Crown of Ashen Dreams

Chapter Four

The next morning, we wasted no time. We climbed on our horses and raced to the Western Borders of Hestaria. We got off our horses, leaving them to graze. We join in a circle, taking a water break and on a more important note, discuss our plan on how we are to get Esile back. 

"When we reach Kuzukar," Dashiel began, "there will be guards on every corner. Our first priority will be to rid of the patrol, so they can't message for backup." I swallowed a bit. Everyone here seemed to be so strong one way or another. What was I supposed to do to help? "Harissa." I perked up a bit, now attentively listening. "You will be paired with Ricardo. Your job will be to free Esile from their clutches while the rest of us eliminate the patrol." I gave a nod, giving Ricardo a brief glance. He didn't meet my eyes, just pushing up his glasses with two fingers. Dashiel gave me a look for several seconds, as if silently saying something else to me.

Could he be referring to the crown? It was here in Dexothia. Perhaps he wanted me to search for it. Or was it completely unrelated?

"Ellgar, Lily, we shall use the night as cover. We will most likely climb up a ladder leading to the top of the courtyard." The two of them nodded. Dashiel kept discussing to the two what they were assigned to do and such. It was evident they had breached kuzukar many times considering they knew the layout so well. Once he finished, we boarded on a boat.

I noticed Ellgar looked a bit pale, or at least, paler than normal. He just leaned on the edge of the boat, his elbows lying on the boards. I stepped in and just leaned on a wooden pole. The rest followed, Lily taking her place at the wheel. Some reason, I didn't expect her to know how to steer.

As we rode, I occasionally glanced at Ellgar who was now practically hunched over the edge, looking green. With a hesitant sigh, I approached him, however, he quickly noticed.

"What do you–" he immediately closed his mouth, dry heaving over the boat.

"Sea sickness?" I asked, and he just gave a tiny sigh, nodding. I felt myself purse my lips a bit as I got closer to him. "Do you need something to distract you?" I asked, having no clue how to deal with the hotheaded knight.

"No, it's fine. I can handle this my–" he dry heaved over the edge of the boat, his face turning more green as his knuckles turned pure white. I raised a brow.

"Shush," I demanded quietly, walking up to the edge of the boat to his side. I thought for a bit. I didn't really know any fascinating tales; for some reason, I had forgotten them all. The only tale I knew was of myself. I let out a small sigh. I can't believe I was actually talking to Ellgar with such generosity... "Ask something about me," I said, leaning over the edge as well, looking at those green eyes that hid beneath his now shaggy silver hair. Ellgar looked like he was about to protest again, but I gave him a look, raising a brow. "Or I could leave you here in misery all by yourself. Your choice," I said with a smirk, shrugging a bit to himself. Ellgar groaned before he finally seemed to agree.

"Where are you from? What nation?" He asked, finally looking back by turning his head, resting one side of his face on the wooden edge.

"Rozunia probably, though I don't know for sure," I said, shrugging. I never really saw it as a big deal to bring up my heritage. It was just a piece of my past that I felt that didn't matter; at least not anymore. "I was raised in an orphanage, just left on the doorstep one day." Ellgar gave a nod, just looking at me, looking like he was about to say something before closing his mouth more. "Your turn," I said after a few moments. I drummed my fingers a bit on the wood, standing straight again. "If your brother is king of Xuris, then why are you, a prince, here serving Lord Dashiel." Ellgar said nothing for a moment, his expression growing cold, even the green in his face fading.