Chapter 56
Warmth.
That was the very first thing I noticed.
Which was honestly impressive, considering what the previous evening had involved.
I stayed curled beneath the thick wool blanket for another blissful moment, letting the residual chill bleed out of my bones before reality slowly caught up with me.
...Right.
The kidnapping.
The river.
The inn.
I opened my eyes. Soft morning light streamed through the small window, bathing the room in pale gold. Dust floated lazily through the air, and somewhere downstairs, I could hear the faint, comforting clatter of dishes.
For one glorious second, everything felt normal.
Then I looked toward the window.
Lucien was still sitting in the wooden chair, his head tipped sideways against the wall, arms folded loosely across his chest. The spare blanket I'd thrown over him the previous night had slipped halfway down his shoulders.
Apparently, His Highness had lost his battle with consciousness after all.
I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips.
Congratulations. You successfully guarded the room for approximately... half a watch.
I quietly climbed out of bed and padded over to him. Up close, he looked even more exhausted than he had the night before. The bruise near his temple had darkened to a deep purple, and faint shadows rested beneath his eyes.
Poor idiot.
I gently nudged his shoulder. "...Lucien."
Nothing.
I nudged him again, a bit harder. "Your Highness."
Still nothing. He was completely out.
I sighed dramatically and leaned in closer. "...Breakfast."
His eyes flew open instantly. He sat up so abruptly I nearly jumped backward.
"...Where?" he demanded, looking around wildly.
I stared at him. "...Seriously?"
He blinked several times, rubbing his face as clarity slowly returned to him. "...I may have misheard."
"You absolutely misheard."
"I thought you said breakfast," he muttered, adjusting his posture with as much regal dignity as someone caught sleeping slumped in a wooden chair could manage.
"I did."
"..."
"..."
"You still woke up," I pointed out.
He cleared his throat, ignoring my smirk entirely. "...That is beside the point."
"No, I think that's exactly the point."
Before I could continue tormenting him, a gentle knock sounded at the door, followed by a voice calling out, "Morning."
Lucien was on his feet in an instant, his defensive instincts overriding his grogginess as he opened the door.
It was the old innkeeper, carrying a heavy wooden tray laden with two steaming bowls of porridge, a basket of fresh bread, and a small teapot. He looked between the two of us, taking in our disheveled states, and gave a single nod of approval.
"Much better," the old man said, setting the tray down on the small bedside table.
"Better?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You looked half-dead when you dragged yourselves in here last night," he chuckled, stepping back. "Now you only look severely sleep-deprived."
"I'll happily take the promotion," I said, eyeing the food.
"Eat while it's warm."
The innkeeper whose name we learnt was Albert offered us the breakfast and left.
He had also kindly left a pair of what looked like worn-out boots inside our room for me.
I'd lost mine, and he'd apparently noticed I'd walked into the inn barefoot.
People liked to believe grand gestures changed lives, but more often it was little things like this that restored your faith in people.
We ate in silence. The porridge wasn't particularly fancy, and the bread was coarse, but after surviving on river water, adrenaline, and pure panic... it tasted like a feast fit for royalty.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke. The silence wasn't awkward-just peaceful. A rare moment of quiet in a world that seemed determined to tear us apart.
Predictably, peace never seemed interested in staying around me for long.
Lucien set his spoon down, the quiet clatter breaking the stillness. "We should leave as soon as we've finished."
I nodded, swallowing my last bite of bread. "I was thinking the same thing. So... what's the plan? Where are we?"
He leaned back slightly, contemplating the room's woodwork. "This village lies within Viremont's western territory."
I blinked. "...How could you possibly know that?"
"The architecture," he said simply. "The specific timber framing, the steep pitch of the roof construction, the local stonework."
I stared at him deadpan.
"...What?" he asked.
"I've officially stopped questioning your brain," I sighed, shaking my head.
A faint, fleeting smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Regardless, our priority must be reaching Viremont. Once we hit the capital, we can report everything directly to the Magic Tower. And send word to Eryndor."
It wasn't a complicated plan, but after the chaotic blur of the last twenty-four hours, simple sounded wonderful.
Once we finished, we headed downstairs to return the tray and find Albert. We caught him in the quiet heat of the inn's kitchen, stoking the hearth fire.
Lucien approached him directly. "Albert... would you happen to know the quickest road to Viremont?"
Albert paused, his hands stilling over the iron poker. He didn't answer immediately. Instead, his expression shifted-just a subtle hardening around his eyes, but enough for both of us to tense up instantly.
"There is a way," Albert said carefully, lowering his voice. "But it's not the usual route."
Lucien frowned. "Why not?"
Albert glanced toward the front window facing the street before stepping closer.
"Because I don't think the main road is safe for either of you."
The air in the room instantly chilled.
"Three strangers came through just before dawn," Albert continued. "They weren't local folk. Armed, polite enough, but their eyes were sharp." He looked directly at us. "They were asking around... looking for a young woman with black hair and a blond young man."
Silence heavy as lead fell over the kitchen. My hands froze at my sides, my heart slamming against my ribs.
Lucien's posture shifted, his eyes narrowing into cold intensity. "What did you tell them?"
Albert snorted softly. "Told them no one matching that description had come through my door."
I let out a shaky breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "They believed you?"
"They didn't have much of a choice, though they searched the common room anyway," Albert shrugged, wiping his hands on a rag. "Asked a few more questions, then rode off. That's when I figured whatever trouble you two were running from... wasn't finished with you yet."
Well. There went my brief, beautiful fantasy that our kidnappers had given up and chosen a new career path.
"How do we avoid them?" Lucien asked, his voice clipped and focused.
"There's an old ferry about half a mile south," Albert explained, pointing vaguely toward the back door.
"Most traders don't bother with it anymore, but it operates until midday. Cross the river, then take the forest trail heading east. It'll eventually connect back up with the main eastern trade road, well past where they'd be watching. Keep heading east, and you'll reach Viremont."
Lucien inclined his head with deep respect. "You've helped us far more than we deserve."
Albert waved off the gratitude with a gruff gesture. "You've got enough to worry about."
Lucien hesitated, reaching instinctively for a coin pouch that wasn't there. "I'm afraid... we still have no coin to pay for the room or the food."
Albert looked genuinely offended. "Son. You two nearly drowned in my backyard. I'm not in the habit of charging half-frozen kids for basic shelter."
"Albert, please-"
"No." Albert folded his arms firmly, though his eyes softened. "If it bothers that noble pride of yours so much... come back another day. You can pay me then."
A genuine, warm smile broke through Lucien's tense expression. "...I think I'd like that."
Without another word, Albert grabbed a clean cloth from a side table and rapidly wrapped up a small loaf of fresh bread, a wedge of hard cheese, and two apples. He thrust the bundle straight into my hands.
"We can't-" I started.
"You can."
"Albert, really, we shouldn't-"
"You're going to need your strength," he cut in smoothly, pushing the bundle firmly into my grip before I could object again. "You can take the back exit."
I looked down at the warm bundle of food, then up at his weathered, kind face. "...Thank you. For everything."
Albert gave us a single, sharp nod. "Now hurry. Midday comes fast."