She pointed towards the archway that would lead to the stairs and her room. Ladet nodded, and they walked straight past the guards and into the darkness beyond. It was just the two of them now. Happy with the solitude, Princess Estina stopped. In the dim corridor, with the torches flickering shadows against the stone walls, they stood. Their eyes met through the darkness.

Princess Estina met his gaze. “I brought you here because I wanted to take the time to thank you for saving my life on the bridge,” she said. She glanced away and an involuntary shudder ran through her body. “I don’t even want to think about what that vile man would have done if you hadn’t been there. Thank you for putting an arrow in his head.”

She was surprised when Ladet took a step closer towards her. “There was no way I was going to let him hurt you,” he said, his voice soft and low. He paused and shook his head. “You were amazing out there. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Well, I have Menelt to thank for everything I know.”

“Yes, he is a very wise man,” Ladet said. Something, a flicker of emotion, moved over Ladet’s face, and all of a sudden, he reached out and took her hand within his own. “I also wanted to say that I’m sorry for being a complete fool and creating that argument in the back of the caravan.”

Princess Estina’s eyebrows rose. She hadn’t expected him to take the conversation there again.

She shrugged. “It’s fine, Ladet. There’s no need to apologize,’ she said softly. “Your assumptions and fears were, and still are, completely unfounded, and I guess I can forgive you for following Menelt and myself that night. You did say you left once you realized what was happening.” She gave him a pointed look and Ladet nodded his head.

“I did,” he said. “And I am deeply regretful for observing such an intimate…” his voice trailed off.

Princess Estina glanced down and examined the way his fingers had interlaced with hers. She didn’t know what to say next.

“Can I kiss you?” Ladet blurted.

Her head shot back up.

“I thought you were worried about having to return to Talbec. Are you asking for a ‘one last kiss’ before you go?” she asked.

Ladet shook his head. “Not after speaking with Jale today. I think we might be in the Keglar Kingdom for some time.”

A smile started to tug on Princess Estina’s lips. “Well, that’s surprising but good news.”

Ladet’s free hand came up to the side of her face. His thumb landed on the small cut on the top of her cheek. He traced it softly. Their eyes met and Princess Estina gave an ever-slight nod of her head. He closed the distance and brought his lips upon her own.

It was a different kiss last time. Before, at the side of the caravan when they had kissed for the second time, it had been a game almost. They had dared each other to put on a good show for the benefit of Prince Yernal’s soldiers to make them believe they were lovers. Now, they kissed for themselves. Slowly and searching, but it was also careful. She sensed he was being cautious due to her injuries.

Ladet took a step closer and Princess Estina found the stone wall at her back. His hand let go of her fingers and he lifted it to her waist. She tensed. His hand was so close to the ribs she had bruised.

He pulled back instantly. “I think we should stop. Your brother told me of your injuries.”

Despite the discomfort in her body, she sighed. On one level, she wanted Ladet, all of him. On the other hand, she also could not wait to put her head on her pillow and fall asleep. She placed her hand on his hips.

“It’s a good job that you’re staying for a while then.”

Ladet chuckled, and Princess Estina glanced at the stairs and sighed.

“Well,” she said. “I need to somehow climb up those steps to my room, so I will grant you your leave. It will take me a while.”

“I think I will keep you company to ensure you arrive safely,” he said. He took her hand within his own again but took a step back.

“I’m sure with all of Lord Clep’s men guarding the hallway and my room, I’ll be safe.”

“Never the less, it would give me much ease to know you arrived safely.”

Princess Estina shrugged but kept her hand within his. “Fair enough, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

The climb was slow, one painful step at a time. She didn’t dare tell him what Menelt had done to get her down the stairs. There was no way she was going to have Ladet do the same. With one hand on the wall and the other in Ladet’s, she used her good leg to push herself up each step.

Finally, they reached the top of the stairs and came to a stop outside of her door. She turned to face Ladet again. She was exhausted and her chest and leg ached.

“Well, I’ll bid you good night, My Grace,” Ladet said.

Princess Estina shook her head. “Princess Estina, Ladet,” she whispered.

Their eyes met again, and he nodded. With another step forward, he leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips. He pulled away and started to turn to leave.

“Would you like to come inside?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. His head whipped back and the pupils in his eyes widened a fraction. “I don’t think I can…” she looked down at her body, “I have too many injuries, but it would be lovely if you could spend the night with me. It would be nice not to be alone. I am not used to being by myself in one large room.”

Ladet’s eyes fell on the door behind her. “I understand.” He gave a large smile. “It would be a pleasure to spend time with you for the whole evening. Although, it will be a first for me. I don’t think I have ever spent the night with a beautiful woman and just kept her company.”

Princess Estina laughed and immediately groaned, wrapping her arms around her upper body.

She turned to the door to her room. “And one day you will tell me just how many women you have shared the night with, Ladet,” she said, looking back at him over her shoulder.

He ran a hand through his hair, and she could see the embarrassment in his features at his mistake. “It hasn’t actually been that many.”

“Sure, Ladet, sure.”

She opened the door and they entered through into the room. A fire burned steadily in the room and the large curtains had been drawn over the windows, allowing the heat to stay. Closing the door behind them, Princess Estina started towards the bed.

“Maybe your injuries are a good thing,” Ladet said.

“Why is that?” she asked.

“I am highly conscious of the fact that you have bathed while I am still covered in blood, sweat and dirt from the fight and our travels.”

Princess Estina sat on the edge of the bed and nodded to the maid in the corner to attend to her shoes, unable to reach them at present. She glanced at Ladet standing in the middle of the room. It was the first time she had seen him look uncertain and overwhelmed.

“I recall a time where you had to lie with me in a small box after I travelled through a tunnel of nightmares, and you never once complained,” she said. “I lived with the mountain men for two years. The state you are in does not concern me at all.” She cast her eyes over him. “But still, if it’s making you self-conscious, you may bathe in my room. I have a bath.”

She pointed across the room to where she had washed earlier.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Take off your clothes, Ladet,” she whispered.

>>

Teal was floating.

No.

He was flying.

He was soaring through a swirl of vibrant colours. It was not exerting him any energy. There was an overriding sense of power and life around him. This was freedom, although he did not know where he was. He was aware of life around him, of presences that did not have a physical form. At one point, he pondered whether he was dead. But no, he was alive, surely. He was too aware of what was going on around him. Surely, that meant he still had life within him.

There were the lesser life forms. He could sense their presence as they went about their everyday life, oblivious to the dimension he was in. There were people around him as well, and the longer he stayed, the longer he could garner their intentions. He couldn’t see them or speak to them. They brought him safety, a warm place full of love and kindness. It wasn’t the love from a lover however. This was kin, family. But whose? He didn’t have a family.

Whoever they were, they were pushing him away now. He didn’t want to leave, but they were insistent. He turned back to follow them, but then, all of a sudden, a young female Lombock emerged in front of him. It was the first time in his life that his eyes had fallen upon another Lombock. He looked upon her with shock.

She smiled, but she didn’t speak. Whatever this place was, it didn’t allow for verbal communication.

He could tell this was causing her great effort. Tiredness strained her features. She nodded her head, and he understood. Teal turned and allowed himself to leave.

His eyes flew open and he sucked in his breath. He was awake.

The air was cold on his face, but he was covered in thick blankets in what appeared to be the back of a small caravan. He sat up quickly and his head spun with dizziness. His eyes flicked to the door of the caravan and the back of a man’s head as the man darted down the stairs and ran away.

Teal swallowed and stared at another large man who moved to stand at the entrance of the caravan. In his hands, very obviously displayed, was a large axe. He had vague memories of being inside Prince Yernal’s castle and being carried by a similar looking man. From the descriptions Jale had given him all those months ago, he guessed he was a mountain man.

Teal’s eyes glowed at the sight of him.

“I’m hungry,” he whispered.

>>

Princess Estina stirred and immediately knew that she was going to pay for the night before. Her head was pounding with an intense pain along her forehead and behind her eyes. She buried her head further into the blankets, not wanting to move and hoping that sleep would find her again.

There was a warm bodily heat beside her. She lifted her head and opened her eyes, pushing her long black hair off her face.

Ladet was asleep beside her, and she smiled. She gazed at his sleeping form.

Their hands had roamed and their lips had covered skin. That was as far as it had gone. Having his body lie beside her all night, wrapped in each other’s arms, had meant just as much as if they had indulged as newfound lovers. Later, when she was completely healed, they could explore the more intimate physical acts.

A cough came from the end of the bed. She startled but didn’t push herself upright knowing her body would protest. With impatience, she flicked the blankets down to find Menelt sitting on the end of the bed, leaning against the bedpost.

“Good morning,” he said with a devious smile. He nodded with a grin towards Ladet.

Princess Estina sighed. “Can I remind you of the need for discretion?”

“Teal is awake.”

Princess Estina froze at his words, then she reached out and shook Ladet awake.