A soldier stepped up, towering over us in gleaming armor. His stern face was marred with thin scars disappearing into a neatly trimmed beard, like someone had taken a thin blade to his face repeatedly. Despite that, he was extremely handsome, in a rugged kind of way. Light-brown hair dusted his forehead above brows furrowed into a perpetual frown.
He inclined his head to us both. “Miss Adelia. Miss Eleanor. I have your horses prepared.” He led us away from the king, who approached his own horse. Already, several of the soldiers were moving, directing their animals down the street.
“Will we be traveling far?” Eleanor asked, and Pierce grunted an unintelligible response as he held a mare steady for her to mount.
“Hmm, can’t say I’ve traveled that distance before. Ergh is about the farthest I’ve gone.”
I snorted a laugh, and Pierce’s lips twitched slightly before he donned his stoic expression once more. “At least a week, miss.”
“I imagine there’ll be much to see, I can’t wait!” She settled into the saddle, sparkling eyes scanning our surroundings, and I mounted the next mare the soldier held. Atop the horse, I could see exactly how many would be traveling with us.
Too many.
At least fifty soldiers and several servants surrounded us, and they were all men.
Unease settled, and I urged my horse closer to Eleanor’s while Pierce mounted his own. A week of travel as the only two women in a large group of men would be a long one.
Several villagers left their homes to gawk as we passed through Toreshire, and Eleanor sent wide smiles and several waves to each of them. Before long, we reached the open harvesting fields, our procession moving through the wheat to the open hills beyond.
Much to Eleanor’s disappointment, there wasn’t a lot to see on our first day of travel, vast grassy plains broken up by small groves of trees. When we stopped for the night, it was in a small, sheltered clearing, the trees protecting us from the worst of the wind.
Pierce pulled out several bedrolls before handing our horses to another soldier. He laid two side by side, a little way from the other men, his own bedroll between them and us.
“It’ll be just like our trip to Hutteran, Lia,” Eleanor exclaimed, plopping down and gazing at the canopy of trees.
I offered her a small smile before surveying the men unpacking horses. Fires were already lit, and the scent of food gathered in the air. Only a single tent had been erected, likely for the king.
This night would be nothing like our trip to Hutteran. Then, we were children with our parents to protect us. Now, we were women surrounded by unknown and potentially dangerous men.
“I’ll keep you both safe, miss.” Pierce’s rumble pulled my attention from the hive of activity.
Despite his rugged appearance, there was a kindness in his eyes. I nodded once, untwisting my hands from the hem of my shirt before joining Eleanor on the bedrolls.
I barely slept that night.
I barely slept any of the nights that followed. Most of which were spent on hard bedrolls beneath the stars, Eleanor curled at my side while I watched every man sleeping around us.
Pierce had proved respectful and kind the entire time. Any man who deigned to approach, whether with good intentions or not, were quickly sent on their way with a rough command.
Still, I couldn’t settle enough to sleep properly. The only thing that kept me from falling into exhaustion were the few nightsspent at inns, the ability to lock us behind a door allowed me to shut my eyes properly, even if I still slept light.
We were all tired when we neared the end of our journey, even Eleanor was quiet as we climbed another rolling hill. Ahead of us, Terym and his men disappeared over the other side. When we reached the top, a small gasp escaped me. A magnificent field spread out below us. What truly took my breath away, though, were the beautiful flowers in full bloom despite the season. A sprawling sea of blue and white contrasted with the setting sun, the sky a mix of pink and orange disappearing below the horizon.
We were well into fall; how could they possibly still be blooming?
“It’s beautiful,” Eleanor breathed, halting her horse beside mine.
A forest with towering trees lined the field, casting shadows long enough to reach the base of the hill we stood atop. They must be hundreds of years old to have trunks so wide and tall. Off to the right, nestled between the forest’s edge and the wave of flowers, sat a large array of tents. The king’s navy flags fluttered in the cool breeze, creating a border marking our destination.
“Come on,” Pierce grunted, directing his horse down the slope and into the field where the king and his entourage were making their way toward camp. Eleanor followed, the wildflowers swaying under the horses’ hooves when they passed through them. I stayed a moment longer, absorbing the beautiful view.
Surreal. Like something out of our mother’s stories, bright flower-filled fields surrounded by the darkness of brown and green.
Cool air brushed over my skin, and gooseflesh rose along my exposed arms. A tingling sensation fluttered through me, raising the hair at the back of my neck, and an intense feelingof being watched settled over me. I scanned the forest, catching movement among the trees. Squinting, I tried to make out the shadows, sure I had seen the silhouette of a man walking just inside the tree line.
Nothing moved.
“Lia! Are you coming?” Eleanor’s voice jolted me out of my intense stare, and I urged my horse forward to join them.
