Bridging the Ancient ✓

Chapter 19

Our journey is stretching thin. We're almost there. By nightfall, we'll walk through the capital streets and find ourselves underneath the king's watch once more. Part of me is excited to go back and the other...I don't want to see his face again. I have suspicions that Renit is feeling the same way.

With a mild limp, slightly improved by the titanium leaving my system, I follow after Renit. He moves branches for me to pass under and takes his time, much more than I expected him to. The prince finally stopped forcing me to move faster and I'm the one finding myself impatient.

But we can't move much faster. After news spread of robbers on the trial, a possible clue towards the disappearance of the prince, guards were sent out from all regions of the kingdom to search high and low for Renit. Low and behold, he's right where he disappeared. Off the trail leading to Fosux. And no one will ever know.

With every passing second, my nerves build. I don't want to lie to him or have this go wrong. The rebels are counting on me to deliver false news to the king. By now, they're heading towards the flower meadows in anticipation of their leader arriving and hoping, praying, he takes his last breath near that abandoned farm.

I stare between Renit's broad shoulders. I've memorized the way he walks, the confident strut, and even the distinct turn of his head as he surveys everything around us. That's the warrior in him, the one that went fifty years through brutal obstacles with his father, one training session after another. Beaten and bruised, bloodied, and forgotten except from the healers.

That's how he got through life.

But that's not why I'm watching his every move. Instead, it's because of the dream I had last night while huddled against his back for warmth. We were in the woods, next to the fire, but we didn't distance ourselves from each other. We were...kissing. In love. And I can't look at him the same way I did before because that fantasy is in my mind now, a time meant for both of us to be happy.

But I wouldn't risk sharing that information with him. If I did, he might not talk to me ever again. Just the thought of that dream alone sends a skitter up my spine but I won't advance on my questions...even if the dream made me slightly curious.

I can barely tell in daylight hours whether I care for Renit. Our powers have mingled; therefore, my senses are off. There's no way of telling but deep down in my stomach, if I asked myself that question, what would my answer be? Would I want to be with Renit? Sure. Would I love to know what it's like to—

Renit stops, his hand outstretched towards me. I nearly run into his palm chest first but stop abruptly to send a twinge of biting stings through my ankle. The prince keeps that hand outstretched, listening. Then I hear it. Distant voices, laughter, and metal clinking. Guards, soldiers.

We're too far off the trail to see who they are or what direction they're going in and they can't see us but any closer and they'll have a good idea as to what could be in the woods. We can't scrap any more of our clothes for disguises and smashing more berries on my face isn't an option. The last batch left a subtle stain of red that I'm still trying to scrub off.

"No more than five," Renit whispers. He pauses, giving me time to stare at his strong hands. Stop thinking about it. Forcing myself to stare at anything else, I squint through the trees and spot the moving figures rows and rows of trees away. "They're...heading towards Fosux."

"We'll be fine. They're not looking in the woods. They're staying on the trail," I whisper back. Renit nods in agreement but his next steps are careful.

I avoid every twig or clump of dried leaves so we don't stir up too much noise. If we run again, I'll be left behind as bait while Renit gets away. He wouldn't agree to that but he can only stop me for so long.