The White Haired Princess

chapter 7

"She was, maybe, the solace of his captivity."

Yui

"Is there anything you can't do?" Ace muttered behind me as I sheared the feathers off the lifeless bird.

Before handling our food, I'd burned down my muddy dress and undergarments, changing into the ones I'd packed in the pouch. I didn't bother checking whether Ace was looking. He most likely did and I certainly wouldn't blame him for it.

I'd left my black cloak on, but handed my thicker cloak to the girl who barely had anything on other than a thin feeble dress.

The sun was at its peak above us and the noon was radiating an idle, late summer type of hot. The heat was causing my skin to tense up and feel sticky with sweat.

I wiped the tiny drop of sweat over my eyebrow, cutting through the flesh and cleaning out the blood with my dagger. "Yes, start a fire for me, if you'd be kind enough."

Ace glanced at me with an unreadable stare, then sighed and said, "That I can do." He trudged towards several sticks lying on the ground, picking them up.

I liked him much better when he was drunk. He talked a bit more.

I whirled my head sideways to see the unnamed girl quietly sharpen her last arrow and inspect it with care. She must've felt my stare because she looked up with a daze. The sound of her stomach rumbling was quite loud but as was mine. I needed to flame this bird up before we all starved to death. Starvation is the least fun way to die.

It wasn't long before Ace had set up a fire. The smell of meat was unbearably distinct as I grilled the pieces of flesh pierced through wood-sticks.

The girl walked towards me and Ace who were sitting front to front on the grassless ground, and sat to our right, likely due to her hunger. We each took two sticks worth our appetite and didn't hesitate on chewing through the meat. I don't think I'd ever eaten a bird before that day. It was a bit tasteless, but it was food and that was good enough.

Back in the palace, I'd always dreamed of running away after my mom's death. Everyday, I practiced something- whether it be simple cooking or herbal and medicinal mastery. It was all worth it- the eight years of constant archery, sword-fight, physical strength and herbal training.

As we ate in silence, I realized I never bothered asking for the girl's name. Poking the brunette with my half-done meat stick, I questioned, "What's your name?"

She jolted, seeming surprised I'd even bothered acknowledging her existence alone. Was astonishment the only emotion she felt?

I could tell Ace also was curious as he'd stopped munching and observed her in expectancy.

She looked down and shook her head, frowning. Her legs began buckling up and down, perhaps frustratedly. She seemed disheartened by the fact that she couldn't talk.

"What? You don't have a name?" Ace queried. I doubt I could be surprised at that.

She turned her face to Ace with a faint blush, shaking her head softly again.

I offered her a nod of reassurance. "Alright. Are you able to write?"

Once she gave me a hesitant nod, I handed her my other meat stick which's contents I'd previously consumed fully. "Here," I pointed to the empty and plain ground next to us.