‘Here?We’re in the middle of the woods.’
‘The horses need to rest.’As do you, I silently added.We would all benefit from a few hours’ sleep.
We tethered the horses near the road and set ourselves up on the flattest ground possible.It was a cold night, but the scrub was too dense and too dry to risk lighting a fire.We had no choice but to huddle together in bitter silence.
I was still fuming.If only Yann hadn’t crossed that bridge.If only Father hadn’t slighted the prince.And, deep down, I was furious at myself.I was the one who’d dragged Yann into the wilderness with nothing to guide us but a badly remembered map.This was my fault.
Feeling hollow, I slumped against Yann’s shoulder.‘I’m sorry,’ I muttered.
‘For what?’I was relieved to hear the surprise in his voice.
‘For this.For everything.’I looped my arm around his, desperate for something familiar to hold on to.‘You didn’t need to throw your life away for me.’
‘I’d have thrown my life away if I hadn’t come with you.’
I wasn’t sure how to respond.It made me happy, I suppose.Though we were cold and tired and lost in the woods, what could make me happier than the unconditional love of my beloved fiancé?It was a shame I was too tired to feel it.
We lay down and I buried my face in his chest.It felt like the right thing to do.He exhaled deeply, then ran his fingers through my hair, combing out my long-ruined braids.The casual touch was soothing.I could already feel my eyes drifting shut.
His hand strayed lower and suddenly the heat of his body was stifling.I pushed him away, shuffling back into a sitting position, wondering what on earth made him think this was an appropriate moment.‘One of us needs to stay alert,’ I said.‘You sleep, I’ll take first watch.’
Yann frowned.‘That should be my job,’ he said, though he made no move to sit up.
‘I’m not ready to sleep yet,’ I lied.Yann didn’t protest.He settled down and fell asleep faster than I thought possible for someone lying on a bed of half-rotted leaves.I couldn’t help but envy him.
Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled.I tucked my knees into my chest, hoping it wouldn’t come any closer.No matter how many years Father had spent teaching me to defend myself, the half-rusted daggers we’d brought with us were barely enough to stave off a human, let alone a pack of half-starved wolves.I fought the temptation to wake Yann.I resented him for falling asleep first, even though I’d told him to, and I resented myself for resenting him.
Time drifted by.Soon I was flinching at every gust of wind, every scurrying insect.When the bushes near Yann started to rustle, I shot to my feet at once, gripping my knife tightly.I held my breath as the scurrying intensified.Then a shadow emerged from the bushes, and all my fears solidified.
It was an enormous wolf, almost as long as Sovereign and half as tall.I readied my dagger, heart pounding.It didn’t notice me at first, distracted instead by the scent of horses.I remained frozen, praying it wouldn’t turn around.As long as I stayed perfectly still, maybe it wouldn’t notice me.
It might have worked had the horses not panicked.They reared in unison, straining against their tethers.Sovereign’s rope snapped and she bolted, tearing off into the trees.Yann startled awake, rolling over just in time to avoid being trampled as the wolf began to bark at Father’s terrified horse.
‘Run!’I cried.
It was a mistake.If the wolf hadn’t noticed me before, it certainly did now.It barked again, this time at me.Then it lowered its muzzle and growled.
‘I won’t hurt you,’ I stammered, taking a step back.‘Please, we’re no threat.We’re only travellers.’It couldn’t understand me.Why would it?
Yann started yelling something, but the wolf took no notice.The creature had decided I would be tonight’s dinner.
Was this how I’d die?Not at the prince’s hand, but from a simple wrong turn and a curious dog?I would have laughed if it weren’t so tragic.
‘I’m so sorry I brought you here,’ I choked out.
Yann burst towards me.His horse shrieked.And the wolf pounced.
I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for death.
But it never came.
There came a canine yelp, then the hot splatter of blood on my cheek.For a moment I thought the wolf had impaled itself on my dagger, but there had been no impact.I stood frozen, terrified of what I would find when I opened my eyes.Would it be Yann’s blood?The wolf’s?Or had something worse joined us?
I forced myself to look.
The wolf lay at my feet, gargling its final breaths, its throat torn to shreds.
Yann was frozen mid-stride, paralysed in terror.
