The original text has been destroyed upon command from the High King of Apollo, Solaire Gideon.
Ispent most of my morning busy to keep myself from thinking of that sinful dream. Part of me refused to wonder if it had been due to the nightingale sighting.
With Red beside me, I led the grey stallion to where we were stationed to leave. The tents were packed, all but one remaining.
His.
A golden carriage was being assembled on the far end, which led me to suspecthewas to ride in it. A soldier approached Red and myself. "The prince requests his bodyguard. Announce yourself before you step in." He sneered. My jaw tensed at the man's attitude.
"What if he sends us on a mission?" Red asked, as eager as ever. No doubt enjoying this little freedom away from the brothel, even though we were now trapped with the Apollon army.
"Firstly, there is nousin the matter of protecting the prince. Just me. Secondly, the prince will not send me on a mission that leaves him unprotected or with the chances of me running away," I spoke tightly. "I promised your sister I would protect you. Stay out of trouble while I'm gone." I squeezed the bridge of my nose to relieve the pressure of the headache I was beginning to sport. Red gave a half-hearted salute and some part of me felt bad for speaking to him in that manner, yet he needed to be kept out of harm’s way.
I waited behind the tent opening, hesitant to step in and touched the material, opening it slightly, freezing when I heard voices. "I refuse to step into that damned carriage."
"Adrion, don’t be difficult. You think you can ride a horse in this condition?" a familiar voice chastised. I couldn't believe it. The prince was lying on an armchair, holding a cloth to his forehead, looking as if he was in pain. And it was Inanov that called the prince by his name as if they were friends.
"Iwillride a damned horse in this condition. You think I'm going to let these brutes think I am weak?" The prince bit out.
"And they won't think you're weak when you fall off your horse on your arse in the state you're in?" This made the prince quiet.
"You need to use your power sparingly. You already blasted it in the arena, making the whole of Merlanis feel it, and then you used it yesterday. Too much, unnecessarily, when you should have ordered to have that man's head for the disrespect."
Sparingly?
"It needed to be done. No one should ever question my place. I already get enough disrespect from my father and maniacal sister." The prince threw the washcloth that was on his forehead to the ground harshly. His eyes still scrunched closed from the pain he seemed to be in.
"Mature," Inanov observed with no amusement.
"I'll use the damned carriage. Now tell me where is—" He inhaled suddenly. His eyes flickered. "It seems she is already here. Have you ever been told that eavesdropping, especially on a royal, could get you killed?" Inanov's head swung to the tent opening, mildly startled. His stare hardened at me once he caught sight.
I cleared my throat. "I was about to announce myself, but did not want to disturb," I calmly explained, opening the tent further and stepping in. They didn't seem to believe me.
"Well then? Announce yourself." The prince smirked. And I felt humiliated under his stare even though it was only him and Inanov in the tent. It toyed with my pride and something dark and twisted roamed in my heart. I stood up more boldly.
"Morana, bodyguard to the Prince of Apollo, heir to the Kingdom of Light."
Something danced in Adrion's eyes, something close to satisfaction until his face twisted and scrunched in discomfort. He placed his palm atop his eyes and waved to us. "Please explain to my bodyguard what is expected of her today." It was the first time I had seen the prince offer someone else to explain something to me instead of him doing it himself.
I surprisingly felt...
Worried.
No, not really. He deserved it.
"You will be riding in the carriage withHis Highness.You are to protect him and ensure you are on full guard as we make our way to Viridis Aurum—"
VIRIDIS AURUM?
"Our journey was to Abdera. Why on Terran, will we be going to Viridis Aurum? No one is allowed there." I was so shocked that my mind seemed to forget whom exactly I was talking to.
"The visit to Abdera..." Inanov trailed off, seemingly trying to think of an explanation that didn't require him to explain all of the secrets these two seemed to share.
"It’s been postponed due to the urgency in Viridis Aurum," the prince replied for him. He rose and began to discard his white shirt that clung to him with sweat, possibly from a fever. I blushed and looked away. I could feel the prince's smirk as he strode to me. I bit into my cheek. He touched the material of my cloak in thought, suddenly schooling his features, turning away.
"Come in, Lorian." His voice was no longer challenging or teasing. I felt a faint thumping in my heart as I turned to find apretty man step in with dark soft hair styled messily. There was gold dust that sparkled under his warm honey eyes that seemed to gleam when they met my stare. He wore black leathers that seemed to be made of very expensive material and his scent was familiar, yet I couldn't place what it was or where it was from. The room temperature seemed to drop and there was static energy in the air which surrounded me. I hid my facial expression, just like the prince as the man walked in with feline grace.
"Morana darling, you have grown! I've been anticipating our reunion."
