Page 63 of If The Crown Fits
“What sort of business required you to dress up like a princess and ride around the kingdom with a prince?”
“That’s none of your business.”
Ray shrugged. “All I’m saying is that Arthur isn’t going to be happy about this.”
“I don’t care what makes Arthur happy.”
“If you knew who she was, why did you steal from us?” I asked Ray.
“I know Lara,” he replied with a curt tone. “I could tell that she didn’t want you to know something. I mean clearly you didn’t know she was a bandit, which said enough. Plus I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make a prince beg.” He smirked and I clenched my teeth.
We reached a small rock-strewn hill and made our way to an opening between the rocks. The tunnel was narrow and my legs almost scraped against the walls. There were small beams of moonlight leaking in through the rock formation but it was still very dark. However, Lara and Ray seemed to know the way very well.
We exited on the other side and made our way along a fairly quiet river before merging back into the thick of the woods. I heard voices and saw the light of campfires and small cabins andtents. So this was how the clan had managed to stay hidden from King Magnus for so long.
We entered the camp and my eyes fell on the scrawny bodies of small children running about. There were men and women in all manner of clothes, but some of them appeared to be dressed like warriors.
“Welcome to Fairfrith,” Lara said over her shoulder.
“Are they all bandits?”
“Most of them are peasants, outlaws and rogues exiled or running from the monarchy because they couldn’t pay taxes or had to steal or kill for survival. My uncle offers them protection in return for their alliance with the rebellion.”
No one seemed to pay us much attention, which was a small comfort considering I was in a camp full of murderers. We dismounted and I stared in awe at the small society they had created.
“Take him to Benette,” Lara ordered Ray, who didn’t seem very keen on the task,
We left the horses in a paddock and I followed Ray to a small wooden cabin. There was very little candlelight inside and it smelled strongly of herbs and ointments. A large wooden table took up most of the space, with shelves containing all manner of jars lining the far wall. There was a small pallet bed in the corner but no one was inside the cabin.
“I’ll go look for her,” Ray mumbled. “Stay here, Prince.” He slammed the door shut. I didn’t mind the disrespect as much as I had a feeling my trials were very far from over.
Chapter 17
Clan Fairfrith Camp
Lara
My cabin was just as I had left it. I opened the trunk at the foot of my bed and pulled on some clean clothes. The cut on my leg was starting to bleed through the cloth I had tied around it. I flinched in pain and decided that putting on a skirt would be best for now. I would have to do something about that soon.
I made my way to Benette’s cabin on the other side of the camp. Inside I found Cai, sitting with hands folded on her table, but no Benette.
“Where is she?” I asked, closing the door behind me.
“Don’t know.” He shrugged.
“Always missing when you need her.” My eyes landed on all the supplies that were laid neatly on her small tables and shelves. “Take off your shirt,” I ordered Cai, lifting a nearby pitcher and pouring the water into a bowl. There were a few strips of cloth on her table, so I dipped one of them into the water.
“What?”
I rolled my eyes. “Take off your shirt. Your wounds need to be looked at.” I started picking through all of Benette’s little bottles of tonics and ointments. Luckily, they were all labelled.
“I can do it myself, it’s fine,” he replied. I took a bottle that would help with the pain and another that would prevent his cuts from getting infected.
“I’m trying to help you.”
“Yes, well, if it’s out of pity or guilt, I’d rather you wouldn’t.”
After everything I’d been through, he had managed to tug my last nerve. I didn’t feel guilty yet, but I wasn’t going to have him die on me either.
