Page 64 of Unbetrothed

Someone trod down the lane, huffing. “The Prince is back.”

I peeked around the trunk. Shadows cast by lamplight revealed the silhouette of several men standing in a tent. Their voices overlapped, each one with an accent far thicker than anyone in Zichri’s group had. A man shouted above the rest of the voices, “What news did he bring?”

“I don’t know. I ran straight away when I heard he was back.”

Grunts followed. A slight figure popped out of the tent and strode between the row of tents. We needed to follow him. I snapped my fingers at Laude for her to come alongside me and marched into the camp. Her boots splashed a few steps behind me, but I didn’t check. I tried to imitate my brother’s wide gait but gave up when a heavier flow of rain dropped from the heavens. Mud stuck to my boots. More soldiers approached, so I pulled my hood over my eyes. The men ducked into a tent before reaching us. By the time I looked forward, I couldn’t find the scrawny man. How could I have lost him?

Hairs rose on the back of my neck. A haze of rain made it impossible to see the size of the encampment, so we wouldn’t have that information to share when we got back. We moved ahead, unsure of where to go when a melancholy song wove through the tents. I recognized it. One look at Laude, and she mouthed the name:Gonzalo.

Will he be for us or against us? There was only one way to discover the answer. I waved for Laude to follow. Water cascaded off the front of her hood while the cloak clung to her slight figure. It’s a miracle no one stopped us to ask what two ladies were doing in the encampment.

I turned toward a large tent at the end of the row, suitable for housing an entire garden party. Gonzalo’s deep voice grew stronger during a long, passionate note, drawing us near. Lightning slashed the blackened sky. Keeping low, I pulled back the flap to the tent and gagged at the stench of the muck. But I tiptoed deeper to peek around the corner of a horse stall.

Gonzalo tended a steed, his back facing us. “When do we move?”

“We’ll find out soon enough,” Jaime responded. “Blas won’t be coming. He still hurts from whatever he ate. He should have known better.”

“Don’t blame the poor lump. He still believes his failed year with your tutor went well.” Gonzalo chuckled.

Laude stepped on my toes, and I did everything to bite back a screech of pain.

Jaime spoke again, “He needs to control his impulses before he gets us killed.”

Laude clapped a hand over her mouth, her cheeks bubbling. I mouthed for her to keep still. Despite my reminder, she peeked around the first stall and turned back toward me, so overjoyed I thought she might rush into Jaime’s arms. I clamped my fingers on her arm.

“That’s something interesting, coming from a man who makes a fool of himself for aservant girl.” The contempt in Gonzalo’s voice hit Laude like a slap across the face.

Jaime sighed. “I’d take the march back from Giddel over again if I could.”

Laude’s eyes shot open wide. Thank the Ancient One we were hidden by a tent wall and for Jaime’s sincere heart. In her excitement, she danced on her toes.

“Did you hear that?” Gonzalo said.

A rustling of hay kicked up my already clamoring heartbeat. I pulled Laude out of the tent, dragging her around the corner. The heavens unloaded a torrent, soaking down to my underclothes. I glared at Laude, who bobbed her head, making it difficult to see if she was upset or beaming. Lightning cracked through the sky, and then came a rumble. I tried to listen for Gonzalo or Jaime, but all I made out were muffled sounds.

A man raced around the corner, and we turned away to hide our faces. Judging by his form and the way he walked, it was Jaime. I guessed he didn’t notice us. With a slight jerk of my head, Laude and I bounded in pursuit. We followed a short distance behind him so we wouldn’t lose him like we had the other soldier. Other men moved to and fro, but thankfully all of them seemed focused on their destinations.

Jaime halted. He whipped toward us and pulled out a dagger. I jolted back, and so did Laude. The point of the dagger hovered so near my nose I dared not breathe. Raindrops splattered on the blade, rushing down to the hilt.

After a second, recognition flashed across his face. “What are you doing here?” He slipped the dagger under his cloak and leaned in. “You should be halfway to Giddel by now.” Like a mother hen, he lifted the corners of his cloak over our shoulders and ushered us away.

I’m not sure what he hoped to achieve by covering us. We had already been soaked, and his cloak didn’t cover more than a fraction of my shoulder, but I appreciated his gesture. Men passed by with mischievous grins on their faces. Those smug smiles could not come from anything decent in their minds, and I seethed with disdain.

Jaime led us into a dark tent. He picked up a lamp and tipped it toward Laude. “Only Gonzalo, Blas, and I share this tent. You should be safe here. Let me go see if Prince Zichri is still meeting with his brothers.”

Laude took the lamp and lit it with a glowing finger.

I seized his forearm. “I want to go with you.”

He shook his head.

Another flash of lightning illuminated the space outside the tent.

Thunder boomed. Jaime glanced over his shoulder, unintentionally flinging droplets from his drenched hair. “You cannot. It’s not safe.” He passed a poignant look at Laude.

I understood that he didn’t want anything to happen to her. He wouldn’t negotiate. So, I dipped my head, letting him go. He tromped out of the tent flaps.

I whispered to Laude, “You stay here.”

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