Suddenly, it was darker as the dense hedges cast shadows over the pathway. The air grew subtly colder, carrying the aroma of damp soil. The only sounds were our footsteps and the distant rumble of the ocean. It was a disorienting experience, but Ulf charged ahead happily as though he knew the path by heart.
Tarben was the first to break the silence. “Does this make you uneasy?”
I found it thrilling to not know where I was going or what was around each corner. “No. Should it?”
He shot me a sidelong glance, and I caught a hint of approval in his gaze. “No. It’s not much further now.”
The bush grew sparser, and the atmosphere shifted, gradually warming and brightening around us.
“Does Ulf invite all his female companions to brave the maze?” I kept my tone teasing, but there was no denying the fact that I was digging for more information about Tarben’s romantic history.
“Only the most intriguing ones,” he quipped.
My eyebrows lifted. “It sounds as though there have been a few.”
He shrugged offhandedly. “It might surprise you to learn that you’re his first. And you’re proving to have nerves of steel.”
Was he being truthful? Did it actually matter? Probably not. Even if he had brought other females here, I was sure to be the most memorable. “I didn’t realize this was a test.”
The corner of his mouth curled upwards. “Oh,thisisn’t it. Leading us back blindfolded, now that’s your true test.”
It was my turn to shoot him a sidelong glance. Mischief danced across his features. I feigned a glare as I retorted, “You wouldn’t dare. I didn’t think you were wicked.”
A sly grin played across his face. “So, you think of me?”
Flirt. “Perhaps,” I shrugged. “I’ll let you know, if I survive the maze blindfolded.”
With a lift of his eyebrows he replied, “Who’s being wicked now?”
I tilted my head and offered him the most innocent smile in my arsenal. But my smile quickly faded into awe as I took in the sight in front of us.
As I had seen from my window, the maze led to the castle wall’s boundary. However, nestled within the high stone wall was a postern gate leading to steps carved into the cliff face. The gate was guarded by two sentries, who bowed their heads to Tarben.
Intrigued, I followed him through the gate and approached the weathered steps. They seemed to disappear down the cliff.
I looked up to find Tarben studying me. His eyebrow raised quizzically—a challenge. One that I met with a cool, “Lead the way, Your Highness.”
He held his hand out to me. “These steps seem especially treacherous today. It looks like I’m going to need your assistance.”
Despite myself, another laugh bubbled out of my throat. “I’ve never heard of a prince who’s afraid of stairs.”
With the faintest twitch of his lips he said, “It’s a new thing for me, so it’s best that you stay close.”
With a shake of my head, I accepted his warm, calloused hand and slowly, deliberately, we made our descent. The staircase was steep and winding. Even Ulf approached each step with caution.
“I suppose you’re not going to tell me where this leads,” I said, keeping my eyes trained on the steps beneath my feet.One foot at a time. Just one foot at a time.
“There would be no fun in that. Besides, you’ll see for yourself soon enough.”
“You must be desperate for solitude, if you have to risk breaking your neck in order to find it.”
He only laughed. “It’s worth it.”
It took several minutes, but eventually we neared the bottom of the steps. By now I could see that they led to a small, picturesque cove at the bottom of the towering cliff.
Coarse sand formed a narrow strip of land. Eroded rocks decorated with sea moss and abandoned mussel shells jutted out of the sand. At the water’s edge, small boats were moored.
It was impossible not to notice the sound of waves colliding with rocks. To anyone else, it might be pleasant. For me, it reverberated like a bellow in my ear.Come back.Come back.Come back.
