Page 19 of The Queen's Crown
He climbed onto the other animal. “The two of us are going to continue north. The rest of your soldiers will remain with the carriage.”
“I don’t understand,” she said, still trying to comprehend all that had just happened. It frightened her that someone wanted her dead and was willing to go to such lengths to kill her.
“The two of us will be able to travel faster without the carriage. We’ll also be able to be anonymous on our own.”
“But all of my things are in there.” All the dresses her mother had commissioned for her.
“The soldiers will continue with the carriage. It’ll just arrive a few days after us.”
The soldiers began pulling the dead bodies away from the road and into the cover of the surrounding forest.
“We need to get as far away from here as quickly as possible in case more men come,” Markis said. “Are you able to ride on your own?”
“Yes.” Sabine urged her horse onward, and they set out. Karl had taught her to ride when she was only four years old. Riding came naturally to her.
After about a half mile, her heart rate returned to normal and she began to calm down. The fresh air filled her lungs, the sun warmed her skin, and she could almost forget about what had transpired a mere hour ago.
Sabine glanced sidelong at Markis. He had tanned skin and a light dusting of freckles across his nose. Dark blond hair stuck out from beneath his cap. She guessed his age to be around twenty-six. A little young to oversee not only her safety but the other soldiers as well. She wondered how he’d gotten a prestigious position at such a young age.
They rode in silence for a few minutes. The entire time, Markis scanned their surroundings as if he expected someone to attack them at any moment. A crow flew overhead but other than that, Sabine saw no forms of life anywhere nearby.
Reaching down, she felt her dagger tucked under the waist of her pants. Hopefully she wouldn’t need it again. “Thank you for saving my life back there.”
“I was just doing my job,” Markis said.
Something about his words deflated Sabine. She was a job, nothing more. Markis held no loyalty to her—it was the crown he served. She wanted to change the topic. “When will we stop for the night?”
“As soon as the Lynk border is in sight. Probably in a couple of hours. It’ll be well before dark if that’s what you’re concerned about.”
His words sent a chill down her spine. She’d forgotten they were due to arrive in Lynk tomorrow. “You plan on escorting me to the palace, correct?” Not leaving her to fend for herself. The mere thought terrified her.
“Your father tasked me with delivering you safely to King Rainer’s palace, and that is what I will do.”
“Once we’re there, will you serve as the head of my security?” If soldiers from Lynk were assigned to protect her, she had no idea if they’d be loyal or if she could even trust them. No, she needed her own men to feel safe and secure. Since three had been killed in the ambush, that left Markis and four additional soldiers. Five should be adequate.
“I will remain at your side unless King Rainer orders me to return home.” He gripped the reins of his horse tighter, the movement slight, but Sabine noticed.
“Surely he wouldn’t do that.” Especially if she wanted Markis to remain with her. As a princess and the future queen of Lynk, she had to have some say in what happened.
“I’m not sure King Rainer will want foreigners he doesn’t know or trust in his home.”
“I will vouch for you,” she replied. “That should be enough.”
“What do you know about King Rainer?” he asked.
“Not much, but that doesn’t matter. Our kingdom needs this alliance. If my sister could agree to marry a man she knew nothing about, I can do so as well.”
“One of your brothers told me the princess and king had been exchanging letters for some time.”
That was new information to her. None of her brothers had said a word to her about Alina and Rainer corresponding. “My brother told you that?”
“Prince Rolf wants me to look for the letters when I’m there. Since leaving Bakley, the princess’s things hadn’t been returned. We don’t know if she kept the letters, but your brother believes she did. He thinks they are probably with her personal items.”
“What does he hope to glean from them?” she asked, her thoughts drifting to the idea that her sister’s belongings might still be at the palace. If she could smell her sister’s sweet scent one more time…tears welled in her eyes at the mere thought.
“Your brother is simply looking for suspects and motives.”
Sabine nodded as if all of this made sense. It hurt her that her sister hadn’t confided in her. All this time, she thought Alina was going to marry a man she knew nothing about. However, that was not the case. Her sister had been corresponding with him. Which meant he had to be a decent person or else Alina wouldn’t have agreed to go through with it.
