Page 11 of If The Crown Fits
“And what is it that you want me to steal?” The question made him chuckle and I felt a pang in my stomach.
“I need you to steal from a prince.”
Chapter 4
The Evernean Forest
Cai
The morning had become afternoon and I rolled my shoulders to release an ache in the muscles of my back.
“We will soon have to find a place to stop for the night,” Jack suggested. After our earlier conversation had ended, we spent most of the journey in silence. And for some reason, I was rather thankful for it. Though the quiet did allow my mind to wander to unpleasant places, which wasn’t much better.
I heard a bird screech in the trees above and looked up. In that moment I felt a hand on my leg, and I drew my hunting knife before my eyes even landed on the person belonging to the hand. At my action, my guards followed by drawing their own weapons. I was surprised to find myself looking down at an old woman with grey tassels of hair hanging over her shoulders and a large coat wrapped around her small body. She appeared to have come out of thin air. I forced my heartbeat to calm down with a breathing technique we’d learned during the war. Why was she dressed for winter in the middle of a hot day?
“Do you have water for an old woman, please? I need water.”
I sighed in relief and gestured to Brutus, who carried our food and drink. He took out a flask of water and handed it to her.
“Thank you, sir.”
Brutus nodded in response. I often wondered if he wished he could speak. And if so what would he have to say? I couldn’t imagine being in that position.
The woman drank thirstily. What was she doing so deep into the forest? There wasn’t a village for miles.
“Do you need help?” I asked, concerned.
“No, thank you, Your Highness,” she replied, and I sat back in my saddle in surprise.
“How do you know who I am?” She wiped the sweat from her brow, suddenly appearing much better.
“I know a great many things,” she said, and Jack’s gaze met mine.
She opened her coat and the insides appeared to be lined with lots of little things, from jewellery to trinkets to small weapons. “Would you like to buy something?” A strand of grey hair fell down her wrinkled forehead but she didn’t brush it away.
“No, thank you,” Jack replied for me.
“Very well.” She shrugged, unfazed, and closed her coat.
Then she looked at me, the gaze in her crystal-like eyes intensifying. “You want to go that way.” She pointed to the path that went right at the fork ahead.
“But we are travelling to the coast,” Jack said. “We must be heading west, I’m afraid.”
The woman shook her head. “You must go east.” Her gaze didn’t waver from mine. “Soon you will find a pool where you and your men can rest. You must swim in the water, Your Highness, for if one of royal blood enters the water, it will show you images of your future and what you must do in order to preserve it.”
Jack chuckled. “Your Highness, surely you don’t believe this.”
The rest of my men remained quiet and Conner’s face had gone slightly pale.
“Do I look like I’m talking to you, young man?” This shut Jack up. Turning back to me, she continued, “Go to the pool as I tell you. From there proceed to your destination. You must have courage, Your Highness. The journey will not be full of ease. Butperhaps you will find what you didn’t know you were looking for.”
She pulled a dagger from one of her coat pockets, the hilt crested with patterns of gold. “You’re going to need this.” She held it out to me. “And thank you for the water.”
Not wanting to seem rude, I took the dagger and thanked her politely.
“Remember my words, Highness,” she said in a serious tone. “Be careful please, these woods aren’t safe.” She smiled and patted my horse’s neck before walking off as if nothing had happened at all.
The lot of us looked at each other in confusion.
