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CHAPTER 29

“P RINCESS B EATRIZ , I WAS so worried about you! We’ve been waiting close to the river.” Laude pulled me into a tight embrace. “What is your gift? Let’s see it!”

Judging by how she addressed me, she found out that the men knew my identity. “I—I’d rather wait until we’re alone.” I met her sapphire eyes with a meaningful look.

She bobbed her head and winked, beaming. “I have so much to tell you.”

A pace from Laude and I, Milo and Jaime patted Zichri’s shoulder in greeting. Blas winced when Milo and Jaime did the same to him. Questions arose about the lamps, food, and maps given to us by Uncle Uly.

Laude’s eyebrows rose and furrowed in question.

The Himzos, Laude, and I hiked through the forest midmorning, entering a cave hidden by a boulder near the falls just before noon. Uncle Uly told us the exact location and gave directions on how to get out through the mountain passageway. Many booby traps set by bandits in a bygone era waited for those who might wander into the cavern.

“Oh, Princess!” Laude said. “I was so angry at Milo and Jaime when they told me how they attended your ball. I swore to tell you as soon as you got back, and I chastised them for leading us to believe that they knew nothing about us.”

Laude continued to prattle on about the same topic over and over again. Pinching my mouth shut, I kept silent. I knew she did not exaggerate her reaction. The poor men must have been rolling their eyes when Laude first found out. I kept my focus on the rocky floor of the cave.

Zichri and Milo led our caravan from several feet ahead. Jaime and Blas trailed behind us. Blas still held his gut with a twisted expression as we tramped through the dark places in the earth. Lamplight caught in Jaime’s eyes. He watched Laude intently. She glanced back with a flirtatious raise of her brow before continuing her story again.

“Laude,” I whispered, “they can hear you. You needn’t go over the grueling details about how upset you were at the men. Zichri got an ear full from me already.” I dodged a protruding rock in the cave.

“Oh?” She squeaked. “But you shouldn’t be so mad at Zichri.”

“You just said that you were angry. Now you say I shouldn’t be mad at him. Which one is it?” I descended a narrow portion of the cave that Zichri and Milo ducked into a second before. They must have heard every word we said. What did it matter if they heard us anyway? They’ll be gone—back to Himzo—soon enough .

Laude peeked back and crouched through that part of the tunnel. Leaning in, she whispered, “Jaime says he’s never seen Zichri so taken by anyone. You and I both know that you’ve never felt this way either.”

I glared at her. She supposed much. What of Lux? She must have known how much I adored Lux, but I could not correct her out loud. Better to change the subject. “You seem to favor Jaime still.”

The dim light reflected off her bubbling cheeks. “He likes me.”

“I gathered that much. Did anything happen while I was away?” Stooping low to avoid hitting a rock, I noticed Zichri and Milo stop at a fork in the path.

Laude glanced back, and smacked her head against the rock and yelped. “Ai-yi-yi!”

I rushed to her side and reached for her shadowed head. My hand came back dripping with warm liquid. “Speak to me. Are you all right?”

“I think my nose is bleeding.”

Relief flooded through my body. Blas stumbled forward, passing us.

Jaime rushed to her side, bumping into my shoulder, and he gave her his handkerchief. She covered her nose with the fabric, blood coloring the light material—noticeable even in the dim lighting. He scooped her up.

Something about Jaime carrying Laude released a yearning inside my heart right in that moment.

My intention was always to get married and hope I could have some semblance ofwhat my parents had. The way they always addressed each other with respect. The way Papá kissed Mamá’s hand, inspiring a blush to creep up Mamá’s neck.

Jaime and I lumbered toward the fork in the cave while Laude swayed in Jaime’s arms. Seeing Jaime dote over Laude brought about a sinking feeling because I couldn’t imagine that ever happening to me with the person I married. Lux could never be mine now. Though, I suspected even if we were to marry, we’d never romance each other like Laude and Jaime.

And Zichri? He waited for us at the fork alongside Milo and Blas.

I drank in the sight of Zichri, who met my gaze with a tender smile. He, too, can never be mine. My heart thumped wildly, but I pushed feelings aside. I still needed to bury fanciful dreams. We continued to move, and my mind searched for a way out of the troubles that awaited me back home.

Jaime held onto Laude, guiding her and whispering in her ear. She giggled.At times, they strayed so far behind the rest of us that we had to stop and wait for them. Zichri slowed to walk next to me, but I kept my gaze ahead on Milo’s lamp.

“What are you going to do now thatyou’re heading back home?” Zichri kicked up a pebble. “Before you left, you were choosing a husband.”

A moan vibrated low in my throat as I imagined a life with Marden, the suitor of Papá’s choice. Siding with Papá would surely be the prudent thing to do after running away, and he’d be pleased with Marden’s ability to change the water currents to be in our favor. A sourness filled my belly. I would do nothing exciting ever again. Mamá warned me that stealing Papá’s personal sailboat and going out to sea with Lux would not be appropriate for a betrothed woman.

I answered, “Perhaps, I could stay lost in the woods forever and learn how to fish and wander from town to town.”

“If you do that, then I’m going with you.” A mischievous grin played on his lips.

For the first time since the encounter with my whyzer, I laughed. What would it be like to wander with him? Threats lurked behind every turn as we walked the dark caverns, yet I let myself forget my worries.

Zichri leaned closer and grazed my side. “Of course, we’d also need to make you some better clothes. You can’t go around dressed like me all the time.”

“Why not? I kind of enjoy wearing pants.” I lifted my belt, which had slipped down to my hips.

“You can wear pants if you like, but at least let me get you something nice.”

I considered his proposition. Stars above, a campfire at night, singing until sleep befell one of us. “I’ll let you make my clothes if you dance with me while singing that song. The one you sang so beautifully.”

“It would be my pleasure. I never got my dance at the ball.”

“So, you wanted to dance with me at the ball?” I lifted my chin and held my breath. My heart devoured this little game. Part of me wished he’d say no, so I could easily walk away.

“More than anything in the world.”

Biting my bottom lip, I looked away, trying to be reasonable, but the conversation moved into murkier waters.

The path flattened, though we still descended. Zichri’s expression sobered. “We weren’t going to go to the ball that day, but curiosity got the better of me. I watched you dance with every one of those suitors, wishing that was me. Something about you, Beatriz, drew me in.”

His sweet words drizzled over me like melted chocolate. I wanted more, but I didn’t want to seem desperate. “You may get your dance and several moreafter all.”

He slipped his hand in mine again, and I smiled. Lux and I never ever shared these tantalizing moments. Lux, the ever-faithful friend whom I talked to for hours, never sent me floating into an imaginary world.

Zichri continued, “Just so you know, we’ll sleep in hammocks if we wander the forests.”

“Prince Zichri, I don’t want you getting any unwholesome ideas. No man will share my hammock until he commits to me for life in the presence of many witnesses.”

A hearty laugh slipped out of him. “I was just trying to say that you need a hammock of your own. Believe me when I say I wouldn’t want less than the best for you.”

My cheeks burned. Thank the Ancient One for this dark cave.

We decided that I’d gather fruits. He’d catch fish and hunt. I’d get the wood, and he’d stoke the fire. On and on we went, imagining this life where I’d have no worries.

A light reflected on a rock down the path, revealing the way out. Milo and Blas slipped out of the cave. Laude and Jaime trailed way behind us, too caught up in their own conversation.

As we drew closer, I covered my eyes to block the light. Zichri stopped at the opening. The pinched expression on his face let me know he didn’t want the daydreaming to end either.

Once we walked out into the daylight, our dream of living in the forest would evaporate into the wind. He was a man of his word, so he would go to his kingdom. I needed to ease my parents’ worry over me. I loved them too much to do any less. I also loved my brother, who I imagined may have shown signs of concern about me after so many days away.

I slid in front of Zichri, brushing his arm. He followed one step behind me. The light stung my eyes as my vision adjusted from the darkness to a blue sky. A tree-laden land stretched before us. Blas leaned against a boulder, and Milo paced with hands on his hips. Water slurped and swooshed nearby where Gonzalo would be waiting, but we didn’t move yet. Jaime and Laude tarried in the cave.

I curled my fingers in between Zichri’s, considering asking him if we could wander a bitlonger. But I was no fool. I knew this charade had to end … eventually.