suggest. I will take her to our home. But I can't think of a single plausible excuse for our change of plans.”
“I can't help you there. I had the entire journey here to try to think of a course of action for you both, but I too failed to think of a valid explanation.”
“Then there's no other way. I'm going to have to tell her the truth.”
Aeden sighed. “The King thought you might say that.”
“Well what does he expect? His niece is a smart girl; she will not tolerate gallivanting all over Darth without a valid explanation. Nor would she be confident with my decision to abandon her at a stranger’s home without good excuse.” When Aeden glanced over his shoulder, Terric realized that the tone of his voice had risen and that, if he wasn't careful, Rosalind was sure to hear him. Softening his voice, he continued, “I see no other way.”
“In that case, King Cedric told me to tell you that he grants you his blessing in telling her. You are relieved of your oath.”
A strange combination of relief and dread furled within Terric—he was grateful to not have to lie to Rosalind anymore, but dreaded more than almost anything telling her the truth. She should never have had to hear such awful news from him, somebody she hardly knew.
Once more Aeden was speaking, and Terric was grateful that his brother had a clear head and could think rationally at this time, for his own head was occupied, his heart in turmoil. “The quickest way for you to get her to Mother will be for you to cut across Darth. It would take entirely too long to try and go around.”
“I can't ride the princess across the kingdom without causing suspicion. The entire kingdom would be alerted that something was amiss.
“Tis true. I will ride into town and fetch you some disguises while you inform Princess Rosalind of her parents’ demise. Then I must be on my way back to Peltis and to the king. As soon as you get her safely tucked away, you must come to Peltis, but be careful. Be discreet.”
“Yes,” Terric was speaking, agreeing to his brother's directions, but his mind was far away. He watched absently as Aeden mounted his destrier and rode off into the forest, trying to muster up enough strength to do the hardest thing he had ever been required to do.
Chapter 11
With a Heavy Heart
Terric watched Aeden until he could no longer see him amidst the thick trees of the forest. Inhaling deeply, he forced himself to turn around and walk towards Rosalind. She was standing next to Stephen, rubbing his neck and mane with her soft, delicate hands. Terric paused, watching as the sun filtered over her from above. Her dark hair shimmered in the sun; her skin looked healthy and golden. A faint smile played at her lips. She appeared content. He tried to memorize the way she looked at that exact moment, knowing that in seconds, that girl would no longer exist. Hating himself for the task he was about to perform, Terric took a hesitant step forward.
Rosalind peered over her shoulder as he drew near, her face breaking into a heart stopping smile. Terric paused, reaching up and rubbing the back of his neck nervously. He wasn't sure how to start, where to begin. How did one tell somebody that both their parents were dead? For the first time since becoming a defender, he hated his job, hated the position that he found himself in.
“Your brother already left?” Rosalind asked, breaking the silence.
“Aye,” he choked out in response, unable to say more. His throat felt as if it was constricting.
“Did he bring good news with him?” she asked innocently, oblivious to what the visit had really been about.
Terric stood rooted in his spot. “Nay, he did not.”
Rosalind's hands stilled. After a brief pause, she let them fall to her sides, as she walked slowly towards Terric, her eyebrows scrunched together. “Is everything well with my uncle?”
“Rosalind,” he squeaked, hardly able to speak, his throat was so dry, “your uncle is
“I can't help you there. I had the entire journey here to try to think of a course of action for you both, but I too failed to think of a valid explanation.”
“Then there's no other way. I'm going to have to tell her the truth.”
Aeden sighed. “The King thought you might say that.”
“Well what does he expect? His niece is a smart girl; she will not tolerate gallivanting all over Darth without a valid explanation. Nor would she be confident with my decision to abandon her at a stranger’s home without good excuse.” When Aeden glanced over his shoulder, Terric realized that the tone of his voice had risen and that, if he wasn't careful, Rosalind was sure to hear him. Softening his voice, he continued, “I see no other way.”
“In that case, King Cedric told me to tell you that he grants you his blessing in telling her. You are relieved of your oath.”
A strange combination of relief and dread furled within Terric—he was grateful to not have to lie to Rosalind anymore, but dreaded more than almost anything telling her the truth. She should never have had to hear such awful news from him, somebody she hardly knew.
Once more Aeden was speaking, and Terric was grateful that his brother had a clear head and could think rationally at this time, for his own head was occupied, his heart in turmoil. “The quickest way for you to get her to Mother will be for you to cut across Darth. It would take entirely too long to try and go around.”
“I can't ride the princess across the kingdom without causing suspicion. The entire kingdom would be alerted that something was amiss.
“Tis true. I will ride into town and fetch you some disguises while you inform Princess Rosalind of her parents’ demise. Then I must be on my way back to Peltis and to the king. As soon as you get her safely tucked away, you must come to Peltis, but be careful. Be discreet.”
“Yes,” Terric was speaking, agreeing to his brother's directions, but his mind was far away. He watched absently as Aeden mounted his destrier and rode off into the forest, trying to muster up enough strength to do the hardest thing he had ever been required to do.
Chapter 11
With a Heavy Heart
Terric watched Aeden until he could no longer see him amidst the thick trees of the forest. Inhaling deeply, he forced himself to turn around and walk towards Rosalind. She was standing next to Stephen, rubbing his neck and mane with her soft, delicate hands. Terric paused, watching as the sun filtered over her from above. Her dark hair shimmered in the sun; her skin looked healthy and golden. A faint smile played at her lips. She appeared content. He tried to memorize the way she looked at that exact moment, knowing that in seconds, that girl would no longer exist. Hating himself for the task he was about to perform, Terric took a hesitant step forward.
Rosalind peered over her shoulder as he drew near, her face breaking into a heart stopping smile. Terric paused, reaching up and rubbing the back of his neck nervously. He wasn't sure how to start, where to begin. How did one tell somebody that both their parents were dead? For the first time since becoming a defender, he hated his job, hated the position that he found himself in.
“Your brother already left?” Rosalind asked, breaking the silence.
“Aye,” he choked out in response, unable to say more. His throat felt as if it was constricting.
“Did he bring good news with him?” she asked innocently, oblivious to what the visit had really been about.
Terric stood rooted in his spot. “Nay, he did not.”
Rosalind's hands stilled. After a brief pause, she let them fall to her sides, as she walked slowly towards Terric, her eyebrows scrunched together. “Is everything well with my uncle?”
“Rosalind,” he squeaked, hardly able to speak, his throat was so dry, “your uncle is
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