His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 28: -S

Flopping down in the desk chair, all manners tossed to the side, I place the box and scroll on the desk and gesture for Theo to look at the map. He puts the satchel bag on the sofa and unravels the scroll, his eyes widening and flicking to me.

I put some paperweights on the sides and stared at the details. "Ulfstad is between the palace and Vagrfjell Fjord," I murmured, pointing at the town and the largest fjord to the East of our kingdom.

"It doesn’t show anywhere about the East," Theo replies quietly. We are both paranoid about Soren trying to eavesdrop. I cannot imagine it, yet I know my knight is fuming.

"The East?" I ask, frowning. "You wish to go that far?" I never thought past getting on the ship and sailing to the Isles of Men & Iron.

Theo doesn’t say anything as he stares at it. "We can check once we have fled this place," I say, and he nods.

"Hmmm, I wonder if he put any worthy details like I asked..." I trail off and reach for the box.

"He?" Theo asks while trailing his finger along the river, which joins to Thunderfall and links to the other fjords more north of the map.

"Sverre. The guild master." Or Crow, as Eryx called him. I shiver, reminded of the Alpha Prince, his warning making my skin and blood grow cold.

Opening the parcel, I blinked back in surprise at the book I’d conveniently picked up and lied about while failing to stop Eryx from seeing the map I’d really been interested in. On top of it is a small letter, I open it while Theo points to the book and I nod so he can look at it.

Before I read the letter, I focused on Theo, a thought occurring to me. "Please do not tell me you told anyone you could read and write."

Theo smirked and put the book down. "I have not."

My shoulders relax. "Good. It won’t matter once we cross the seas." I glance down at the letter as Theo observes the map, looking at the Kingdom of Sun & Fury. My brows arch up at the distinctive language used. Issorian is the language of the old world, of gods and prophecies. Only a few knew it in the North.

I find it strange Sverre can write in the ancient tongue. Is he more than a vendor, perhaps even the guild master? He oozed more power than others in The Huntsman.

Lli,

It was a pleasure to meet you. Stories have been woven about you, my crows reporting more fact than fiction, except your beguiling radiance and striking features. I believed my crows to be useless then until we met in person.

-Beauty fades with time, but courage grows stronger with every battle faced. – There is much to fight for, Lli.

A horse and cart await you at The Huntsman. If you cannot ride or are not accompanied, Frode will ensure your safety to Vargrfjell Fjord and the inn I recommend visiting.

A man by the name of Ralph will be waiting for you at Blóðfjell havn, at the Stinking Horse Inn. He can take you across seas or anywhere your heart desires—at no cheap cost.

-S

P.S. These enchanted rings will work for a short period of time. I was unable to get any longer-lasting ones. You will need better disguises.

Enchantment?

I blink back and look inside the envelope. Two rings that are of no extraordinary appearance are at the bottom. Are these enchanted to change our appearances? There are two that are obvious in their size differences, which are for a man and a woman. Or someone with thick fingers or slender ones.

"Theo, give me your hand." I hold it before he can decline and start measuring the bigger ring to each finger until it fits perfectly. The moment it fits, his appearance changes from brown locks tied back in a small queue to long, plaited red hair and freckles scattered across rounded features.

Theo was no longer the pretty boy. There was nothing wrong with the red hair or freckles, but he looked nothing like the slave I’d grown up with and women staring lustfully at.

"What is it?" Theo questions with a frown, looking at the ring and my stunned expression.

Shaking my head, I remove it. "It is enchanted..."

"Enchanted?" Theo stares at the envelope like it might burst into flames. "That is what I felt. Did you just use me as some sort of guinea pig?"

I give him a look. "Really? I just wanted to see if it fit you." That didn’t seem important. I ignored Theo’s grumblings as questions filtered into my thoughts.

How did Sverre know I’d need another ring? Or was it a calculation on his part? If he knows who I am then he must think I would not do this journey alone.

A smile starts curling on my lips before I can stop it as I place the ring back in the envelope.

"Who is it that has made you smile?" Theo leans forward, glancing at the letter and frowning when he cannot decipher it.

"A new acquaintance," I murmur, feeling a little teary by how much Sverre has done for me. It is true what they say about the guild master and his contacts. My gaze flicks to my slave’s. "Theo, we can leave. Tonight, if your wounds are healed."

Theo grabs the letter, shock and excitement radiating from him, forgetting that he cannot read the symbols scribbled on the parchment. "They will be healed by the morning. Healed or not, if we can go tonight..." Theo looked up, a vibrant smile brightening his features, dimples showing, blue eyes alight. "Then let’s do it."

His smile and excitement are infectious, and I find myself nodding with a slight squeal, especially with the possibility of being on a ship by tomorrow morning. I calm myself, though, and focus once more. This needs to be planned correctly, or it will fail.

"We should plan more before getting ahead of ourselves. If we arrange everything by nightfall, we can leave in the middle of the night; otherwise, I will not rush this." I glance at the satchel. "I have already gathered some rations in that bag..."

Theo leans forward, grasps me by the sides of my face and kisses my forehead. "You are brilliant!"

"I know," I murmur, a little dazed by his kiss.

"You planned this earlier, didn’t you? When you sent Margarette away." Theo’s eyes were still bright as he watched me.

I nodded, tapping my finger against the desk; something at the back of my mind was cautioning me. Am I rushing into it? No, I have waited too long already.

The drama around these men has kicked me into action. Alaric will understand. Deyanira will be glad I am gone. What else is stopping me?

"What about the guards?" Theo asks, leaning away. "There will be more now on patrol after that man from the Huntsman entered the palace."

I look back at the rings and shake my head. "I think we are going to be just fine," I smirk, hiding how anxious I really feel. It had nothing to do with how to escape the palace.

Would the Alpha Prince really track me down?

No, he’s not that serious. He will find someone else to use in his schemes. If anything, I am a pawn to be used against my brother, and I will play any part in it. When the time is right, I will send word to Alaric that I am well.

Pushing aside any lingering guilt for the very few I will leave behind, I begin to plan the last parts of our escape until nightfall.

When we leave the study, going our separate ways to prepare and meet up again late into the night, I stop in the corridor before my bed chambers, feeling Soren’s presence behind me.

"There is nothing more to say about what happened," I whisper, then glance behind me at my knight. "You’re a good knight, Soren." I reach up, about to cup his cheek, but pause, realising he would not wish for that.

Soren leans forward anyway, stilling my breath as my hand is soft against his stubble. "I don’t know how to deal with these feelings, Princess," he murmurs. "I am your knight, but I feel..." He trails off, looking lost as his eyes lower. "Conflicted."

"You’re allowed to feel what you do." My thumb caresses his cheek, and I hold his gaze once his eyes meet mine. Alaric will protect him, I have to believe that. "You have protected me well."

I drop my hand and step back with a soft smile. "You should get some much-needed rest. I believe there is no threat outside."

Soren bows his head. "Princess." His features harden, once again the soldier, the warrior I’d grown to know and understand.

"Good night, Soren." A sense of ease fills my chest, content that the tension between us has finally been resolved.

I am filled with a sense of ease, happy that what had happened between us was resolved.

"Good night, Idalia."

This will be the last time we ever exchange those words.