Into the Land of Valentia

Chapter the Fourth

IV

For a moment, Vivica forgot how to breathe.

If people found out the princess had Desidua, they would lose all hope. Princess Aimee was revered by her people for her kind heart and generous nature. Bards wrote of her ability to sing the moon down from the sky, writers penned tales of her dancing being able to call forth rain during a drought, and peasants and nobles alike strived to be just like her.

If she died. . . . Vivica shuddered. She could see it now: everyone would be certain that if Princess Aimee could contract Desidua—someone as angelic as her—then they would as well. It would be a valetudinarian epidemic.

Vivica recalled what Naleena had said about the princess and Cayden. Then he met the princess and . . . love at first sight. She wondered how he must have been feeling now, and whether the princess’ illness had anything to do with the way he was acting. 

On the other hand, she supposed, he could just be an arse naturally.

Nevertheless, she threw him a quick look, making sure her expression was blank. She didn’t want him to think she pitied him. She hated pity. She was sure he would, too.

“I’ll help,” she said. “I swear not to give up until the cure is found.”

“It’s one thing to say it, but another to do it,” Cayden said. “We need to go to a savant first and find out what Princess Aimee’s cure will be composed of.”

Vivica nodded. Garrett picked up his pace slightly, his way of saying he was just as determined to do this as she was. Savants in Valentia weren’t too hard to find, nor was it reportedly difficult for them to find out the ingredients of the cure. At least this part of the quest seemed to be reasonably easy.

The path narrowed out, making it harder to travel side by side. Cayden took the lead, apparently confident enough to guide the way to the savant’s. Vivica wondered how much of Valentia’s forests he would be able to navigate without aid. The man in black had been necessary to guide Cayden to the smaller villages. Perhaps her use wouldn’t be limited to hired archer.

The sun, which was directly above their heads, slowly slipped down in the sky. At one point, they stopped at a small stream. Vivica and Cayden filled their canteens. The horses were able to drink their fill before the group continued on. 

They travelled another mile before Garrett nearly plodded hoof first into a rut in the path. Vivica pulled him to a halt, running her fingers through his mane in a silent apology. Her eyes scanned the tree cover. Night was fast approaching. Soon, there wouldn’t be enough light penetrating the thick tree barricade to light their way. 

“We’ll need to stop for the night,” Vivica noted aloud.

“Didn’t you hear me before? The princess has Desidua. She hasn’t much longer to live. We don’t have time to stop.” Realizing Vivica had stopped, Cayden pulled up his own mount. He turned to face Vivica.  

Vivica snorted. “And you never stopped to rest while trying to find someone to accompany you?”

“Not until it was very dark out, no. There’s still light.” 

Looking at Cayden closely, Vivica noticed the dark circles under his eyes. He could very well have been telling the truth, but right now, she couldn’t give in to his will.

“Well, fine. Continue on if you want. But I’m going to try to find a clearing to camp out in for the night. I won’t risk our horses injuring themselves by tripping over roots on a path too dark for their eyes to follow.”