“Perhaps.” He repeats his earlier sentiment.
Clearing my throat, I decide a subject change is in order. “Where is Credour?”
This causes him to pause. He leans away from me slightly. “Last I saw, he was in his cottage, likely talking to Fadres about his earlier departure," A pause. "Or shall I say taking to Sam? That is what your other man has referred to him as, no?”
“I do not know what you are speaking of,” I evade, breaking eye contact.
“Oh, I think you do.” A hand to my chin has me meeting his eyes again. “Does your dear Credour also go by a name unknown to me?”
“Names have power,” I echo, unflinching to his searching gaze.
“Hmm.” He drops my chin and takes a step away from me, his face shuttering before transforming back into his usual arrogant facade. I glare at him. He returns my look with a rehearsed cocky smirk. “Sneaky little princess. You should be careful who you lie to. If it is found out by my father you have snuck two men under his nose, he would not be pleased.” His tone holds a bored note.
“And how would he find that out? Are you going to tell him?”
He shakes his head slowly. “No. I will not.” He wipes his hands along the front of his clothes, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles. “If you are to keep secrets you mustn’t be so easily read. We will need to work on that."
I pause. "Are you not upset?"
He tilts his head at me. "Upset?"
"Yes!"
"No. If I were in your situation, I would have done something similar. Allies are important. You should be glad you have them."
"Oh." I nibble my cheek.
He looks towards the tree line. "Credour is walking up now. I would recommend waking Baldar.”
“I am awake, hard to sleep with all your yapping,”Baldar squeaks from his perch, I jump at the sound and swing my gaze up to him. He gives me a disapproving look. “So much to learn...”He mutters and then scurries off the tree.
“Sorry I’m late!” Sorin comes running from the trees. “It is hard to gauge time here.”
“Easy to do,”comes Baldar’s voice. “Time moves differently in these lands, much to our advantage. Now get moving.”He scampers to the middle of the field.
"Um… okay." I decide not to question that too much. "Will you two follow me?" I start to walk towards Baldar, but Sorin catches my arm.
"Why did you bring us out here?"
The prince glances at the two of us and then looks towards Baldar. "See you over there in a minute then?" He nods to the place where Baldar now stands expectantly.
"Okay," I say, slumping my shoulders.
Looking at Sorin, I sigh. "Look I need to learn more about my powers and Baldar seems to think he can teach me. For some reason, I trust Baldar. This training though apparently needs you both present for it to work. We talked about me learning more control, so I am doing that. Are you going to help me?"
He pulls me closer. "Why can't Sam join?" Sorin whispers, glancing at the prince.
I hold back an eyeroll. "Baldar?” I pitch my voice up so Baldar can hear me.A little help please?A small scuff is my only reply. I pinch the bridge of my nose. "They, um… got off on the wrong foot and I have not… grown as close to him as I have you both over the last couple of weeks. Since he has not triggered one of my powers, it would make no sense for him to be here," I guess.
Sorin nods. "Okay… so I take it he does not know Baldar is here then."
I shake my head.
"Great…" He looks skywards. "Okay." His eyes once again find mine. "Let's get you trained, but I cannot keep this from Sam. Honestly, I cannot imagine he is not already suspicious as it is," he warns.
I figured as much.I sigh.
Sorin grimaces. "I am not sure how much time we have." He glances to the woods. “We should start training now.” He holds at his hand.
