Chapter 16

"He set up his soldier's camp east of us so he can have them keep an eye on our movement. I want guards positioned in the east, ready to sound an alarm should there be any movement. I don't trust that the king will not attack us while we are here. Are you fools listening to me or just staring?" Zayne asked, noticing their lack of attention to his words. 

"Forgive us general, it is just that none of us understands why you didn't have the prisoner put in a cell rather than a room. Is she your lover?"

Zayne was unamused by their assumption. "Because you are used to seeing my lovers be covered in dirt and close to passing out? Is that why you think she is my lover?"

"Well, no."

Lucy Stanley, one of Zayne's trusted soldiers, decided to help the men who were beating around the bush. "It is not like you to treat our enemies well. Especially when she snuck into our camp. We've been noticing spies since we arrived. You must be more careful."

"She isn't a spy. Over thirty years totalled between all of you yet none of you can tell who is a spy and who isn't? Am I not a kind man in your eyes to care for someone who is tired and seeking shelter?" Zayne questioned, only to be met by silence. 

Well, there went his belief that he was kind. 

Since Zayne wasn't getting anywhere thanks to the people in the room being so curious about Rose, he stood up to leave since sharing her troubles wasn't part of his job. "She survived the night in the mountains. Prepare to make a trip around the mountain without any supplies. Since she can do it, you can too."

Zayne ignored the groans and complaints under their breaths. Since they were silent on his question about whether he was nice, he should be as they placed him to be which was mean.

Zayne walked toward the door, leaving the men and women to sulk. "Turned to stalking me now, Lucy?"

"I did not receive an answer that I could understand. She is our enemy. We've brought everyone we needed to use for the entirety of this trip. No outsiders were your words," said Lucy.

"Well, I changed my mind. Am I the only person not allowed to enjoy doing such a thing?" Zayne questioned, glancing to his right at Lucy. "Would you like me to throw her in a cell as well? To torture her when she's already been through enough?"

Lucy raised her brow as it sounded like Zayne knew a lot about this woman. "You've been around her before to know of her troubles? I thought when you were leaving, you were going around to get knowledge about this land. Not to meet with women."

"I didn't go to meet with women and I cannot help that there were women where I needed to go. While I appreciate the concern for my safety, I don't need to explain why she is here to any of you. I am one in charge of the group here and I say that she is our guest. Do you want to fight me on it?" Zayne questioned.

Lucy lowered her gaze. She was not here to start a fight with him. Only to understand why he allowed a stranger into their space. "Who have you placed to guard her?"

"You all must learn the difference between a guest and a prisoner. I am starting to feel exhausted by having to explain," Zayne said, sighing as they were tiring him with their questions. "Why don't you go and guard her since you are so concerned about my safety?"

"General, you must be more concerned."

"I've seen the way she holds a knife. You don't have anything to worry about. Even bread has nothing to worry about," Zayne said as he could not see Rose slicing it properly.

Lucy wasn't relieved yet but it was a start. 

"But she did say she stabbed a man last night. I don't know if I believe it," Zayne continued.

Lucy couldn't believe how nonchalant Zayne was being about this. This woman should be sent out before she brings troubles to their doors. "Fine, I will guard her until it comes time for her to leave. Where is she now?"

Lucy did not understand why Zayne was being so carefree when he was normally the one to have them cautious of what the people from this land were doing. 

"It is the room we just passed. She has a thing against men so she might welcome the sight of a woman, but I must warn you not to touch her as fear will fill her eyes. And Lucy, do try not to threaten my guest while I am not around," Zayne warned.

He guessed that it was in her plans to see if Rose was safe or not.

"You know I hate when someone does unnecessary things."

"I understand," Lucy answered. He had seen right through her plan but she was still going to see this woman. Sometimes these men were easily tricked when women came around so she had to be the one with sense. 

Zayne was always the serious one who didn't let outsiders in so Lucy could not understand why he was letting this woman near. It was easy to understand why the others thought this was some woman Zayne liked, but Lucy couldn't believe that since Zayne had kept to himself.

A good marriage candidate was waiting for him at home and Lucy was even considered to wed him so why would he settle for a woman from this land?

Lucy stopped following Zayne and returned to the room they passed. Enough time had passed for this woman to slip out of the room and poke around at what they were doing here. Lucy knocked on the door and then waited for a response.

She wasn't impressed when Rose opened the door, her body covered by a blanket. 

Lucy narrowed her eyes as it looked like Rose might have been hoping for Zayne's arrival. This wasn't a wounded woman. This was someone looking to get close to their general.

Rose wondered if this was the woman to bring her a new dress. She had washed the one she had worn before as it was so dirty that it would bring too much attention to her. She had no choice but to dress herself in a blanket for now.

It was perfect because she could lay at the side of the bed where no one would see her when they first entered the room and it would just look like a blanket had fallen off the side.

"He won't come to sleep with you if that was what you were hoping for," said Lucy. 

Rose was relieved because she didn't want to sleep with anyone. For some reason, her reaction seemed to bother the woman before her. Was it wrong for her to show to be relieved she didn't want to sleep with him?

Lucy entered the room, inspecting if anything had been done to it. It looked normal so far. "Who are you and how do you know our general?"

"I do not wish to say," Rose answered. Zayne knew her story was already enough and should she tell more people, Graham was bound to find out that she was here.