Page 117 of Once Upon a Crown
Her hands were clutching my arms as if she were afraid I would disappear if she let go.
“I need you to stay here for now.” She looked up at me with surprise. “Our army is on the other side of the valley, and I can’t get both of us through there, not until the fighting has eased a little.”
I pulled the Myrgonite dagger from my boot and pressed it into her hand. “Keep this with you. I know it will protect you.”
“What about you?” she asked, eyes full of worry. “Who’s going to protect you?”
“Alastor is right by my side,” I assured her. “I just wanted to make sure you were safe. I promise I’m coming back to get you.”
“Okay,” she said after a moment.
I kissed the side of her head, not wanting to let go of her either. Just a little longer. We only had to hold out a little longer.
“I love you,” I whispered into her hair.
“I love you too. Please be safe.”
I forced myself to pull away from her. A stray tear rolled down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away, still trying to be the strong one.
With a parting nod, I stepped out of the tent, sword in my hand. I looked around for Aries. It was time to end this once and for all.
Chapter 47
Lance
I was freezing.
My entire body shivered as I rode through the Norrandish forest, following the path that led to the mountains. I could no longer feel my fingers or my toes and every part of me yearned to turn around. To go back to Mistwood, where there was a warm fire and some ale. But I knew I couldn’t. I knew I had to find her.
When I’d walked into Gwen’s room last night, she was packing a small bag.
“What are you doing?” I asked her.
“Just gathering a few supplies. I’m not actually sure what one needs for this sort of thing.”
I closed her bedroom door behind me, leaning against the frame with my arms crossed. “What sort of thing?”
“You know, battle.” Gwen looked nervous and excited at the same time.
It took me a moment to realise what she meant.
“Gwen,” I said slowly. “Tell me you don’t plan on leaving with the army in a few hours.”
She stopped what she was doing and looked at me. “Well, I’m not just going to sit here and wait for better days.”
I didn’t know if it was meant to be a jab at me. At the fact that I wasn’t going with Cai’s men. But it was not my fight. And I wasn’t trained to be a soldier. If something went wrong on that battlefield the next morning, I would need to flee back to Everness to warn the council, to decide our next steps and how we were going to protect Everness if Aries was coming.
“This isn’t about waiting around for better days. With all due respect, you have never seen real war before. You have no idea what you’re walking into.”
“I’m not as fragile as you think.”
I dropped my hands and walked over to her bed, where she’d resumed her packing.
“I don’t think you’re fragile.” My choice of words seemed to please her momentarily, until I added, “I think you’re being stupid.”
“Well, I’d rather be stupid than a coward.” That one definitely felt directed at me.
“Sometimes being alive is better than being brave.”
