Of Plots and Mischief

Chapter 15: Sharing stories

It was Sonaya who caught Prince Karriv when he fell. Phyllon had just come around from scouting ahead when he saw him stumble. Sonaya seemed to have been ready for him and caught him before he hurt himself. Or, rather, he hurt himself more, Phyllon realised as Sonaya revealed the discoloured leg. Phyllon found his eyes narrowing as he waved at Asmir and approached the pair. He knelt down beside the prince, who he realised had grown pale from pain and raised an eyebrow at Sonaya, who nodded. He surveyed the injury before turning back to him.

"Can we move a little further before we treat it?" He asked Sonaya.

Sonaya nodded. He ducked under the prince and helped put one arm or his shoulder. The prince took offence at this and protested.
"Hey. I can go by myself." His face sweated from the effort, and he stumbled the first step he tried to take. Phyllon helped him from his other side.

"You can't go much further like this. You should have let us see your injury earlier. I am surprised you have managed to come this far."

The prince grunted, his face sweating from the effort of putting one foot in front of the other. "We are going. Too. Slow."

Phyllon gave him a strange glance. "You are worried about her." He stated. Prince Karriv replied with a grunt. Sonaya turned to look at them, questioning.

"Princess Anarlyia. His betrothed. She is..." Phyllon trailed off with a shrug as the prince slumped in their grasp.

"I haven't heard from her since the kingdom was locked down." He admitted. "She was in... She had left shortly before it reached the city, but my brother was still there. I don't... I don't know." He started. Phyllon had to tighten his grip as he stumbled.

"Courage, Your Highness. You have to believe that everything will happen in accordance with what has been written. All will be well." Phyllon eyed Sonaya at the unexpected comfort he offered the prince. Sonaya has his usual hard to read expression, but Phyllon could sense understanding.

Prince Karriv turned to him, his face mixed with hope and fear as he whispered. "What if... it happens? What if I am too late?"

Sonaya gripped his shoulder harder, a gesture of commiseration. "Faith, Ebayiea. You have to believe that everything will happen for the best."

It was almost blissful, the rest of their journey, though they often had to stop and allow Prince Karriv to rest. They managed to take a look at the prince's leg, though there appeared to be no visible damage. Asmir took turns with them in helping the prince while the other scouted ahead.
It was Phyllon' turn when he heard the prince cry out in startelement just as he reached back.

He found the prince sprawled on the forest floor, having tripped over something he could not see. Sonaya helped him sit up while Asmir glanced around before catching Phyllon' eye. When he nodded to indicate he found no threat in the immediate vicinity, Asmir immediately set about making camp. It was due time in any case, as it was close to dusk, though they had hoped to have had more success by then.

The prince closed his eyes in pain as Sonaya prodded and poked his leg. Phyllon turned his attention to Asmir and decided to help him. He had just managed to light the campfire when he heard a yelp from behind him.

He turned to find the prince glaring at Sonaya from where he was bending over his leg. Phyllon approached them curiously in order to see when Sonaya spat out a wad of leaves and kneaded it in his hands before applying it over the prince's shin.

Phyllon squatted down beside them, eyeing the dark coloured material that covered the shin like a guard.

The prince muttered under his breath. He was clearly unhappy, but Sonaya chose to ignore him. He shifted wincing with pain.