It was my secret place. A hidden hollow where I could escape from the pressures of being a prince. Where I could just be…me.
I make my way back to the hollow. I settle down on the hard ground, my back against the cool rock. I put my supplies within reach.
I pull out the waterskin and take a long drink. I cap it and set it aside, then settle in to wait.
18
Isla
I finish my last bite of dinner and push my plate away. My mind keeps drifting to Sebastian, wondering where he is now. If he’s made it past the patrols. If he’s safe.
Across the table, Julienne hasn’t touched her food at all. She stares at her bowl like she’s forgotten what it’s for, her fingers drumming a rhythm against the wooden table. Every few moments, her gaze drifts to the door, then to the windows, then back to her untouched stew.
“Julienne?” I venture. “Are you alright?”
She startles, her hand jerking. Her elbow catches the edge of her cup, sending it tumbling. Water splashes across the table, soaking into the wood.
“Oh!” She jumps up, grabbing a cloth. “I’m sorry. I’m so clumsy tonight.”
She dropped a spoon earlier.
I help her mop up the water, studying her face. There are lines of worry etched around her eyes that weren’t there earlier. She’s distracted, and I’m pretty sure I know why. Perhaps it hadsomething to do with why Sebastian wanted to speak with her alone.
This horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach keeps getting worse.
“Are you sure you’re okay? You haven’t eaten anything.” I gesture toward her bowl.
“I’m not very hungry.” She wrings out the cloth, sighing. “It’s been a long day, and I’m worried about Sebastian. I can tell you feel the same.”
I nod, accepting her explanation, even though I can tell there’s more to it. Something is eating at her.
But if she doesn’t want to tell me, I won’t push.
We finish cleaning up in silence. Julienne drops the spoon again, and when she tries to put away a bowl, she nearly misses the shelf entirely. I catch it before it can fall.
“Thank you,” she murmurs.
By the time we’re ready for bed, exhaustion has seeped into my bones.
I’m just pulling the rug from the trapdoor when one of the bells starts ringing.
Julienne and I lock eyes.
“Go,” she whispers urgently. “Quickly!”
I open the trapdoor and lower myself down the ladder. Julienne closes it and pulls the animal skin back in place before moving away.
I wait…and wait some more.
I crouch in the darkness, straining to hear. My breathing sounds too loud in the confined space. I force myself to slow it, to quiet it.
There’s the thunder of hooves. Someone is approaching fast and hard.
Sebastian?
No, it can’t be.
The horse whinnies as it approaches, the sound high and distressed. One of Julienne’s horses in the barn answers with a softer call. Then the other answers too, with a louder whinny.
