The Path of the Doomed

Chapter 4: The Tracker

I slept surprisingly well on the soft sheets of the bed. I had no way of knowing the exact time, but I can tell from the coldness of the room that the sun has not risen yet. 

I got up and walked around. Water, I need water. 

I went to where I hung my canvas bag and took out the jug of water. After I quenched my thirst, I took my bag and headed outside. There is a lake near the passage. 

When I got out, I walked further into the forest for a little while and found it. The sun is now slowly peeking into the trees. 

I hung my bag and cloak at a nearby tree and took off all of my clothes. It is still cold and I thought I liked it until my feet touched the water. It's freezing. Thinking I wouldn't last long in this temperature if I took my time, I walked towards the center of the lake and dove. 

The freezing water enveloped my entire body and when I resurfaced, the coldness suddenly became less bothersome. I scrubbed my entire body using the soap Old Rob gave me from the last time we saw each other. 

He said my old soap was for men. I wasn't really that bothered but I am starting to like the one he gave me. It smelled like lavender. As I washed my hair, I took note of the need to cut it soon. It is too long now. 

After washing my entire body and hair, I swam around, reveling in the coldness of the water and the tickling of the sun rays as they peeked through the trees. After a while, I swam back towards the shallow area and stood up. 

As I was getting ready to leave, I heard the galloping of a horse behind me. I turned around and saw Argon approaching. I stood there as I waited for him, not bothered by my nudity since the water covered my lower region and my hair covered my chest. 

I waited for him to speak when he halted his horse but was a little surprised when he unmounted it instead. He just stood there, holding the reins of his horse. When it seemed there was no sign of him speaking, I took the liberty of doing so.

"What do you want? I believe the queen said I have the entire week for myself." I started.

"Y-yes, I was informed. The queen, however, ordered me to accompany you." He answered as he took off his hooded cloak and put it on the back of his horse. It is the first time I have seen his face and his first time seeing mine. He has blonde hair, pale, blue eyes and a sharp jaw which was oddly enhanced by his stubble. He is handsome.

"She did not inform me of that."

"S-she went to see you in the room early in the morning but you had already left. I was called and sent instead to inform you of some new information regarding our orders. There have been some changes." He walked and tied his horse to where mine was. He then walked towards the lake, knelt and washed his face. 

He then looked at me, rather distressed that his eyes might betray him and wander on my entire body.

Before asking anything further, I decided to free him from his discomfort and started walking towards a rock standing erect by the side of the lake where I had intended to change my clothes. 

But as I progressed, the water became shallower, slowly exposing the rest of my body. I looked towards him but he had already turned around. A slight laugh almost escaped my mouth.

"A-are you c-changing? H-here. The queen instructed me to give you this." I heard him say, when I was already drying myself with a cloth. I peeked around the rock and saw him carrying a bag.

"What is that?"

"Clothes."

Without asking anything further, I gestured to him to throw the bag to me. I opened it and it was a dress. A long dress, reaching perhaps to my ankle. What am I to do with this? Does she get to command how I clothe myself now? Before I could complain loudly, Argon spoke;