“She's awake.” One of the soldiers strode into the kitchen, interrupting them.
“Good. Anything to report?” the commander asked.
“No, she just slept.”
“Alright, good work. You and the others gather everything together. I need to grab my pack and the prisoner, and then we’ll be on our way.”
Lephas strode down the short corridor to the back bedroom. The door wasn’t fully shut, but pulled to. He paused for a moment and swallowed thickly before he entered the room.
The faerie was on her feet, her wrists and ankles still in chains. She had her arms above her head, stretching. Her beautiful azure eyes flickered over him curiously.
“Well, good morning!” She greeted him with a smile.
“Hi,” Lephas replied awkwardly, his body shot with tension. He quickly snatched at his pack and knelt to gather the few belongings that were strewn around the room.
“Sleep well?” she all but purred.
Lephas gave a short laugh. “Not really.”
“Yeah, me neither, But please accept my thanks for the mattress. It was much appreciated.”
“You're welcome. I wouldn't let an injured woman sleep on a cold stone floor.” Lephas kept his eyes downcast away from the faerie.
“Well, aren't you a sweetheart?” the princess cooed.
Lephas fumbled, dropping the roll of bandages that was in his hand.
“So, I guess now I'm fully healed I'll be left to fend for myself?”
Lephas had been so focussed on packing things back into his bag, he hadn't noticed the faerie had moved to stand nearby. He got to his feet and was taken aback by her beautiful face looking up at him.
“I, uh...” He faltered. “I guess that depends on whether you behave yourself.”
Lori smiled and dabbed her bottom lip with her tongue.
“I'm not known for being a good girl, I'm afraid.” She held Lephas's gaze for a few long moments before turning her back swiftly. She bent to grab a jewelled hair tie from the floor beside the fire.
Lephas watched, entranced, as she pulled her long, golden hair over her shoulder and began deftly braiding it. Her hair had dried into big glossy curls, but she tamed them back. Though the hair at her temple was stained a faint pink colour, she had clearly washed the blood out after Haros had finished healing her. There was no trace of the injury.
“It's snowing again,” Lori said absently, looking out of the dirty window as she worked on her hair.
“We’re going to need to get you better kitted out before we head off. You'll slow us down as you are now. Hopefully we'll be able to get back to Banesteppe by this evening, if all goes well.”
“I don't imagine that anything you've brought with you is going to be in my size.” She eyed him up and down.
“No, but I do have a spare set of snow spikes for your boots. They're one size,” he added. “And I have a fur snood that will keep your face warmer.”
The thin, scaled leather leg guards she wore, whilst fitting her like a second skin and hugging her curves appealingly, weren't designed for hiking through the snow. Unfortunately, the faerie was right about one thing. He doubted the armour of even the smallest of the men he was travelling with would fit her. Ill-fitting clothing would slow her even further.
“Are you always so organised?” she asked.
“You have to be when you're in charge of a group of men. You learn to plan for every eventuality.”
“I suppose. I'm more the impulsive sort. My sister used to joke that she wouldn't trust me to plan my way out of a paper bag.” The faerie smiled.
Lephas continued to rummage through his bag, reorganising its contents, but watched her curiously. Lori was clearly fondof her sisters. He wondered if they knew where she was.
“Will you be taking these off?” Lori changed the subject quickly, flicking her completed braid back over her shoulder. She turned to face him and jangled her manacles.
