Two Of The Same Piece || Book 1 (The Beginning)

CHAPTER 9

It had been months since Leo had set foot in Thinlin, and by Ravi, he hated it. Thinlin was all browns and creams, compared to Bellayong's multicolored capital. Thinlin was a piss poor country. The capital of Bellayong was beautiful. The city had surrounded the palace made of glass. Well, it was rather a material similar to glass, dyed in every color imagined. He missed the marketplaces, sheltered from the sun by wisps of cloth hanging over the road. Eating grilled meat with Rave, Taiskin, and Contyer. Leo was pulsing for that as they rode through the fairly straightforward, albeit a bit bumpy roads cleared in the Oliboxen, the forest separately Thinlin and Bellayong.

He rode by Rave, and behind them fanned out Josephine and Rina's royal guards. Leo had snorted the first time he'd seen them. They were just regular guards, dressed up to look better. The royal guards (excluding the Raib) were warriors, picked after a series of tests that were near impossible to beat.

Leo sneaked a glance at Josephine and Rina, her younger sister. His gut still warned him that Josephine would hurt his Rave in some way. He'd kept a wary eye on her, watching her every move. Rave had tried to convince the sisters to ride in the carriages being dragged by servants. He had blanched at the sight of the rough-skinned, callused, and malnourished people who dragged after the twenty-odd carriages of ridiculous size. Each could have been a small house.

Josephine and Rina had refused, though if Leo had to guess, Rina wanted nothing more than to head for one of those carriages. It was clear that neither of the sisters had ridden horses half as long as an hour. They were restless. Shifting on their saddles.

"I'm sorry, but if we take a pace any slower, we'd be on the roads for too long. I don't want us stuck here in mud and hail if it starts to rain again. We wasted precious time, it could rain anytime now and if we are stuck, the roads would not hold the carriages." Rave smiled apologetically at Josephine, explaining the situation.

What Rave didn't mention was how these roads were used by them all the time. The way to Bellayong was a few hours long at best, two days at worst. But if they continued like this, then they risked the bandits' groups hidden deep in the Oliboxen. Thieves and murderers who stayed away from the kingdoms, they preyed on parties of travelers nearly all the time.

"What's wrong?" Rave was beside Leonow, looking at him concerned.

"I was wondering about the bandits."

"They don't understand why I want to get this over with quickly. Or why I leave a basket of weapons as an offering." It was the custom to offer them freshly made weapons, to get safe passage.

"I still don't like it." Leo insisted.

"Nor I, but we don't have much of a choice." Rave reached over and squeezed his hand. "But I'll make it up to you. My way."

Leo smiled at Rave. She was very good at bargaining. "I'll be waiting."

--

Leo walked back to the camp, after scouting for a safe place to camp. Leo had rushed off to wash in the nearby river. They had already eaten jerky and roasted venison. No one had the energy to hunt, even though the food from Thinlin tasted awful. He ran a hand through his damp hair. He'd been waiting for his time with Rave. To hold and cuddle her.

He was surprised to see their tent darkened, what surprised had Rave planned for him? He pushed the flap of the tent back and was greeted with Rave sleeping. Tightly wrapped in a blanket. Her chest rose and fell slowly. Leo wanted to hit himself across the face, how could he not realize how tired Rave must have been, She'd been shouldering all the responsibilities. Leo carefully slipped on the makeshift cot, wrapping his arm around Rave. She shifted a little before settling on his shoulder. Leo loved his gentle princess.

Leo froze as he was about to kiss her brow. Someone had opened the flap pf their tent. No one was supposed to disturb her unless something happened. Leo watched a cloaked figure make its way towards them. They didn't even notice Leo was awake, or they didn't care. He continued to watch as the figure pulled something out, it gleamed in the darkness of the tent.

Leo jumped at the would-be assassin, tackling them to the ground. They wrestled in the darkness. Rave was awake now, yelling for the rest of her guards.

Leo had pinned down the assassin, panting as he felt warm liquid on his face. The assassin must have cut him. The tent was bright with activity. One of the guards tapped Leo on the shoulder, before helping him up. He watched as they halted the assassin up, pulling the hood back to reveal a girl. Leo moved beside Rave, wrapping an arm around her shaking shoulders. The assassin was a Duaetivean girl.

"It's a Thinlinyte. Darei's maidservant." She said, her voice shaky.

Leo watched her square her shoulders, before storming out of her tent. She pushed her way to Josephine's end of the camps. Leo went after her, Josephine was already outside, listening as to why there was so much chaos.

"Where is Darei? And why was her maid trying to kill me?" Rave's voice changed, her hair blew across her face softly in the midnight breeze. Her face was illuminated but the moonlight.

"What?" Josephine looked dumbfounded. "Call Lina, call all of them." One of her guards went to one of the neighboring carriages.

Leo could feel the sting from the cut on his face as his adrenaline started to die. Lina had come out with a robe on, rubbing her eyes, followed by all the other ladies. Including Rina.

"Where is Darei?" Josephine asked.

"She wasn't in our tent, she said she'd like to wash before sleeping," Rina replied slowly.

"Where did she go?" Josephine looked scared, the first time Leo had seen her as such.

"Imprison the maid, we'll deal with this tomorrow. Eisen, send scouts out looking for Darei. And check for any missing people." Rave looked at the guards.

The guards ran off. People had slowly started to return to their tents and carriages. There wasn't much anyone could do, especially since Darei could behalf across Thinlin by now. They were still very close to Thinlin and a lone rider could cover much ground. Rave pulled Leo back to their tent. They reminded quiet, as she sat him down and cleaned the cut. She must have been so tired. After she finished cleaning him up, she blew out the candle and pulled him down to her.

"Go to sleep, we have long days ahead of us." She quietly whispered before sleeping.