Chapter 30 Marked Ones
Chapter thirty
Marked Ones
Alaceandra
We have been in this village for, what I think is, two weeks now, but I cannot be sure.
It is hard to tell time here. Days feel like weeks and weeks feel like minutes.
The plan is to stay here until I can get ahold of my powers, but to try to figure out how to leave before the solstice.
Sam is afraid some of the monsters that attacked him will go after our group when we attempt to leave.
Since this village has a great training ground, he wants to utilize it until he thinks I am competent enough to be able to dodge attacks should something happen on our trek to find another portal.
Honestly, I am glad we are staying. This is the first place I have been where I have only had to work on myself and not worry about some broody monarch breathing down my throat. Well, not a king at least.
I roll over in my bed and groan. It is early morning and I have not even had a chance to eat breakfast. I already feel like I am ready for bed.
Staring in the mirror after a brutal training session with Sam, I take note of the bruises which have started to form from falling on my ass time and time again.
I am sore, tired and debating if sleep might be a better idea than food at the moment.
I could really use a nap, I think to myself, glancing at the bed longingly.
As hard as Sam is being on me, the results of his training speak volumes for its effectiveness.
My strength and agility are improving and there is the barest hint of muscle growth in my body.
I have also ended up beneath him a lot less.
A fact which I am not sure if I am happy about or disappointed in.
Time has caused the bruises around my neck to vanish along with Sam’s injuries and I am glad to be rid of the evidence of my encounter with that guard.
I wish I could say training with Sam is fun, but he has still been acting off and colder towards me lately.
I am trying not to badger him about it, but I miss him.
Even at his worst he has never been such a grouch with me.
His distance is concerning. I thought as I trained with him more, he would loosen up, but it has not proved the case.
I even got my dagger near his throat today, but nothing.
He disarmed me easily after the small success, so maybe I should not expect much in congratulations, but still, the old Sam would have beamed with pride at the achievement. I sigh.
I wish I could write to Philos. I think I might actually shock her with all I have been up to as of late.
I try to imagine what she would say. I smile.
She would probably encourage me to explore the men as much as I can but caution me to be safe.
She would remind me if my father caught wind and/or if I needed a safe place to land, she would always be there for me.
She would then probably make a joke that would be just funny enough to make me forget about the seriousness of the situation.
Tears sting at my eyes and I press them with my palms to stem them from falling. I really miss her.
A warm feeling fills my body, peace and contentment overwhelming my previous despair, when suddenly, Baldar is twining around my feet. He climbs me and nestles himself in my hair.
“You will not believe the portals I had to go through to get here!”
I jump, pulling him from my head and holding him close to my body. “Where have you been?” I whisper. Baldar has been gone since Sam walked off with him the second day we were here. I was starting to think I would never see him again.
“Everywhere!” he squeaks.
“What?” I look at Baldar dubiously, tears momentarily halted.
“You heard me! Like I said it has been crazy trying to get back here, but I did it,” he preens. “Now, unfortunately this slight delay has cost us valuable training time and we are dreadfully behind. We must get started post haste!”
“More training?” I groan, my muscles giving another ache of protest.
“Yes, but do not worry, there will be no sword swinging involved… well at least not the normal kind.” The ferret makes a sound disturbingly close to a snicker.
“Now move your ass and grab your men. Meet me in the back forest this afternoon, twice past the sun’s highest point.
Oh and…” His squeaky voice turns serious. “Try not to alert Sam.”
I furrow a brow. “Why is that?”
“Why do you question me?!” Comes an exasperated squeak. “He is not a marked one!” he says, as if it is obvious. “…and, well, I am not particularly pleased with him at the moment.” His tone turns sheepish.
“You and me both,” I sigh.
“Great! Now please follow the instructions! I will be napping on the recliner.” With that, he jumps from my arms and skitters out of the room.
I hear a crash on the other side of the door then silence.
I stare at the door for a moment, but honestly, I really do have no desire to argue with the little creature, especially after he has been gone for so long.
It is not like he will bother anyone with his shenanigans here.
The prince has already left the room, likely sometime after I went out to train with Sam this morning.
He too has been more hands-off these last two weeks.
His gaze more observant. I would find this worrisome, but this nature seems to end once we reach the threshold of the cottage.
Once we arrive back to the room in the evenings a switch seems to flip in him.
He becomes more relaxed and mischievous, using that silver tongue of his to coax a reaction, any reaction, he can out of me.
Once we both decide it is time for sleep, he pulls me into his arms and commands me to close my eyes.
If I question his motives, he makes some comment about the ridiculousness of him allowing me to be uncomfortable if comfort is easily provided. It is downright confusing.
I have awoken in the prince’s arms every single morning, my back pressed firmly against his front.
It has taken a lot of willpower to pry myself away from him and go out for training with Sam, but it must be done.
By the time I get back he is always gone, and I do not see him again until the end of the day when we once again get ready for bed.
My attraction to him has not waned in the slightest. Not that I am surprised.
Sleeping snuggled in a man’s arms does not exactly cause feelings to wane, but it does not feel right to act on anything, even if he is my betrothed, with things so tense between the four of us.
Sorin has not really been around either and I cannot help but be upset by that fact.
Our time in the dark lands alone meant the world to me.
I feel like some piece of me is missing without him around and yet it seems he has no trouble being apart from me.
He is usually at breakfast in the mornings and dinner in the evenings, but otherwise I do not see him for the entirety of the day.
When we are at meals, he stands behind me and guards my chair, his fingers brushing my shoulders while I eat.
He always appears deep in thought but has not elected to speak to me in order to share any of those questions I can see racing across his features.
He does not seem upset per se, just preoccupied with something.
The change is causing me to go slightly insane. I do not understand the men’s sudden distance. Something has awakened in me and with every day that goes by without my continued interaction with them, I grow more and more on edge.
This longing is not helped by Sam’s continued contact with me either.
His coldness does not negate the closeness training has encouraged.
I never thought Sam was interested in me, but his anger with me as well as his body’s signals from training have been telling me a different story.
It takes everything in me to force myself to grab my blade and try to defeat him instead of begging him to explain to me exactly what he has run out of time for and what all these riddles mean, but I know that it is smart to prioritize my training, and I do not want to push him farther away.
I splash cold water on my face and make my way towards the main cottage for breakfast. Hauling myself up the ladder to Sylvie’s cottage, the voices of all three men filter through from the kitchen. I creep towards the door to catch Sorin speaking.
“Are we understood?” Sorin’s tone is unyielding.
Something creaks and they all turn in my direction.
The prince smiles. “Ah, perfect timing.”