“I don’t think I can ride,” the prince finally admitted quietly.
Reaching the top of the slope, Leander took stock oftheir 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.”
