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The last block Ihopedwas in our way at least.
“There’s a passage up the mountain. Horses can’t make the journey. You’ll have to walk the last part on foot,” Shiren tells me.
John is visibly uncomfortable, running his hands down the side of his face and through his quite lengthy beard. “If you are caught and you mention this place, Shiren or myself, I will personally be your end.” There’s no offense in his words, only truth. Shiren isn’t his daughter, but there’s a love there. A respect. I nod to signal my understanding.
“I will map it out for you.” Shiren proceeds to draw the inn and surrounding mountains, including as much detail as she can to help catch familiarity with the area for someone who has never before set foot there. She explains the directions— what to look out for, where to turn, how long each element is expected it to take, and what to do if we run into anyone else.
“Hide if you can. If you’re spotted, let them know you’re with…” She looks around, taking a deep inhale before continuing, as if what she’s about to say will damn her. “Let them know you’re with Sutter.” John hisses at the name, but she continues as if she doesn’t hear the sound. “If they still approach you, or seem hostile, get ready to fight for your life. They won’t ask you questions. They will just attack”
“I understand,” I tell her. “Thank you.” It’s a rare thing for me to say, but I can’t help but express my gratitude again. “You don’t know how much good you’ve done here.” I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Shiren’s kindness is more than I could have hoped for.
She smiles gently, her youthfulness showing through it.
I look back to the drawing, trying to make sense of everything she’s written. She does her best to explain and reiterates everything on her makeshift map, but I can only pray I remember it all.
“We will be leaving tomorrow,” I tell Shiren and John. I fidget with my sleeve a moment, toying with the rolled up corner. Collectively their gazes turn to me.
“That boy can hardly sit up let alone walk,” John exclaims, the lines on his forehead deepening.
I meet his eyes, shifting the weight on my feet as I do. “I know. It will be immensely difficult for him. But we’ve already stayed here too long. And the longer we stay, the longer not only our lives are at risk, but yours as well. You’ve helped us more than I could have ever hoped receive. And now we must return the favor.”
Of course it’s a horrible idea, taking Roan away in his condition. But I know— I know it’s what he would choose if I asked him. I could see it in his eyes when I told him how long he’d slept. We’ve been here two days too long.
They are reluctant, but truth always wins. Neither of them nod their understanding, but they don’t press it any further. I don’t like it any more than they do, but we are sitting ducks here, waiting for the hunter to bury his arrow in our heart. John marches out of the kitchen. Shiren’s eyes droop down as she looks to me, leaving a soft smile before she follows after him.
Thankfully Roan is asleep when I head back to our room. It would be wise to let him rest and recover here for at least another week, maybe even two or three before venturing out. But we just don’t have the luxury of time on our side. Jaren and his men could find us at any moment, and Princess Adalena gets further from our grasp with each passing breath.
A headache begins to form, and I do my best to rub it out. Eventually I decide that sleep may be the only cure. A few blankets and a pillow lie at my feet. I prop the pillow against the bed, my head resting against the mattress so I can keep an eye on Roan.
I awake suddenly, startled. My senses spring to life, looking around the room for threats, waiting and listening intently. But I find nothing. It’s quiet as night has fully descended upon the inn, the only sound coming from rustling trees and a few creaks from the settling structure.
After sufficiently searching the room, opening the door and assessing the hallway to be empty, I return to the bed, hoping by some miracle to fall back asleep. Maybe I can get a few more hours before the grueling day ahead.
I sit down, leaning back against the bed and the comfortable pillow waiting for me. As I adjust my position, two eyes stare at me from a few feet away. Roan is awake, his blue gaze fixed intently on my face.
Worried, I ask, “Are you in pain?”
“A little. But I’ll live,” he breathes out. His brows are pulled together, his lips a hard line, the painful inhale of each breath obvious in his tense form.
“I can get you something to help if you need it.”
I move from my makeshift bed over to the table, my feet nimble as I try not to make the floorboards beneath me quiver and moan. My hand reaches for a small bag, dumping its contents of herbs into a small cup of water. Shiren uses them to ease headaches, from what she told me, harvested from her small garden out back. The girl gave some to me to help Roan recover more easily, easing his pain in whatever way it could.
I hand the cup to Roan, looping my arm behind his neck to elevate him and avoid the medicinal liquid from spilling down his face and neck. He drinks hastily, like he hasn’t had water all day, his eyes leaving mine for only a moment as he gulps down the cup’s contents.
He finishes, and I gently lay him back down. His eyes find mine again, and suddenly I’m very aware of just how close we are. My body is lying flush next to his on the bed, the natural heat from him mingling with my own. Awkwardness fills me as I see him continue to stare at me, a depth to his gaze that feels foreign and vulnerable.
The lack of confidence I felt earlier staring at Shiren’s map created a chasm in my shield, a hole that I wish I could rebuild in this moment to save me from the strangeness I feel at our proximity, and the eyes that are trying to tell me more than I’m ready to hear.
“You don’t feel as warm tonight,” I mumble, my gaze wandering anywhere but to his own.
“I feel much better. Other than the burning in my side that comes every time I breathe, or move.” There’s a bit of mirth in his reply, and I can’t help but feel relieved that his wit is alive. Hopefully, his strength will build quicker than I anticipated.
“We will leave first thing in the morning. I know you won’t be nearly well enough as would be ideal for such a journey, but we can’t risk being found in the state we are in. I think it’s wise we move on as soon as possible.”
“I agree.” His voice is husky, a mix of tiredness and pain.
“Shiren, the girl who’s been helping us, drew me a map. There are some tunnels that naturally carve through the mountains. They will get us into Thenstra undetected.” What I don’t tell him is that others use those tunnels. And from what Shiren mentioned, they won’t be friendly to unfamiliar faces.
