Page 24 of If The Crown Fits
I awoke a few hours later at the sound of soft murmuring close to me. I sat up and my eyes landed on Conner, who was fast asleep even though it was his turn to keep watch. Lara’s eyes were closed, and she was twisting in her sleep. She let out painful moans, and realising she was having a nightmare, I placed my hand on her shoulder.
Immediately she sat up, gasping for breath.
“You were dreaming,” I said, sitting back and folding my hands over my crossed legs. Her hands shook but I didn’t mention it. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked around at the lot of us, seeing I was the only one awake.
“What did you dream about?” I don’t know why I asked her. The words went flying out of my mouth before I could properly comprehend them.
“It doesn’t really matter,” she replied, lying back down and closing her eyes, though I knew she wouldn’t sleep now. Because I knew what she was going through, knew what it felt like to be scared of closing your eyes at night.
“I dream too,” I said softly, trying not to wake the others. She opened her eyes. “All of us—” I gestured with my head towards my men — “have memories that haunt us.” She nodded slowly, her mind clearly somewhere else. “You should get some rest,” I said, and she nodded again before closing her eyes once more.
Chapter 7
The Evernean Forest
Lara
My eyes opened with the sun shyly peeking out behind the tree branches. I must have eventually fallen asleep again, after my nightmare.
I watched Alcott and his men saddling up their horses, and contemplated who exactly they were, and where they came from. Judging by their accents alone, I doubted they were Evernean, but their clothes bore no symbols or clues as to who they were and they didn’t appear to be carrying anything of importance, like merchant goods, to indicate the reason or destination for their journey.
Perhaps my only chance to get away would be to gain some of their trust. I could understand why they were suspicious of me. I’d hardly provided a clear story about who I was and what I was doing when I encountered them. But at that moment I’d been unprepared and taken by surprise and inappropriately dressed. In fact, I still sort of was.
The only thing I knew for certain was that they had managed to cause a lot of trouble in my life in a very short time and that I wanted to get away from them as soon as possible. Lance would explode if he found out I was missing, and that would be only if Rhen or Cordelia or any of them were still alive.
I walked over to where Alcott was returning his sword to its scabbard. For a moment, a jewel at the hilt caught my eye before my gaze shifted back to him. “I have a favour to ask you.” My voice came out hoarse and groggy.
“Yes?” He didn’t look like he was eager to do me any sort of favour.
“I need clothes.”
He looked slightly surprised at my request, but not completely unwilling.
“I hate to tell you, madam, but I’m afraid we don’t carry fancy dresses with us.”
“I don’t need dresses. I’ll wear whatever you have.”
It wouldn’t be the first time I wore men’s clothes. Alcott didn’t seem entirely convinced.
“I’ll see what I can get you.”
I stood waiting as he walked over to Conner’s mare and pulled a few things out of one of the bags. He made his way back to me and handed over the clothes and shoes. I mumbled a small thank youbefore turning around and scanning the area for bushes, hoping to find one I could dress behind. There were a few not too far off and I started making my way in that direction, before a voice came up behind me.
“Where are you going?”
I rolled my eyes. Turning around, clothes in my arms, I scowled at him.
“I’m getting dressed,” I stated.
“Where?” He crossed his arms.
“Over there.” I gestured to where I was heading, and Alcott shook his head.
“I’m coming with you.”
My eyes widened. “You most certainly are not!”
But Alcott was already walking. “If you think this is how you’re getting away, then you have another think coming.”
