- What's it like? - she questioned by frowning.
I took a deep breath and went to Aila. Taking her hand, I drove her to sit on the change, for I realized that her legs were bamboo and she could fall at any moment.
- Roy would have to marry and have a child with a royal woman to make that plan work. - I explained. - Even if Aideen got pregnant, her plan would never work, because even though they are the daughters of a lord...
- We're not royalty. - she completed in a whisper.
- Exactly! - I nodded. - Everything they did was cruel, unnecessary and extremely useless to them.
Aila closed her eyes and cracked her teeth with a growl.
- That makes me even more angry!
- I know that, but we need to tell Alistair what happened and send Ravenna to the gallows.
Aila jumped out of the bank and started walking around.
- You can't do that! - she panicked. - If Alistair finds out about this, my sisters will die!
- Aila?
- She's gonna kill them! You'll kill them! - she repeated. - No one can know I'm alive or Roy will come after me too. I want to take him by surprise and...
- Aila, listen to me! - he said shaking his shoulders. Aila blinked breathing with difficulty. - Ravenna will not kill Aideen because my brother will stop her from doing so. As for Aileen, I can write to my brother and ask him to protect her in Dunhill, but I need to report all that you told me.
Aila looked at me with apprehension and started crying again.
- Hey, come here! - I said pulling her up against my chest and hugging her. - Cry! Cry it'll do you good.
I put my hands on her back to relieve the tension and she tied my waist. For a moment I saw the fragile girl that she was as a child and who was molding herself with time. Despite being a great and courageous warrior, Aila had to understand that she was also a woman with feelings and this gave her the right to cry, be afraid or smile of happiness.
- Do you believe you can trust me? - I asked him whispering.
- No! - she answered between tears, hiccups and fungus.
- Why shouldn't I? - I asked by frowning. - I thought we were becoming friends.
- Yes, but you're still an idiot! - she fired.
I could feel his laughter against the skin of my chest and it made my body shiver. She walked away looking at me and dried the tears running down her face.
- Do you really think you can protect them?
- Yeah. Aila smiled and settled down. - I would do that a thousand times, giving my life in return, if I could see her smile more. Did you know you look beautiful when you smile?
Aila rolled her eyes by putting her hands on her waist.
- Alec, I still have my daggers and I won't hesitate to use them.
Smile for her.
- That won't protect you long from me, Aila. - I whispered, making her widen her eyes. - And it will be a great pleasure to wait until you lower your guard.
She swallowed dry and, lifting her chin, smiled in defiance.
- You're gonna sit tight.
I let out a laugh and she followed me. We were staring at each other for a while. Aila seemed to be a little more relaxed after she had put all that out and was happy to have helped her reveal all that. I wondered what anguishing moments she must have gone through. Having to impersonate someone else to keep your sisters alive must have been horrible. On the outside I was calm and tried to give her maximum support, but on the inside, I was like a volcano about to explode. If I had hatred of Roy before, now the anger had tripled. He had wounded two innocent people just for fun. It was not possible that he did not know our laws and did not know that a son of his with a woman who was not of royalty would not result in the plans that he wanted to accomplish. Even if this were true and he did not know it, there was still something strange, for he doubted that he had deceived Ravenna only to possess one of his nieces. What made you think L'Aquila would work? Something didn't fit.
- Let's go back to camp. - said picking up my stuff. - You need to rest and I must write a letter.
- Thank you, Alec! - she said and in an unexpected gesture, Aila kissed my cheek. - All I'm asking is that you don't call me by my baptismal name so that it doesn't get to Roy's ears.
- Why is that? - I asked by frowning.
- I don't know, but I feel safer with the fact that he thinks I'm dead.
- All right, Bree! - I said with mockery. - Only if you keep calling me Alec. You know I hate that "Your Highness" thing.
She had a laugh.
- Of course, Your Highness! - she debated.
- You know it's annoying, don't you? - said ironically.
- So... - she shrugged her shoulders. - Then we're even!
I shook my head from side to side and we walked side by side back to the camp. We were silent on the way and I got to
