Page 56 of The Curse Between Us

“Alec will send word if anything happens,” she said. “You’re not leaving the people entirely helpless.”

Edric exhaled loudly, casting her an exasperated look. “How is it you know exactly what I’m thinking?”

“Because I know you,” she replied calmly, her eyes glinting with a knowing light. “And because anyone in your position would be thinking exactly the same thing.”

Edric’s thoughts turned to the jagged peaks ahead, the mountains that loomed larger with each passing mile. The terrain between Rafria and Eskarven was treacherous, but more than that, it was a land of memories—of things both bitter and sweet. He thought of Zephyr, of their complicated history, and how, despite the chaos, the land had shaped them both.

“The king of Rafria riding into Eskarven in a time of distress, not to conquer them at their weakest, but to offer what aid he can.” He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself. “How strange.”

Eileen’s gaze softened, the sunlight catching in her red hair as she shook her head. “It isn’t so simple anymore, my lord. The world itself is changing. Rafria and Eskarven are no longer enemies. What happens there is happening to us as well, just taking different forms. For better or for worse, we’re all in this together.”

Edric couldn’t help but smile, albeit a little wryly. “You sound like Zephyr.”

Unruffled, Eileen shrugged lightly. “I’ve always found him to be quite clever.”

“He is,” Edric agreed, the warmth in his chest growing as he thought of Zephyr. His heart quickened at the thought of him, but his mind was tempered with concern. The last thing he wanted was to imagine Zephyr in danger, to wonder what dark forces might be closing in around him while Edric was still so far away.

“So,” Eileen’s voice broke through his thoughts, a sly note in her voice as she looked at him. “Things are going well, then?”

Edric flushed, though it was more than the warmth of the sun beating down on him. His thoughts drifted to the meadow, the softness of Zephyr’s skin beneath his fingers, the way the king’s body had relaxed under his touch. The memoryof their shared moments—intimate, tender, and unspoken—flooded him, and for a moment, he felt a warmth deep inside, despite the pressing uncertainty of their situation.

“You could say that,” Edric murmured, suddenly aware of how much he had missed Zephyr’s presence. His voice softened with a trace of teasing as he asked, “And you? How fares the valiant Dorothy?”

At the mention of her friend, Edric turned to her, a sympathetic grin tugging at his lips. Eileen sighed, her eyes going distant, lost in thought.

“She’s glad not to be risking her life on the battlefield every day, of course, but she’s also getting restless. She doesn’t know how not to be a soldier.”

Edric nodded, understanding completely. Many had found peace after the war, but peace came with its own struggles. Dorothy, so used to the rush of combat, had always been a warrior at heart. Now, with no battles to fight, the adjustment was harder than anyone had anticipated.

“She has a place among the Royal Guard, if she wishes it,” Edric offered, his voice quiet but earnest.

“I know.” Eileen shrugged moodily. “She says she means no offense to what I do, but that the Guard simply isn’t for her. All I’ve ever wanted was for her to be safe and happy, and while she’s certainly a great deal safer now that we’re no longer at war, sometimes I worry she’s far less happy.” She paused, the weight of her words settling between them. “How odd, to be discontent in a time of peace. But I understand it, and I do not know how to help her.”

Edric grimaced, feeling the pain of her unspoken worry. He reached out, patting her shoulder in a quiet show of sympathy. There was only so much any of them could do for Dorothy, but they could still listen, still offer support in whatever way they could.

“Well,” Edric said with a sigh, glancing ahead at the rugged path, “if the prophecy is correct, another war is coming. We may have need of Dorothy on a battlefield once more.”

Eileen gave a soft laugh, but it lacked humor. “I know,” she said, a new strain in her voice. “That’s what frightens me the most.”

She exhaled sharply, her gaze shifting to the horizon where the mountains loomed ahead. “Plenty and Abyss, their rivalry playing out with our lands as the battleground. I used to love the old tales, the drama of it all. But to imagine it all coming to a head, here and now...”

“I know,” Edric said softly, his voice almost a whisper. “It’s enough to make even the most valiant among us tremble.”

Eileen nodded, her expression thoughtful. “And yet here we are, riding right towards it.”

At that, Edric grinned, a sly smile curving his lips. “Would you have it any other way?”

“No.” Eileen’s smile mirrored his. “I wouldn’t.”

???

The descent from the mountain pass into Eskarven felt unnervingly calm, a stark contrast to what Edric had anticipated. The drop in temperature, usually sharp and biting as they neared the borders of the kingdom, seemed almost muted this time. Edric looked at the sky above, the faintest traces of dawn coloring it with pale blues and pinks. Not a single snowflake drifted down from the heavens, and the air lacked the usual bite of Eskarven's winters.

Eileen, ever perceptive, noticed it too. She wrapped another layer of fabric around herself, but there was a frown etched on her face as she adjusted the second-heaviest cloakin her pack. “Is it not normally colder than this?” she asked, glancing at Edric with a mixture of curiosity and unease.

“Yes,” Edric replied, his voice tight, his eyes narrowing as he raised his face to the sky. “It is.”

He urged his horse forward, his mind racing. It was one thing to read about the odd changes in Eskarven—Zephyr’s messengers had sent reports, full of alarming details. But seeing it firsthand made it all the more troubling. The weather, the land, even the air—it was as if something was quietly, steadily eroding the stability of the kingdom.

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