Day two went by similar to the first, although the scenery had improved. The forest to their right had thickened, and it was as vast as it was beautiful. Several times Vera caught glances of creatures running through the trees, and their freedom brought her a melancholy type of joy. She listened to the bird calls and allowed herself to imagine what it would be like if she could fly away and travel wherever she wanted.
Trey came up to ride beside her a few hours in, and she couldn’t prevent the little leap her heart gave. He held a hand to his heart and gifted her with a dramatic retelling of how Elric hadn’t shown up to keep him warm, swearing he’d nearly frozen to death. Vera laughed so hard she snorted.
“Something must be truly funny indeed, for a laugh like that.”
She froze, almost choking on her laugh, and turned to her other side to find Prince Eithan looking at her. She gawked at him, completely at a loss for words. Her entire head emptied apart from the image of pointing a sword at his chest, and that memory wasn’t the least bit helpful.
He chuckled, “Forgive me, I shouldn’t tease you before even introducing myself. Eithan Matheris. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He nodded and somehow made the motion look both relaxed and regal, even from atop a horse.
“The pleasure’s mine, your highness.” Vera wasn’t sure if she was supposed to try to curtsy or bow while riding and opted for the safe choice of lowering her head to stare at her hands. Her face warmed, and a blush crawled up her neck as she felt his continued attention.
She wondered if the well-formed lips she’d seen the other day were smiling under his mask, silently laughing at her uncertain, awkward behavior.
Daring to glance at him from under her lashes, her breath hitched as they locked gazes. The glimmer in his eyes alone told her he was, indeed, smiling, and she couldn’t help but wish she could rip his mask off.
“I hope Gibson hasn’t been giving you any trouble.”
“No!” She cringed. “I mean, no, your highness. He’s been the perfect gentleman.”
He laughed, sending a wave of flutters through her chest. “Gibson’s never been a gentleman a day of his life. How many inappropriate comments have you made to poor Vera today, Gibson?”
“Ten. Possibly fifteen, but definitely no more than twenty.”
“A personal record, I’d wager.” The prince winked at her, causing her blush to explode across her body until she was sure her skin would peel off from the heat. “Well, I do hope you have a pleasant day, Vera.”
He nodded at Trey before urging his stallion forward to stop alongside Elric. Her mentor glanced back at her, and she fought the urge to hide her face, dreading what the prince was possibly saying.
Feeling a sharp poke in her shoulder, she twisted to find Trey’s arm outstretched toward her.
“What was that for?”
“Your face is so red, I’m trying to figure out how you’re not engulfed in flames.”
She shot a death glare his way, “You shouldn’t point that out to a lady, it’s rude.”
He cocked his head to the side and shrugged, “That’s true I suppose. However, I’ve never been one to follow basic manners, and you don’t act much like a lady.”
Against her will, Vera felt her lips quirk up on the sides, but she didn’t reply. He wasn’t wrong, and they both knew it.
She moved her gaze to the sky and frowned. She wondered what it would be like to truly be herself around other people.
Trey had already concluded she was raised differently, but would he still act friendly if he heard her curse like a drunkard or knew she could knock him out? Somehow, she highly doubted it, and the thought weighed heavily on her shoulders.
They rode in silence for a while before she was able to shake the weight off and dared to ask him about his home. His eyes glossed over, looking incredibly sad, before he blinked it away.
He told her about being born to a single mother a few months after his father and older sister had died from an aggressive sickness. Vera wanted to ask more, but he seemed disinclined to speak further about them.
She realized, like her, Trey may not have had the perfect family or happy start in life. Somehow it made her feel better. If Trey could make his way, regardless of how and where he was born, and find contentment, then maybe she could as well.
They continued chatting occasionally until late afternoon when he finally rode off to make plans with the guards up front. They’d traveled hard the previous day and had an early start on the second, so at their current pace, they were estimated to arrive in Midpath within an hour or two.
Vera was practically vibrating with excitement. She couldn’t wait to walk amongst the vendors and wrap up the evening with a foaming mug of ale.
∞∞∞
Once again, Vera was given a room to herself. But unlike at Kilmire, the inn was larger, and the men were able to separate between five rooms instead of three. However, with the sneaking glances she’d seen several of the men give to the women they’d passed, she wondered if a few would return for any sleep at all.
With the rumors she’d heard about the Crown Prince, she doubted he’d care. Apparently, he was quite popular with the women in the capital, both nobles and servants. Who knew, maybe he’d be off looking for company as well.
She stood awkwardly to the side as the men discussed their evening plans. It seemed like most were interested in visiting a local tavern, and she had to agree. After two days of travel rations, she’d kill for a warm plate and a large drink.
She made to follow them out, but Elric stopped her with a hand to her shoulder. “Go ahead up to your room, Vera. I’ve already paid the innkeeper for your supper, just tell him when you’d like it brought up.”
She clasped her hands in front of her and glanced at the men walking through the door before looking back at him.
“Wait…what? No, I’d like to go with you. Please. I’ll stay quiet, I promise. I’d like to walk around before the sun goes down.”
He shook his head, narrowing his eyes. “A lady does not drink ale with the Crown Prince’s guards and wander the streets at dusk. Go up to your room.” He didn’t wait for her to reply before turning and pushing through the door.
She stood alone in the center of the room. He expected her to stay inside the entire evening? What about tomorrow? If he thought she’d stay locked in her room while he accompanied the prince to the army stationed a few hours out, he had another thing coming.
But the longer Vera contemplated it, the more she realized that’s exactly what he’d demand she do. She wasn’t a guard. She wasn’t even considered an apprentice.
Suddenly feeling like crying and stabbing something at the same time, she spoke with the innkeeper about supper and trudged upstairs. A few minutes later, the lanky man returned with some bland, warm stew and bread.
She was just finishing up when a foolish, yet tempting, idea formed inside her mind. Elric had said a lady had no place wandering the streets, but as Trey had pointed out, she wasn’t much of a lady to begin with.