Page 20 of Of Blood & Bone: The Young Queen

“Yes. Have you had dealings with him?”

“Unfortunately, yes, I have, and none of them have been pleasant.”

A frisson of excitement flutters in my tummy as I ponder the possibility that his dislike of Greythorne could play to my advantage. I hope it's a case of my enemy is his enemy, and once he is aware of my situation it will leave him even more positively disposed to my proposition of marriage.

“Regretfully, the shortest route back to Valensia is through his lands and such is my concern for your men that I feel we have no choice but to take it.”

“You said you don't wish to be discovered but aren't his lands heavily patrolled?”

“You're correct, I don't wish for anyone to know about this mission or that I am not in Valensia. And yes, his lands are very heavily patrolled, and it is of the utmost importance that he, of all people, does not know of my presence in his province.”

“You sound fearful of him.”

The prince's tone is questioning and I’m thinking he’s starting to realise there is much he doesn't know. I'm aware that I will have to inform him of the recent events in Ardvalla and Greythorne’s threat. However, I'm going to have to consider just how much he needs to know and when to tell him, but for now I decide to give him the nutshell version.

“Greythorne has made a threat against me, and if I don’t come up with a solution to dissolve his threat I must either submit to him or go to war with him.”

His eyes go wide and he gives a slight shake of his head.

“Not even I would relish the idea of going to war with Greythorne but then again I wouldn’t fancy having to submit to him either.”

From the way he says the word submit, I know he is wondering if it means more than just agreeing to something like a list of demands or increased rights as a lord. It’s clear he’s wondering if I mean submit in the most basic sense, and his frown suggests he’s starting to join the dots as to my predicament and where he fits into it.

Thankfully, Kes’ arrival means he doesn’t get a chance to ask any more questions. She looks at the ropes lying on the ground and shoots me a disapproving glare.

“It’s time to go, my Queen,” she informs me and then, with a withering look, she turns to the prince. “You may come with me.”

***

We ride hard for the next few hours, and thankfully Ailish’s prediction that the patrols of the southern parts of Greythorne’s lands will be sparse holds true. She explained that at this time of year the Ellerban conduct numerous raids into the northern part of Greythorne’s territory, due to them wanting to stock up on red pig for the winter. This means Greythorne deploys more of his men in the northern region at this time of year, leaving the southern region short on patrols. We are not quite as far south as I would like, due to having to shorten our route because of the young soldiers, but I'm happy her prediction has proven true so far.

Given this fortuitous turn of events, we decide to press on for as long as possible to make the most of this opportunity, and I urge Maneeha forward as the sun starts to set over the craggy landscape. I have to admit, as the sun’s rays illuminate the heather into bright bursts of blue on the surrounding lowhills, there is a stark and savage beauty to Greythorne’s province. It’s only a pity none of it is reflected in its lord’s character.

The moon is high in the sky when we decide to make camp, and despite the absence of any patrols throughout the day, we decide against lighting a fire. Even though we are in the southern part of Greythorne’s province, it is still much further north than Valensia and therefore considerably cooler, especially at night. I have some concern for the prince’s comfort as, unfortunately, when planning his abduction it seemed we planned for everything except a cloak to keep him warm. I grab a spare blanket from my pack and head over to where he is sitting beside the cart with the two young soldiers.

“How are they doing?” I ask.

“Hanging in there,” he replies. “The travelling, especially over this bumpy terrain, isn't doing them any favours.”

I give a small nod, showing I am in agreement with him. “At least we covered more ground today than we initially thought possible. All going well, it will shorten the journey considerably for them.”

I hold out the blanket and offer it to him. “Apologies, when we planned this mission it seems we hadn't planned for you being without a cloak.”

He takes the blanket. “This mission? You mean abducting me against my will?”

I feel my cheeks redden with embarrassment and I'm forced to look away from the sudden anger burning in his eyes.

“I suppose you could call it that,” I reply, my voice unsure.

He lets out a derisory snort. “Suppose? You suppose you could call it that? In the name of all that’s sacred, what else could you call it?”

He rises from the rock he has been sitting on and wraps the blanket around him. I don't respond to his question.

“You sneak into my castle, subdue me with vapours and throw me in the back of a cart. Now, tell me, what do you Ardvallans call that?”

His considerable bulk is towering over me at this stage and I know he is trying to use his physical prowess to intimidate me, but all it serves to do is rile me. As an Ellerban prince, I’m sure he has participated in more than his fair share of raids and abductions so he needn’t get all high and mighty with me.

I stand my ground as he inches even closer and force myself to look up into his fiery green eyes.

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