“And do you think he’s of use?”
“Potentially.” Giving Rolley another glance, I catch him looking back, offering me a slight grin. “He is either a man of his word or a leech that has made his way to our father. Either way, we will find out.”
“Very well.” I don’t know if that’s the answer he’s looking for, but he doesn’t ask anything further and offers my arm a squeeze. “This is gonna be fun, little brother.” We separate and prepare to leave.
My father granted permission for us to use the larger carriages, and they are proving much more spacious and with softer cushions, which I’m grateful for on this long journey. I also made sure workers placed coats and blankets inside each carriage for when we approach the mountains. It might be perfect weather now, but the temperature will begin to drop drastically once we reach the mountain range.
Cheers and shouting erupt as we depart and continue through the city streets. It isn’t until we are out of the castle’s territory, and beyond the gates, that the air around us falls silent and the real journey begins.
Benny’s storytelling is spellbinding and lasts hours without a single ounce of boredom. Before opening his emporium, he too, traveled and studied the lands of Ladora. He was once assistant to Hargo Vello, someone I met while in the kingdom of Ethmay, studying the land known as the Thistlebane. Hargo is also accredited for his most recent discovery in Diamondhead, where he and his crew dug up scrolls said to be left by King Tuhan.
Esha wasn’t as enamored with Benny’s stories, not until he brought up his studies in the divinities. Particularly the divinity of Mathemous, the one who is said to have crafted Saden and is widely known for his elemental powers, especially that of nature.
Although Esha has been with me since my adolescence, there are only a handful of things I have been able to pry out of him. One being his piousness to the divinities, and I know he always carries the symbol of Mathemous with him around his neck.
Benny’s eyes dart to the side cart that carries the alcohol and back to Esha. It’s the tenth time since leaving Saden that he’s glanced at it.
“You can help yourself,” I interrupt, and lift up the lid, revealing the selection of liquors. “I’m certain Deean stocked it himself when he still had intentions of coming.”
Benny doesn’t go for it immediately, but within a few minutes, the lid to the bottle of whiskey is off and a glass is in his hand.
“Can I get you two something?” He stops from serving himself.
“I don’t drink, but thank you,” Esha responds, before leaning back.
“Thank you, but my goal is to finish this book before we hit the mountains and that will make me see double,” I say.
“I shall have the double for you, Your Highness. There was once—” Benny is cut off when he goes flying into the air. Whiskey and the glass going with him.
The seat beneath him rises and I draw a knife at the sight of a hand coming at me.
“Don’t you dare touch my Hennessy.” My eyes hit the back of my head when I recognize the voice.
Deean flies out of the storage space beneath the seat. Once he’s fully out, I grab him by the collar and place the knife to his throat.
The carriage goes silent, and Benny settles back in his seat after practically being thrown in the air.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Even with the metal at his neck, Deean offers up nothing but smiles. “I told you that you were to stay back in Saden.”
Deean shoves me off, knowing I don’t have the guts to do something. “We had a deal. I followed through and I’m going. Father can come fetch me if he wants me back.” He pours himself a drink. “Though he doesn’t. Probably won’t even notice I’m gone, and if he does, he’ll think I’m off drinking in some unspeakable place with unimportant people.” A tinge of guilt comes over me. It’s a thought most of us had when he didn’t show up for the send-off.
The knife gets placed back in the sheath. “Technically, your end of the deal hasn’t been fulfilled. You still owe me a map.”
He nods and then wraps an arm around Benny. “And we are working on it. Aren’t we?”
“Only if you don’t scare me like that again,” Benny says, eyeing Deean’s glass. “And only if you pour me one.”
Deean wastes no time and gets Benny the drink he’s been longing for.
Esha clears his throat. “May I give my opinion on something?”
“No one really asked, but why not?” Deean settles back in his seat, placing a blanket over his legs. The heat quickly dropping, just as I said it would, the more we move through the mountains.
“It was already dangerous traveling with two Saden princes,” Esha begins. “You now want us to carry on and take the entire line of succession into enemy territory?” Deean raises an eyebrow.
“He’s right,” I confirm.
“People won’t know. Only those traveling with us know what I look like. I’ll simply be another servant to you. A second Esha if you will.” He stretches, and I wonder how long he was stuck in that storage compartment. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll throw on some kind of disguise. Just to make sure people can’t see a resemblance.” It does little to comfort me.
