The Kingdom of Belmar

Chapter 25

Half the night must have been spent with my eyes closed on the back of that horse. Cole didn't seem to mind, even if I'd accidentally wiped sweat-caked ash onto the back of his fine pressed white shirt. He didn't disturb me as I slept. In fact, I'd never ridden a horse as gently, gallantly, gracefully as he was guiding me.

Lucinda and Charlotte shared one behind us, the latter holding on for dear life, clearly not accustomed to such an activity. Percival and Grace shared another. Grace seemed to have also fallen asleep on her riding partner's back, but as annoyed as I'd suspected Percy to be, it doesn't show.

Philip and Geoffrey each rode their own, though Philip was clearly lagging behind. He trotted slowly, jagged, pulling back every now and then and turning around as though we were being followed.

"I should have killed him there," Cole says, now aware that I'm awake. "He's dragging us behind. Even Tristen rode better before he was able to read."

"There's no use in killing an ally when we have so many enemies. Most of whom wish for your head, lest you've forgotten."

"And your leg is in tatters because of his incompetence. He's a knight, and he couldn't perform his duties."

"I too am a knight, Your Highness. I'm your knight. These injuries are no more than an occupational hazard. I took the blame the moment I entered the knights exam all of those months ago."

"An unnecessary hazard. If you wish me not to blame Philip, I'll blame my step-

mother, I'll blame Tristen, I'll blame Margarite, Garrison, all of Belmar if need be. I'll blame everyone but you. If you can never dance again, if you can never accompany me to balls that I don't wish to attend, if you can never stroll through the courtyards with me after midnight, I'll shoulder the blame myself and curse the world for taking all of this beauty from you."

I don't know what to say. He's so sincere, so earnest, every word leaves me reeling with hope. Hope that I shouldn't have, that isn't entirely clear in its intentions, that I wish wouldn't whisper lies and sweet nothings. But I can't help but hope. "A leg will heal," is all I mutter, and bury my face into his shirt to hide the blood rushing to my cheeks. His head turns slightly as my grip around his waist tightens, and I wonder if the red flushing my complexion matches the red curls bouncing behind me.

We rode to the Capital City, along the abandoned alley lining the ocean. I hadn't stepped foot in this pathway since a boy named Ace dragged me here, running from guards. This is where we sat together and watched the fireworks boom a dance of color over the water. Now I won't even be able to run the same way I did then, at least not for a while. What I wouldn't give to go back there. The first night of the Sonna festival, excited about the possibilities that this city could provide for me that the countryside couldn't.

"What are you thinking of?" Cole asks, softer than before, like he's also remembering who we were before all of this chaos.

"I want to see the fireworks."

"One day," he tells me, snapping the reins once more. "I promise you we'll watch the fireworks together again. One day."

* * *

Night turned to day and we'd traveled around the Capital City, emerging in the forest on the other side. My tailbone aches and I can no longer feel my backside, but none of us dare to stop until we've reached the Ewell's Dukedom. It's situated in the western territory, but not so far out that it would take more than a day to traverse. None of the resources Cole had available to him in the book are located here, but we aren't exactly welcome in the eastern territory since that's where the Hastings are. Does Margarite know we're still alive? Does Queen Rista? The book's changed so much, how much longer can Margarite keep up?