Chapter 17 #2
Leander had never spoken to Jarryn like this, without a biting edge or a barb aimed at his pride.
Nor had Jarryn in return, come to think of it.
Even in Green Tryst, where they had worked to get along under the watchful eye of Lucien, Leander had felt some displeasure from Jarryn. There was no such emotion now.
For a moment, a mere second, Leander debated entering the prince’s thoughts. The barrier around his mind was weak. He could do it. But he thought better of it… he didn’t want to break the fragile truce between them with his thoughtless actions.
“Maybe you’re right,” Jarryn said finally, his voice low. “But I’d hate to think you’re enjoying this.”
With his concern for Jarryn’s wellbeing now abating, a smile tugged at Leander’s lips, small and unexpected. “Yes. Well. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find some satisfaction in seeing you humbled.”
Jarryn gave a huff of laughter, the first authentic moment of shared amusement between them since they had met. Maybe any pain Jarryn was experiencing right now was worth it, for this shared moment of genuine camaraderie. “Glad to not disappoint you, then.”
“Oh, Your Highness, you are many things… but a disappointment has never been one of them.”
Jarryn looked up rapidly and Leander could sense the confusion and mistrust radiating off him. It seemed Jarryn realised this and, with some concentration, Leander watched in his mind’s eye as Jarryn erected new barriers around his psyche. That was a little disappointing. But he made no comment.
“Are you up for trying to stand again?” Leander asked quietly.
Jarryn thought for a moment, then nodded. Steeling himself, with one hand holding his ribcage, he reached out towards Leander with the other. Accepting Leander’s offered hand, Jarryn slowly worked his way to his feet.
“Well done, Your Highness,” Leander praised, though there was a slightly teasing quality to his voice. “Now we have to climb the hill. ”
Staring up at it with determination, Jarryn took a step forward. “Let’s just get it over with.”
“I’m right beside you.”
“I know.”
They made slow, but steady progress. In reality, Leander was a step behind, not beside, but the semantics of the situation were not really questioned as Jarryn painstakingly climbed the steep, but mercifully dry, hill towards the waiting horses.
“When will the others come looking for you?” Leander mused aloud as they trudged upwards.
“When they have killed the hart. In the next few minutes… in the next few days. Who knows?” Jarryn responded through gritted teeth. Leander couldn’t feel his pain anymore, but he could hear it quite evidently in his voice.
“ Days ? But what if you had catastrophic injuries? Pierced a lung, hit your head, or worse? Surely?—”
“This is the way of hunts. Had I my own men join us on the hunt, their priority would have been me. But I don’t.”
Leander nodded, silently questioning why Jarryn thought it a good idea to join such a dangerous pursuit without the protection of his own retinue of soldiers. Reckless indeed.
“Fucksake,” Jarryn bit out, glancing up.
“We’re almost there, Jarryn,” Leander encouraged, placing his hand on Jarryn’s back and urging him on with a gentle push.
“I don’t think I can ride,” the prince finally admitted quietly.
Reaching the top of the slope, Leander took stock of their situation. He had no experience in the wilderness. He didn’t even have a sense of which direction would lead them back to the safety of Saeren.
Jarryn needed to be inspected by a physician, and soon. Leander hesitated, turning in circles as if that would give him a clue as to which way to go.
After his second rotation, he caught Jarryn’s gaze. The prince’s blue eyes were sparkling with mirth. “Lost, are we?” he mocked.
Scowling, Leander nodded once.
Jarryn pointed with his free hand westwards. “That way,” he said with a smile.
“Right. Thanks.” Leander stepped over to take the reins of both horses, patting his palfrey affectionately and praising her for staying put, before turning to Jarryn. “Are you okay to walk?”
“Can we take a moment to breathe first?” Jarryn was already sitting himself down gingerly, his breathing heavier than it should have been.
Leander released his hold on the horses and was immediately at Jarryn’s side, helping him lower himself to the ground.
“Thank you.”
“Take as long as you need,” was all Leander said in reply. “We have… ah, a few hours before nightfall.”
“We’ll be out of here before then.” Jarryn indicated with a jerk of his head towards the grey clouds to the south. “We don’t want to be caught up in that.”
“Mhmm. I do so hate these springtime storms.”
A comfortable silence fell over them once again .
Jarryn groaned as he leaned, once again, heavily against another tree. “You’re getting a kick out of this, aren’t you?”
Leander smirked, kicking at a few fallen leaves on the ground. “I won’t deny it has its moments.”
Jarryn raised an eyebrow, wincing as he shifted his weight. But he, too, seemed keen to keep the conversation light, looking for a distraction from the pain. “Like now?”
“Especially now.”
Jarryn chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m starting to think you’re just as insufferable as I thought.”
“You should be so lucky,” Leander responded promptly.
Jarryn smiled before closing his eyes and leaning his head back to rest against the tree. “You have your virtues though.”
Leander’s smirk softened, a hint of surprise in his eyes. “Careful, Jarryn. That almost sounded like a compliment.”
“Almost,” Jarryn shot back, his smile fading as the pain in his side flared again. He clutched at it once more, moving his fingers in small, slow circles against his lower ribs as if trying to alleviate some of the pain. “But I don’t think you should get used to it any time soon.”
Leander took a step forward, offering his hand one final time for Jarryn to take so that they could be on the move again. Jarryn’s ribs would continue to hurt, and resting wasn’t the cure for that. “Come on, let’s get you back to the palace before you end up doing more damage to yourself.”
Jarryn hesitated before accepting the help, gripping Leander’s forearm. “You know, for someone who has spent so much time listening to my vitriol, you’re pretty good at acting concerned about my wellbeing. ”
Leander shrugged as he grabbed at the horses’ reins again and the two of them started walking slowly in the direction Jarryn had originally pointed. “It’s not personal. Just doing my duty.”
“Right,” Jarryn said, glancing at him sideways. “You must be so good at lying, I might start to think you actually care.”
Leander’s eyes flicked to Jarryn, his face unreadable for a moment before he looked away. “Don’t push your luck, Your Highness.”
Jarryn laughed, despite the pain. “Fair enough.”
“We’ll get you back to your rooms and pamper you until you are well enough to throw barbs at me again. Then all will be right with the world once more.”
Jarryn didn’t respond immediately, but Leander did not miss the way his head turned and his piercing blue eyes examined the demigod. “Maybe we’ve moved past that… Leo.”