Page 46 of Once Upon an Enchanted Kiss

“That was a map to a treasure,” Charles said, rising to his feet and looking Phillip in the eye. “A map you weren’t going to share with us.”

Phillip glanced at Rosamund, who merely shrugged as if to say she had no opinion. The direction of their lives had changed and there was nothing either of them could do to stop it. Phillip looked back at Charles, clutching the map. Jeffrey joined them, peering at the roll.

“A treasure map, you say?” Jeffrey said.

“It’s nothing,” Phillip said.

She watched as he made to toss it into the fire and for some reason, a strangled cry escaped her.

“No, don’t!” she shouted.

Phillip halted, clutching the map in his hand. His surprise was evident on his face as he looked at her. “Don’t?” he asked.

“No,” she said on a breath. “Tell them, Phillip.”

Phillip looked back at the two men as he contemplated his words. “Gentlemen, this is a map to a treasure guarded by a dragon.”

They both stared at him for a long moment, exchanged a glance and then burst out laughing.

Jeffrey said, “There are no dragons around here, Phillip.”

In the distance, there was a faint sound. Awhump, whumpof what seemed like large wings. They all cast their gazes upward as the shadow blotted out the late afternoon sun. An outline of a dragon glided through the air.

Rosamund’s eyes widened as she watched it traverse the sky.

“Are you sure about that, mate?” Phillip asked, humor in his voice.

Jeffrey leveled his gaze at his friend. “Perhaps you should show us that map.”

Chapter 19

Bynightfall,Philliphadhelped Rosamund hobble from the fallen log so she could be closer to the fire. The cool night air was beginning to set in and chill her. Charles produced an extra bedroll from his saddle bag and laid it out for her. Jeffrey had a feast of bread, cheese, dried fruit, and oatcakes which he shared with all of them. Despite their initial unfortunate meeting, she was beginning to like the two men.

Phillip, Jeffrey, and Charles were at ease with each other. It was apparent to her Phillip was lifelong friends with Jeffrey. There was a sense of familiarity and comradery between them. Charles continued to sneak glances at her and then quickly look away when she noticed. And she noticed a lot.

It was endearing.

He was young with a shy smile and attentive to her needs. Since she was virtually immobile due to her sore ankle, he made sure she had enough to eat. He even had a flask of water which he shared with her. When she shivered from a cool breeze, he made sure she had her cloak.

Meanwhile, Phillip told them both of meeting the old woman in the strange cabin and how it morphed into a dilapidated building when they awoke the next morning.

He and Jeffrey were interested in the map and examined it closely, with Jeffrey scrutinizing it as though it were the most important document in the history of documents.

“I didn’t know this cave existed,” Jeffrey said, tapping the map with his forefinger.

“Nor did I,” Phillip agreed, munching on an oatcake. “And yet we saw with our own eyes the dragon flying overhead.”

“Do you think the treasure is really there?” Charles broke a piece of bread in half and popped a bit in his mouth.

“The old woman said it was,” Phillip replied.

“But can we trust her after what we saw at the cabin?” Rosamund asked.

“She has a point,” Jeffrey said. “Especially since the cabin you stayed in was clearly an illusion.”

“Well, there’s only one way to find out.” Phillip glanced at her, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

She recognized it immediately. “You think we should go after it, don’t you?”

---