SHADOW

A New Way Forward

The carriage moved fast along narrow roads hidden in the dark forest. Sha had no clue where they were going; she just watched the scenery passing by the window in silence. Soon enough, they entered a small town, and she could smell and hear the sea nearby. Seagulls floated in the grey, bluish sky, and the day was cold and dark. There was no rain, but heavy clouds covered the horizon.

Sha was surprised that they were not caught by guards until now, and that the Count was handing large sums of gold here and there, ensuring that they would get a trip on a boat toward the Aru Empire within the next hour. Sha knew from her politics lessons that King Elias hated the Aru Empire, and that the Emperor was mostly indifferent toward this kingdom. No riches or resources were held here that interested the Empire, so it had no interest in them—or at least it looked like that.

A small boat entered the port. It looked pretty drab and unconvincing. Sonia gasped when the boards under her feet creaked ominously.

"Are you sure, my lady, that you want us to embark on this unstable boat?"

"Yes, she is sure," replied Count Ambrosio. "Unless she wants to hang as a complice to royal murder," he added, and walked away to talk with the captain.

"Complice to murder? I am not a complice to murder," protested Sha, but he ignored her. He seemed distant, cold, and strange. The Count was never a warm person, but now he had turned into a block of ice.

"Too bad that he is so mean. He is beautiful like a fallen angel, but evil beyond measure sometimes," mumbled Sonya behind Sha.

"You must not talk like that. We depend on him. He is just worried," replied Sha, and looked toward the city at their back, expecting the guards to appear at any moment and seize them.

She wondered if Elias would really hang her. Would he believe her if she told him she was no complice to anything? She barely knew the Count, but she hoped he would not murder anyone unless by accident. He was indeed beautiful and rich beyond measure, but he was her adoptive father—as ridiculous as that might be. She had no clue what age he was. The man looked like a demon indeed, ageless and dangerous.

"I am very cold, Sonya. My slippers are broken. I am basically barefoot."

Sha raised the edge of her skirts, showing Sonya her bleeding and dirty feet.

"That is terrible. We have to clean and bind your feet. Let's go see our cabin."

The cabin below the deck was not much—only a bit bigger than her closet, with one double bed and a small single bed in the corner, a trunk, and a crude wooden table. They found some old yellowish bandages and a pot of water in a corner, and Sonya started cleaning Sha's feet when the Count entered the room with a pile of drab brown clothes in his arms.

"Here, you must put this on. We have to blend in. The coastal guard is patrolling these waters."

He put the clothes on the chest near them and started undressing. Sha did not pay much attention, but when he started removing his pants, Sonya gasped.

"Sir, but—"

"No buts, Sonya. We have just one cabin, and we have to share. The circus is over. If you do not like it, the boat is already out of port, but you can swim back to the city."

He turned toward her and smirked, raising an eyebrow. To her dismay, he removed absolutely everything he wore, and Sha could only remark that he was very well built—much more solid and trained than she would expect from a nobleman. She had absolutely no idea how a man who lived such a leisurely life could build such a physique. The second remark was that Sonya, in spite of her protests, kept gazing at him and blushing nonstop.

"I will have to cut tickets at the finale," replied Count Ambrosio, and closed the door behind him, leaving Sonya speechless and Sha laughing.