Royal Rebellion {on hold}

Chapter 14

It took us a week to get to the Hundred Foot Forest that rested on the border between Aellyn and the Barren Lands. Though I didn't want to stop, the horses needed a rest. All of us did. The food was down to less than half which didn't worry me that much. There were small towns on the other side of the Hundred Foot Forest. We could purchase food there. 

I had given Roy my cloak when he got cold. His skinny frame needed it more than I did. We set up camp and let the horses graze in the clearing. The air was still chilly and goosebumps rose on my skin every time a breeze blew by.

"Are you doing alright?" I asked Roy as we settled down in our temporary camp. I was careful not to be too relaxed. The forest was full of murderers and thieves.

Roy nodded rather enthusiastically. "I er, have a question, if it's alright?" I nodded for him to continue. "Who are you? I mean, I've heard stuff from the guards but I wanted to ask you myself."

I smiled and bowed my head at him. "Julian Ainsworth at your service." His eyes widened and he scrambled up and bowed.

"Your highness," I pulled him back down. 

"No need," I insisted. There was a silence for a moment.

"What did you do to get exiled to the Stronghold?" Roy asked. I thought for a moment, deciding how much I should say.

"I did something my father didn't like very much."

"You mean the king?" I nodded, still staring into the distance. "Is that also why you were trying to escape?" I nodded again. I scanned the foliage around me warily. Roy noticed.

"Don't worry! I'll get you through the forest. I know the fastest paths!" My expression asked my question well enough. "Oh. Well my village was close to the forest and my father would take me through. Hunting and stuff. My village is gone though. Raided and burned. There's a lot of bad people in this forest." Roy turned his face away, blinking. I felt bad. It was the monarchs job to ensure the safety of its country's people. While I was not the king, I should have at least known about this village. But until Roy told me about his home, I had no idea that it existed. 

"I'm sorry," I said quietly. Roy shrugged. 

"You can't change the past." Something bitter flashed across his face and was gone so fast I thought I imagined it. His bright persona was back in seconds.

"Well, anyways. A few months ago, when I was going through the forest, I overheard something." Roy looked around and crept closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "It was about the rebellion in Aellyn or something." At the mention of the rebellion, I perked up.

"I heard they had a spy in the palace, or at least connected to the palace. I couldn't hear much but they said something about a bird or something. Do you know anyone who could be the spy?"

I slowly shook my head while mentally going over every person in the castle. It wasn't much help. Over three-quarters of the servants and people who visited and worked in the palace were a mystery to me. I didn't even know most of their names! Let alone match names to faces!

We ate in relative silence and as the night grew dark, Roy offered to keep watch first. I said no but he insisted. I lay down on the soft grass, waiting as the chilly breezes swept by. Through the soft moonlight, I could see Roy's hunched outline as he tugged the thick cloak around him to shield from the chill of the night. 

After a while, Roy lay down and a chuckle escaped my lips. 

"Tired?" I asked. I knew this was going to happen. His flustered voice quickly carried through the night. 

"N-no! I was just-just...Um...My back was hurting! Yeah, that...!" He trailed off embarrassed. I sighed but didn't say anything else. 

In less than ten minutes, the sound of Roy's soft snores graced the world. I sat up, taking his place as watch. Although it was dangerous, the quiet chirping of the crickets and the peace of the night made my eyes slip close as I reveled in this deeper level of peace.