“You went after your comrades when they were taken by harpies,” I say. “While others fled into the forest.”
Sarika makes a face, as if this reminds her she’d been abandoned by her comrades. Then she manages a soft smile. “That was more impetuousness than bravery. As furious as I am with those villagers, I’d never have managed to rescue anyone on my own. I didn’t even have a weapon.” She chuckles under her breath. “Perhaps I thought I could bring them down by shouting mathematical formulas.”
“That’d be enough to scare me,” Alianor says.
“My point, dear little sister, is that you have grown and matured since I last saw you, and I believe these adventures—and the companionship—are to thank for that. You ought to stay with your friends. I need to get home.”
“Why are you coming home?” Alianor asks. “You should be in school.”
“There was an…issue. The point is that I should continue on my way. I will be fine with Cedany, though I’m sorry you’ll lose her help…and that she’ll lose an adventure. We were talking earlier about how much fun she was having, being attacked by evil harpies, being held captive by evil villagers. So much fun.”
Sarika’s expression makes me laugh. However, I’m not happy letting Cedany and Sarika head off through the woods on their own. Not when Sarika is injured, and we left those “evil” villagers very annoyed with us.
I glance at Wilmot for help.
“I believe we can spare Kaylein,” Wilmot says. “As much as Rowan will miss her, if the princess agrees, she should go with Cedany. The four of us—and Malric—will be a suitable party for the rest of this journey. We’re all thankfully uninjured and well armed.”
Kaylein protests, but it’s obvious she’d like to spend more time with Cedany, and I’m happy I can give her that. Whatever is growing between them—friendship or more—Kaylein deserves it. She’s worked so hard to get where she is, and Mom always says everyone needs more than work in their lives.
Cedany, Kaylein and Sarika will stay here for the night, resting and camping. We’ll continue on. Wilmot’s right that I’ll miss Kaylein. Cedany, too, who’d been an interesting companion and a useful one, for both her bow and her healing skills. And then there’s Sarika, whom I haven’t even had a chance to speak to, but I’m fascinated by her studies and would love to learn more. That’ll have to wait, though. They will be there when we finish our journey. Plenty of time to talk then.
We say our goodbyes and continue on. It’s fully dark now, and we don’t dare go too far, but we want to make a bit of time and none of us are tired.
We decide to stick to the top of the Michty riverbank. Tomorrow, we’ll discuss following the riverbed. It’s not the path we intended to take, but we’re here now, and it’s a clear and open area. Too clear and open at night, though, when we can’t see well. Daylight will be different.
By the time we do stop, we’re exhausted. Wilmot lights a fire and warns Dain, Alianor and I that we’ll need to help with the guard duty, now that Kaylein and Cedany are gone. I offer to take first shift, but Malric is already in place by the fire and growls when I come near. It’s very hard to argue with a giant wolf, especially when you’re too tired to find words. So I go to bed.
Malric must stand guard most of the night, because when I wake in the morning, Wilmot has only been up for a couple of hours. He grumbles about the warg overworking himself, and I agree, yet I cannot help but appreciate the long rest. We all needed it. I’ll just need to make sure Malric gets a chance to nap later.
We’re getting ready to set out for the day, and Dain and I are looking around making sure we haven’t left anything behind, when a voice from the forest says, “I think you forgot something, your highness.”
I give a start, and Dain pulls his dagger. My hand is on my sword when a figure steps from the shadows.
It’s the village boy—Trysten—holding a box. He thrusts it out to me, and through the bars, red eyes peer back. I let out a squeal of joy.
Trysten chuckles. “I thought you might want her.” He steps up to Dain and extends the box to him. “I believe she’s yours?”
Dain hesitates and glances at me, as if he’s misunderstanding, and Trysten is returning the dropbear to me.
“She is yours, isn’t she?” Trysten says.
Dain nods and takes the box. He sets it down and opens the door, and the dropbear flies out and attaches herself to Dain’s shirtfront.
Trysten laughs. “Definitely yours.”
It takes a moment. Then Dain says gruffly, “Thank you.”
“He means that,” I say. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to get her back. We had to leave her behind when…” I remember exactly who Trysten is, and my voice chills. “When your people drove us off.” I pull my sword and take a step back. “If this is a trap—”
“It isn’t. And they are not my people.”
“Oh, right, because you’re a prince. You really do think we aren’t very smart.”
“Uh,” Alianor says. “He actually is a prince. Kind of. Sarika explained. It’s a long story. A long and weird one.”
“Which I’m happy to tell, once we’re on the road,” Trysten says.
“Do you see a road?” I say.
His lips twitch. “Once we’re on the trail, then. I’m coming with you.”
Wilmot returns from washing in the creek. “What’s going on here?”
“He’s a prince,” Alianor says. “Also cute. Can we keep him?”
Dain sputters, and Trysten flushes. I stare at Alianor.
“What?” she says. “You get a cute jackalope. Dain gets a cute dropbear. I get a cute prince. Seems fair.” When
