Chapter 18
I swore that Joel’s unnecessary loudness broke out the exact moment I managed to fall asleep. “Rise and shine, boys and lady!”
Ugh. I let out a low grunt and lingered inside my tent for a minute or two longer. I wasn’t sure what caused me to toss and turn all night. Perhaps it was the eerie stillness of the night, or maybe—which was more likely—it was just the weight of my own persistent thoughts.
I gladly accepted the cup of coffee Darius brought my way the second I exited my tent.
“Rough night?” he asked.
I gave him a small nod. “Thank you.”
After dismantling our tents and mounting our horses, Aegir leaned forward and told me, “We’ll be riding till dusk, like yesterday.”
I meant to say, “Mmhmm,” but the unannounced cooling sensation that caressed and freshened my skin made it sound more like a moan than anything else. I waited for him to set that barrier of air between us, but he only came near. My heated face felt like it was immune to his powers.
Gods, it’s too early for this.
“Here,” Aegir said, placing a compass in my hands. “Hold this for me.”
He was about to lean back, but my question brought him even closer. “How does it work?”
He gathered both reins in his left hand. With the right, he grabbed my wrist.
“Hold it in your palm, like this,” he said, flattening my hand. “Do you see this needle over here? That needle always points north. Since it’s pointing in that direction, it reassures me that we are indeed heading west.”
I often glanced at the golden compass, at the fine trembling needle that always sought north. I was quite mesmerised by its function, the magnetic pull always telling the arrowhead where home was.
I sat out today’s axe-throwing session, both because I felt tired, and also because my arms felt sore. Instead, I chewed on my food, watching the men doing what they do best. All right, I watched him doing what he does best.
Aegir replaced the compass in my hands the moment we mounted.
By the time we began our second part of the journey, I could feel my body wearing off.
And the meat and vegetables I filled myself with earlier were not helping.
Neither was the horse that moved us at an ambling pace and a slow rocking movement that made me feel like a weary babe being lulled to sleep.
My eyelids turned heavy, and I began to fade in and out of reality.
I flinched and readjusted my spine, all the while forcing my eyes to remain open.
My head lowered to the compass. I watched its quivering needle with droopy lids, against which I lost the battle.
When I opened my eyes, I found my hands empty.
“Shit! The compass,” I breathed. “I—I think I dropped it.”
“Relax,” Aegir said, bringing his face close to my ear. “I took it back.”
Thank the gods.
After another head-jerking nod, he said, “If you need to sleep, you can just lean back.”
“No, I’m all right,” I replied, eyes blinking. But I lost the battle once more when my head lolled. I startled myself awake. Then Aegir’s arm tightened around my waist and he leaned forward, grabbing hold of my leg with his other hand.
“You know, I’m surprised your last name isn’t Stonehead,” he grumbled as he lifted my leg. In one swift swoop, I was turned sideways. I instinctively reached out and wrapped my arms around his neck, but his arm was already at my back, holding me in place.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my words slightly sharp with a hint of confusion.
“You’re riding side-saddle,” he ordered.
“I was riding just fine.”
I expected him to argue something back, but instead, he tightened his hold on my waist and forced me to lean my side against his chest. I made it a point not to sleep in protest, but failed miserably.
I surrendered my whole self the second I rested my head against him—the moment his powers hummed against my ear, caressing me to dreamland.
When I opened my eyes, I found my face buried in the space between his neck and shoulder, my fist tightly gripping the shirt I had mended a few days ago.
My other hand was laced on top of his, wrapped securely around my waist. I immediately placed both arms on my lap and lifted my head.
“How long was I out?” I asked, rubbing my face.
“About two hours.”
Oh.
I shifted my weight and lifted my leg over the horse’s back, returning to my earlier position.
Except this time, I didn’t bother with the whole leaning-forward-air-barrier thing.
Instead, I nestled my back against his chest as if he were a personal comfortable sofa and not a prince.
Our fingers touched when he slid the compass back into my hands, causing my stomach to flutter.
I wondered if he felt that little quiver, as his other arm was still wrapped around my waist. He never removed it.
I was about to enter my tent when Aegir approached.
“You’re safe with us. Don’t let worry ruin your sleep.”
I nodded, giving him a small smile. It wasn’t just worry that kept me awake, Lord Hailin. If he knew the thoughts I had about him…
“Good night, Cordelia,” he said, moving towards his tent, which was set beside mine.
“Good night, Lord Hailin.”
He turned my way. “Are you planning on calling me Lord Hailin forever?”
“What else should I call you?”
“Well, Aegir, of course. Sounds less barbaric than merciless brute, don’t you think?”
I blushed, giving him a sheepish smile as I remembered how I had snapped at him, but never regretted doing it. Then I said softly, “Good night, Lord Aegir.”
I heard that snort.
Watching the castle from afar gave me mixed feelings.
A plethora of inconsistent emotions consumed me as we drew nearer and nearer. I couldn’t wait to see Cinnamon. Nadya and Sabi, too. But I was definitely not looking forward to stale crumbs, Mounir’s wrath, laundry duty, and long days of hunger and backache.
“Lord Aegir?”
His chin grazed my shoulder, and I resisted the urge to turn my face his way. Our lips would have been so close then. “Mmhmm?”
“If I enter the castle now, I won’t be able to see Cinnamon until tomorrow morning.”
“Then we’ll go to her first.”
I let out a shuddering exhale. “Thank you.”
As soon as we made it through the castle gates and into the northeast wing, I saw Sabriela running down the stairs. She waved at us. “Delia!”
I grinned, waving back. Aegir helped me dismount, this time with no hand-gripping tricks.
My organs were squeezed beneath Sabi’s arms. I hugged her back, but only briefly. I grabbed hold of her shoulders and said, “You shouldn’t be out here, you’ll get in trouble.” Aegir left our side and moved towards the carriage, near Joel and Georgious.
“Mounir just entered a meeting with King Belzari. I heard that your horses approached, so I came running.”
That’s great. Mounir will be out of sight for now.
“Come, I have something for you.” I untied my bag and took out one of the candies.
She gasped with excitement, then asked, brow creased, “What is it?”
“They’re called bones of surprise.” She giggled when I explained the eating instructions.
“Thank you, Delia! Thank you!”
“You’re welcome. Now go, before anyone sees you.” She hid the candy in her dress pocket and rushed back inside.
Aegir approached and I shouldered my bag.
I nodded at him. As we were about to leave, another carriage made its way around the corner and stopped closer to the castle gates.
Nadya came out of the carriage first. Her arms weren’t long enough for the number of bags she was struggling to carry.
Then the three of them gracefully exited, one after the other.
Three servants were already by the carriage door with parasols in hand, to protect their perfect skin from the harsh rays of the sun.
They lifted their fine dresses and sauntered towards the castle, each shadowed by a trailing servant.
The gesture made me look at my own blotted hem.
“Who are they?” Aegir asked.
“Those are the Belzari princesses. The three daughters of Lady Nadania. I’m sure you’ve heard of them by now.” I left out certain details. Like how desired they were, famous for their perfection. Princess Maryam, especially.
“Hmm.” Aegir looked my way and asked, “Shall we go?”
“I hope she’s all right,” I said for the hundredth time.
“I’m sure she is.”
“I hope she’s not mad at me for leaving her alone for so long.”
“I’m sure she’ll forgive you.”
“I hope she doesn’t think that—” Confusion took over when the paddock came into view.
“What’s—what’s that? Is that…another fence?
” My steps hurried. Aegir followed. “Wait. The paddock…it—it’s connected to the stable now.
” That eliminated the need for me to confine Cinnamon in her stall all day.
She could go for walks in the paddock as she pleased.
“How?” I managed to choke out.
Aegir shrugged. “Mmm, I have my ways.”
My pace turned into a run when I glimpsed Cinnamon’s head popping out of the stable’s entrance. Then my heart melted when she neighed at me as she moved out of the doorway.
Oh! She was fine. She was alive, and she was…happy to see me!
I leapt onto her, wrapped my arms around her neck, and squeezed my eyes shut. She nickered at my hug. “I missed you, too.”
Then she snorted and sniffed at my backpack. I moved her inside. “I see you’re still the little piggy. Calm down, I’ll give you one, don’t wo—” I gaped at what I beheld. “What in the gods’ names?” I mumbled.
Three bales of hay hung by sturdy ropes from the wooden beams. They floated midair.
That forced Cinnamon to work for her food.
And the troughs were all filled to the brim.
The valve leaked a thin stream of water, slowly but constantly filling one of the troughs.
I went to close the valve but halted midway.
My eyes prickled…because at the far end, the bale cage… was full.
The bale cage is full.
“Replenished bales, as promised,” Aegir said from behind me. “I would say my end of the bargain was fairly met, wouldn’t you?”
Tears streamed down my face, yet I still managed to find the courage to turn around, to face him. “How?” I breathed. Aegir brought his arm forward, as if to catch my tears, but pulled away just as my heart quickened.
He cleared his throat. “As I said, I have my ways.”
I looked at Cinnamon, an excuse to break our gaze. She lay down in her favourite spot, and I knelt near her, wrapping my arms around her neck once more. “Do you see that? That’s all for you,” I whispered to my mare, my forehead resting on hers.
I wiped my tears and rose to my feet, taking a few steps towards Aegir. “How? How did you know?” My voice was soft yet full of demand.
“Well, I was sure that if you had to bargain for something, you would bargain for her.”
“But, you—you did all of this before we left, which was early morning…you did this—” At night, I was going to say, but he did not let me finish.
“Or maybe it was just a lucky guess. If you had bargained for something else, you would have ended up with more, you know?”
I stared at him. “I wouldn’t have bargained for anything else. Thank you.” And I meant it.
“I’ll leave you two to catch up,” he said, turning to leave.
“Aegir, wait!” He halted.
I rummaged through my bag, then let it drop to the floor.
“Here, pick one,” I said, two bones in hand.
“What’s this?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at it and bringing it closer to his face. His nostrils flared.
“Don’t,” I blurted, moving his arm away from his face. “That’s cheating.” He turned his puzzled gaze towards me.
“They’re called bones of surprise,” I told him. “You have to bite it first, then drink the surprise fruity liquid, and then guess the flavour. Then you chew on the rest.”
Aegir snorted, shaking his head, lips curled upward.
“Are you ready?” I asked.
“I’m ready.”
A small giggle escaped my mouth, and I asked him, “What’s your flavour?”
“Grape. What’s yours?”
“Apple,” I said, with gleaming eyes. But then my smile faltered. “You knew that already.” My tone came out hushed.
“Can’t we pretend I didn’t?” he murmured.
I lifted my eyes, giving him a soft smile. I nodded. “We’ll pretend, then.”
Our munching drew Cinnamon’s attention and she moved our way, nostrils widened.
I fetched one of the two remaining bones and handed it to Aegir, gesturing towards Cinnamon.
He placed the bone on his palm and offered it to her.
She nickered, ever so curious, then grabbed the bone between her teeth and bit down.
Liquid gushed all over Aegir’s palm, but he quickly froze it, forming a palmful of flavoured ice.
Cinnamon snorted with excitement—just like those many children from the market—and gave his hand a good lick.
“What flavour is it?” I asked.
“It’s also apple.”
I grinned. “She loves apples.”
That night, as I lay in bed with a smile spread across my face, I realised that when Aegir used his powers a mere inch away from Cinnamon’s face, I wasn’t afraid…I wasn’t afraid at all.