Stolen Princess

14. Let It Out

When the gray light of predawn finally comes I've nursed my hurt into a growling rage. I sit up and wait by the fire as the others begin to shift about the camp. There's not a sound from the birds or any of the other morning creatures you'd expect here in the forest... I should've noticed just how odd it was that I'd never come to any harm here all these years...

"Alright, deerling?" Talon's voice is rough and low from sleep and it shoots through my chest, making my bones melt so fast it takes my breath away. I turn to glare at him, the one I'm most angry with, not that I'm about to give him an answer... but he'd better know how angry I am.

He frowns at me, cocks his head once and I almost open my mouth to shout at him to tell me it's not true, that he's not like every other living creature I've ever known, besides Isobel. Instead, I turn my back on him until he leaves me be to rouse the other two.

I wait good and well until the fire is banked, all are packed and there's the sound of voices coming from across the ravine. The others will make it across soon enough.

"We should head East," Thio begins, but I'm quick to interrupt him.

"This is where we part ways," I say it without room for debate, "This will pass the test of the chalice, but you cannot arrive until after I've won first place, understood?"

"Shouldn't we travel together, Princess?" Thio asks, taking the sparkling vial and glancing behind me to see what Talon will say.

"Doesn't matter what he thinks," I snap, and I can feel all eyes turn to me, "You don't trust us, we don't trust you - it does us no good to travel together and be accused of cheating. I intend to win, Sir Thio, not make friends," I let the words ring through the brisk morning air, trying not to let the sad puppy look on Thio's nondescript features get to me. He's been nice enough after all...

"Sosha," I say her name short and quick. Maybe I should be worried about how easily commanding people comes to me.

"Princess?" she answers formally, stepping up beside me, but I feel her glance at me sideways.

"Thio - this is my... friend," the word feels sour in my mouth but I press on, "She's going to blood bond you to herself just so there's no confusion... I require discretion, and Sosha here will ensure you and your men remember that" I nod at Sosha dismissively and she moves forward to perform the ceremony. 

Thio's eyes are the size of saucers as my she Orc quickly pricks each of their fingers, smashes the blood together, and uses the ancient words that ensure mutual destruction. I know now just how weak they really are... compared to how big this secret really is. 

I watch closely, despite Talon's presence at my side, I refuse to look at him. I hate him a little. So much that it feels like I'm choking on the feeling. So maybe a lot. And the world feels like a chasm of loneliness with no one to trust but myself this morning. So I don't say anything, and neither does he.

Thio and his goons head east, just as he planned, and I lead the way to the west. I know the Shadow Forest better, so I'm confident we will still make it home before Thio, and long before any of the other knights complete whatever goose chase Endena is about to send them on.

"You seem... less, chipper... This morning," Sosha comments as we walk side by side. The boys drag behind us several paces, almost as if they can tell I want the space.

"What's it to you?" I grumble at her, picking my way over the undergrowth of a mangrove tree, of course, Thio chose the easiest route.

"You said they didn't trust us... just what exactly did I miss while we were out?" she presses on as if I'm excited to talk to her at all.