Chapter 12
By the next sunset, we’d broken down camp in a hurry. Even Jama helped, and I was relieved to see that she understood that traveling with us meant taking on some responsibilities as well.
I turned my head slightly as she sauntered over, holding the bag she got from Ireas yesterday and a bundle of cloth in her hands.
“Here, your tunic and pants. Thanks again.”
I scanned her from head to toe, my head canted to the side.
She wore a simple riding dress in a shade of dark red, which complimented her eyes, and her blonde hair was pulled back in a pleated braid that swung mesmerizingly from side to side with every step she took.
The brown leather boots on her feet were new.
All in all, she looked a lot less conspicuous than before, which was good.
Still, I preferred her in black. At least she’d kept my cloak, which she wrapped around herself during my head-to-toe inspection of her.
“You’re welcome. Now, come on the horse with you.”
“Will it ever go away? Being sore from sitting on horseback?”
“Once you get used to it, yes. Maybe Ireas has some balm to help with your sore muscles. You can ask him later.”
My horse started to move, and I steered us on the narrow pathway through the forest. Antas had already left the camp a little while ago to scout, and the rest of us would stay close to each other.
We planned to avoid all the main roads until we’d arrive at the border.
It would be harder to see a potential ambush in time, but we’d be too exposed sticking to the major streets.
Someone could recognize Jama, and we had to avoid that as long as possible, according to Fig, who’d decreed stealth was the weapon of choice—his choice, obviously, not mine.
But well, he and the others agreed that her biggest advantage was that no one knew she was traveling in the company of five males.
“Is this the first time you’ve left Credenta?” I asked her out of the blue. It was the first time I’d actually tried to make small talk with her, but if we’d be stuck together for weeks to come, the least I could do was try to be civil with her. And maybe I’d finally get my temper under control.
“Apart from visiting my aunt in Tramin, a tiny village two hours outside of Credenta, yes. If the circumstances weren’t so bad, I’d be excited to see more of the world.”
“Ah, come on, I know you had a rough couple of days, but it isn’t that bad anymore, is it? Which woman doesn’t dream of being protected by a couple of capable males?”
When Jama giggled with infectious amusement, I was astonished at how much I enjoyed her laughter, especially since I was the one who’d coaxed the sound out of her. It motivated me to try doing it more frequently.
“That’s all well and good, but I’d prefer to be able to protect myself.” Her mirth had died down much too quickly, and a hard edge colored her voice.
“Do you have any experience in fighting with weapons? Or hand-to-hand combat?” Maybe I could build on whatever expertise she had and teach her further. But who was I kidding? I didn’t have the highest hopes to receive a positive answer, if I was honest.
“Well, the last time I tried to wound a man with a dagger, I accidentally killed him. That’s how skilled I am with weapons.” She sounded bitter, and I hated it.
From all I’d gathered, she’d grown up sheltered, and after all the shit she’d had to endure in the last few days, she wasn’t even grieving properly.
To criticize her would be like the pot calling the kettle black, and so I resisted the temptation to throw a serious barb her way.
“At least you didn’t hurt yourself. That’s a start, don’t you think? ”
“Very funny.”
“Let me tell you what, Jama. As soon as we’ve put enough distance between us and your old hometown—maybe after leaving Iolesia—I’ll teach you a few basics.
We’ll find out what weapon you respond best to and get you to a level where you can at least defend yourself.
” I understood her wish to master basic self-defense, although I had no illusions about how long it would take to reach that point.
I hadn’t changed my mind, I still wanted to keep my distance from this woman as much as possible, but I’d do her this favor.
“You’ll teach me?”
“Yes. Even though, as long as you’re with me, you’ll never be in a situation where you have to defend yourself on your own.
That’s my job now.” Did that just come out of my mouth?
Pressing my lips together and fighting hard to keep my inner defenses strong, I got instantly distracted by a warm smile appearing on her face and a light chuckle vibrating through her tiny frame.
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
Had I thought that I was coveting her laughter? Past me was a fool—her bright smile was even better. I wanted to see it more often, but—I couldn’t allow her to know. So I just shrugged with indifference, as if I cared about nothing at all. “You’re welcome.”
“Where are you from? You said you’ve been traveling through Ivreia for a long time, but where’s your home?”
“The capital.” Of course, she felt encouraged to ask questions now that I’d been friendly to her. Aside from being tiny, she was inquisitive and full of curiosity, traits I’d always despised, but somehow, with her, I didn’t mind it too much anymore—not that I could let her know.
“Which one?”
“Where the king lives.”
“Oh, you’re from Ivreiana?” Her voice was laced with excitement. “Have you ever seen King Pritatus?”
“Yes, I have. But I don’t really care. Does it matter if you’re born a king or a peasant? In the end, we all bleed red.”
“It does matter. Your status determines what kind of cage you’re in. As king, Pritatus has the power to do whatever he wants, something a peasant could never achieve.” Jama was still turned in my direction, and she drew her eyebrows together until they were only separated by a deep crease.
“I don’t see it that way. Isn’t responsibility just as much of a prison as being under someone’s absolute rule?
The peasant can do whatever they want to do, limited by fortune and societal acceptance, of course, but in a way, they’re free, something a king will never be. Or rather, should never be.”
“What do you mean?”
“When a ruler starts to value their personal motivation more than their duty toward their country and people, things become dangerous. The people suffer as decrees profit only the person issuing them and no one else—apart from perhaps a select few who have perfected the art of brown-nosing—which often enough leads to war. History has proven this time and time again.” Pondering, I tightened my arms around Nayana.
“A noble king sacrifices his own agenda for the benefit of all, while a selfish king sacrifices everyone for his personal gain.”
“That sounds weirdly logical. Is there indeed a brain under all that brawn, Dion? Who could have known?”
Even though I knew Nayana was teasing me, I preened myself on her compliment. “See, I have everything. Brain, beauty, power—”
“And an over-inflated ego,” Nayana chuckled, and I fought against the silly compulsion to stick my tongue out at her.
Talking to Dion was easy once we got used to each other, much to my surprise.
Teasing him was weirdly fun, especially when he wasn’t acting like a total asshole.
I’d been surprised to find out that he could take as much as he dished out, at least when his mood wasn’t at its default setting—dark and brooding.
“You think I’ve got a big ego?” Dion’s chest vibrated against my back as he growled.
“The only thing bigger than your ego is your temper. That knows no bounds.”
“And yet—” Dion leaned closer to me. While he’d tried to keep a minimum of physical distance in the beginning, he must have realized that riding on one horse with two people and having only limited points of contact was pretty much an impossible endeavor.
His breath tickled the shell of my ear as he purred in a sultry voice, “I have one feature that’s even bigger than my temper. ”
My eyes widened on their own accord as I registered—a heartbeat too late—what he meant by the suggestive play on words, and blood rushed to my cheeks. It was alarming how flustered I suddenly sounded. “Keep your lewd comments to yourself.”
Dion chuckled into my ear. “Not if it embarrasses you like that. You should see yourself. Haven’t seen something more mortified in winters.”
As he shifted in the saddle, something solid pushed into my shoulder, and my eyes widened, my heart skipped a beat as my cheeks turned aglow because I realized Dion was biting me—playfully, but still!
I could feel it through the fabric of my garments!
Unbelievable! Dion was biting me! The audacity!
In an instant, my body tensed as a bolt of lightning raced down my spine, and my breath hitched.
His bite didn’t hurt—there was enough fabric between his teeth and my shoulder, and I could tell he didn’t use much force—but how did he dare to nibble at me? “What in the gods’ good names, Dion?”
He let go of me and laughed. “You lose your composure easily, don’t you?”
The infuriating man was more than just smug, and I buried the urge to smack him.
Forcing myself to keep my eyes straight ahead, I did my best to avoid facing Dion before he noticed how much his action had thrown me off.
I mean, it was nice to see him having a playful side, but this was outside of everything I’d experienced with anyone before.
My skin still throbbed, and warmth radiated in waves from the spot where he’d bitten me.
“You’re like a feral beast hidden in human skin. ”
“And you’d better never forget that, Jama,” Dion purred.