Missing Royal (6 page)

“Why did we camp when there’s a village right there?”

“We’re not going through that village. It’s best that you remain unseen and unrecognized until we reach those castles.” He is all serious again.

“Why?” I didn’t realize I was supposed to hide who I am.

“It’s best that we keep the advantage over Mendina by not allowing her to find out you’re here. And she has spies everywhere.”

“And you’re lucky I’m not one of them,” a deep voice says from behind me. I whip around so fast, I make myself dizzy. Valentino is off his horse and standing with his sword drawn in the same amount of time. As soon as he recognizes the stranger, he eases. I look him up and down. Well built, short black hair. He looks to be eighteen or nineteen.

“What are you doing here?” Valentino sheaths his sword but doesn’t mount or move toward the newcomer.

“The king sent me. He knows she’s here and wanted to ensure she was fully protected. He asked that I escort both of you back.” He only glances at me, avoiding my gaze.

“If the king sent you, he would very well make it clear how she is to be treated.” I don’t know what’s going on but Valentino seems even angrier.

“You’re right. My mistake.” The stranger glares at Valentino before coming to stand beside Star. He looks me in the eyes before kneeling on the ground. “Welcome home, Your Highness. I am Javiar.”

“Please don’t.” I squint, frowning. I don’t want this kind of treatment.

“He must, Shanice, as many more will. It’s best to accept it now. It won’t ever change, no matter how many times you ask not to be greeted like that. It is the custom of our people,” Valentino explains as he mounts.

I glare at Valentino before turning my attention to our guest. “Thank you, Javiar. But I ask that you please treat me as your equal, as your friend, and not as someone above you.”

“As you wish, Your Highness. Please allow me to retrieve my horse and we can continue on. If we ride fast enough, we can be there by tomorrow morning.” He begins walking back the way he came. The bushes rattle as he untangles his reins and leads his horse toward us.

“Javiar, we won’t be arriving tomorrow morning. There is only one path that will get us there that quickly, and you know well the dangers it poses. We will take the lower roads and avoid being seen.” I can almost see the tension between them as Javiar gets ready to argue.

“We can have her home and safe in a little over a day if we take my route. Taking your path could mean being out here for another two days at least. It may be a more dangerous road but with you and I both protecting her, no one will dare get in our way.”

“Th—” Valentino begins but I put my hand on his forearm.

“Valentino, stop. Arguing is getting is nowhere.” I let go of his arm and address both men. “I’m sorry, Javiar but I trust Valentino. We will go his way.” I say it softly, with kindness but firmly. I do not know Javiar, and the look on Valentino’s face says it is a dangerous way.

Both men look at me with wonderment in their eyes. Taken aback, perhaps shock. It makes me laugh. “Now, come on! If it’s gonna be a good two days, we better get moving.” I say, more sarcastic this time.

“You heard the princess,” Javiar says, furrowing his eyebrows and running a hand through his cropped black hair.

Valentino leads the way, Javiar taking the rear. I wish I could ride side by side with Valentino. Honestly, I wish it was still just the two of us. But Javiar has me curious. What’s his story?

Then again, that could wait until we met upon my arrival in … I realize I have no idea where we’re going, aside from the fact that it’s a castle. My own thoughts annoy me. The silence is getting to me, the tension is painful, and I really wish I was alone with Valentino.

I feel like I can’t say anything with Javiar listening. And I don’t even understand why. Perhaps it’s Valentino’s reaction to his suggestions, perhaps it is my fear of rejection from those close to my age. Perhaps I’m only comfortable with Valentino.

I may never know. I just keep my back to him and follow Valentino. To save myself from the silence, I begin humming—I don’t know what, exactly. I just let the quiet sound keep me sane. What bewilders me most is when both men, in sync, begin humming with me. I don’t know whether to keep going or let them take over.

I’m sore in places I didn’t know could hurt. My back aches, I’m starving, filthy, and ready for a clean, warm bed and a hot meal that doesn’t consist of soup. The days are long and evenings are cold.

With Javiar here, Valentino sleeps beside me but never does he touch me. And last night he simply gave me his blanket and kept watch rather than sleeping at all. We’re all tired and the longer we travel, the grumpier we become.

Twice now, I’ve had to step between Javiar and Valentino before one knocked the other out, and both times they’ve glared at me for getting in their way. But they listen.

I begin humming, doing all I can to stay awake as Javiar makes breakfast. Valentino finishes packing his blanket before sitting on the log beside me and humming along.

“Stop it with the humming.” Javiar groans. I stop, not wanting to deal with the whining. Valentino just gets louder. Before we traveled for two days straight? I would’ve laughed. Now I smack his shoulder lightly. He chuckles and wraps his arm around me.

“You don’t look so good.”

I lay my head on his shoulder and let my eyes close. With him beside me, I feel safe. “I’m fine,” I mumble against his shirt. “Just tired.” I’m three seconds away from falling asleep when another hand touches my arm.

“Are you just going to let her sleep? We need to head out soon. I’m sorry that she isn’t used to traveling but we don’t have time to stop and rest.”

“Javiar, if she wasn’t asleep right now, I would run a sword through your hand. Leave her be. It isn’t her fault she isn’t used to this.” Valentino growls. I honestly thought he was going to threaten to run a sword through Javiar—as in, kill him.

And then I would really have to worry about those two traveling together. “Like you could take me. Stupid sissy prince. You couldn’t even handle being here. It’s why you volunteered to go watch over the princess.” Javiar spits back at him.

I’m glad I’m leaning on Valentino right now too. I’m pretty sure it would be a blood bath if I wasn’t. “The second we reach Umare, I will kick your—”

“Do I look scared?” I hear Javiar pull his sword from its sheath, threating the only person I know and trust. Carefully, silently, and without drawing their attention, I put my arm around Valentino’s waist and wrap my fingers around the handle of his sword.

Just as Valentino is about to go for it, I jump to my feet, whipping the blade from its scabbard and putting it in Javiar’s face. “That’s enough. I’ve had it with you two. Let’s just all agree to get along for now. Once we’re back wherever we’re going, you can threaten one another to your heart’s content. Until then, shut it. Stop complaining, stop harassing each other, and let’s just get to our destination whole.” My voice is cool, as is the hand holding the sword.

“You may be a princess, but don’t think I won’t defend myself. I suggest that unless you can actually use that sword, you get it out of my face right now.” Javiar grits his teeth.

I reposition myself and the blade so our faces are a breath apart. “Don’t think for one second I would put a sword in your face if I didn’t know how to handle it.” I glare, fed up with his never-ending mocking.

“Is that a challenge, Princess?” he says in a taunting voice.

“Don’t—” Valentino tries to warn him. I don’t let him finish.

“Try me.” I say with a sneer. He laughs and takes a step back before swinging his sword around. He attempts to knock my blow off just as I block his and spin full circle before sliding the blade of my sword through the handle of his and throwing the sword ten feet away.

He steps back, his hands up in defeat. Now he glares at Valentino. “Did you know she could fight?”

“I tried to warn you, and then thought it better that you get the lesson now. Don’t mess with her.” He smirks as he talks, approaching me to take back his sword. He squeezes my hand before taking the sword from me and sheaths it.

As I look into his eyes, I see so many things. Sadness, a glimmer of hope, longing. Darn Javiar had to ruin the moment.

After the fight, Javiar doesn’t make another sound in complaint. Our breakfast of hard rolls and a bite of meat is served and we’re back on the horses. At this point, my legs are going numb. I’m used to riding a lot but nothing like this.

Valentino winces every time he sees me move my legs, knowing how much pain I’m in. We ride out, same as always—Valentino in the front, Javiar in the back. The trees no longer provide shade on us as the trail opens wider. My skin burns and I feel dehydrated. My head spins and I feel as if I’m about to fall off the horse.

“Valentino!” I hear Javiar call from behind, but I’m too dizzy to look up.

“Here, take her reins.” I feel one of the horses move up beside me. Strong arms carefully pull me by the waist so I’m sitting in front of him, both legs hanging over the right side of his horse.

Valentino places his arm protectively around me so I am curled against his shoulder. The dizziness begins to fade but I still feel sick. I can feel the heat wave over me and I know without a doubt that tomorrow I will be as red as a tomato.

“We have to reach Umare by tonight. There’s no way she’s going to last another day out here,” I can feel more than hear Valentino say.

“Go ahead of me. I can’t ride as fast with two horses, but you’re right. We need to get her out of the sun,” Javiar replies.

“Are you sure?” Valentino asks.

“I’ll be fine. Just go ahead. Our job is to protect her. Get her home—I won’t arrive long after you,” Javiar says. Good to know that when my safety is actually being threatened, they can work together.

I stay in a constant state of half asleep, half awake the remainder of our ride. Valentino pushes Knight hard. I can feel the wind brush over me as we go racing through the forest and toward home
.

I feel myself slipping deeper into unconsciousness. I don’t want to, especially now that we’ve lost Javiar. But I fear if I move, I’ll barf and still fall off the horse. So I stay put and allow myself to fall asleep to the hammering of Valentino’s heart.

His heartbeat is gone. And I’m no longer moving. I feel all around me without opening my eyes, scared to see where they put me. All I feel is cloth. Blankets, a sheet. I open my eyes. The room is dark, windows covered by large, thick velvet drapes.

There’s an armoire in the far corner, with a changing partition made of wood and velvet beside that. A velvet sitting chair sits opposite those, and on top of me right now is a velvet blanket. I throw it off and look over everything once more.

The room is overrun with the one fabric I don’t like, the one I can’t stand. The feel of velvet drives me crazy—and not in a good way. I toss the blanket away and search for another—one that is more what I am used to. But all that’s in the wardrobe are dresses, and even a few of those have velvet skirts.

If this is to be my room permanently, the velvet is going to have to go. A shiver runs down my spine as I touch the velvet drapes and look out the window. The sun appears to be just rising. And it’s a beautiful scene.

It also means I’m up wandering my room at about six in the morning. Aside from a little stiffness and the horror of having to touch the nasty fabric, I feel awake. I gently touch my face to see if I can feel a burn. There isn’t one, which surprises me.

I wonder if Valentino shielded me from the sun while we rode together. Valentino! I need to find him. I don’t want to meet
them,
my
parents,
without him present. Really, I don’t want to find that he has just left me here.

I open the large wooden door and peek out into the hall. Red carpets line the cold floor. Tapestries depicting scenery of the forest and kingdom cover the brick walls. Sconces, all lit, line the hallway and cast shadows.

I slip back into my room as I realize there is no way I will ever find him. He could be anywhere. I can hope and dream that he will come and find me, make sure I’m okay. I pull the drapes back and sit on the bed, just watching the sun rise over the mountains above the trees.

“Milady?” A soft voice asks. I jump up and spin around so fast, I make my head hurt.

“Good morning. I brought you some breakfast and tea.” The woman smiles. Her gray-and-brown hair is pulled back into a bun. Her eyes are bright, despite the wrinkles that surround them. She wears a plain brown dress with a tattered apron over it.

“Who are you?” I don’t dare move. I don’t believe her to be anything more than a maid but I don’t know her, as I don’t know anyone here and I don’t know where Valentino is, which I’m still stressing over.

“I am Edda. And I am here to make sure you are comfortable, cleaned, and properly clothed. That said, I ask that you eat your breakfast so we may begin. I will draw your bath for you. You’re going to have a very long day ahead of you, Princess.” She’s a busybody from that point on.

I nod and do as she asked. The food is hot, which is wonderful alone. It looks like some sort of roll with meats along with some other things stuffed in the center. I take a small bite and find that it’s delicious, but I have no idea what it is. It tastes like a cross between ham and steak. Maybe it’s a mix of the two.

There’s another flavor I don’t recognize, but as it tastes good, I don’t question it. Beside the stuffed bread is a bowl of something that kinda looks like oatmeal. I’m not sure I want to even try it, considering that I hate oatmeal. But I brave it out and take the tiniest spoonful.

The spoon alone is a wonder to look out. It’s been carved out of a single piece of wood, and the handle has intricate carvings in it. I eat the food and bring the spoon closer to see what the carving is. Trees and flowers and a sunset—or sunrise—all carved into the handle of a single utensil. It’s beautiful. I pick the bowl up and see if it has the same craftsmanship, which it does.

“Grisham carves those. He may be a simple woodcutter but the king and queen are very taken with his pieces. He is a respected commoner, and praise of his work is worth far more than the gold he is paid for it.” Edda pulls back the changing wall to reveal a steaming bath.

I hadn’t realized she left the room to get the water. I must have taken longer than I thought to eat the little food I did consume. I shake my head and set the bowl down.

“Thank you. If I meet him, I’ll be sure to compliment his work.” I smile and stand there awkwardly, unsure what to say. She’s dismissed? She can go? I will take the bath on my own?

“Finish your breakfast and we’ll get you ready.”

“Actually, I’m done eating. I would like to just take that bath.”

“Very well. I am unaware as to how your clothes work, so I cannot help you undress,” she states, which makes my cheeks turn red.

“I’ll undress and bathe myself, thank you. You can go.”

“Very well. When you are finished, ring the bell and I will help you get into your dress.” She curtsies and leaves. I check the door in hopes of finding a lock on it, but am met with a smile instead. Edda didn’t fully close the door and Valentino is standing there, about to knock.

“Hey!” I open it a little wider and let him come in.

“Princess.” He bows. “I hope Edda has taken good care of you.”

“Valentino, I thought I would have to deal with others treating me this way. But you? We’re friends, aren’t we?” I’m hurt that he refuses to listen and continues to treat me like royalty. I just want a friend.

“I’m sorry, Princess. But the customs are what they are and I cannot ignore them. You are a princess, and thus, should be treated so. Even now, I should not be here without your maid present. And it looks like I am interrupting, beside that.” He eyes the bath before stepping back into the hall.