Page 110 of The Fae Girl 1

“Everything is ready.” Ridley said to him and he nodded.

“Good. Let’s get going then.” Fain replied.

We rode out through the streets of the citadel. Indi and Nela stuck to either side of my horse. I took the opportunity to look around, to half devour the city now that I was seeing it for the first time.

Maybe if I asked them they’d let me come here and actually explore. Maybe.

As we passed through the city gates we picked up pace. I mentally prepared for the aching muscles I was about to endure with, so far, little explanation as to why.

We rode most of the day stopping for a kick lunch and only made camp an hour before dusk.

I dismounted my horse feeling my legs shaking with the all too familiar soreness. I shook my head slightly. Whatever the fuck this was it was just like the last time. Or so close to it, it didn’t matter.

I glanced in the Prince’s direction. He looked deep in conversation with Ridley who was nodding back.

Maybe he felt my eyes on him or maybe it was something else because he patted Ridley on the shoulder and then walked over.

“Hi.” He said.

“Hi.” I replied suddenly feeling incredibly self-conscious.

“I hope the ride wasn’t too hard.” Fain said sounding like he actually cared.

“No, it was fine.” I stated.

Lies. It was bloody awful. Just like always.

“Good. Sit by the fire and I’ll bring you some hot food.”

“It’s okay you don’t need to.” I replied. I didn’t want him pandering around me, treating me like I was suddenly fragile. He’d never done that before. Never bothered to care how I felt.

“I know. But it’s been a long day and tomorrow will be worse.”

“Why?” I asked. “Why will it be worse?”

Fain sighed. “You’ll see.” He said gently, as though he had a whole plan that he didn’t want to alter, didn’t want to deviate from.

What the hell was going on? I bit my tongue and chose to say nothing.

“Sit by the fire. It will warm you.” He said more as an order than a suggestion.

I did as he said, sinking into the grass, pulling my cloak tighter about me. It was cool, and despite the fire, it was only going to get colder as the night set in.

Indi and Nela joined me, sitting either side. They chatted away in manner that meant I didn’t need to join in but also didn’t feel excluded. Instead I stared at the flames, trying to figure out what the hell ‘Seford’ was and why there was such necessity for me to go to it.

Fain walked up with bowls of steaming stew for us.

I didn’t hesitate in taking mine as my stomach grumbled proving how hungry I was.

Suddenly it felt like I was back on that first journey, back when Fain had all but dragged me to Montefore. So much had happened since then. So much had changed. In truth I didn’t even feel like the same girl anymore, the same Alice.

I wondered for a moment how that journey would have been. If I’d just surrendered. If I’d just let them take me. Something told me that Fain would still have been suspicious. That he still wouldn’t have trusted me then.

Then I remembered the Agnai attack and shuddered.

“Are you cold?” Nela asked.

I shook my head. “No. I was just thinking of something that’s all.”

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