Erich had been acting in his kingdom’s best interest, but over the last few days, he’d come to the conclusion that not everything was as clear as he’d understood it to be. Azel was not at all who he thought she was, and he realized he would be more than relieved to see her go free.
Azel grabbed the leader’s arm, pulling him toward her and shaking her head.
The bandit looked down at her, his eyes questioning.
Azel stepped around the fire and slid her hand into Erich’s arm, hugging herself to his side possessively.
She shook her head, her meaning clear.
“I still don’t trust him,” the bandit leader responded. “But I won’t hurt him if that’s what you want.”
Azel nodded, gracing the outlaw with a dazzling smile.
Erich felt another pang of jealousy. She had never given him a smile like that. Not that he’d ever done something to deserve it.
“But that still don’t answer the question. What are you doing out here?” The bandit’s question was directed at Erich.
He quickly looked down to Azel, not sure how he could answer the question other than with the truth.
Azel repeated the bird motion with her hands, following it up by spreading both palms wide and shrugging her shoulders in a question. Her eyes darting around the area as though she was looking for something. “Where’s Robin?”
“We are looking for Robin Lockwood.”
She squeezed his arm affirmingly.
“You need Robin’s help?” the bandit asked.
Azel nodded.
“See, that’s tricky.” The man leaned back on his heels and stroked his beard. “She can be awfully hard to find, even for those of us lucky to call her friend. Of course, for you, she wouldn’t mind if I told you where she was. And I would, but the problem is I don’t know.”
Erich felt Azel’s arm go slack. He looked down, catching the disappointment on her face. “Could you let her know that we are looking for her if you see her soon?” he asked.
Azel smiled up at him.
The bandit’s eyes opened wide. “I could do that. I’ll tell her you’re headed for Chendas. Which... you might be in luck and find her first. She’s been spending a lot of time there these days, what with everything that’s going on.”
Erich had no idea what was going on in Chendas, but he didn’t dare to ask.
“You folks have a safe trip,” the bandit said. “Never know who you’re going to run into out here.”
With a nod of his head, the bandit disappeared into the ferns along with the rest of his troupe.
Erich wrapped his arm around Azel’s shoulders and pulled her close.
Chapter 29
The following morning, they went on their way as early as possible. Though the bandits had ended up being harmless, Aizel could sense that Erich was eager to get as far away from them as possible.
“This is officially the border into Chendas,” Erich said. They had crossed the mountain pass and were beginning to descend on the other side of the mountain range.
She only had two more days—maybe three—before they would arrive at the marble palace.
Three more days to either murder the young man whom she had grown to grudgingly respect or find a new way to free her sister.
They were riding side by side, and she glanced furtively at Erich. He, too, seemed less animated than before. Maybe he was dreading the end of their journey as well.
“Let’s stop early tonight,” Erich said, confirming her suspicions. “Constance is looking pretty tired.”
