Chapter 54
Hydrangea rubbed her eyes as she awoke, she was sitting with her back against a tree. The atmosphere was an eerie white as she blinked awake.
The Sovereign was sleeping on the other side of the dead fire and her eyes began to search for Brigitte.
Hearing a whimper she turned to her right and saw Brigitte in the hands of a large man, a knife to her throat, blood was already dripping from where the blade rested.
Hydrangea's eyes shot wide open as she jolted herself awake.
The atmosphere was the same and she hurriedly searched her surroundings, the Sovereign was in the same place and sleeping beside the fire, close to the horses was Brigitte.
She breathed a sigh of relief but her body tensed once more. What if that was a warning from Ratri-kar?
Standing on her stiff legs she walked to where the Sovereign was sleeping, he had a folded blanket under his head, yanking the blanket off of him she noticed there were two, 'We only packed four so if I had one…' she smacked his arm when she realized the truth.
He groaned and then blinked rapidly as he awoke. His bleary eyes finally found her and he took in her cross appearance.
"What?" He asked as he watched her. Her black hair was frizzy and had bark in it.
"You stole from Brigitte." She said heatedly pointing at her.
"What do you mean, I stole from her?" He asked as he stood from the hard ground.
"You took her blanket. We packed four and you used three." She said angrily.
"She's a maid, isn't she used to sleeping without one." He said while he stretched.
"She shouldn't be, and you used three blankets, you selfish bastard." She couldn't believe that he had actually been so heartless.
Turning on her heel she tossed over her shoulder, "We need to leave."
"Why?" The Sovereign asked through a yawn.
"Because." She answered simply as she woke Brigitte.
The maid rubbed her eyes awake then stretched and yawned, "Your majesty, good morning."
"Good morning." She replied as she began to fold the blankets and stuff them into Helle's pack, "We need to leave." She repeated.
Brigitte simply nodded and rose. Stretching her limbs she began to help Hydrangea pack.
"Why are we leaving now?" The Sovereign asked as he stretched once again.
"Because. Now get on." Hydrangea said as she climbed onto Helle.
Brigitte climbed onto Dahlia behind her.
Sagging his shoulders and sighing irritably he walked towards the horse and sat behind her on the saddle, he reached for the reins in her hands and she yanked them away.
"Ah, ah, ah. You don't get those." She said as she led the horse to the road.
"And why not?" He asked in shock.
"Hah!" She scoffed, "You lost the privilege to these yesterday."
A whistle sounded through the air and then a solid thud. All three sets of eyes turned to the tree that now had an arrow in it.
Another whizz sounded then another.
"What are you waiting for? Go!" The Sovereign yelled in her ear.
Grimacing, she looked at Brigitte quickly and they nodded and both their horses made off in a gallop.
She felt the Sovereign's hands hold her waist again and her stomach clenched in reflex. It was a strange feeling…
The wind whipped past her face and sent her loose hair flying back, probably into the Sovereign's face. A happy peal of laughter left her lips. Something about riding made her giddy.
The road was broken in many places but Helle and Dahlia were both good at avoiding the ditches and creepers that stretched across the packed dirt road.
Looking back over her shoulder she could see the Sovereign's arm blocking her view. Her gaze flickered back and forth between the road and him she asked, yelling over the wind and the sound of horse hooves hitting the road, "Are they gone?"
Her gaze returned to the road as she waited for his reply.
"Yes." The Sovereign yelled back.
She glanced at Brigitte who met her eyes, they slowed in their retreat but still kept up a steady trot.
The sun had risen and had burned off the morning mist.
The Sovereign's hands were still resting on her waist.
"How did you know?" He asked from behind her.
"Know what?" She replied, avoiding answering him.
"That they were coming." He answered in a tone that said it was obvious. Which it was.
Brigitte also tuned her ears to listen to the Queen's answer.
"I…" her stomach growled loudly and she clutched it; the dull ache of hunger now apparent, "I have not eaten since… two mornings ago." She said changing the subject.
No one commented on her statement.
"How about we find someplace to eat." She said as she led Helle off of the given path and into the dense jungle.
Hoping not to find some gaur she surveyed the area thoroughly.
She felt the Sovereign's touch leave her waist and heard him slide off the horse and land on the spongy ground.
Hydrangea followed after him.
She and Brigitte tied the horses to a sturdy branch then Hydrangea asked, "Is there anything edible in this jungle?"
"Hmm, yes your majesty but… most are small, or fungi that are tricky to distinguish between eatable or poisonous." She answered, her eyes trained on the canopy and tree limbs.
"Okay." She breathed feeling a little discouraged turning to look at the Sovereign who had been silent she saw that his white, muslin shirt had a tear in it.
Her brows drew together as she looked at it, his thoughts seemed to be elsewhere.
"You have a tear in your sleeve." She stated as she neared him, raising her hand to inspect it.
He seemed to realize how close she was and he stepped back, "And?" He asked defensively.
"Well, how did it get there?" She asked as she once again took a step to look.
"Probably from sleeping on the ground." He said as he back away once more.
"Oh, come, come. It was not there before." She said as she once again neared him.
He pulled a knife, "Stop it."
She froze and stared at the knife, her body tense. Her eyes looking between him and the cold metal. She simply wanted to help him. Getting angry at how he behaved she glared at him.
"Fine." She stormed off and went to check on the two mares.
Brigitte chewed her lip watching the exchange, they were both so childish. Shaking her head she entered the trees in search of sustenance.