38 Caroline

"Who am I to speak on behalf of Ovandale?" Caroline asked as they continued along the road that bordered the now calm sea to the East.

"You are the strongest witch alive for at least a hundred years or so. I would say that gives your word some weight," Aniyoh replied cheerfully. Caroline was grateful the witch was riding next to her. The fatigue was dissipating, but at a prolonged rate.

"Aniyoh does have a point..." Lucian began, Caroline could only see the back of his head from where she was riding, but she knew the vampire was thinking carefully about his next words. "But we would need the blessing of my father. He is the highest-ranking Lord in the King's court, and his recommendation would be necessary, I believe."

Ender, who had been strangely silent since she had cast out the curse laid upon the East Sea, or what was called the 'Sea of Bones' here in Ibudal, finally spoke, "Would we, though? The King requested our audience. The letter was closed with his seal. It is possible we could bypass father altogether and bring Caroline before Undair to plead her case."

"I, as much as anyone, prefer not to converse with Marciaus as much as possible, but it will be necessary to see him before we reach Undair himself. Word of our presence in the city will spread quickly, and the man is wholly unavoidable." Lucian told his brother, speaking loudly enough for the group to hear.

Caroline turned in her saddle to see Ender nod slowly at Lucian's words. She could feel herself begin to sway atop the horse and felt warmer than usual. Even in her cap-sleeved dress and the cool ocean breeze caressing her face, the exhaustion from channeling so much onya was wearing on her.

Ender nudged his horse closer to hers to ride alongside her. Concern creased his chiseled features as he leaned in and asked her quietly, "Brundah, are you well?"

"Just tired," she said with a weak smile.

"We can stop and rest if you like," he told her as the two of them began to lag a bit behind the others.

"No, no. I want to keep going. I will be alright," she said. Without thinking, Caroline reached out to pat the vampire's arm.

Before she could pull her hand away, Ender reached his opposite arm over and placed a cold hand atop hers, stroking the top of her fingers gently as they rode together side by side. His eyes remained on the road ahead, steady as ever, but she could feel reassurance and calm radiating from the gesture, as well as her heart thump quickly against her ribs.

Fearing that one of their party would glance back and see them interlocked, she made to move her hand again. Ender finally glanced her way, his crimson eyes locking with hers.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

Caroline felt the blood rush to her face as a wave of embarrassment threatened to stall her speech. "I just-, I mean- what if the others see us?" she finally blurted out in a rushed whisper.

Ender tightened his grip on her hand. The chill of his touch was both refreshing and exhilarating. In truth, she never wanted him to let her go but was still trying to reconcile her feelings for a vampire she had known for only a few short weeks.

The vampire's stony face split into a dazzling smile, he let out a short laugh, "I carried you to bed for a week, stayed in your room while you slept and you are worried that they will see a bit of hand-holding? You are a strange lass."

Caroline shot him a disgruntled look but left her hand where it had remained throughout the conversation. She did not know what to make of Ender's words. It was true what he said, they had been close in the week leading up to their departure from Castle Mont, but at the time, she had not interpreted his gestures to be romantic. Somehow this bit of touching made her feel exposed as if a declaration were being made.

The realization was only now coming to her that the stoic, reticent vampire had been opening up in his own way the last week, and she had either been too dense or tired, to pick up on it. Ender had been caring for her in a way that seemed commonplace to her, she realized. But to the vampire, the actions might mean more.

She drew her horse to a stop in the road, as did Ender. She watched as the gap between the two of them and their party began to grow quickly. It wouldn't be long before their absence was noticed.

"Ender, I just realized-" she began before he cut her off.

"It's okay, brundah, let them see," he said while moving his hand to her chin and cupping her face in his too-large palm.

Ender leaned in close to her, turning in his saddle. She could feel her leg brush against his, every sensation heightened by the current hyperawareness of her senses. All sound faded around her except for the light breathing escaping from Ender's slightly parted lips, hovering just inches from hers.

"Are you two coming or what?" Aniyoh yelled while waving in the distance.

The moment gone, Ender leaned his forehead against hers, hand still gently holding her jaw. "We have all the time in the world brundah, let us go now."

Disengaging from the vampire's embrace, she leaned back into her saddle. Feeling both slightly dejected but equally excited as they began to catch up with the group. Her energy was returning at a markedly quicker pace.

All the time in the world, she thought while smiling to herself. Caroline did not know how accurate the vampire's words were.