Page 11 of Quest

He shook his head. “Though I have no doubt a political arrangement with a princess or even a noble lady is in my future, for now my duties keep me occupied. Even if I had time, pursuing romance would be pointless as I will have little say in choosing a wife.”

An unexpected emotion flared to life at his words—one almost akin to jealousy at the thought of his future marriage—but I didn’t allow myself to examine it too closely before I hastily squelched it.

Sir Jiang gave the prince a hearty slap to his shoulder. “A man dedicated to his duty is as noble as any knight dedicated to a lady, but your time will come.”

For a brief moment the prince looked almost wistful, but the expression faded to his usual stoic manner so quickly that I wondered if I’d imagined it.

Their laughter resumed, their banter on which lucky woman would one day find herself wed to the prince filling the space. I tried to tune out their speculation, grateful the conversation had mercifully shifted away from me and territories that threatened to expose more than I could afford. Eventually the focus drifted to other topics and I let out a silent breath of relief.

When the hour grew later, we unrolled our bedrolls around the amber embers from the fading campfire. I hoped sleep would provide a momentary reprieve from my anxiety, but the first night on the ground beneath the vast canopy of stars proved more arduous than I had anticipated. After the exhaustion from the day’s march, sleep should have claimed me swiftly, yet the discomfort of my surroundings kept me painfully alert—I had never slept in the presence of a man—not even my father—only to now find myself trapped within a prison formed by the bodies of three very male strangers.

The men around me settled into their rhythms of sleep, unaware of my constant vigil. I lay stiffly on the rough ground, my bedroll wedged uncomfortably close between Kael and Sir Jiang. Every so often someone shifted or mumbled in his sleep, while their snores—a cacophony of grunts and sharp exhales—pierced the quiet of the night, echoing strangely across the open landscape. Each sound and movement heightened my awareness that I was an imposter in this rugged band of travelers. My unease twisted, a knot of worry at odds with the serene beauty of the starlit sky.

As the night stretched on I grew more accustomed to the presence of my sleeping companions, though the aches of sore muscles only grew stronger. Careful not to disturb the others, I shifted slightly in search of a less rocky patch of ground and pulled my cloak tighter around myself, trying to carve out a small cocoon of privacy and warmth midst the chilly night. With each passing hour the reality of the days ahead weighed more and more heavily. How many nights would I be forced to endure like this? Would I even be able to maintain this façade in such close quarters?

Suddenly Sir Jiang’s massive figure rolled over, his arm landing heavily across my chest with the force of being pinned by a fallen log. I uttered a breathy gasp of pain as the sudden weight forced the air from my lungs, struggling not to cry out from the unexpected pressure. Carefully, I wriggled out from under his arm, trying desperately not to disturb him and attract unwanted attention to myself.

My scooting abruptly stilled when I found myself laying just a few paces from Prince Darcel. My breath caught. My first instinct was to edge as far away as possible, even if it risked getting crushed once more by Sir Jiang’s girth, yet some unknown force prevented me from moving.

The proximity sent an unfamiliar thrill of anxiety mixed with an inexplicable anticipation I couldn’t explain, providing an unexpected challenge beyond the mere discomfort of the hard ground and the chorus of snores. I tried to awkwardly contort my body in an effort to make myself smaller, but the futile gesture did little to prevent me from brushing against him, each touch sending a jolt through me that wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

The memory of my drifting gaze during the uncomfortable conversation concerning my romantic interests returned full force. Suddenly desperate for distance, I hastily wriggled a few inches away and rolled over, putting my back to him, but the gesture did little to lessen the effect created by his presence.

Sleep that had been difficult before now felt impossibly elusive. I tried mimicking the deep, unconscious patterns of those around me by taking slow, measured breaths in hopes of relaxing the tension holding me in its relentless grip, but the task proved futile with my mind racing with thoughts of discovery and the prince’s unnerving proximity.

A cold wind suddenly swept through the camp, causing me to shiver, my cloak insufficient against the chill. My chattering teeth and my restless shifting must have woken the prince, for he suddenly stirred. I stiffened, listening with bated breath as he sat up and leaned over me, the heat of his stare both piercing and comforting at once.

Cradling warmth unexpectedly enveloped me. In my surprise it took me a moment to realize that Prince Darcel had draped his own fur-lined cloak over me. The fabric was heavy and warm, infused with the faint, alluring scent of pine and leather. I peeked over to see him turned away, feigning sleep.

My heart gave an unexpected flutter, even as annoyance surged that once again my weakness hadn’t gone unnoticed. In my stubborn pride I was tempted to remove the cloak, but the warmth was too comforting and my body too weary to protest his consideration. I pulled the cloak more tightly around me, feeling strangely protected.

Despite the lingering discomfort from the ground and camping outdoors, a sense of peace settled over me. The stars began to blur as sleep claimed me, finally closing the first endless day of many in this strange quest that already had taken an unexpected turn.

CHAPTER 6

After a restless night tossing and turning, sleep finally granted me a fleeting escape. It felt as though I had scarcely closed my eyes when morning broke. A heavy veil of exhaustion hung over me, a thick fog pressing against my senses, luring me back into slumber’s comforting depths. The temptation was only disrupted by my aching muscles, a painful reminder of yesterday's exertion and the long night spent on the unforgiving ground.

For several long minutes I was caught in a tug-of-war between the need for more rest and the urgent purpose that had initially roused me. Eventually sense prevailed in this inner battle—I couldn't squander the opportunity granted by the quiet of the early morning before the others stirred and risk detection.

With strenuous effort, I pushed through my fatigue and slowly lifted my heavy lids. The world gradually came into blurry focus. Through the faint rays of early morning dawn spilling over the horizon I discovered I’d unwittingly shifted during the night—Prince Darcel was now mere inches away, our hands almost grazing. I must have moved closer to him in my sleep, unconsciously drawn by his warmth.

I gasped in silent horror and quickly scooted back, nearly careening into Kael’s sleeping form. He grunted and shifted but thankfully didn’t wake. I didn’t linger to see if he stirred further, my attention instead inadvertently captured by the prince’s features—softened in slumber, somehow more striking when cast in the gentle morning glow.

I found myself staring longer than was sensible—momentarily mesmerized—before I managed to yank my gaze away. Annoyance surged sharply at my ridiculous ogling, already urging me to steal another glance. I cursed myself for my distraction. My duty to safeguard my family’s ancient spell was already burdening enough without this confusing attraction clouding my judgment. Why did the man I had resolved to view as my adversary have to be so compelling?

Even though I’d determinedly looked away, Prince Darcel’s unwanted presence lingered. In addition to his proximity, the cloak he’d placed over me last night still enveloped me. I hastily yanked it off, determined to place as much distance between myself and the frustratingly alluring prince as possible. I immediately missed its warmth as the chilly morning air assaulted me, though the prince’s scent lingered—a mix of his natural fragrance and the grime of our journey, creating a strangely intoxicating blend I was both eager and reluctant to wash off.

In the end my desperate desire for a bath proved stronger. I kept my breaths quiet and measured as I carefully eased out of my bedroll, feeling the soreness of my muscles from yesterday’s long trek as I stood. Mindful not to disturb the rhythmic breathing of my sleeping companions, I tiptoed around their sprawled figures. Each step through the makeshift maze of bodies and belongings proved a challenge, navigation made more difficult by my stiff limbs and the dim morning light, with only the faint glow of the dying campfire’s embers casting flickering shadows across the ground.

I had nearly reached the edge of the clearing when a voice cut through the silence, sharp and accusatory. “Where are you sneaking off to at such an unusual hour?”

I gasped and spun around, my heart pounding in sudden alarm. Sir Jiang stood there, his expression etched with stern disapproval. Fluster momentarily trapped my voice. “What are you?—”

“As His Highness’s guard I was the first one responsible for the night watch, which includes monitoring for any suspicious activity, whether it's from external threats...or from within our own ranks.” His gaze narrowed meaningfully. Instinctively, my hand flew to my face, fingers brushing against the rough stubble that reassured me my disguise was still intact.

He continued to watch me intently, clearly expecting some sort of explanation. Gathering my wits, I seized hold of the excuse I had prepared in anticipation of such a confrontation. “I’m gathering herbs,” I said with as much confidence as I could muster. “Some can only be picked at dawn to retain their maximum potency.”

Despite my explanation, Sir Jiang’s skepticism didn’t falter. His pointed look darted briefly to the satchel I clutched tightly like a lifeline. “And such a task requires all of your supplies?”

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