“Her name is Lana, she was the princess and heir of Loral. I was sent to take her and bring her to the elders in Thelsamel. The day I arranged to kidnap her, she was attempting to escape because some of the royals were plotting to have her killed. If you wish to know more of her story than that, you will have to ask her yourself.” He paused, gauging her reaction. Nym had straightened and the blood had drained from her face. She seemed shocked at this news, horrified.
“Are you okay?” he asked, concerned.
“Yes!” she answered quickly, recovering herself. “Yes, I’m okay. It’s… just a shock. The poor girl.”
He nodded and continued, “She doesn’t know why I’m taking her to Eva or who sent me. I don’t wish for her to know. She believes that I was sent on a rescue mission to spirit her away to the elven lands. I’m taking the horses and going ahead so I can make sure it’s safe for her there. I must find out why they want her. If their intentions are to harm her…” He paused, steadying himself. He could hardly stand the thought of anyone harming Lana and he was horrified at himself for even considering taking her to the elders.
“I will not allow it to happen, but I couldn’t bear it if she knew that I was purposefully leading her to a place knowing that the people there might harm or imprison her.” He closed his eyes, willing away the images of Lana in pain.
“I understand,” Nym told him, putting a hand on his arm. “We are sworn to obey the elders and going against their wishes must be torturous. She will not know of your shame from me.”
“I want you to follow me on foot and take her to Thelsamel yourself.” He told her, looking into her eyes intently. “If it isn’t safe, I will return and meet you on the way. Take the path that passes through Kindermer so I can find you if I need to.”
Nym was paying close attention and he knew she understood. She was almost like a sister to Lana at this point and he was certain she would die before she let anything happen to her.
She clasped his hand and looked him in the eyes. “I swear to you that I will do everything in my power to keep her safe. Take care of yourself.”
He dropped her hand and embraced her. “Take care of yourself and take care of her. I will see you soon.” He turned away and gathered the horses. He would ride one and then the other to keep them from becoming exhausted. There was no time to waste, he had to reach Thelsamel quickly and find out exactly what they intended to do with Lana. They might execute him for entrusting his mission to another but it was a risk he had to take. He couldn’t allow harm to come to the halfling woman that he thought he might love.
* * *
Nym stood in silence, watching Clay’s shape shrink on the horizon until she could no longer distinguish him from the trees in the distance. Finally turning, she sat on a rock and gazed at Lana’s still shape. She had much to think about while she watched over her new charge.
She was filled with emotion but kept herself in control. Nym prided herself on always keeping calm no matter the situation but what Clay had told her shook her to her core. Rowan - Lana, she corrected herself - was the heir of Loral. This woman that she had come to love was a princess and next in line for the throne. A throne that Nym herself had worked very hard to topple not so long ago.
Nym reflected on what she had done in the days before she met Clay and Lana. The blood on her hands. If Lana ever discovered the truth, she would never forgive her. Nym had only been following orders, just as Clay was, but knowing what she knew now, she wished she’d simply run away. Refused the charge the elders had placed upon her and fled in the night.
If she had, she wouldn’t have to face this woman when she woke. If she had, Jacob would still be alive. Nym’s heart broke all over again, just as it did every time she thought of him. Lana could never, ever know of her betrayal.
Abandoned
Lana woke feeling chilled and at the same time content. She stretched in her blanket and smiled, her eyes still closed. Clay had kissed her and it was so sweet. She thought about that moment, when she was so lost in her sorrow and fear and he had been so kind and concerned. He had held her and looked into her eyes until it seemed his face was all that existed in the world and then he was kissing her. She put her fingers to her lips, remembering the feel of him.
Slowly, she realized that something was different. She sat up and looked around the camp. Clay was usually asleep in his own bedding next to hers unless he had the last watch but he wasn’t there. His bedding wasn’t even there. She frowned and stood up. The horses were gone, too. What has happened?
Then she spotted Nym, sitting still as a statue on a rock nearby, facing away from her.
“Nym,” she said urgently, walking around to face the woman. “Where has Clay gone?”
Nym turned to face her but didn’t quite meet her eyes. It seemed to Lana as if her friend wanted to look anywhere as long as it wasn’t at her. She began to feel the first stirrings of true panic. Something was very, very wrong.
“Lana, he left,” Nym said quietly. At first, it didn’t register that Nym had used her true name but then she understood what she had heard. All of the strength left her legs and she sat down
