by J. D. Wright
“And exactly why are you here, Twila?” Sidonie asked, not bothering to hide her distrustful tone. After the way Twila had treated Rhea during their last visit, she hoped they would never have to see her again.
“We’re here to see Rhea,” Twila replied. “We want her to find us a husband. A husband just like hers.”
Sidonie opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, her mind went straight to Rowan’s favorite phrase. Holy hell.
Chapter Seventeen
Zander left the seamstress’ shop and walked over to the inn. Rianne was waiting for him at a table in the far corner. She was sharpening one of her knives on a whetstone when he sat down across from her. She looked up and smiled.
“They don’t look nearly as nice on you as your wizard robes do,” she said. “But they will just have to do until we get to Sire.”
“They aren’t even remotely as comfortable, either,” he replied. “I hate this fabric, whatever it is.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked. “Travel all the way to Sire with me? If you change your mind, I will understand.”
“I want to. I want to see that you get there safely. Besides, what kind of gentleman would I be if I let a princess wander around, all alone?”
“Funny. And don’t say that word in here. Someone might hear you.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Stop it!” she said, laughing. She stuck the whetstone back into her sack and tucked her knife into the strap she had sewn onto the inside of her boot. She hoped it would keep the knife more secure. She already had to run from thieves, once. There was no way of knowing if she would have to run from someone else and she definitely couldn’t run if she accidentally cut her foot.
“I almost forgot,” he said, reaching into his bag. “Here.” He handed her something wrapped in a piece of thick cloth and tied with twine.
Rianne sat it on the table and untied it. When she separated the cloth, she smiled.
“Aww… You bought me knives?” she asked, blushing. “Thank you!”
Zander shrugged. “I know you lost two of them in the glen. And I figure that if I can’t use magic to protect us, you should probably have as many of these as you can carry. At least, until we get far enough away from here that I can use my magic safely. Without anyone recognizing me.”
“I’ve received many gifts,” Rianne said, “but no one has ever bought me a weapon before. And you gave me three of them.”
She laughed and gave him a huge smile. He shifted in his seat, feeling a little embarrassed. He knew she would appreciate the gift, but the way her deep blue eyes were admiring him made him a little nervous. He already felt dread, knowing he would have to say farewell to her when they reached Sire.
“We should probably get moving,” he said, standing and picking up his bag. Rianne followed him out of the inn and they started walking toward the town square. There was a crowd of people ahead of them. They were listening to someone speak, who was standing on a box, reading from a scroll. Rianne was glad that Zander had charmed her hair, again. The purple was still there, but now the rest was once again a blonde color. She didn’t feel anxious, at all, being in the middle of so many people.
Walking closer, they could hear what the man on the box was saying.
“…and it has come to our attention that the town’s safety may be in jeopardy. Therefore, as your king, I have sent fifteen guards to patrol the town. Please continue your daily routines as usual. Personally signed, Your Excellency, King Nolan.”
“Long live the king!” the crowd chanted after the man finished reading.
Rianne looked down at the ground and tried to look natural. Zander could sense that something was wrong.
“Come on,” he whispered. “Let’s get away from here.”
They went back in the direction that they had originally come from. They were almost back to the inn when Rianne spotted a guard straight ahead.
“Uh, Zander…”
“Quick! In here,” he said, pulling her into the inn. Once they were inside, Zander stuck his head out of the door and looked around. There were guards everywhere. Scattered all around the town. He tried to count them, but they kept moving around so he gave up. He felt Rianne tug on his tunic.
“Zander, we can’t just stand here by the door. It looks suspicious.”
“You’re right,” he replied, closing the door. He looked around, hoping they weren’t drawing any attention. The inn was mostly empty except for two women sitting near the window, deep in conversation, and the innkeeper, who was sweeping the floor on the other side of the room.
“What are we going to do? I don’t believe for one moment that those guards are here for the town’s safety.”
“You think they’re here for you? To find you?”
“Why else?” she asked. “My father sent the message, signed personally by him. He almost never does that. That’s what the scribe is for.”
“Rianne,” Zander began, rubbing a hand through his hair, “you never actually told me why you left Labara. Why you ran away.”
Rianne nervously bit her lip. “Fine, I’ll tell you. But not here.”
“Alright,” Zander said, looking around for the innkeeper. He spotted him walking around the counter. “Stay here.”
Rianne stayed by the door. After a moment, her curiosity got the better of her and she stuck her head out and looked around. She counted nine guards. Out of the nine guards, there was probably at least one guard who would recognize her, even with blonde and purple hair. Some of Labara’s guards had been working in the castle since before she was born. She felt someone tap her shoulder and it made her jump.
“Sorry,” Zander said. “Follow me. I rented a room for the night.”
Rianne followed him past the counter and up the stairs. He went to the third door and stopped. Using a small key, he unlocked the door and opened it for her. Quickly, she slipped inside. He looked around to see if anyone had followed them then shut the door and locked it.
“As long as no one saw us come in here, we should be safe,” he said.
“And in the morning?” she asked, looking around the room.
“We will have to find a way to sneak past them. Look at the bright side,” he said, smiling. “At least, we don’t have to worry about wolves. And we get at least one night of not having to sleep on the ground.”
Rianne stopped and looked over to the corner of the room. Zander noticed she was staring at something so he stepped closer to her and looked in the same direction.
There was only one bed.
“Oh, no!” he said, pointing at the bed. “I did not do that on purpose. I didn’t think to ask him before I rented the room.”
“Zander…” she said, eyeing him curiously.
“I promise. I didn’t know!”
Rianne laughed. His expression was hilarious.
“You’ve slept beside me on the ground many times,” she said. “Why are you suddenly uneasy because it’s a bed and not the dirt?”
“I just… I just assumed that you would be offended. After all, you are a pr—”
“Don’t say it!” she warned. “Don’t say the p-word again.”
“I’m sorry.”
“And stop apologizing.”
“I can’t. I feel really sorry.”
“You didn’t feel sorry before you found out I was a pri— Well, you know… You had no problem leaving me to find my own way to Sire once we left Silver Glen. And you weren’t afraid to shout at me when you thought I was a spy. Oh, and don’t forget last night when you teased a confession out of me! Why is it that today you suddenly think you should act differently toward me?”
“I know. It just feels different now. I wasn’t actually sure you would confess last night, but now that you did… You are royalty. People bow to you. They serve you, protect you. Die for you.”
“So?”
“So, that makes a difference.”
“Not really,” she said, turning
away from him. She noticed there were no chairs in the room, only a single stool next to a tall table. She dropped her sack onto the floor, walked over to the bed, and sat down on it. “It doesn’t make a difference because I get treated the same, if not worse, than most daughters. Commoners don’t treat their daughters like they are property to trade. Well, some do, I guess.”
“Is that what happened? To make you leave?” he asked, following her over and sitting beside her on the bed.
“I didn’t expect to marry for love. I honestly didn’t. Deep down, I knew it would never happen. But part of me hoped that my father would at least choose someone I could learn to love. Someone young, maybe. Someone I had at least one thing in common with. But instead, he intends to marry me to Carneath.”
“Carneath? Wait. King Carneath?” Zander was beginning to understand. “Oh.”
“Yes. And it’s only so that we can get a plot of land from him. To extend our orchard.”
“I’ve heard that kingdoms often trade for land.”
“They do. But it’s usually money that they give for land, or soldiers. Jewels, even. My father is giving his daughter, instead.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I told you to stop apologizing!” Rianne said, turning her head toward him. “It isn’t your fault.”
“No,” he replied, looking over at her. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t be sorry.” Her blue eyes were clouded with sorrow. He hated to see it.
“I didn’t want to face my future, so I left.”
“I don’t blame you.”
Rianne felt a strange feeling come over her. His eyes looked the same as they had when he left her at the edge of the glen. Like he missed her. She began to worry if she would be able to say goodbye to him when they reached Sire. Would she regret leaving him if she did? What kind of life would she be able to build for herself in Northern Everealm if she had a constant cloud of regret hanging over her?
“Rianne?” he whispered.
“Hmm?”
“What are you thinking about?”
“You.”
Her heartbeat had started to quicken from the moment he said her name. The rest of the room became a blur. She could only see him. He reached his hand up and held it against her cheek. It was soft and warm. She closed her eyes. Slowly, he slid his hand down and cupped the back of her head with it. She knew he was going to kiss her. She wanted him to.
She held her breath as he moved in closer and touched his lips to hers. Unlike the night before, this time was different. He wasn’t kissing her in order to trick passing strangers. He was kissing her because he wanted to. And she couldn’t be happier.
The kiss was slow and sweet, but her stomach still burned just like it had before. She lifted her hand and placed it over his, still on her neck. He broke the kiss but didn’t pull back. Instead, he put his forehead against hers and stayed there for a moment. He wanted it to last. He wanted the memory to be a perfect one. One that he could look back on, in old age, and remember as fondly as he did today.
“I should probably go downstairs and get us some supper. It might be our last hot meal for a while.”
“Alright,” she said, softly.
At first, he didn’t move. He didn’t want to. But his stomach was growling and he knew he had to eat. A wizard could go days without sleeping but not without food. Even still, he didn’t want to pull away. Finally, he sighed and let go of her.
Rianne watched him leave and close the door behind him. She crawled backward onto the bed and curled up with the pillow, which wasn’t nearly as soft as the ones she used to own in her castle chambers. She missed them. The pillows… The silky sheets. Her soft slippers. She had given all of it up to avoid marrying Carneath. When she really thought about it, she realized that she would have happily given it all up to meet Zander, instead. He made her laugh. Made her smile. Made her feel like something other than just a princess. He made her feel like a young woman. Like any other young woman in Everealm.
She laid the pillow down and walked across the room to the small window. Pulling back the thin curtain, she looked down at the busy town, below. The guards were still patrolling the street. They were everywhere. She looked over when Zander opened the door carrying two plates and hoped they could come up with a good plan to escape from Hallowood.
~*~
“This is your best plan?” she whispered. “To walk straight down the middle of the town?”
“Yes, essentially.”
“I’m beginning to think you want me to get caught.”
“Do you have a better plan?” he asked. “Because the only idea you’ve offered is to sneak into a wagon.”
“I used a wagon to escape from Labara.”
“Yes, but I doubt your wagon was covered in horse manure.”
Rianne smirked and shook her head. “I didn’t know it was covered in manure when I suggested it.”
“Quick! Get down!” he whispered. They ducked behind the stack of barrels and waited until the guard passed by. “Just follow the plan.”
“Fine.”
“Wait until I say, then start walking.”
Zander summoned a bolt of lightning in his hand. He focused on it and made it shrink until it was half of the size it started as. They only needed a spark. He turned toward the town square and concentrated on the rope that was holding a stack of wooden crates together. Carefully, he sent the bolt flying, using air magic to guide it. It hit the rope, just below where he hoped it would. The rope snapped apart and the crates tumbled down. Every crate that hit the ground fell into pieces, releasing dozens and dozens of chickens into the street.
The chickens scattered and so did the people who owned them, chasing the chickens all around, trying to catch them. The two guards standing nearby tried to ignore the chickens but one jumped up onto his arm and a rooster began to angrily flap his wings at the other. Soon, the entire square was in chaos with people running around, shouting, and chicken feathers flying everywhere.
Rianne put a hand over her mouth to cover her laugh. Zander was so entertained that he almost forgot why they were there, hiding behind the barrels.
“Alright, go!” he said.
Rianne stood to leave and reached down for her sack. Only, it wasn’t there.
“Zander, where is my sack?”
“I thought you had it.” He looked around on the ground for it. “Did you leave it inside?”
“I don’t know.”
“Go ahead. Get out of town. I will go back up and get it and meet you at the trail to Sire.”
“I don’t want to go alone.”
“We don’t have time. Just go! I’ll be right behind you.”
Rianne quickly kissed his cheek. Then she walked away and started down the street. Zander was right. The guards were so distracted by the chicken fiasco that they didn’t notice her, at all. She walked right past them. Once she reached the edge of town, she saw a well and hid behind it. She knew she was supposed to go to the trail, but she wanted to wait for him. From afar, she watched as the people began to catch the chickens and place them into different crates.
“That was fast,” she said, feeling a hand on her shoulder.
When she turned around, she froze. Not only was there a guard standing behind her, but he was one that she knew. Even if he somehow didn’t recognize her, there was no way to hide the fact that she recognized him. The surprise was written all over her face.
“Greetings, Princess,” he said. “I’m here to take you home.”
Chapter Eighteen
Rhea was panicking. Reeve had just walked into the hall and she wasn’t sure what to do. Twila and Ruby were eating supper just two tables away from the knight’s table, where she knew Reeve was headed. If they saw Reeve was sitting separately from her, they would surely know that something was wrong. Quickly, Rhea stood and approached Reeve, stepping right in front of him.
“Whoa! Rhea, I almost knocked you over. I know you’re light on your feet, but you really should be m
ore careful.”
“Stop talking. I need to ask you, no—to beg you to do something for me.”
Reeve narrowed his eyes at her. “I just returned from training all day,” he began.
“That is nice,” she said. “But I need you to help me.”
“What is wrong?”
Before she could reply, his gaze shifted from hers to someone approaching from behind her. Without looking, she knew Twila and Ruby were walking toward them. Reeve looked back down at Rhea and raised his eyebrows. She didn’t speak, but her eyes pleaded with him.
“Well,” Twila said, “if it isn’t the famous lover, himself. We wondered when we would get to see you. I was beginning to think you ran away. Not to worry, I would run away from her, too, if I were you.”
Reeve ignored the fact that she called him the “famous lover” and focused more on the insult that she aimed at Rhea.
“I’ve been training all day.”
“Of course! A knight’s work is never done, I suppose.”
“Right.” He didn’t know what else to say. Twila was twirling her golden hair in her fingertips and it was incredibly distracting. He wasn’t sure why. Suddenly, he began to see images of Twila and him inside his mind. They were naked and rolling around on a bed, together.
“Stop it, Twila,” Rhea snapped. “I can feel the waves of magic you’re sending to him.”
Twila smirked and turned her attention back to Reeve.
“Oh, that’s right. He’s a married man, isn’t he?” she said, smiling.
Reeve felt a little dizzy all of a sudden. Rhea sensed it and sent her own wave of magic, to calm him. He immediately felt better then looked down and realized she had her hand on his arm. He kept his composure and tried to pretend that Twila attempting to influence him with her magic wasn’t terrifying him. He knew fairies had extremely powerful methods of seduction but, as far as he knew, Rhea had never used them on him.
“Yes, a married man,” Reeve mumbled. He held his arm up and showed the ring, still visible on his hand.
Twila grinned. “And that, famous lover, is the reason we are here!”
