Page 45 of I Ran Away to Evil #3

Intimately Sure of Him and His Ways

Julian

The western garden fountain bubbled happily under the hot sun.

He didn’t know why, but every time Julian had gone for a walk by himself, he’d found his way back to this fountain.

In the North, Julian rarely had time to himself; he was either defending the border or exploring the Ice Fields.

Any spare time he did have, he spent writing letters to his mother and little sister.

Julia’s replies were scattered at best, absent for months at worst.

When she did write to him, her letters were full of her adventures, the most recent being that time she’d saved a mushfolk village from an angry griffin in the Dark Enchanted Forest, a dungeon delve in Peldeep where she’d found a treasure chest full of enchanted socks, and notably, Chloe’s proposal.

His mother, on the other hand, wrote routinely, with subtle and not-so-subtle hints that she would like him to come home.

Julian had a goal in the North, more so than simply preventing the Ice Fields’ dungeon monsters from storming across the border; he wanted to find and conquer the dungeon itself and stop the threat altogether.

And until that happened, being home made him feel restless.

He needed to leave soon, before he got too comfortable …

Before he started having second thoughts about leaving.

A soft click drew his attention. Gerda ducked through a door before quickly closing it behind her. She was breathing deeply, as if she’d been running.

“Miss Gerda?”

She spun to face him. “Your Grace?”

“Going on a walk?” he asked.

She glanced back over her shoulder before joining him at the bottom of the short stairs. “I’m going anywhere that isn’t full of people,” she admitted. “I enjoy gatherings as much as the next troll, but not when I’m the center of attention.”

“That bad?” he inquired.

“No one came to physical blows. It was just a lot of fake niceties from people who were too polite to ask me to tell them their future.” Her shoulders slumped. “I told Henrietta I’d be back, so this is only a short reprieve.”

A cool breeze ruffled her hair, and the troll turned her face into the wind. She was lovely.

“I should be going.” He took a step back, suddenly feeling a different kind of restlessness.

“Wait.” She turned back his way and then joined him. Suddenly, they were both walking on the path together.

“Yes?”

She smiled. “You live at the northern border?”

“I do.”

“What’s it like?”

“Beautiful and harsh,” he answered immediately. “The Northern Fortress isn’t so bad, but the further you head into the Ice Fields, the more dangerous it gets—from monsters and the cold.”

“I see …” She tapped her chin, deep in thought as they arrived at the bench where she’d found his locket. “Are you going back early? Or are you staying till the end of the ball?”

“The day after the ball, actually …” Though he didn’t tell her he was still hoping to sneak away early if the opportunity arose. He asked, “Why?”

Gerda gathered herself. “I was going to ask you for a favor—”

“Alright,” he accepted. “What’s the favor?”

She eyed him, concerned. “Shouldn’t you hear what the favor is before you agree?”

“You expect me to deny you? After today?” Julian sat down on the bench, staring up at Gerda. Honestly, he felt no small amount of guilt that helping his family had revealed the troll’s hidden identity … And about the manacles, too.

“Yes. Well, I did …” she replied. “Now, I need time to think.”

“You were just about to ask, so what is there to think about?” Julian crossed his arms.

The sun reflected in her soft brown eyes, and she had to move slightly to escape the glare. “That was before I knew you’d say yes to whatever I asked for!”

“What were you going to ask for?” He was genuinely curious.

“An escort,” she replied offhandedly.

That startled him. Julian’s eyes swept once over the troll.

Her long hair reminded him of dark malachite as it caught the summer sun.

She had strong, well-toned muscles that could rival any Martial class, and a warm, playful smile that made him feel like she was hiding a secret.

And she was wearing a shade of purple that almost matched his own, though hers was lighter.

After seeing Henrietta and Keith in coordinated, matching outfits, he couldn’t unsee the similarities. He didn’t have a partner for the Summer Masquerade; he’d never stayed long enough to warrant needing one. And if it were anyone else, he’d have politely refused.

But not now. Oddly enough, the idea excited him. He enjoyed her company.

“I would be happy to escort you, Miss Gerda.” He nodded. “When and where should I pick you up?”

Previous Masquerades had started with an hour social where everyone was afforded the opportunity to mingle in costume and enjoy the illusion of anonymity.

Because this year’s event was going to act as Julia’s reception, there was also going to be a welcome speech, a toast, dancing, and the unmasking later.

Gerda stopped tapping her chin and smiled down at him. “I can be ready any time. Are you sure you won’t regret this? After today, there’s probably going to be a target on my head.”

“That’s the role of an escort, is it not?” he teased. “To see you safely there and back again?”

“True.” She nodded.

He would need time to prepare. After this morning, the number of potions in his storage ring were running low. He’d restock extra mana and health potions for the ball, and maybe a few antidotes as well. And he could keep one of the resting rooms locked for her to escape to if she needed it.

“I guess there are some nice things about being Madame Potts,” Gerda commented.

He shook his head. “I would have said yes even if you weren’t Madame Potts.” Realizing how that could be implied, Julian hurried to explain, “Since you were the one who saved my sister, not some voice on a Cast. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Gerda nodded at Julian’s shadow. “I couldn’t have done it without John.”

“He’s actually off right now,” Julian told her. He couldn’t imagine having this same conversation with John listening in.

“I thought he was always with you?” She scrunched her nose, once more speaking about him with certainty.

Just like the first night they’d met.

She had thrown him off because it’d felt strange talking to someone who sounded so intimately sure of him and his ways … now, he knew why. If his bridge troll could see into his future, then she probably knew a great deal about Julian.

“John’s at home with his family; he left after our meeting.” Almost all of the man’s shadows were gone too, leaving only one behind to hang around the celestial in case of an emergency.

“I see.” Gerda glanced back the way she’d come. “I should probably get back to Henrietta before she worries.”

Julian resisted the urge to try and keep her here. He wanted to spend the entire afternoon talking. She was interesting company.

Instead, he stood to leave as well. “Then, why don’t we meet here thirty minutes before the Masquerade?”

“ Before the Masquerade?” The troll whipped around to face him. Gerda looked confused.

Julian was standing about an arm’s length away and staring straight into her uncertain eyes.

“Ah.” He realized his mistake. “Did you want to go to the tea party together?”