Chapter 26 #2
“Unless you get food poisoning,” I muttered and smiled when I caught Inanov smirk, trying to hide his laugh.
I didn't have to listen to him, but he was right.
I put a spoonful of what must have been rooster into my mouth and swallowed.
I nearly choked at the taste but it was indeed edible, the soup was getting cold so I began to eat it a bit faster.
The sooner I finished it, the sooner the torture of tasting it will be over.
"For a royal guard, I would have expected you to eat only the best kind of food offered. " I smiled.
Inanov gave a weak smile back and quietly answered, "I was not always a royal guard." I looked at him to continue but he just kept eating. I could tell he did not want to share more to the conversation, so I looked back down into my bowl.
"The prince... is he okay?" I asked while simultaneously sipping on the soup.
Inanov's eyes met mine briefly before answering.
"The prince wants to protect his people and those who will be under his rule one day.
And when he can't, it eats him from the inside out," Inanov whispered and looked up the stairs.
The admission about the prince made him sound more humane and oddly, I could somehow relate to his demise.
His voice went quieter. "The enemy that's killing Apollon soldiers, the women that are dying by the plague here, the meeting with the lord tomorrow, those are all problems he needs to solve. "
"What about the women dying and the lord's meeting does he want to solve?" Curiosity peaked in me.
"If he gets the land, Apollo will be responsible for the welfare of the people in Litara." Inanov had finished his soup.
"And the lord's meeting?" I peeked up at Inanov's face beneath his hood.
"He needs the lord to swear fealty to Apollo, but he has been declining any form of communication for many years. There's a chance he will not budge on this deal; no matter what Apollo offers."
"Even for the chance of saving the women in his land," I added.
"Something tells me it might not sway him, but that is something we shall see tomorrow." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and rose from his chair. "I will take watch for tonight. You should get some sleep." Inanov's face was hard, no proof of exhaustion there.
"I can do it—"
"No, you will be needed fully rested for tomorrow.
" Inanov left no room for discussion as he ascended the stairs.
This left me alone, in the creepy dim lit inn.
I was nearly relieved that Inanov offered to take watch.
My bones ached and my armour, and inners needed to be stripped off to dry.
So I finished the stew and did as Inanov said.
***
Inanov sat watch on the right end of the sticky wooden hallway sharpening his sword.
Without looking at me, he pointed at the door to my left.
I twisted the doorknob and entered, immediately braced with warmth.
I sighed in relief that there was a fireplace at the end of the room.
My sigh got stuck in my throat when I found a shirtless prince on one of the twin beds placed in the tiny room.
His eyes were closed, his arms behind his head.
His skin looked golden in the light of the fire, his abs and muscles taut and stretched. "What are you doing in my room?"
The prince popped an eye open. "Our room, wife," he responded.
"What?" I snapped.
"Remember, the innkeeper gave us a room to share because we are married. It is custom for most married couples to sleep in the same room " He closed his eyes and then continued to rest.
Annoyance grew inside me. "I know that," I snapped. The prince chuckled lightly. The sound as lovely as he looked. His pearl white hair glowing from the fire hearth.
A Prince of Light.
"You are shirtless." I looked away.
"Indeed. My clothes needed to dry. I usually sleep in much less, but unfortunately for you, just the shirt off shall do," he spoke thoughtfully, it almost sounded teasing.
"What a saint," I muttered, my eyes glancing back and forth onto him.
"Do you like what you see, warrior?" the prince asked, his eyes still closed. My cheeks heated intensely, and I roughly turned away from him.
"NO." I bit out and looked at the twin bed that was only a few steps away from him. This could have been worse, we could have potentially shared a bed, but thank Nocturna, there were two in the room. To this, I will be eternally grateful.
"The innkeeper wants you to see her. She took pity on you when she noticed you were soaked to the brim.
She wants to offer you something to sleep in while your clothes dry," the prince said.
"Lucky for you, there won't be a need for you to sleep naked.
.. tonight." There was a smile in his voice that made me scowl.
"In your dreams." I scoffed and immediately opened the door behind me, stepping into the chilled air of the hallway where Inanov was still sharpening his knife.
"A man can only dream." Is what I heard from the prince before I could slam the door shut.
Inanov smirked yet didn't look at me. "Surprise?"
I lifted up a special finger. He didn't look up to see it, but from his choked laugh I knew that he did.
I spiralled down the steps to find the innkeeper.
And that was when I heard hushed voices.
I stilled my breathing and leaned lightly against the thin creaky wall that stood between us.
I moved the slightest bit, to see what lay ahead.
A man... and Agatha.
"She is not going to make it through the night," the man's concerned voice said.
"I fear the same, George. You have to take her to him," she whispered quieter. The man reeled back, his eyes wide.
"You know what he will do to her, what the cost is," he harshly spoke.
"It's either that, or we will have to bury our own daughter.
" Agatha's face was strong, but tears shone in them. This, George, was the innkeeper’s husband.
I looked down at what he held in his arms. A frail girl held close to his chest, her chestnut hair lying limp in a loose braid, her skin so pale and lips so blue.
She looked around my age but with her sunken cheeks and petite frame, it was hard to tell.
She looked a breath away from death.
The shadows within me swarmed in my chest, screaming to get out. I grit my teeth to control the demons that haunted me. There was something about that girl and this village that felt like it was—
Rotting.
"You know what happens to the girls taken to him," he said angrily this time.
"I know. I know! Keep your voice down. We have guests—we can't lose our daughter, George.
You must go to him now before it's too late.
" She pushed him towards the doors at the entrance.
George's shoulders shook uncontrollably.
He was crying. My heart broke for him, my confusion only grew about what was currently going on and who this him actually was.
Where were they taking this girl to? I followed until Agatha turned around sharply and my breathing stopped.
"You. What are you doing here?" she snapped and hastily wiped the angry tears off her face. I searched my mind for something, feeling like a deer caught by an arrow.
"My husband—he said to come see you for some clothes." I nearly cringed at how stuttered my words had come out.
"Ah, yes. As requested. Follow me," she said stiffly, walking towards the kitchen.
"My husband requested it?" I asked.
"Yes, he did. Didn't want you to sleep in those wet clothes. Dunno what use it will be. The way he looks at you—it's likely he will be taking this right off you anyways." She handed me a soft cotton nightdress. My cheeks flamed hot red.
The prince asked for it...
No, the innkeeper didn't know anything about him.
Of who he really is... of what he actually feels.
"Ah, newlyweds. That blush will still be found.
Come now, dress into it. I am almost certain it fits, but if it does not, I will need to find something else.
" Agatha turned and began folding clothes in the corner of the room.
I bit my cheek, my heart was thumping as I began to change carefully, making sure to wrap my brown cloak over the Apollon signatures of the armour and clothes I had worn, making sure the armour made no sound.
I lifted the nightdress over me. It was soft, comfortable and reached just above my knees.
My fingers touched the lace hem of the sleeve around my wrist.
"Thank you," I said softly.
"It fits well then?" she asked.
"Yes. It does," I answered. She waved a hand in dismissal.
"Are you okay?" I sincerely asked. Agatha's shoulders froze and then continued what she was working with, ignoring me. I took that as my sign to leave and made my way back up the steps to see Inanov now sharpening his daggers.
"Goodnight," I said.
A nod was what he gave before continuing his onslaught against the metal.
Entering the room, the prince spoke, "I was beginning to worry you were taking watch instead of Inanov—" His voice had died down when he looked at me.
I controlled the heat that crept up my neck and my thundering heart while keeping my clothes over to dry near the fire hearth.
The prince stared at me. Not making it look the least bit unintentional.
I decided to throw his words back at him, hoping to catch him off guard. "Like what you see, Prince?"
"Yes," he answered immediately.
I scowled. "You aren't supposed to." I was heating up in all places.
"It's hard not to," he answered and watched me move into the bed opposite him.
"Go to sleep, Your Highness. Or, for your own health, I will knock you out to ensure you sleep," I threatened jokingly, and almost not so jokingly.