by Amy Morris
“What’s he sore about Angel?”
“Don’t ask, I’m sure it will pass, so don’t fret. He got what he wanted thanks to you so I wouldn’t sweat it Abby.” Angel leaves to remount his horse as I think over his words.
Goss and I ride in companionable silence the rest of the day, which is nice. Having stopped for lunch by a river fed by the Bray’s Mountains, I’m resigned to my marriage. Happy to have friends with me, even if only one will be by my side after we reach Palanese.
Three days go by without incident in the same pattern, early to rise for breakfast by a campfire, back on the horse, a break for lunch, then back on the horse, a stop late for dinner and sleep. I’m fine with the escorts regimented stops and starts, but the time on horseback is wearing me out. Or really wearing my backside out. Every stop I’m sore and once it dissipates we’re back on horseback. After two days I started walking correctly again, but the pain lingers for much longer than I like. They made jokes at my expense about my wide gait after being in the saddle so long, but I take them in stride. Horse lessons are not for store clerks, and I seem to be the only one not accustomed to the discomfort.
The morning of day three Angel rides alongside as Goss shifts back to argue with Therin yet again. From what I can tell, he has been upset with everyone since we left Madera. “What is going on behind us, Angel? Therin hasn’t seemed his self the entire trip, except once he’s had a few drinks at dinner.”
Angel stares straight ahead a moment before turning his gaze my direction, “He’s upset Abby. It’s not your fault, but he seems to blame you.”
“For what exactly,” I find myself taken aback.
Angel looks as though he’s deep in thought. “Listen Abby, you meant well requesting the promotion for him, but he sees it as a slight. He resents the fact that a princess living unknown to him, as his servant to an extent, was how he was elevated. He’s taken a hit to his pride, but I’m willing to bet that within a few more days he’ll be back to his old self. Don’t worry Abby, everything will be fine.” The last part obviously in response to the concern showing on my face.
With a heavy sign I turn to Angel, “I didn’t mean to overstep my bounds but with what you said the night of my birthday I thought I was doing him a favor. But from what you’ve just told me, obviously I didn’t.”
“Abby, let me be honest with you. Without your request, he never would have ascended to the royal guard. He should be grateful for the opportunity that’s yet again found it’s way into his lap. Even Goss knows that. The reason she’s riding with him today is to remind him of that, your generosity as a royal, not a handout.”
“I guess you’re right, if anybody can beat some sense into his head, it’s his sister.” My mind chews through the information, I didn’t mean to upset Therin by helping him into a promotion. Hells, we all knew he wanted it. Why is he so upset someone helped him along that wasn’t his parents for once? Settling this into the back of my mind for now, I watch the road ahead before continuing. “Angel, am I different to you now? Now that the whole princess thing has come out?”
“Abby, I see you clearer now. The way you acted as a child makes more sense now. And the compassion I’ve heard in stories about your mom show through you, even though I didn’t know her. The generosity she showed her people during her reign as princess, then queen, will always be told. I hope the same will be said of you in Palanese, just be true to yourself, that’s all I ask princess.”
The way he uses my new moniker feels intimate but makes me want to giggle at the same time due to the admiration I have for him. During the next few hours, we ride in silence along the base of the mountains. Jinx informs me at lunch that by this evening we will reach Renolt Village along the Talin border. This may be my last day in the Groves kingdom, but the last week is something I will never forget.
An hour after nightfall, we arrive at a camp that is set up in anticipation of our visit. Jinx assures me that the mayor and his wife have been expecting us since midday, and a hearty breakfast at their manor awaits in the morning. The large tent for me almost mimics the luxury I had in Madera Keep just days ago. A dressing table with mirror and chair adorn one large fabric wall, while a table and four chairs sit in the middle. The enormous bed looms invitingly in front of me, it takes effort to hold myself out of it until after I’ve eaten. After much debate with Therin, I’m allowed to keep Goss with me for dinner and sleep. He still seems annoyed with me while speaking, even more so now that she is staying the night with me.
They bring trays of food down from the manor even at the late hour, at the behest of the mayor. Goss and I gorge ourselves on what seems to be a mix of Groves favorites with a Talin twist, which I enjoy. The roasted pheasant with pomegranate sauce is the favorite, we both agree, not having has this bird often. We talk nonstop, even after getting ready for bed, about what’s coming when we cross the border and reach our destination. Goss gushes over Jinx, which I find interesting since I haven’t notice them paying extra attention to one another, but I’m glad she has happy dreams at night while he’s with us as I also drift off to sleep.
Pulled from sleep by a hand harshly gripping my arm, I’m ripped straight out of the bed. “Dear gods,” it feels like my left arm is no longer attached. “What’s going on?” I ask my assailant, trying to see who it is in the dark. The tent is pitch black. Which was not how we left it before bed. The fire in the center should still be aflame, along with three oil lamps on various tables that Goss and I used to make shadow puppets on. Too much wine yet again.
“It would seem they sent someone on this trip with separate orders then mine princess,” Jinx whispers harshly in my direction. “Do you have her, Angel?” So he must be the one stretching my arm farther than natural right now.
“I’ve got her commander.”
“Good, now go. Meet Talia at the south side of camp. She has the cart ready to go along with four more horses in case the pace needs quickening. I’ll hold off the rest to give you time.” Jinx is breathless, I notice when he finishes speaking.
“Goss!” I yelp as I’m pulled from the bed.
“Jinx has me. They awakened me just before you. I pulled my robe on but don’t know where yours is Abby.” She sounds worried, which is never a good sign I’ve learned in the past thirteen years.
“I’m fine, I can survive without it, Angel lead the way,” directing the person still clinging to my hand, hoping it is him.
“Don’t worry Abby, nothing will touch Goss or yourself as long as I’m with you.”
“Good man, should have gotten that promotion to the royal guard sooner,” Jinx heads back out through the front flap of my tent. I only know this because his face is visible from the fires outside as he exits.
Using a knife, Angel cuts a large slit down the back of my elaborate tent for us to escape. “Angel, what’s happening?” I ask as we dash behind tents and supplies, trying to stay hidden from an invisible attacker.
“The king put a bounty on your head. Sent the notice to Renolt Village, so the whole setup here was a ruse to make you comfortable and let your guard down. It seems some guards with us were in on it, bidding time until we reached the Talin border.” Angel’s grasp on my arm hasn’t relented since we left the tent, and neither has mine on Goss’ hand. I almost feel like he is dragging us both since we’re bogged down by food, wine and sleep still.
“Where’s Therin?” Goss asks in a loud whisper from behind me.
“I’ll explain later, Gossimer. For now, we have to get you both to safety.” Angel leaves the shelter of the tent folds we’re hiding in to assail a would be attacker he’s encountered. The sound of swords clashing assaults my ears and I pray we can escape with Angel unharmed. “Come with me.”
Goss and I follow him in the dim light of the moon the rest of the way through camp until we reach the cart in our train. Talia, the striking red head I noticed before, is perched low waiting for our arrival. “About damn time, Angel. From what Jinx said, I assumed you’d be h
ere within minutes, not half an hour.” She grabs Goss’ arm and wrenches her into the back of the cart. “In you go, princess,” violently tossing me in.
“We should be clear now Talia, you have your orders go,” but Angel’s answer is cut off by the clash of swords. I can’t see anything, only hear a scuffle close to us.
“It’s done Angel, let us have her. We’ll be rich men when it’s finished,” the voice I’ve known for thirteen years calls out, it’s Therin.
“Never, and if you give in so easily for money you never deserved the honor of the uniform you’re wearing,” Angel grunts.
“Stop it Therin what’s wrong with you? Abby’s our sister. How could you betray her?” Goss screams from behind me in the cart.
“Easy enough, dear sister, her usefulness has expired. More than we ever wanted awaits the one who brings King Alex her head.” Therin snarls at her. In the dim light I can see his blade locked with Angel’s and the malice in his face.
Red spreads across Therin’s side as a voice behind him pronounces, “I’m done with this.” Talia pulls her blade out of him, wiping the blood off on her pants. “I thought he’d never shut up,” as he falls to the ground moaning loudly.
“Was that necessary…” Angel reaches for Therin to help him. From my vantage point, the blade is as quick as lighting when Therin stabs his best friend in the chest.
Talia is within striking distance, but right before she swings Goss begs. “Please don’t hurt him anymore; he doesn’t realize what he’s doing. He’ll go home and regret everything I promise. Just please, I beg of you, don’t kill him.”
“Normally I would feel regret, but not for this prick,” Talia raises her sword again and swings. Right before her blade reaches his neck, it’s stopped by Angel’s. “Why stop me, he just tried to kill you.”
“Let him go, there need not be any more of his blood spilled tonight.” From the look on his face, I can see that Angel is doing this more for Goss than Therin. “Take the girls and go Talia, you know the plan.”
She nods to him and jumps onto the bench at the front of the cart. Jerking the reins, we jump to a start but are quickly stopped by something just ahead of us. “Hold, hold,” Jinx’s voice emerges from the darkness. “Angel, get in the cart, you’re going. Especially with that injury soldier.”
“I’m fine, sir. The blade barely pierced my skin. I can still be part of the cleanup and cover for what happened tonight.”
Finding my footing and standing now in the cart, I decide to demand answers. “What plan and cover for tonight?” They ignore my question as Jinx wrestles an uncooperative Angel into the cart. “Someone answer me damnit!”
“Vernet and I assumed something like this might happen, hoped it wouldn’t but planned for the worst. I entrusted Talia and Angel with an escape plan should anything happen.” Jinx turns his gaze to Goss, “I’m sorry to say your brother did not seem trustworthy enough, so I did not include him.”
Goss stares down at her brother moaning still on the ground clutching his side. “It would seem you were right, as much as it pains me to say it.”
“I’m glad you understand, now go all of you. Angel will heal quickly if what he said about his wound is true, that adds another protector since I must return to Madera.” Jinx grabs my hand that is holding the edge of the cart, “Abigail, please know I did everything to assure your safety and that things were put in motion weeks ago to make what comes next possible. May the gods bless you all on your journey.” And with that, he steps back bowing to me for what could be the last time.
The cart lurches forward again, I’m resigned to sit with my companions as we leave the chaos in our camp. “You knew and didn’t warn me, why?” Not looking directly at Angel or Talia when I speak. Neither answer. I feel deep down that it was to protect me, but the hurt from it still stings.
Goss has already removed Angel’s shirt and is helping fit cloth strips from her robe over his wound. He winks at me before taking my hand, “Abby, I promise to protect you no matter where this leads us. You’re upset right now, I can see it in your eyes. Just please know we didn’t want to keep this from you.”
Dismissing his hand, I rest both of mine in my lap, staring out into the dark woods around us. I’m really not mad at him. My anger lies on the ground at the camp. The brother that betrayed me. Goss needs me, so pushing away my pain is what I resign to do for now. They have turned my world upside down in just a few days’ time, now it’s spinning out of control. I promise myself that I will right it somehow, if not tomorrow, then soon. All of this can’t be for nothing, can it? It must lead me to something.
6
None of us speak for hours, there’s no need to. The two faces in the cart with me show signs of guilt and hurt I’d assume from Therin’s actions. I can’t see Talia’s face and can only assume she’s unaffected by everything that happened. Not having really spoken to her before, I’m at a loss on how to start a conversation, so I go with what comes to mind first. “When do you think we’ll stop next?” Oh yeah, that’ll impress her…
Letting out a small laugh she turns to me, “do you really want me to stop here princess? They could be just behind us if Jinx wasn’t able to establish order and take care of other dissenters.”
“I wasn’t trying to sound needy. My concern was more for the horses you’re driving to exhaustion and Angel.”
“I chose these horses for this very reason, a fast getaway. They won’t tire for a while, I’d like to put as much distance between Renolt and ourselves, if that’s alright with you, your majesty.” Her words make my teeth grind, I open my mouth for a smart remark as Angel’s voice cuts in.
“Talia hun, please remember that Abigail just found out she’s royalty. How she was brought up was far worse than you or I. Jinx has faith in her for a reason, so please cut her some slack here.” The puppy dog face he’s making at her in the lantern light almost makes me laugh.
“Alright babe, I’ll cool it down. I’m just still not sure yet if she’s worth dying over, that’s all.” And with that she’s back to pushing the horses hard in the darkness on the road.
“Babe, huh?” Even with everything that has happened to Goss in the last few hours, she still keeps enough humor to tease Angel.
“It’s not like that. Both Therin and I trained with her for over a year. We moved to the royal guard together, she’s more of a sister, really.” Goss cringes at the mention of her brother’s name, so I take her hand in mine.
“I’m so sorry about what happened Goss, I almost feel like it’s my fault. Hells it is my fault there’s a growing distance between you two right now.”
“Don’t you ever apologize for him Abby,” her grip on my hand tightens. “He’s no longer our brother after what he tried to do, that’s all I want to say on the matter. So next subject, where are we headed, Angel?”
“Well, I guess it’s safe to say now, right Talia?” She nods her assent, “Shete, we’re headed to an abbey there to find Queen Alicia.”
My voice escapes me. We’re headed to find my mother, if she’s still alive. Realizing that King Alex may have gotten to her long ago, which dampens my dreams of a reunion. “Do you think she’s still alive? After all this time?”
“We know she was as of three months ago from her last correspondence with Vernet,” Talia offers.
“She’s been in contact with Vernet recently. Why are we just now hearing about it?” Goss is quicker than I am at asking the same thing I’m thinking.
Angel and Talia share a quick look that seems to say we’re idiots. “To protect you Abby,” he answers finally.
“Has the plan been all along to send me to find her instead of marry Prince Richard? I would have appreciated that knowledge days ago.”
Angel shakes his head, “No, the original plan was to have you marry him to keep you safe until your mother could come to you. The fall-back plan was to go to her, it seemed safer to everyone if attention wasn’t drawn to her location.”
Great,
what else am I not being told? After a few more minutes of silence, I decide not to ask more about plans since more information hasn’t been forthcoming. Fine, they want to keep me in the dark, I’ll go along with it for now. But once we find my mother, a lot of explaining needs to happen or it won’t be a joyous reunion.
Before the sunrises we stop at a small creek to freshen up, eat and rest the horses. My three companions talk quietly while I brood to myself around the small fire used to cook breakfast. Watching Talia gently stitch Angel’s wound makes me wonder what their relationship might really be. Could they just be friends or is it more from what I notice in the relaxed manor they have around one another.
Goss tries to engage me in conversation several times, but to no avail. When I finish eating I return to my spot in the cart and try to get comfortable for the long ride ahead.
Angel joins Talia on the bench which leaves poor Goss with my sour self for the ride. “If you want to talk, that’s fine, if you don’t that’s fine too Abby.”
“Just not now, maybe later.” I feel bad for Goss having nothing to do but stare at the passing landscape. But I’m just not in the mood to talk. I know I shouldn’t punish her for what others tried to do to me or how I’ve been manipulated. It’s not her fault and has nothing to do with her. I just don’t know what to say right now.
Dozing off some, I’m awakened to Goss screaming, but the sight before me is nothing I could have ever imagined. She’s dressed in leather pants and vest with barely a shift visible under, her hair is bound in a knot. The landscape isn’t recognizable, barren terrain, grey in color. I yell, but she doesn’t hear me as she lets fly arrow after arrow at attacking soldiers. Not knowing who is attacking her everything in me screams to stop them, I see a blue flash before waking to find Goss leaning over me pleading for me to wake up. “Are you alright? Another vision?” she asks.
