Valentino seems even angrier.
“You’re right. My mistake.” The stranger glares at Valentino before coming to stand beside Star. He looks me in the eyes before kneeling on the ground. “Welcome home, Your Highness. I am Javiar.”
“Please don’t.” I squint, frowning. I don’t want this kind of treatment.
“He must, Shanice, as many more will. It’s best to accept it now. It won’t ever change, no matter how many times you ask not to be greeted like that. It is the custom of our people,” Valentino explains as he mounts.
I glare at Valentino before turning my attention to our guest. “Thank you, Javiar. But I ask that you please treat me as your equal, as your friend, and not as someone above you.”
“As you wish, Your Highness. Please allow me to retrieve my horse and we can continue on. If we ride fast enough, we can be there by tomorrow morning.” He begins walking back the way he came. The bushes rattle as he untangles his reins and leads his horse toward us.
“Javiar, we won’t be arriving tomorrow morning. There is only one path that will get us there that quickly, and you know well the dangers it poses. We will take the lower roads and avoid being seen.” I can almost see the tension between them as Javiar gets ready to argue.
“We can have her home and safe in a little over a day if we take my route. Taking your path could mean being out here for another two days at least. It may be a more dangerous road but with you and I both protecting her, no one will dare get in our way.”
“Th—” Valentino begins but I put my hand on his forearm.
“Valentino, stop. Arguing is getting is nowhere.” I let go of his arm and address both men. “I’m sorry, Javiar but I trust Valentino. We will go his way.” I say it softly, with kindness but firmly. I do not know Javiar, and the look on Valentino’s face says it is a dangerous way.
Both men look at me with wonderment in their eyes. Taken aback, perhaps shock. It makes me laugh. “Now, come on! If it’s gonna be a good two days, we better get moving.” I say, more sarcastic this time.
“You heard the princess,” Javiar says, furrowing his eyebrows and running a hand through his cropped black hair.
Valentino leads the way, Javiar taking the rear. I wish I could ride side by side with Valentino. Honestly, I wish it was still just the two of us. But Javiar has me curious. What’s his story?
Then again, that could wait until we met upon my arrival in … I realize I have no idea where we’re going, aside from the fact that it’s a castle. My own thoughts annoy me. The silence is getting to me, the tension is painful, and I really wish I was alone with Valentino.
I feel like I can’t say anything with Javiar listening. And I don’t even understand why. Perhaps it’s Valentino’s reaction to his suggestions, perhaps it is my fear of rejection from those close to my age. Perhaps I’m only comfortable with Valentino.
I may never know. I just keep my back to him and follow Valentino. To save myself from the silence, I begin humming—I don’t know what, exactly. I just let the quiet sound keep me sane. What bewilders me most is when both men, in sync, begin humming with me. I don’t know whether to keep going or let them take over.
I’m sore in places I didn’t know could hurt. My back aches, I’m starving, filthy, and ready for a clean, warm bed and a hot meal that doesn’t consist of soup. The days are long and evenings are cold.
With Javiar here, Valentino sleeps beside me but never does he touch me. And last night he simply gave me his blanket and kept watch rather than sleeping at all. We’re all tired and the longer we travel, the grumpier we become.
Twice now, I’ve had to step between Javiar and Valentino before one knocked the other out, and both times they’ve glared at me for getting in their way. But they listen.
I begin humming, doing all I can to stay awake as Javiar makes breakfast. Valentino finishes
“You’re right. My mistake.” The stranger glares at Valentino before coming to stand beside Star. He looks me in the eyes before kneeling on the ground. “Welcome home, Your Highness. I am Javiar.”
“Please don’t.” I squint, frowning. I don’t want this kind of treatment.
“He must, Shanice, as many more will. It’s best to accept it now. It won’t ever change, no matter how many times you ask not to be greeted like that. It is the custom of our people,” Valentino explains as he mounts.
I glare at Valentino before turning my attention to our guest. “Thank you, Javiar. But I ask that you please treat me as your equal, as your friend, and not as someone above you.”
“As you wish, Your Highness. Please allow me to retrieve my horse and we can continue on. If we ride fast enough, we can be there by tomorrow morning.” He begins walking back the way he came. The bushes rattle as he untangles his reins and leads his horse toward us.
“Javiar, we won’t be arriving tomorrow morning. There is only one path that will get us there that quickly, and you know well the dangers it poses. We will take the lower roads and avoid being seen.” I can almost see the tension between them as Javiar gets ready to argue.
“We can have her home and safe in a little over a day if we take my route. Taking your path could mean being out here for another two days at least. It may be a more dangerous road but with you and I both protecting her, no one will dare get in our way.”
“Th—” Valentino begins but I put my hand on his forearm.
“Valentino, stop. Arguing is getting is nowhere.” I let go of his arm and address both men. “I’m sorry, Javiar but I trust Valentino. We will go his way.” I say it softly, with kindness but firmly. I do not know Javiar, and the look on Valentino’s face says it is a dangerous way.
Both men look at me with wonderment in their eyes. Taken aback, perhaps shock. It makes me laugh. “Now, come on! If it’s gonna be a good two days, we better get moving.” I say, more sarcastic this time.
“You heard the princess,” Javiar says, furrowing his eyebrows and running a hand through his cropped black hair.
Valentino leads the way, Javiar taking the rear. I wish I could ride side by side with Valentino. Honestly, I wish it was still just the two of us. But Javiar has me curious. What’s his story?
Then again, that could wait until we met upon my arrival in … I realize I have no idea where we’re going, aside from the fact that it’s a castle. My own thoughts annoy me. The silence is getting to me, the tension is painful, and I really wish I was alone with Valentino.
I feel like I can’t say anything with Javiar listening. And I don’t even understand why. Perhaps it’s Valentino’s reaction to his suggestions, perhaps it is my fear of rejection from those close to my age. Perhaps I’m only comfortable with Valentino.
I may never know. I just keep my back to him and follow Valentino. To save myself from the silence, I begin humming—I don’t know what, exactly. I just let the quiet sound keep me sane. What bewilders me most is when both men, in sync, begin humming with me. I don’t know whether to keep going or let them take over.
I’m sore in places I didn’t know could hurt. My back aches, I’m starving, filthy, and ready for a clean, warm bed and a hot meal that doesn’t consist of soup. The days are long and evenings are cold.
With Javiar here, Valentino sleeps beside me but never does he touch me. And last night he simply gave me his blanket and kept watch rather than sleeping at all. We’re all tired and the longer we travel, the grumpier we become.
Twice now, I’ve had to step between Javiar and Valentino before one knocked the other out, and both times they’ve glared at me for getting in their way. But they listen.
I begin humming, doing all I can to stay awake as Javiar makes breakfast. Valentino finishes
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