The days were so good when she was there. Mom was so happy and I hadn’t felt like I had a home in so long. She brought back a love I didn’t know still existed. One morning Aeliana arrived early, her hair was drenched and she seemed a bit distressed.
“---, I’m sorry, but I need to ask you something.” Her hands were shaking and she seemed to be freezing. I pulled her into a warming hug and brushed the hair from her face.
“What is it Aeliana?” I asked hesitantly. She had always been so confident. I wonder what could have rattled her so much.
“I was talking with the physician's last night. I wanted to see what I could do… How I could help your mom.” The hesitation in her voice scared me. “I can’t… We can’t save her… But the physician said if I bring her, he will try his best to battle the disease.”
Bring her? You mean take mother to the castle… What if it is a trick..? What if they hurt her?
My mind was running through everything that could go wrong. What would a noble physician possibly see in helping someone like me and mother?
“Do you trust me?”
“What…?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes…”
***
Eák and I rounded up the remaining items, and headed on our way. The trek would take fourteen days if we intended to actually make it there. With that in mind, I was planning twenty-one days for our travels, the execution of the ploy, and the capture of The Sins associates. We left from the capital the night of the new moon and I had instructed a small team to seek us out, if our return was delayed longer than the next full moon.
We made our descent down a wooden pathway from the castle to the merchant town. As we entered the city streets, I took my place inside the carriage.
We had one soldier stationed inside with me. Though the man was a grump and never seemed interested in the pleasantries of casual conversation. Hours dragged, as the carriage pulled along the dusty road. It felt wrong to be on that side of the wooden walls.
We were traveling for ages by the time we reached our stop for the night. We had chosen to camp off the beaten path. It was important that we act as though we were still transporting the Queen and that meant taking the normal precautions.
We stopped about 500 meters from the road's edge. Eák had known the location and recommended it as a good encampment, and I had to give him some credit. The water gave our noise a cover and we were well out of visual sight. This was the perfect location, if this had been a legitimate transport, which made it even more so for our deception.
Pitching tents and making commands seemed to come naturally to Eák. I did little besides plan our next moves in the quiet of the “Royal Tent”. I was getting quite sick of the isolation, to be honest.
“Your Highness?” Eák’s voice broke through my thoughts. I could see him wearing his usual brand of devilish smirk. His body was draped with the Royal Guard Uniform. It was quite a change from the soldiers uniform you would find in the outskirts of Shera’s battlefields, from the deep blue cloth to the red sash fitted loosely across his chest, the royal uniform was much more refined than anything else worn outside of Kalison. He stood easily a foot taller than me. I couldn’t lie, I found it a bit aggravating that his stature was not the only thing that seemed to tower over me.
“Can I help you?” I didn’t mean to be curt. His attitude just always rubbed me the wrong way.
His smirk spread into a wide smile. “Relax. ... The preparations are all arranged. I am anticipating an attack tonight, if not, at our next encampment. We aren’t sure where The Sins are established. They may wait until we are closest to their grounds.”
He walked towards me slowly, leaned over, looked across my face smugly, and moved something on the table.
I watched him carefully… Maybe a little to carefully.
He traced our route on the board. His chest was inches away from me, his breathing deep, as he turned his face towards mine. I became painfully aware of our proximity. The warmth of him radiated my body. My blood began to rush to my face, despite my embarrassment, I couldn’t break away. The look in his eyes, the warmth of being near him, something felt intoxicating.
He observed me thoughtfully with a sinister smile. The way he was looking at me. It gave me this feeling… I didn’t know what to say… what to do… and I didn’t like it.
I scoured my brain for something, any piece of logic to latch too, anything to pull my mind from the … warmth.
That’s when it occurred to me. I really didn’t know this man. Captain had told me he was a soldier of the Royal Army, and assigned him to my command, but I had never seen him on the field. I never looked into his background, there hadn’t been time. Who was his previous commander? How did he retain such an unusual perspective on life under the stress of a soldier's experiences? Suddenly, I was questioning him. I knew nothing about this man and I was putting far too much trust in him.
“Who are you?” The words slipped out. I hadn’t planned on asking, it just happened.
A satisfied smile descended on his lips as he put some space between us. “That took longer than I thought it would.” His devilish look was gone. Instead, he seemed calculating. “As happy as I am that you have finally come to your senses, I’m afraid it is still a bit early for that conversation.”
Too early? Who does he think he is? “Excuse me? Have you forgotten that I am your commander?” How did he think I would let that insolence slide? My inquiry transitioned to frustration.
He smiled. “Oh but-”
“BANG! BANG! BANG!”
The drums sounded loudly!
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