AURA
October 2, Year 21, 10th Era
Geit, Skalor
Early the next morning, Aura slips on her clothes from the previous day and carefully wraps her curls. With her boots laced, she watches Calder finally slumbering now that the sun has risen.
Sleeping in his muscled arms against his soft chest left her feeling more well-rested than at any time in her life. She smiles to herself as she buckles her cloak around her clavicle.
Everything about Calder has her falling for him.
Hard.
She admits his protective nature, which disguises his more villainous side, is an allure she struggles to deny. At times, the intensity of his gaze seems to transform him into a demon of the Abyss.
Yet, no one has ever made her feel more adored and supported. For this reason, she presses her lips to Calder's and leaves her note beside his head.
She lay awake through the night, struggling with her emotions for him.
Would he betray her like Isabel?
At times, she senses he is concealing something from her.
Then there is the Skalor prophecy.
If she is the one to save the country, then she cannot allow the one person who understands her, whom she yearns to spend every waking moment beside, to come to harm.
As she slips along the quiet corridor of their floor, she gently tests the doors as she passes until one creaks open.
A young man with at least three women piled atop him sleeps soundly in a bed twice the size of theirs. She sneaks inside, rustling through one of his packs until she finds a coin purse.
Thanks, friend.
She smirks as she abandons the inn for the streets of Geit.
If she can reach Viktoft before Calder, she and Edmund can journey to the temple.
Besides, time alone with her feelings toward the Iss Drengr may help her realize this is just lust, a mere infatuation with the older man.
Yes, that is it!
I can move on from the warmth he stirs in my belly and save him from certain death at the hands of my father.
The morning passes quickly. Merchants pay her little to no heed as the revelers of the Autumn Festival emerge from every nook and cranny of the village.
She waits in line to buy food supplies when she overhears snippets of a conversation at the stall next to her.
“...no, hadn’t been seen in weeks. Then comes trudgin’ through town to Svala’s Bakery. King Sigvid was amiable. I wouldn’t have believed it myself had I not seen it.”
“I wonder if he was hit with somethin’ when they attacked his carriage.”
“Hush! Don’t be startin’ rumors…”
“Ma’am? May I help you?” The stall merchant smiles at Aura, gesturing her forward.
The Princess’ mouth dries.
So Father is alive.
