. "Oh shit," he cursed, and as hard as he tried to run faster, the cracking of the branches came closer and closer, and the rustling of the leaves became louder. Slowly, but surely, he began to feel the fear. Mori tried to hit a heel, like a rabbit, but missed a tree stump, which brought him down painfully. His legs were full of bruises and his chest tightened up so that he was just gasping for air uncontrollably. Indeed, you could think a pack of wolves was after him.

With all his strength he finally managed to get up and stagger to a small glade where someone was already waiting for him.