He wouldn’t fall for it. He wouldn’t let the sorceress work her magic on him.
They had barely traveled a league from the monastery when frantic hoofbeats pounded behind them.
“Councilor Turio!” a bellowing voice called.
Erich pulled his horse to a stop and turned to see Mingus riding toward them.
“Councilor Turio,” he called again. “We received urgent news this morning from Chendas. General Gautho needs you back at the monastery immediately.”
At that, the councilor turned his horse to face the messenger. “Did he say what is so urgent?”
“No.” Mingus shook his head. “Just that you must return.”
“Very well.” The councilor sighed. His wrinkled skin looked rather flushed in the brisk morning air.
Erich squeezed his knees lightly and his horse moved back in the direction of the monastery.
Mingus shook his head, holding out a hand. “No, not her.” He paused, breathing heavily. “The General don’t want her back under his responsibility. Continue your journey to Chendas.”
Confused, Erich cut his eyes at the councilor. He hadn’t feared the girl yesterday, but after her manipulative tactic this morning, he was no longer quite so naïve. “She’s too dangerous to return to a building full of warriors, but not so dangerous that I can escort her across two kingdoms alone?” Something felt off about this.
The councilor urged his horse forward until he was side by side with Erich. “She is harmless without her voice, Your Highness.” His whisper was barely audible. “She could turn the tide of this war. The general himself said it: you are the best he has got. You can do this.”
Erich felt the weight of responsibility settle onto his shoulders and he sat taller on his horse. “She cannot speak?”
The councilor raised his eyebrows—or what would have been his eyebrows if he had any hair left above his eyes. “Whatever you do,” he whispered, “do not remove the ribbon.” He tapped his own neck lightly.
Erich’s eyes darted back to look at the girl.
The tip of her nose was quite pink.
Erich pushed the thought away. Why had he even noticed that?
She was indeed wearing a white ribbon around her neck. A dark rock hung from its center.
Why hadn’t he noticed it before? Perhaps the bright green of her eyes had distracted him from looking anywhere else.
Blinking rapidly, he turned his attention back to the councilor, relief flooding through him. She couldn’t use her magic without her voice.
Turio was also staring at the girl. He had an odd smirk behind his thinning beard that disappeared as quickly as Erich had noticed it. When the councilor turned back to him, his expression was completely serious. “You can do this. I’ll catch up with you if I can or send a messenger after you.”
Erich gave a single nod and the old man quickly rode back toward the waiting Mingus.
He could do this. He would ignore her flaming red hair and pleading eyes and carry this task out for the safety of his kingdom and his people.
Chapter 17
The prince spent the entire day riding just behind Aizel.
Every time she turned to look at him, his eyes were glued to her in concentration.
She felt uncomfortable with the way he stared at her as if he was afraid she would escape if he so much as blinked.
Alarmed at the thought, she glanced at him once again from the corner of her eye. He was still staring at her, and it was a full seven seconds before he finally did blink.
At least he was blinking. Somehow, that made him less scary.
He never said a word to her. Eventually, Aizel forgot about his angry eyes as she lost herself in the beauty of the landscape around her. She had never left her small island home and the tall trees and towering mountains in the distance were more beautiful than she had ever imagined.
