Chapter 20
H unched over with my warm, purple and gold quilt around me, I made a scene, clutching a teacup from Elisabeth as she escorted me back to the main hallway of the palace.
“Call me immediately if you begin to develop a fever,” Elisabeth said, loudly enough for all to hear. Adjusting my quilt, she patted my arm and gazed lovingly into my eyes. A moment later, she turned and disappeared down the hall.
Coughing and sniffling, I shuffled my feet slowly.
“Princess.” Fredrich’s boisterous voice echoed down the hallway, already grating on my nerves.
It took all my willpower not to flinch, but this had to be done. I knew he’d be the nosiest and would spread the word of my “sickness” the fastest.
I timed this orchestrated fake parade perfectly, with his daily walk amongst the castle halls after breakfast. A walk most other contenders tried to avoid, as they found him as insufferable as I did.
“You’re ill?” he questioned, trying to establish where Elisabeth had disappeared down the hallway. “How is your healer unable to assist you?”
I wiped an imaginary bead of sweat from my brow. “I would never waste our healer’s time with something as insignificant as a few aches and a cough. She has far more important things to tend to than a simple cold. It’s nothing a few days in bed can’t fix.”
“How noble of you, Princess,” Kade said, sauntering over from his perch atop the stairs. If I so much as glanced at him, I’d likely ruin the ruse. “May I help you back to your room?”
“There’s no need to make a fuss.” I shifted, standing taller and grasping my quilt in one hand while I balanced the tea in another. “Don’t you gentlemen have things you could attend to while waiting for the next trial? It seems like the perfect opportunity to get to know others from around Brookmere and improve our overall relations. Trade agreements would be most logical while in person, if I do say so myself.”
“Of course, Princess. What a fine idea. Even if you did get the idea from me.” Fredrich touched the tip of my nose with a finger. “I see my words have value to you.”
I may actually be sick if he continued babbling on.
“Well, if you'll excuse me, I’m just going to lie down and rest for the remainder of the day. I look forward to seeing you both once I am well. Good day.” With a quick bow of my head, I slowly hobbled down the remainder of the corridor, pausing to clutch my quilt tighter as I climbed the stairs to my chamber.
The act was complete. I made it to my chambers, closed the door, and laughed to myself at how easily Frederich had bought our tale. With a sense of purpose, I quickly changed into my Hidden Henchman ensemble, clasping the cloak around my shoulders. I kept my mask tucked away in the inner pocket of my cloak. I wouldn’t need the cloak or the mask for the entirety of our journey, but until we snuck out of Ellevail and were on the open road, I needed to be unrecognizable.
For a moment, I took in the roses left on the mantel above my hearth. The range of colors were so exquisite. It reminded me how grateful I should be to live in a world where such elegance existed. While I couldn’t contribute to the prosperity of our kingdom in any magical sort of way, I knew discovering information about the darkness was something I could do. Something I didn't need magic in order to accomplish.
The chime of the clock struck nine a.m. Where were they?
Anxiously, I peeked around the curtain, through the window, into my private garden. Empty.
Trying to keep myself occupied, I fluffed the pillows on my bed to make it appear like I was lying there, asleep. I adjusted the sleeve of the nightgown, filled with towels, draped across my sheet. My “hand” landed underneath the mountain of pillows, invisible to anyone from afar. Kalliah would be at my bedside to ward off any unwanted intruders who made it through Elisabeth’s warnings to let me rest.
Kalliah whispered “Hello” as she opened and closed the main doors, before she entered the room. Slowly, she exhaled a breath the way she always did to calm her nerves and nodded. “Good luck.”
“Thank you, my friend,” I said sincerely, holding my hand to my heart. “I owe you.”
A caw sounded from the garden.
The time had come.
Kalliah and I stared at each other a moment longer, before running toward each other, our embrace saying all the words which would go unsaid. I hadn’t been away from the palace overnight since childhood. Which meant, I hadn’t been away from her, either.
Pausing at the balcony doors, I glanced back into Kalliah’s eyes once more, giving her a reassuring smile as I readied myself for the journey ahead.
“Be careful,” Kalliah whispered as I quietly slipped through the doors, quickly leaping down the steps to my hidden alcove. I could not be seen by any of the passing guards, or the ruse would be for naught.
Ian’s hawk form landed in the garden and his Fae form appeared before me, his eyes the last part to shift. While I had witnessed his transformation a thousand times, it still fascinated me. When his eyes were in the form of his hawk, it seemed as if he could see into the depths of my soul, reaching parts of me I didn't even know existed.
“Is Kalliah in place?” he asked.
“Yes, she’s in the room, the bed is made up,” I replied. “Elisabeth is going to be around in about an hour to declare my fever has spiked and I am to be left alone until it is broken.”
“Are you sure you want to go through with this? Sneaking away at night is one thing, but leaving for two and a half days? What if your parents come looking for you? The likelihood this will work is slim.” Ian’s voice rose slightly higher with each question. He seemed more anxious than usual.
“It has to work. We have to find out what is going on with the darkness.” I made sure to steady myself before we left. This was the right thing to do. I could feel it. “I can no longer wait for my father to provide me with information. It’s clear he is not going to tell me anything, and the longer we let this go, the worse it might get. No more doubting, Ian. Let's go!”
I grabbed him by the hand and dragged him through the hedgerow toward the concealed exit beyond.
Hunched behind gloriously large hydrangea bushes, I murmured, “Where is everyone else?”
“Kade and Storm are meeting us at the edge of Eomer Forest. I didn’t want them to know about our getaway tunnels. Leif and Corbin are staged on the main street, per their usual route. We will meet them at the edge of the forest once they’re through.”
“Smart. While they have earned some of our trust, they don’t need to know all of our secrets just yet.”
Ian snorted. “Right, and it would only be an additional nuance for you and Kade to argue about.”
I pinched Ian’s arm, but he didn’t react.
Know-it-all.
A few beats more, and the Royal Guard on duty rounded the corner, signaling our window to escape had begun.
Quickly, we ran the route we knew so well. The route which led to the reason I persevered without magic. The route which helped so many people of Brookmere. The route which led to freedom.
While I’d been to the forest for Hidden Henchman duties plenty of times, something about this journey made freedom seem so different. As soon as the grate opened and we made it past the wall, I ran, allowing the wind to sail over me, kissing my skin and encouraging a smile.
In fact, I didn’t stop running until I jumped over a fallen tree into the woods of the forest. Ian kept pace but gave me space to enjoy myself.
He didn’t say a word. I flung my arms out, basking in the morning scent of fresh air that filled my soul with determination.
When I opened my eyes again, Ian watched, a faint smile on his face. “Ready?”
I nodded, excitedly following behind as he led the way toward Kade and Storm.
As Ian and I broke through the clearing where we’d first met, a slow clap reverberated throughout the space.
“Bravo on the sick performance,” Kade praised. “Fredrich told everyone who would listen, that once again, there’d be no time with the princess.”
I bowed at the waist, obnoxiously low.
Ian rolled his eyes, nudging me toward the horse Storm held by the reins, as he approached Kade. “Any problems?”
Kade shook his head. “Apparently, your guards couldn’t have cared less about our leaving with two horses in tow. They seemingly forgot we failed to return our two other horses from our early morning jaunt in town.”
The waiting horses grazed on a patch of grass as they waited patiently for our upcoming adventure.
“Contenders are free to come and go as they please,” Ian said gruffly, mounting his black stallion with ease. Adjusting himself on the saddle, I could practically see the wheels turning in his mind about the conversation. He took the comment as an insult about his ability to keep his kingdom safe.
“The others?” Storm asked, stroking the neck of his bridled mare. Her tail whipped in annoyance, ready to go. She had been prancing in place, eager to move.
“Meeting us closer to the drop and sticking to the main roads.” Ian clicked his tongue as he led his horse to the front of our group, driving us deeper into the forest.
The sweet notes of birds singing, calling back and forth to one another, a beautiful polyphony of melodies nestled amongst the leaves. The breeze felt warm, and the sun shone bright, peaking through the top of the tall trees in full bloom.
Perhaps nature would guide us on our journey these next few days, protecting us from whatever lurked in the darkness—in the corners we had yet to discover. Just to be safe, I said a quick prayer that we wouldn’t be disturbed by any dark ones this time around.
Kade steered his horse behind Ian’s left side, while Storm hung back with me as we rode quietly through the forest.
We rode in companionable silence, quiet for the first hour of our journey.
I glanced at the warrior to my right. His brown hair shifted as his body kept time with his steed. He had it pulled back like normal, half of it swept into a bun. The waviness to it made me jealous and I couldn’t help but grin. I could only achieve such a look after sitting for hours with Kalliah, wrapping my hair in long pieces of fabric. An agonizing process I avoided at all costs.
Storm’s eyes were serious, shifting around before us and taking everything in. His beard, though subtle, highlighted his sharp jaw—further complementing his bulking muscles, proudly protruding from his short-sleeved tunic. An inky black band wound around his bicep, curling down his forearm. It appeared to be a beautiful composition of flames and ribbons.
He cocked an eyebrow and glanced my way.
“What does that mark mean?” I asked, gesturing to his arm.
Storm stared forward, taking a deep breath. “It is tradition for warriors to receive them after their first kill. It reminds us even when justified, taking a life leaves a mark.”
I hadn’t been aware of any such customs in Brookmere, but I didn’t want to presume I knew each one of our village’s cultures intimately.
“It’s beautiful.” I didn’t know if it was the right thing to say, but Storm offered me a soft smile and nodded in thanks.
“What about the ones on your arm?” I directed my question at Kade, already knowing he listened in, regardless of whether I addressed him or not. His damn Fae hearing would have picked it up, anyway.
He peered over his shoulder. “If you want me shirtless, you need only ask, Your Highness.”
“Tits and daggers. You shirtless seems about as appealing as listening to Lord West talk about how great he is,” I bit back.
“There’s the foul-mouthed tavern princess I know and love,” Ian teased.
Kade stared, open mouthed at me. “Tavern princess? Well, a tavern princess would certainly enjoy me shirtless.”
My face heated. “You arrogant, conceited?—”
Storm huffed. “You two were made for each other.”
Ian attempted to cover his laughter with a mock-coughing fit that had me wishing I had something to throw at him. My stare would just have to bore holes into the back of his head instead.
“Something to say, Captain?” I added.
“There’s something in the air, I think,” Ian said as he wiped away a tear leaking from his eye.
Storm coughed next, waving his hand around. “Oh, yes, I feel it, too.”
Kade laughed so deeply, I stared, wide-eyed, as he threw his head back, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
I shifted my gaze forward, focusing on Ian’s back instead of the man beside me.
“I’ve never had Storm help me with my jokes, Captain,” Kade remarked. “Not in the fifteen years I’ve known him.”
Storm leaned toward me. “It’s because he’s the only one who finds his jokes humorous.”
The path we took through the forest was used frequently enough that the horses could easily navigate by themselves, with little direction. Without having to pay such close attention to what lay before me, my mind wandered into curious territories.
“How did you become friends with this one, Storm?” I asked. “He seems far more arrogant than you.”
Kade rotated his entire body, so he rode his horse backward. My mouth dropped as he called, “It’s only arrogance if the things I boast of are untrue.”
“This may shock you, Princess,” Storm chuckled, “he’s usually quieter. More docile.” He remained unbothered by the murderous glare Kade shot him as he righted himself on his saddle, huffing with disapproval.
“Far less social,” Storm continued. “Honestly he’s a bit of a grump when we’re home.”
“Are we talking about the same man?” I asked, jaw hanging open slightly once more. “The one who tried to flirt with me while pressing his sword to my throat during battle?”
“I merely matched the violent energy you were throwing my way, Little Rebel.” Kade’s voice was indignant, but if he turned around, I had a feeling there would be a playfulness to his gaze.
Storm shook his head as we rode. “Ellevail seems to have changed him in new ways. Including his idea of flirting. Though, he hasn’t done much of that since I’ve known him, either.”
I couldn’t help joining in on the laughter this time.
Kade turned his horse around, trotting in a semicircle. “I haven’t needed to resort to flirting. Especially not to show off in front of other Fae before.” Kade winked at me as he fell in step with his steed beside me. I closed my eyes at the intensity of the way the simple contact of his leg brushing mine caressed the inner parts of me.
“Perhaps Ian could give him some lessons,” I told Storm. “He has always managed to woo the eligible women of Brookmere. However, I wouldn’t expect such behavior amongst contenders for my hand,” I quipped. My mouth ran away on its own, from my proper princess demeanor, choosing to let out my inner lustful barmaid. She threatened to take over more times than I cared to admit. Usually, my non-proper side only appeared in the presence of Ian and Kalliah.
Something made me feel at ease now, and I realized I had to be careful. The walls I’d spent carefully constructing couldn’t disappear just because Kade Blackthorn had a sexy smile I couldn’t get out of my head.
Kade’s eyes widened in Ian’s direction, who had remained relatively quiet this trip, observing everyone interact and taking it all in. I knew Ian well. He analyzed every move and each step we took on the journey, always prepared for what may lie in wait.
He shrugged nonchalantly at the new attention and offered a sly smile in Kade’s direction. “Magic and swords may hurt like hell, but the company of a woman at night should always leave with a satisfying ending.”
“It appears I have underestimated you, Captain,” Kade said.
A branch snapped and our heads swiveled to the right. An orangish-red fox trotted along, unbothered by our intrusion into his home. The animal, normally protective, was usually content to ignore Fae. It sniffed the air in our direction before it turned, disappearing farther into the woods.
A few minutes went by before a calm returned to the forest once more.
“So, do you think this new version of Kade should get a chance at being King?” I asked Storm as he continued to meticulously survey our surroundings.
“Despite the fact that he’s behaving like an absolute prick at the moment, he doesn’t need to do anything to earn the title of ‘King’ in my eyes. He’s loyal and usually a damn good friend.” Storm’s voice seemed nonchalant, but the weight of his words wasn’t missed. I watched as he trained his gaze forward, not looking to gauge my reaction, or Kade’s for that matter.
“I pay him to sing my praises,” Kade whispered. “Don’t get any ideas, I'm not some knight in shining armor, ready to sweep you off your feet.”
Ian held up his hand. “If you all are done chattering, we’re two miles out from the drop site. I’d like to proceed without the extra banter.”
Storm trotted his horse up to Ian and gave him a curt nod.
I pursed my lips, obeying, and felt Kade’s presence lessen beside me as he dropped back. My palms were slick as I re-gripped the reins in my hand.
We’d yet to come out of a drop with no attacks, and we were almost to our destination.
In the distance a call sounded in the sky, one which mimicked Ian’s hawk.
My heart stuttered in my chest.
It was Leif. Or Corbin.
I just didn’t know what it meant yet.