Page 46 of Warrior Princess
Ronan turned on his side to face me, his features shadowed yet thoughtful. “Given the distance and the need for caution, I wouldn’t expect anything before late tomorrow, probably after lunch.”
I sighed, the weight of our tasks momentarily pressing down. “It’s going to be a long wait,” I murmured more to myself than to him.
Ronan reached out across the small gap between our cots and brushed his fingers against mine. “No matter how long, we’re inthis together.” His assurance was a low rumble in the otherwise quiet tent.
Comforted, I gave his hand a gentle squeeze and settled back. The fatigue of the day quickly coaxed me toward sleep, the issues of tomorrow waiting just beyond the veil of dreams.
The next morningdawned clear and bright with the first rays of sunlight piercing the canvas of our tent, drawing thin lines of light across the floor. I stirred from a restless sleep, the anticipation of receiving a return message from my brother cluttering my mind. Ronan was already awake, sitting on the edge of his cot and lacing his boots.
“Morning.” My voice was thick with sleep as I sat up and rubbed the remnants of dreams from my eyes.
A soft smile touched his lips as he glanced over at me. “Good morning. Sleep well?”
“Not really.” I swung my legs off the cot and reached for my boots. “Too many thoughts swirling around.”
Ronan nodded in understanding, then stood to stretch his tall frame. “I know the feeling. Maybe breakfast will help clear your head.”
We stepped out of the tent to find the camp already buzzing with activity. Soldiers bustled about, performing their morning routines, and the smell of cooking fires reminded me how hungry I was. We found the communal eating area where Mykal was already sitting with a steaming mug in his hand.
“Morning, you two.” Mykal’s expression was serious yet welcoming. “I’ve sent your letter, Leila. Now it’s a waiting game.”
“Thank you, Mykal.” I gratefully accepted a mug of tea from one of his aides. The warmth from the cup seeped into my hands,lending comfort against the morning chill. We settled around a small table where a modest breakfast was placed before us. As we ate, the conversation naturally veered towards our plans.
“Once we hear back from Marcellus, we must be ready to move quickly.” Ronan’s tone was businesslike as he tore a piece of bread. “Whether it’s to meet him or to handle whatever response we get.”
Mykal nodded in agreement. “I’ve tapped a few scouts and they’re at your disposal. They can escort you to the border or wherever you need to go.”
I sipped my tea, the warmth soothing as I considered our next moves. “What about the midwife, Abigail? Any news on her whereabouts?”
“No word as of yet,” Mykal replied. “Keldara isn’t large, but she must be keeping a low profile, which is understandable if what you claim is true. It’s only a matter of time, though.”
The conversation paused as a messenger approached our table with a sealed letter in his hand. He handed it to Mykal, who quickly passed it to me. My heart raced as I recognized Marcellus’s seal. I carefully broke the wax and unfolded the letter, rapidly scanning the contents. Ronan watched me closely with a tense expression.
“It’s from Marcellus.” I finally looked up from the letter. “He’s safe, and he’s secured a meeting place for us at the border in two days. He’s bringing Father with him.”
Relief washed over Ronan’s face and he reached for my hand across the table. “That’s good news.”
“But there’s more.” My voice faltered as I read the next part of the letter out loud. “‘I suspect the royal court is being manipulated. Be cautious, Sister.’”
Ronan’s brow furrowed. “We need to be prepared for anything. This situation is more complex than we thought.”
Mykal leaned in, his gaze sharp. “I’ll double the escorts and send word to my contacts in Valoria to keep an eye out for any unusual movements.”
I frowned as I reread the letter, scrutinizing the scrawl of Marcellus’s handwriting. “How do I know for sure this is from my brother? Caelan has already fooled me once.” I looked over at Mykal.
“My operative was instructed to stay by Marcellus’s side until he wrote a response. All my operatives are trustworthy. If your letter had been intercepted, he never would have made it back,” Mykal said cryptically.
As we finished our breakfast and planned our next steps, our responsibilities felt ponderous. We weren’t simply fighting for my family’s safety, but for the stability of an entire nation.
“Didn’t you mention there's a small Valorian refugee community here in Keldara?” I asked Mykal. My curiosity was piqued by the thought of fellow countrymen so close yet choosing to live under such different circumstances.
“Yes, they've settled on the outskirts of the capital.” Mykal’s voice carried a hint of concern. “It’s not the safest area, especially with the current tensions.”
I chewed on my lower lip and considered our options. “Perhaps we could visit them on our way to meet my brother and father at the Valorian-Keldaran border. It might be more productive than just waiting around here for someone to tell us if they’ve found Abigail or not.”
Mykal's brow furrowed slightly. “If you’re set on going, I insist on escorting you myself. That area is too close to the capital, and the situation there is volatile.”
Ronan, always protective, quickly interjected. “She’ll have me. Plus, Leila is quite capable of defending herself as a blood mage. We should manage fine on our own.”
