Page 67 of Of Blood & Bone: The Young Queen

“What happened?” I ask, as it becomes obvious the horse is reluctant to stand on its front left leg.

“I think he twisted his leg on the uneven ground,” she replies, and I can tell she’s not happy with this turn of events. She jumps from her horse and starts to inspect the leg of the wounded one. “Damn it,” she exclaims, “it’s already starting to swell. I shall need to treat it and he will need to rest.”

I look at Barra. “Do you think we have much further to go? Has Aaran left any clue as to how close we are to finding the prince?”

He looks at the trail and back at me. “It’s hard to say, Queen Elinor, but I can proceed from here on my own. You can stay here with the commander and the horses.”

I know what he is suggesting makes sense, but the memory of the prince’s tormented eyes and soul deep apology pull at me, and I believe I need to be with him and Aaran when they find him. Even in his distress back at the castle, the prince knew who I was, and I wish to be there for him when he is found. However, I am reluctant to leave Kes here on her own.

She senses my indecision. “I’ll be fine here on my own, Elinor,” she says. “The prince can’t be very far away at this stage, so I won’t be here for too long. The trail becomes treacherous from here and if the prince is following it, then it will soon start to climb steeply and won’t be suitable for the horses. I will remain here with them and wait for your return. The horses will be well rested and prepared for a swift return journey to Valensia.”

I look around. We are standing in a small grassy clearing and even though it is surrounded by large boulders, there is a fresh stream, and a few scraggy trees clumped together offering some shelter and a place to tether the horses. I nod at Kes, if thereis anyone capable of staying here alone, it’s her. “Fine,” I reply. “Barra and I shall continue from here on foot, but if you are in need of assistance sound your horn and we shall come straight back. Hopefully, it won’t be too long before we locate the prince and return.”

***

It isn’t long before the trail narrows to nearly nothing and we start to climb upwards, picking our way along jagged rocks and around huge boulders. The going is tough and requires all our concentration to avoid injury. However, as hard as I’m concentrating, there are times when I’m aware of a presence and have the distinct feeling of a pair of eyes upon me and I wonder if they are blue topaz incolour[SL1][RM2].

“I feel Aaran must be close by,” I say to Barra, as he looks for the next sign.

“Yes, he is,” he replies but doesn’t elaborate any further.

“Do you not think it strange he doesn’t join us?”

He smiles. “No, Your Majesty, another man maybe, but Aaran? No. He will wish to use all his faculties to track the prince and not want to be distracted. He will join us soon enough, when he has either found the prince or is in need of our help.”

He reaches out his hand to help me navigate a steep twist in the trail and I gladly accept, a warmth moving through my body as it reacts to his strength and touch.

“Thank you,” I say in a low voice, as my curves are forced to rub against his muscular frame due to the narrowness of the trail.

“My pleasure,” he replies with that warm smile I’m beginning to realise is very much him. Whereas the prince can be mercurial in nature, Barra is solid and stable, with a natural warmth and affable character I find very appealing. He’s easy to be around and there’s something about him that brings out the carefree part of my nature. When I’m with him, I imagine wecould have been childhood sweethearts in a world where I would have been allowed such a thing.

“This way,” he says as he takes my hand. It’s an intimate action I would resist with anyone else, but with him it feels totally natural, and in this moment I fantasise about being a younger version of myself, happily being led to a secret place of intimacy by my lover.

Awakening.The word sounds in the back of my mind, and I wonder if this sort of fantasising is what the prince was talking about. Barra’s fingers tighten around mine and I feel him take my weight as he helps me negotiate a large gap between two stones. Strong, solid, protective, dependable. These are the cornerstones of Barra and I feel blessed he is willing to deploy these parts of himself for my benefit.

The sky is darkening when we squeeze our way between two gigantic boulders and find ourselves in a clearing. I notice a ring of stones in the middle of it with two small stones in the centre and one outside. I instinctively know this is a sign from Aaran and I also think I know what it means.

“Does he wish for us to remain here?” I ask Barra.

He looks at me, a surprised expression on his face. “Yes, he is nearby and will join us presently, but for the time being he wishes for us to remain here.”

I sit on a large, flat stone and take in my surroundings. The ground in the clearing is even and, thankfully, grassy. There are a few bushes and three scraggy trees, by the side of which runs a small stream. It means there’s wood for a fire, water and a place to sleep which makes it as good a place as any to wait.

The sky is darkening and night will soon be upon us. My heart flips in my chest at the thought of the prince out there in the Craglands all alone. Barra walks towards the trees. “I’ll get a fire going for us,” he announces as he starts to collect twigs and branches from the ground.

I jump up and start to make my way over to help him when he raises his hand. “No, Queen Elinor, please rest,” he insists. “The journey has been arduous and you didn’t get any sleep last night.”

I ignore him and start to pick sticks up from the ground. “I’m fine,” I inform him, “but the nights here at this time of the year can be bitterly cold and I’d prefer to have a fire going sooner rather than later. So the quicker we can get that going, the better. Plus, it’s not so long ago you were laid up in your sick bed, and I know you are greatly recovered from your injuries, but you too must be weary.”

He smiles a tight smile. “Fine,” he agrees, as he smashes a large branch in two with his foot, “let us not waste precious energy bickering and light the fire.” His smile loosens and broadens. “I have to admit to being more hungry than weary.”

The flames of the fire leap into the night sky as I take the meat, bread, cheese and wine from my knapsack.

“Mmmmm…” Barra groans appreciatively as he savours the first mouthful. “I think I shall marry the castle’s cook.”

I laugh at his merry expression and emphatic pronouncement. “You might want to check about that with her husband first,” I advise him.

He places his hand on his heart, affects a sad face and in an overly dramatic fashion announces, “Such a cruel world, to finally find the woman of your dreams only to discover she is wed to another.” He plops another piece of bread in his mouth and smiles broadly.

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