The Unraveling

Leon

"What is life like in Mead? I've heard so many stories. Why didn't the King take my mother? What will I be doing at court?"

They had been riding in silence for a couple of hours, but apparently Mayla now trusted him enough to talk. Or maybe she was bored. Leon didn't know nor did he care. He wasn't opposed to the silence. He rather disliked the amount of questions that came with breaking it though.

"Life in Mead is like life anywhere else and King Vier is a merciful king. That is why you are going in place of your mother. You will be a ladies maid, taking care of each and every need that they have."

Only two of those statements were factual.

Life in Mead was like anywhere else. Human nature didn't really vary, same shite just different location. Mayla was going to be a ladies maid, that was also fact. However, King Vier was not a merciful king. And truth be told, Leon had no idea why he had requested Ravina's first born daughter and not her head. It was probably closely related to whatever new prophecy the witch in Finlen had told him on her latest visit to court. If that was the case, then he felt bad for the girl next to him. She could be dead in two days time.

He held that thought captive and crushed it. He couldn't afford to feel sorry for her. That would cause him to question the motives of the man who had saved his very life. And that of his mother and brother. He owed King Vier his life. Whatever he had to do with this girl was his business, not Leon's.

"Dismount. We need to water the horses and there's a stream through that thicket." Mayla slid off her horse. The thing with small villages was that their people were more than capable. Both boys and girls were taught from a young age to hunt, ride, and manipulate. They were taught survival. Which made Leon's job easier in this moment and difficult in others. For now, it meant that he didn't have to give Mayla a helping hand in the dismount. Something he truly appreciated, especially since his right knee had gotten stiffer as they rode. This stiffness was caused by an injury shortly after joining the King's guard. He had mouthed off to one of the older guard's and they had put him in his place. His place being face down in the dirt with a displaced knee and busted eye. He still had the scar along his brow line and aching knee for souvenirs. Reminders to recognize when someone was stronger.

He had yet to make the same mistake. His father had always told him that he only needed to be taught once. A quick learner he had said. Thoughts of his father had distracted Leon just long enough for him not to see the trip wire. His leg was successfully entangled in a net that hoisted him into the air.

"Mayla! Do not move!" His warning came too late, as Mayla stepped into the same type of trap just feet away from where he was suspended.

Shite. Just what he needed. He tried to maneuver into a position that allowed him to access the paring knife he kept in the pocket of his cloak. The net held too tightly for him to reach it.

"Shite! Mother says that the only people who lay these kinds of traps are kidnappers. They're gonna sell us. They're gonna sell us. Oh, gods, what are we gonna do? You have a plan right?"

"Just give me a minute to think." Neither of them were heavy enough to break the branch holding the net. He didn't like their odds.