Chapter 7 #2
She examined my face as if trying to decide whether or not to trust me. Finally, with shaking hands, she accepted the water and guzzled it down.
“Good.” I flashed her what I hoped was my most benevolent smile. She only looked more uneasy. “You’re going to be alright. Someone’s gone to get help.” Awkwardly, I patted her arm.
As if my words had summoned them, three figures emerged out of the bushes and descended down the dunes towards us.
I recognized one of them as the hobbling form of the fisherman.
He was flanked by two men who rode horses that appeared to be having great difficulty navigating the pathway towards the beach.
The men were wearing uniforms of cobalt blue and white.
Stitched to the front of their uniforms was a silver emblem of a skate. They looked like guards.
My shoulders drooped in relief. Partially because we were being rescued and partially because I could stop fumbling my way through comforting a child.
“These are the girls from the shipwreck,” the fisherman said, pointing to us.
“What’s happened here?” asked one of the guards, dismounting from his horse. His gaze swept over me, lingering on the soaking dress that clung to my every curve and left little to the imagination.
“Like the man said, we survived a shipwreck,” I said, getting to my feet.
“Is that right?” said the guard to my breasts.
Oh, for goddesses’ sake. Placing my hands on my hips and narrowing my eyes at him, I spoke with the same command I used with my own guards. “She needs to be seen by a healer.” I tilted my chin towards the child. “And soon.”
The man pulled his gaze away from me and fixed it on the girl. His expression changed from mild disinterest to shock in an instant. He turned to his bored-looking companion. “It’s the princess.”
The princess? This had to be a joke.
“Blimey, you’re right,” said the companion. He vaulted off his horse and rushed over to where we sat. He addressed the girl, “Your Highness, are you hurt?”
Confusion clouded her pretty face. “I don’t think so.” She glanced at me. “You… you saved my life.”
I tried not to openly gape at the revelation, but my mind was spinning. The little girl I had rescued was a princess? The princess of this kingdom? What a bizarre stroke of luck. Fate was clearly on my side.
“I did,” I said. Our eyes met in understanding for a moment and my heart rate quickened. What exactly did she remember from the night before?
“Let’s get you back to the castle, Your Highness. Your family is beside themselves,” said the first guard as he reached for her. But the princess did not make a move towards him.
She looked at the wound on my arm—now barely a scratch. “You’re hurt,” she said, concern lining her face.
“I’ll be fine,” I replied. The only reason it had taken this long to heal was because I was so drained of magic.
“You need to see a healer at the castle before it gets infected. Come with us? Please?”
I studied the princess. She had begun shivering again. Even if I was without an agenda, it would be hard to say no to this girl. Fortunately, her request weaved perfectly into my plans.
I clasped my hands together and bowed my head slightly, in my best imitation of a humble mortal woman. “If that is what you wish, I will come with you, Your Highness.” Who was I?
The princess offered me a small smile in return. Satisfied with my response, she allowed herself to be carried over to one of the guard’s horses. Once she was safely secured, the guard offered her his cape.
Frail and dehydrated, she still looked completely at ease on the horse. She had obviously grown up riding, unlike myself, who had only ever encountered horses in books. What use did we have for them in Vantillios when we could swim and half the population could saltate?
I eyed the beast warily. “I’ll walk,” I announced to the second guard.
He looked me up and down. “Are you mad?” he asked. “The path is not suitable for walking.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
“Don’t be daft. The castle is miles away and we must return the princess to her family immediately. If you walk, you will only slow us down.”
I held back a groan. I didn’t like the idea one bit, but I couldn’t afford to do anything that would rouse suspicion amongst these mortals.
If riding on the backs of four legged animals was how they travelled, I would need to embrace it.
Or at least pretend to embrace it. “Very well,” I said through a sigh.
Slinging my pouch over my shoulders, I rearranged my face into a neutral expression.
As if this wasn’t completely new and terrifying to me.
Pulse racing, I allowed myself to be lifted onto the horse, immediately feeling off kilter and far too high off the ground.
The second guard climbed up behind me and instructed me to hold on tightly to the mane.
I refrained from telling him there was no way I was loosening my grip until my feet were safely planted on solid ground again.
The guard tossed a few coins to the fisherman, but it was something behind him that caught my eye. A bird—a raven—stood on the rock near where we had sat only minutes before. Its midnight body clashed against the late morning sun.
Excitement surged through me at the sight. I had always been drawn to birds. I envied their freedom to explore the world without bounds. There were several species of colorful native birds in Vantillios, but I had never seen an actual raven before.
As soon as our eyes met, the bird flapped its wings and flew away.
My disappointment was short lived—the beast beneath me began to move. I snapped my head forward, channeling all my energy into holding tightly, as though my life hung in the balance.