Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
“And who’s making this fuss? Beatrice?”
Bastian never answered. “Is there something you need? I need to get on my way. Haldir wants a full report when he returns from the Capital.”
The First King was there right now?
Damien looked him over, like he saw the holes in Bastian’s story but couldn’t piece them together. “Use the main gate next time.”
“Will do.”
Damien walked back the way he came.
Thank the gods. I wouldn’t have been able to move without him hearing me.
Bastian took a seat again and drank from his canteen. Minutes passed, and he stayed that way, waiting until the right moment to move forward. He eventually stowed his things, picked up the sacks, and continued toward me.
I rose when he came near. “That was close.”
“He didn’t believe me, so we’ve gotta move.”
“Yeah, I could tell.”
Bastian took the lead again, this time moving faster than he had before.
“So…who’s Beatrice?”
“Looks like I’m not the only one with good hearing.”
“It sounds like you do have a girlfriend.”
“I don’t do girlfriends. I’m not a boy.”
“Whatever you want to call it.”
“I was seeing her a while back. Didn’t work out.”
“Uh-huh.”
He stopped in his tracks and turned back to face me. “I’m not a liar.” His expression was hard, but his eyes flashed with fury. “I’m loyal, so if I’m committed, I don’t flinch. But I wasn’t committed to her, nor to anyone else. I broke it off a while ago, and it’s not my fault she doesn’t know how to let it go.” He faced forward again and took off faster than last time.
“Damn, sounds like you broke her heart.”
“More like her pride.”
We reached the bottom of the mountains then crossed into the tree line where our horses were tucked away. Bastian had marked the bark on the trees, so we’d have a map to get us back to where we started. The horses were still there, a bit spooked when we approached.
Bastian dropped the sacks on the ground then stretched his arms and shoulders, like the weight had made his muscles cramp up along the way. It was sometime in the middle of the night now, the nighttime sounds of the forest amplified, and my eyes were heavy with exhaustion. I was a tough bitch who could endure a lot, but I was ready to return home and sleep in my own bed again. Ready to take a shower every day. Ready to start my mornings with a fresh sticky bun from the bakery.
“Do you happen to know a shortcut back?”
He tossed me one of the bedrolls and grabbed his own. “No.”
“Damn.” I set it up on the ground then moved to make a fire.
“No fire tonight.” He was already on the ground in his bedroll, ready to fall asleep the second his head hit the pillow. “Damien and the others are suspicious now. We can’t risk it until we’re farther north.”
I didn’t put up an argument. Far too tired for that. “Alright.”
We lay there together, the forest loud with all the creatures, the predators hunting the prey. The horses released quiet neighs and chewed at the grass near us. Sometimes I would hear a twig snap, but Bastian never stirred, so I assumed the sound was inconsequential. It took me a while to drift off, but once I did, I immediately began to dream.
We rode hard every day, trying to cut down our travel time because we were both anxious to be rooted in one place. We both wanted a hot meal in our bellies, a hot shower to wash off all the travel, an ale from the pub. I was also in a hurry because I didn’t want the ivy we’d harvested to die. If we managed to make it grow, it would be invaluable.
Bastian was quiet throughout the entire journey. He never started a conversation, and if I ever tried, his responses were short and cold. That bond we’d had before I kissed him was long gone, and now he kept me at an artificial distance like he wanted nothing to do with me.
Like I might rip off his shirt and kiss him harder than the last time.
We weren’t even friends anymore.
Maybe we were never friends.
Our journey to the south had taken seven days, but our return journey was only five because we booked it so hard. I waved the customary red flag as we approached, and the high gates immediately began to swing open for our entrance.
We rode through the open doors and entered the city, where the destruction of the war was still visible. The soldiers repaired the cannons and cleaned up the dead, but the debris from the attack was still visible.
We handed over our horses to the stables and went the rest of the way on foot.
“Are you going to see Ian?”
“No. Going to the caves first. Got to get these plants in the ground as quickly as possible.”