The Nun and King

Chapter 24

So sorry for the long wait! Went to Okee music fest, work, camping, family, etc so I've been very busy. To say I'm sorry here is an extra long chapter, enjoy!!!! 

The forest is dark, with little moonlight to light the trodden path. Thankfully Channing thought to bring a torch and leads us through the dark woods. The rain has ceased, leaving the air heavy and damp. We've yet to speak out loud though the twins have shared a few silent words with their hands. From the corner of my eye I notice Rory steals glances at me periodically. Sighing, I turn to look at him and notice how the torch casts strange shadows across his face. "Are you alright?" I ask, "Did they hurt you?"

Rory looks away and shrugs before scratching his thick beard. "I'm fine. They smacked me around a few times and sang about what they would do to me but it never happened thanks to you." His dark eyes fixate on my own before he looks ahead, focusing on Markus who is about five paces in front of us. "They knew about Beth Ann though. I cared more about their threats towards her," he adds. "Got a split lip because of it."

Chewing the inside of my cheek, I nod as I share his worry. The women shouldn't be apart of this, we only happened across them making them our wards. "I'm sorry I didn't come sooner," I apologize. "We had to think of a plan, one that had the best chances of getting those involved out alive. We didn't even know they had taken you till the following morning."

He gives a nod. "I bet Morgan was pissed at you, huh?" he asks and we both chuckle.

"Aye. He's probably wide awake in a tiff as if he's mother," I say, earning another laugh. We then fall back into silence, each lost in thought. He still glances at me from time to time and I can tell he has more to say but has his reservations. "What is it?" I ask, pulling my damp shirt away from my skin. A fresh set of clothes and a warm meal is beckoning me.

Rory looks at me for a long moment, his body slightly swaying atop his horse. "Don't think too hard about what she said." I go to open my mouth to respond but he gives his head a shake and continues. "It doesn't take a genius to guess what she wanted to talk about with you. When I first saw her after I arrived at their camp she slapped me across the face and muttered your name before storming off," he says.

Tilting my head back, I look up at the stars through the forest canopy. "Sorry about that," I offer, though it comes off empty. It's clear she did it thinking it would serve as some sort of revenge for my actions. "I don't really feel like talking about it, Rory," I sigh. It's been a long and exhausting day and I'd rather not have to think about the consequences of my own actions so soon."

"Fine. I'll talk and you listen," he states. "I'm not saying that you were right to not marry that girl. Hell, I would have probably done the same but thankfully I'm a second son and don't have the responsibility as you do," he begins, guiding his horse around a fallen branch before rejoining me by my side. Channing and Markus seem to have given us a slightly wider gap to allow our conversation more privacy. "I know you feel guilty, but no one blames you. I've never once heard the men mention the reason why we are here other than to fight for Paevia."

I want to tell him that the reason he hasn't heard talk about my choice is because they aren't idiots. Besides, Rory is as big as a bear and would be able to change topics as soon as they noticed him.

"I wouldn't have been the first royal forced into an arranged marriage. Many have done it in the past--why couldn't I have just made the best of my situation?" I ask rhetorically. "Because I'm a selfish person, I suppose."

Rory scoffs at this. "You also aren't the first person to want a halfway decent looking wife," he says, trying to lighten the mood. "I mean honestly, I've taken shits that looked better than her."