Soon, our breathing evened out, and I imagined that Leya had fallen asleep around the same time I did. So much had happened, and it was only natural that I felt drained, exhausted, and overwhelmed. I had escaped Hyrall. I was beyond its towering stone walls. This was the moment I had dreamed of for over a year, and it had finally come. By morning, when we reached the first city, I would make my secondescape.
I was relieved to know that Brier Len was far from Hyrall. There was little chance of running into trouble at first, but if Gadriel had learned I was gone, he would piece together my plan quickly. My new guard had likely already alerted the sentries or watch by now, realizing I was truly missing, and a missive would be sent by horsefoot. I hoped Gadriel wouldn’t stop at the next carriage station for long, and that the horses would be replaced with fresh ones quickly. Surely, he would want to be back on the road soon. The farther he went, the longer it would take for the missive explaining I had escaped to reach him.
Night passed, and I only stirred when I heard Leya whimper. My eyes fluttered open slowly, still heavy with sleep. The wheels of the coach continued to turn, their rhythmic grinding steady in the background. I heard Leya whimper again. It was a soft, pitiful noise.
In the dark, I whispered, “Leya? Are you alright?”
She didn’t say anything, only tossed slightly, caught in some restless dream. It was then I realized she was trapped in a nightmare. I watched her closely, dread curling in my gut. If she cried out, or if the driver thought something was wrong, he might come to check on her. The last thing I needed was for him to intervene.
I rose quietly and crossed to where Leya lay, easing down beside her. With a soft touch, I placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered a gentle hush. Her dark brown hair clung to her damp skin, sweat beading along her brow as she twisted in discomfort. I brushed the strands away and watched her closely, wondering what fears haunted her dreams.
I kept whispering, calm and low, until her breathing slowed and the whimpers faded. Relief swept through me. If her cries had drawn attention, or if I had been caught, I didn’t want to think about what I might have done.
I settled back into the furs once I was sure she wouldn’t cry out again. Resting my head against the coach wall, I let my body relax. My eyes closed slowly, the rhythm of the road lulling me. By morning, I would be far from here. Closer to something that felt like freedom.
The first lightof dawn broke, and I was already wide awake, nerves crackling with the realization that we would be pulling into the first city in less than a chime. I couldn’t help but feel the tension building. The carriage master had told our driver that we would be stopping at the next station to switch out the horses for fresh ones.
I hadn’t fully worked out my plan for when we reached the city, but I figured I would slip away unnoticed as soon as I could, hoping to blend into the crowd. I prayed the streets would be busy, at least enough to cover my escape. Since the sun had only just risen, the city should be stirring to life soon.
I could feel Leya watching me from her bed, her mind likely dwelling on the same things as mine. She hadn’t spoken yet, and although she looked rested, there was something about her that didn’t sit right with me. My heart faltered for a moment. I had been so wrapped up in everything else, I hadn’t stopped to consider why she felt off.
Had she told Gadriel anything during service yesterday? Would she betray me like that?
If you had asked me the day before, I would have sworn she would do anything to get rid of me.
As the speculations raced through my mind, I couldn’t help but wonder if she had somehow convinced Gadriel of the truth.
“Leya,” I said, turning to face her.
She answered, “What is it?”
Tilting my head slightly, I noted, “You’ve been quiet this morning.”
“So what if I am?”
“I noticed something off about you yesterday,” I continued, ignoring her tone. “Late last night.”
She tensed. “And what would that be?”
“You had a nightmare,” I replied.
Her shoulders dropped slightly. “Oh,” she murmured. “I suppose I did.”
“I hope nothing too haunting.” I gave her an inquisitive look. “After a few soothing whispers and a gentle brush of your hair, you fell right back asleep. Quiet as a babe.”
Leya’s face turned red as she realized I had been at her bedside last night without her even knowing. “Don’t touch me again. Nightmare or not.”
I raised my hands. “Spare me the malice, Leya. Imagine if anyone had heard your whimpering and came to check in on us.”
She remained silent after hearing that.
“I’m curious,” I said, pressing on. “After all this time spent longing to serve the prince, and now that you have, why the sudden silence?”
Leya shook her head, her hands clenched into the sheets. “There’s nothing to say. Unlike you, I think it’s in poor taste to speak of what transpires between a courtesan and the prince behind closed doors. I have nothing to share about it.”
“Leya,” I said flatly. “Let’s be honest. You’ve always liked the attention. The gloating. The little performances. Strange that now, when it counts, you have nothing to say.”
“As I’ve already told you, there’s nothing to discuss.”
