Prince of Traitors

Kieran

When I wake up, Owin is leaning over me. She lets out a heavy, relieved sigh, and leans down to wrap her arms around my neck. She squeezes me softly.

She pulls away, and I tense at the golden-haired man standing over her shoulder. I sit upright, eyeing him. He has a hand on the hilt of the sword at his hip and a wary expression on his face.

"Kieran, this is Jasper," Owin says. She hauls me to my feet. The back of my neck aches from where the bastard struck me. Jasper looks me up and down.

"Yeah, we're familiar," I growl. Jasper glares at me.

"We should get out of here," he says.

I pull my hood back up over my head. "Follow me." I turn from them and walk off into the woods. Owin follows along behind me. Part of me hopes Jasper will not come along, but he trails after us anyway.

I lead them into the trees, toward the camp where I left Nimia. I find myself worrying suddenly, hoping the girl has stayed put. I reach back and clasp Owin's hand, squeezing her hand gently before dropping it. She smiles softly up at me.

We approach the camp. The woods are dark, and Nimia has kept the campfire doused like I told her. She sits curled up in her furs with her back to us; when she hears us approaching, she turns.

Nimia gasps and beams. She stands and runs to her sister. "Owin!" she exclaims. She throws her arms around her older sister's waist.

Owin freezes, her mouth falling open. Her arms go stiffly around her sister, and she stares at me with wide, stricken eyes.

"What is she doing here," she breathes.

I open my mouth to respond, but Owin's lovely face looks horrified. I shut my mouth, not trusting myself to make excuses.

"I followed him," Nimia says, pulling away to look up at her. "I wanted to help!"

Owin frowns down at her sister. "Nim—"

"I wanted her to go back," I say quietly. "I tried."

Owin shakes her head at me, her lips pursed in a tight line. Her expression dares me to speak again. I avert my gaze from her.

Nimia unwinds her arms from Owin's waist. She looks up at the older girl. "You're mad, aren't you?" she asks.

Owin sighs and gives her sister a small smile. "No, Nim," she says. She raises her gaze to mine, her smile fading.

Nimia notices Jasper, waiting awkwardly behind Owin. "Who are you?" she asks him.

He clears his throat, rubbing at the back of his neck. "Uh, I'm Jasper," he says.

"He's been travelling with me for a few months now," Owin explains. "He's a friend." Nimia smiles warmly at him.

"I'm Nimia!" she says.

Jasper returns her smile. "I've heard a lot about you," he says. He and Owin trade small smiles between them that I can't decipher. Whoever this person is, they have been through a lot together.