I hadn’t actually looked at this in a few months and have spent the last couple minutes laughing at my own notes. For example trees were mentioned and my note was, “They speak Vietnamese!”

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Chapter 12

Nearly two weeks had passed since my visit to the palace. Since everything fell apart with Alexis. I hadn’t seen her since that day not like I tried.

I had visited that study room she had once not long after visiting the palace. I was going to return the dagger with a note but when I arrived, I became overwhelmed and ran. Facing her would be harder than facing an army whose entire goal is to claim my life. At least one I can try to fight. Fighting the crown princess of the country I was a guest in would be a foolish errand. Not like I ever wished her harm.

The dagger sat on the ground in front of me. Despite my frustrations it had become an invaluable tool in my day-to-day life. The blade remained sharp no matter what I did with it making my hunting trips a lot easier.

Even with the blades sturdiness I was hesitant to neglect it at all. It was a gift whether I was angry or not it should be cherished. So that’s what I did. Every time I used it, it was cleaned. I cut myself on it a few times realising quickly why enchanted weapons weren’t to be messed with. Not only did it physically drain me, but the cut seared with the fire of the sun as it scalded itself shut.

I know now I should have tried to talk to her in the palace where it would be safe for her to talk. Instead, I went and blew up at her then her parents came to help me! They should have been furious with me for the way I acted. My head should be on the chopping block.

Kat was quick to tell Lauren everything despite my pleas. To say she was furious was an understatement. I had yelled at the queens. She didn’t speak to any of us for nearly two days. At one point, Raine ran into her in the forest yelling at the trees.

When she returned, we got the lecture of a lifetime. She didn’t yell, didn’t even raise her voice. Instead, her and the doctor spoke calmly into the early hours of the morning about how much of a mess we could have made. Kat and Raine were dismissed after the first hour, and I was left alone.

Not much else happened Kat and Raine tried to get me to go out, but it felt useless. I just laid in the tent most days hiding from my responsibilities. Hoping that Alexis would show up and whisk me away like she usually did. But she never came, and I grappled with the reality that I messed up.

Lauren had been spared a few details including my relationship with Alexis. She wasn’t aware how close we had become assuming we just knew each other. It helped a little for her to not ask about Alexis. It however meant that when I wouldn’t get up, she assumed it was fear holding me back.

While I stared at the freshly polished dagger Lauren decided to sneak into my tent, “Get up we’re going for a walk” was all she said before throwing some clothes at me. I quickly changed into the black trousers and shirt running my hand through my hair a few times to try and style it. It wouldn’t help much but it was the best I had.

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Dark storm clouds formed over the city threatening to spill and soak everyone who dared to face the elements. Unfortunately, I was one of those people. Despite my protests I was dragged on a walk through the city. It was a bad attempt at trying to fix me that just led to me being even more stressed.

We didn’t speak throughout the walk so I was left to my all-consuming thoughts. It would be better if I could at least try to sleep. Lauren couldn’t care less about my protests dragging me through the vacant streets.

Madame Dorine’s was the last place on her list to visit. A nice surprise considering the day of following her on errands. We sat in the back corner having ordered our food and drink. The old log fire heated the room with a warm glow.

“So do you want to tell me what’s actually wrong?” The café was empty all the staff hiding out of sight other than to drop off orders.

I stared at her blankly for a moment before sighing deeply, “I messed up.”

She shook her head sipping her drink, “I am aware but what has got you so down?”

Lauren has always been able to read me it scared me at times how easily she could call out my emotions, “I messed up bad.” I sighed once again taking a few sips of my drink, “I’m angry at Alexis. Even worse I’m angry with myself and I don’t know how to fix any of this.”

“Then don’t.” The rain seemed to pound harder on the windows when she spoke. I just stared at her my mouth agape at what she had said, “Sulking in bed hasn’t fixed anything anyway so why try now?”

Her words felt harsh to me my breath catching in my throat as tears began to spill. I can’t just give up I finally cared enough for someone to fight for them and then I threw it away. I should have stayed, “I will fix it.” She looked amused at this her smirk clear as day, “Lauren I think I like her I will do anything.”

Her amusement quickly turned to shock at what I had said but she didn’t push. We just continued to drink in silence for a while occasionally bringing up stuff from the camp.

There was another issue that came up the elders wanted to leave soon. Lauren promised to try and convince them to stay for a while longer, but everyone had healed. I knew I would have to leave eventually but I didn’t want it to be on these terms. If she failed to convince them, I would have less than a week to fix things with Alexis.

After that conversation Lauren tried to be a bit more sympathetic about Alexis. She even started talking about how she courted the doctor which was weird to hear. I knew they had met working for the caravan, but I never realised how long they’d known eachother. Or that Lauren completely disregarded usual customs and chose to court him rather than the opposite.

Apparently, you’re supposed to ask a parent’s permission to court someone, but they ignored that. I assumed if that was the path, I was to take I would probably need to ask the queens permission. Annoying the royals more than I already had didn’t sound like a fun idea.

Realising I would need Alexis to like me first kind of put a damper on my mood. She could very well hate me or genuinely just see me as a friend. Maybe I was thinking too much into this. We barely knew eachother she couldn’t like me like that. It would be a fool’s errand to try.

Lauren tried to be encouraging when she realised, I was upsetting myself again. She suggested I visit the castle again and ask to see Alexis. If the queens hadn’t been angry at me when I pulled that they might hear me out when it comes to seeing her. Even if I am uninvited. It was probably my best option unless I resorted to stalking her and I wasn’t going to do that.

After that conversation we left the café, the rain having cleared while we ate. On the way back we noticed a lot more guards were patrolling the streets. They seemed to be looking for something or someone. When Lauren noticed she kept me closer not letting me out of her sight. What had happened?

Before I could question it more a guard stopped us. Lauren pulled me into her side my arms trapped, “By order of the royal family this city is under curfew please make your way home.” He spoke in a monotone voice the order ringing in my ears with every word. The royal family? Why would they put us under curfew?

My question died on my tongue when Lauren dragged me away. She didn’t say anything just dragged me through the city. We avoided all the alleyways going the long way. Cautious was an understatement to how she was acting constantly checking behind up. We didn’t know what had happened, but she must have assumed the worst.

Returning to the camp we noticed a few things going very wrong. The first and most obvious was that the place was crawling with royal guards. They rifled through crates and appeared from tents. Kat and Raine were arguing with a man who had one of the kids restrained. Luckily neither of them drew weapons it surely wouldn’t end well.

The second glaring realisation hit when loud shouting broke out. At the front of the crowd the elders knelt restrained by guards. Before them stood the queens and a woman in armour unlike the rest. Everything about her screamed danger. To run and never turn back. But that wasn’t an option.

Most importantly among the caravan most of the children had been restrained and moved away from the rest of the group. The doctor stood with them making sure none of them got hurt brandishing his own sword. Lauren upon realising that laughed we all knew he was no good at fighting. His attempt to protect the kids became comedy to us as we rushed down the stairs to figure out what was happening.

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