Page 31

CHAPTER 30

G ONZALO DANGLED HIS FEET off the side of a cliff, singing to himself. He lifted his bald head. “I was hoping you’d arrive soon. Everything in order?”

Zichri squeezed my hand, and I squeezed back. A sobering expression trickled down his profile. He opened his mouth to speak.

But Milo cut in, “We need to get back today. Where are the horses?” He puffed out his chest, hands on his hips.

Standing, Gonzalo towered half a head over Milo and boasted a wide torso. No wonder Milo couldn’t beat him in a wrestling match. Milo arched his back in challenge despite his rather precarious position under Gonzalo’s dead stare.

There must be something I can’t see between these two men . Gonzalo flared his nose and lazily pointed down a path. If only Gonzalo would have knocked Milo out of his cocky disposition.

All Gonzalo’s features relaxed when he shifted his gaze to the rest of us. “Did you get what you all were looking for?”

Zichri answered for me. “She found who she meant to find and more.” He kissed my knuckles and led me behind Milo.

My stomach wriggled with butterflies. But the shadow of Gonzalo’s question stilled my fluttering belly like a spider wrapping its prey. He wouldn’t be the last person to ask that question. I wouldn’t always have Zichri with me to give such easy responses. What would I do when I faced my parents? They deserved the full truth.

The tiny trail led to the three horses and the wagon with all our things in it. A large bag of assorted fruits waited in the wagon bed beside a pile of nuts. Gonzalo had prepared for our return. Gratitude swam in my heart.

Milo hopped onto the driver’s bench. “We’re headed straight to camp. No argument this time.” He passed Zichri a challenging look. His selfish manner snapped something within me.

“You may do as you please.” I stepped around to get on the other side of the driver’s bench. “This is my wagon. Laude could do just about anything, so we have no need for you to take us all the way home. Show us to the road. We will follow it to Giddel.”

Milo had a condescending purse to his lips.

Laude and Jaime strolled along the path holding hands. Without thinking, my gaze shot straight to Zichri. I needed to get away before I forgot myself and lived out our forest fantasy. The longer I stayed, the harder it would be to leave him.

Gonzalo cooed in Carmel’s perked ear and patted his neck. “Take us the last leg, won’t you?”

Zichri remained tight-lipped, watching from a distance.

“You, Princess, are not lord over us.” Milo narrowed his eyes. “We need to get back. The wagon and horses will get us there faster. You could stay in a nearby meadow. After we are done, we’ll march you to the road. Do you understand?” He remained in the driver’s seat, clasping the reins.

“You will do no such thing.” Zichri scooted next to me on the bench. “We’ll take the ladies to the main road and part ways there.”

“The back lane is much faster.” Milo shook the curls from his eyes. “And what of the wagon?”

“What of it? Even if we showed up with it, we’d need an explanation. I don’t plan on telling my brothers more information than necessary.” Zichri climbed on the wagon bed and extended his hand toward me. “Princess, would you do me the honor of sitting on the wagon bed?”

Milo grunted, then tipped his head back. I climbed out of the driver’s bench, triumph filling my lungs, and plopped on one of my trunks. Zichri’s cheek dimpled. A stained white tunic never looked so impressive on anyone else I’d ever met.

Poor Blas tottered down the trail, pushing between Jaime and Laude. He threw himself on the wagon, stuffing a margus leaf into his mouth. Uncle Uly said it would take a day or so for him to heal.

“Thank you for helping me with Milo,” I said.

Zichri grabbed some fruits and nuts from the pile Gonzalo gathered for us.

Milo mumbled foul words under his breath. He turned his wrath on Gonzalo. “Get on your horse already, old man!” He whipped his head to the lovebirds. “Jaime! Haven’t you had enough of her yet?”

Jaime snapped his head up. “You could spare us your bad company and ride the horse instead of Gonzalo.”

I suppressed a chuckle, but Blas chortled and snorted. Laughter erupted from Zichri, then Laude and Gonzalo, and then Jaime. Milo harrumphed.

At least I’m not the only one disturbed by his snappy attitude.

Jaime and Laude sauntered over, still lost in each other’s company. He sang a line from one of the Himzo’s songs. Laude beamed and wrinkled her nose in delight. I’d never seen her this happy. She always exuded joy, but this was so much more. Jaime lifted Laude into the wagon bed and leapt in after her. They cuddled in a corner and continued to whisper to each other, unconcerned about our stares.

Milo snarled at the two giggling lovebirds. “Take the back trail and prepare for our arrival,” he called out to Gonzalo.

An unguarded scowl crossed Gonzalo’s face for just a second. I’d read in the ancient script that a fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man silently holds it back. A deep respect grew within me for Gonzalo that hadn’t been there before. He trotted ahead of us and sang a happy Himzo tune.

Milo clicked his tongue and snapped the reins. The horses pulled us along as we bounced in the back with every dip and mound on the trail.

Zichri passed me a bag of nuts and a prickly, yellow fruit. “Should I hang Milo by his toes when we lose ourselves in the woods?”

I giggled. How I wished to hold on to this moment but staying here would only prove the whyzer right. “Could you be serious now thatwe’re heading back to our real lives?”

“All I can see is bark, leaves, and a fine young lady. This, my dear, does not look like home yet.” He passed a melting look that warmed me from the inside out. “But you’re right. Let’s talk real life before you make me regret ever leaving that cave.”

I bit into the prickly fruit. The skin tasted sour and did not come apart easily in my mouth. My lips pinched together.

He cupped a hand over his mouth. “You’re not supposed to eat the skin.”

“This is why I need to go home.” I turned to the side and spit the sour fruit out. “Although, I’d love to go back to our cave.”

“We can still go back to the cave if you like. I didn’t want to leave either. We could even marry and have children in there.”

I flicked his shoulder. “Have a little respect.”

“A man can dream.” He shrugged.

“Zichri, that is only a dream. Tell me something real, like what it’s like being a Himzo prince.” I fluttered my lashes in the same flirtatious way Laude had with Jaime.

“Is something in your eyes?”

My voice lowered an octave. “Just answer the question.”

“All right. Like I said earlier, my brothers fight for the throne and send me away on errands for the kingdom as often as possible. My father is a stern man but reasonable. He loves his people, my mother, and all four of his children. He groomed each of us for something different. My eldest brother will be king, and my brother behind him can’t get that through his thick head. I was groomed to be a ranking official, and my sister has the most freedom of us all.”

I considered this for a moment and watched something veiled slip behind Zichri’s eyes. What isn’t he saying? “You said your father is fair, but he lets your sister do as she pleases.”

A soft smile played on his full lips. “She’s trained in many arts, including archery. She is already betrothed to a nobleman and need not win the favor of our people because she already has it.”

“Is her betrothed as generous as your father?”

He rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Milo is very generous.”

My mouth fell open. “He’s a nobleman and your future brother-in-law?” The pieces came together in my mind. That would explain why he was the only one speaking back to Zichri and the cocky air he let out from time to time.

“Yes. This is why we put up with him,” Zichri’s voice rose.

Milo yelled back to us from his seat, “I aim to please his royal pain-in-my-rear.”

Zichri leaned in, his breath tickling my ear. “He calls me that because he can’t beat me in a good wrestling match.”

I turned to him, his face mere inches from mine. Why must my heart cling to the impossible? Catching my breath, I dragged a finger over an old scar on his eyebrow and grazed my fingertip down his cheek. No one would know about this. We wouldn’t even see each other again unless … I let the thought trail.

Recoiling, I remembered myself. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. There’s much I regret and wish I could change.” He pulled away and pressed his back against the side of the wagon.

I couldn’t stay silent. “Why were you in Giddel?”

He glanced in my direction. “I can’t say. Just know that I wish Himzo and Giddel were on good terms.” His fingers slipped through his wavy locks.

My heart throbbed. “What would that change?” I swallowed hard, anticipating the response. I was far too attached, and his answer could be anything but good.

He fixed those dark eyes on me, revealing a well of emotions. That was answer enough. “Everything. I’d be in line with all those suitors fighting for your hand.”

My breath caught, imagining what it would be like to marry Zichri. Each day I would awaken to his handsome face and kind heart. We’d get ourselves into all sorts of trouble. But, like all my dreams, a shadow cast over it. Zichri brushed his knuckles against mine. Instead of speaking, I leaned back against the wooden side, letting my thoughts sway with the wagon.

Before I knew it, Milo called back to us, “We’re at the road.”

The wagon jerked to a stop on the easttrail, ending my daydreams. Gonzalo was long gone since he had turned up a lane an hour ago. I should have bid him farewell. Blas and Milo stood up. Deflated, Jaime and Laude stepped off the wagon. I tried to think fast, but my mind muddled.

I went through the motions of getting up and lowering onto the gravel road, hoping to stall somehow. “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I never expected even half of the help you gave us.” My words sounded hollow.

Blas dipped his head while holding his stomach, exhibiting no trace of his previous ease. Jaime hugged Laude. The tender way he wiped stray tears from Laude’s face twisted within my gut. Then he offered her his black and gold dagger, reminding me of the possible dangers ahead. The sky grew gray, adding to a foreboding that seeped deep into my bones.

“Princess Beatriz.” Nothing sounded more beautiful than the way Zichri said my name. He placed the handle of his sheathed dagger into my palm. “You will need this. Keep it on your belt.”

I nodded.

“Good. I wish I could have run off with you, but it seems we must part.” He gestured to the northern side of the trail, which looked just as lush as the forests to the south.

“So it seems.” My throat thickened.

“You needn’t say more, my dear.” He traced my jawline. “Which window should I stand under if I ever sneak into Giddel again?” He pressed a hand to my back and lifted one arm high as if he meant to dance.

“My balcony can be seen by the road and is the closest to the sea. Is this an invitation to dance?”

He beamed at the question, leading me in the traditional Paso Giddelian as he hummed the same tune Papá and I danced to at my ceremonia. Always the one to notice details. His strong hand guided me easily into a half-spin. My feet moved through the steps on their own. His melody slowed. He spun and dipped me with a firm grip.

Rather than bring me back up, he whispered, “How many balconies are there?”

I flinched but answered, “There are three in the front and three in the back. Mine is closest to the sea near the watchtower.” Why in all the seas was he focusing so much on these details? Sneaking into the palace was impossible.

He lifted me in one smooth motion. “I promise to always be your loyal guard.”

I stared up at his tousled hair—letting seconds pass between us. “Goodbye, Prince Zichri of Himzo.”

He bowed his head, looking up at me through his thick lashes. Like all good things, whatever this was had ended.

Milo shouted, “We’re pressed for time. Come now, you two knuckleheads.”

Who does he think he is, calling me a knucklehead? Jaime and Zichri plodded toward Milo, and oh … he hadn’t been referring to me.

I looped my arm through Laude’s. She whimpered and waved. “This is the worst day of my life.”

“Ai-yi-yi, Laude.” If she only knew about the idea nudging in my mind.

Jaime turned back to wave at her every so often. As they turned the curve up the road, Zichri waved one last time. Something about his look, the tense posture, and the stillness in his gaze confirmed a suspicion that nestled in my stomach. I knew what we must do. It would save me from my parents’ reproaches.

Laude slumped her shoulders. “I guess it’s time to head back home.”

“No.” I kept my stare fixed on the empty forest road ahead.

She squeaked. “We can’t stay here forever because, as you saw, not all the men in this forest are so kind. If only we could enjoy another day. I know how you feel.” She swiped at her cheeks and climbed to the driver’s bench.

“No, no, that’s not what I mean. We aren’t going home yet.”

She gasped. “What do you mean?”

The horse whipped its tail.

“Turn the wagon toward the mountain—to the road Gonzalo used. Milo said something about a meadow being near their campsite.” I hopped next to Laude. “We need to follow them now. Trust me.”