them. Once inside the cave, his heart leapt with joy.
Irewen stood beside the fire, his dark blue cloak draped casually around her shoulders.
“Irewen!” Running to her, he threw his swords to the ground and gathered her in his arms. Pulling her towards him, he pressed his mouth firmly against hers. The kiss hard and fervent, he dared the combined powers of all the Guardians to force them apart.
Irewen abruptly pulled away from Laegon’s embrace, her eyes wide with urgency.
“What is it?” he asked in alarm. “What is wrong?”
“We cannot stay here! We are in danger! We must leave!”
“Irewen, calm down. Tell me—”
“No, there is no time to explain!” she interrupted. “Dremond’s shade told me we must leave! The Drulaack will return!”
Although it wasn’t due to Irewen’s insistence that they were in danger, worry surged through Laegon’s body. The young princess was hysterical. Her voice rang out high-pitched and shrill. Her eyes darted about the cave as if she were being watched by hundreds of evil spirits. She spoke of things he’d never heard of. Convinced their lives were in jeopardy, she was prepared to throw herself into the harshness of winter, risking her own life as well as his.
Taking hold of her shoulders, he forced her to meet his gaze. “Irewen, I should not need to remind you, but you are still recovering from being shot in the back with two arrows. You were poisoned and left for dead amidst the furious onslaught of a snowstorm. You only regained consciousness yesterday and have had nothing to eat aside from some herbed broth and a meager helping of porridge.
“This is the first time you have stood in five days. Although it is a sight I am happy to see, we both know you will not be able to travel far. We do not have one horse, let alone two. In case you have not noticed, the ground is covered in over two feet of snow. Even I have difficulty moving through it at a decent pace, and I am a head taller than you. Unless you can give me a damn good reason why we should do otherwise, neither of us is going anywhere until you have fully recovered.”
He fell silent. She obviously wasn’t used to being spoken to so forcefully. The anger in her eyes was evident.
Ashamed, he lowered his gaze. “I apologize, Irewen. Though it really doesn’t serve as an excuse, it was only because I care for you.”
She said nothing. The silence between them grew.
Laegon waited, not knowing what to do. He’d never been in such a situation. On one hand, he wanted to beg for forgiveness. On the other, he didn’t want to allow himself to be manipulated so easily. Yes, his tone had been harsh, but his aggressive stance had been necessary. Irewen had been frantic. She wasn’t able to share in calm, rational discussion.
The silence remained.
Finally, Laegon made his decision. When he spoke, his voice was devoid of emotion. “My oath to you remains. Should you choose to leave, I will follow. That being said, it is late. It has been a trying day. We will stay the night here. Take advantage of this time to rest and come to a decision. If you think it best to leave, we will do so in the morning.
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked briskly towards the mouth of the cave to remove the corpses.
8
IREWEN WOKE THE NEXT MORNING WITH A START. Closing her eyes, she waited for her heart to settle before getting to her feet. After wrapping Laegon’s cloak around her shoulders, she surveyed the small campsite.
The elf prince wasn’t there.
Considering what had transpired the previous night, she shouldn’t have been upset. But she was. Aside from leaving to fight the Drulaack, Laegon had remained by her side since they’d sought refuge in the cave. So why leave now? What had changed?
Irewen frowned. She knew the answer even before she’d finished asking the question.
It was her.
Perhaps if she apologized...
Guilt instantly consumed her. He’d done that very thing the previous night.
Irewen stood beside the fire, his dark blue cloak draped casually around her shoulders.
“Irewen!” Running to her, he threw his swords to the ground and gathered her in his arms. Pulling her towards him, he pressed his mouth firmly against hers. The kiss hard and fervent, he dared the combined powers of all the Guardians to force them apart.
Irewen abruptly pulled away from Laegon’s embrace, her eyes wide with urgency.
“What is it?” he asked in alarm. “What is wrong?”
“We cannot stay here! We are in danger! We must leave!”
“Irewen, calm down. Tell me—”
“No, there is no time to explain!” she interrupted. “Dremond’s shade told me we must leave! The Drulaack will return!”
Although it wasn’t due to Irewen’s insistence that they were in danger, worry surged through Laegon’s body. The young princess was hysterical. Her voice rang out high-pitched and shrill. Her eyes darted about the cave as if she were being watched by hundreds of evil spirits. She spoke of things he’d never heard of. Convinced their lives were in jeopardy, she was prepared to throw herself into the harshness of winter, risking her own life as well as his.
Taking hold of her shoulders, he forced her to meet his gaze. “Irewen, I should not need to remind you, but you are still recovering from being shot in the back with two arrows. You were poisoned and left for dead amidst the furious onslaught of a snowstorm. You only regained consciousness yesterday and have had nothing to eat aside from some herbed broth and a meager helping of porridge.
“This is the first time you have stood in five days. Although it is a sight I am happy to see, we both know you will not be able to travel far. We do not have one horse, let alone two. In case you have not noticed, the ground is covered in over two feet of snow. Even I have difficulty moving through it at a decent pace, and I am a head taller than you. Unless you can give me a damn good reason why we should do otherwise, neither of us is going anywhere until you have fully recovered.”
He fell silent. She obviously wasn’t used to being spoken to so forcefully. The anger in her eyes was evident.
Ashamed, he lowered his gaze. “I apologize, Irewen. Though it really doesn’t serve as an excuse, it was only because I care for you.”
She said nothing. The silence between them grew.
Laegon waited, not knowing what to do. He’d never been in such a situation. On one hand, he wanted to beg for forgiveness. On the other, he didn’t want to allow himself to be manipulated so easily. Yes, his tone had been harsh, but his aggressive stance had been necessary. Irewen had been frantic. She wasn’t able to share in calm, rational discussion.
The silence remained.
Finally, Laegon made his decision. When he spoke, his voice was devoid of emotion. “My oath to you remains. Should you choose to leave, I will follow. That being said, it is late. It has been a trying day. We will stay the night here. Take advantage of this time to rest and come to a decision. If you think it best to leave, we will do so in the morning.
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked briskly towards the mouth of the cave to remove the corpses.
8
IREWEN WOKE THE NEXT MORNING WITH A START. Closing her eyes, she waited for her heart to settle before getting to her feet. After wrapping Laegon’s cloak around her shoulders, she surveyed the small campsite.
The elf prince wasn’t there.
Considering what had transpired the previous night, she shouldn’t have been upset. But she was. Aside from leaving to fight the Drulaack, Laegon had remained by her side since they’d sought refuge in the cave. So why leave now? What had changed?
Irewen frowned. She knew the answer even before she’d finished asking the question.
It was her.
Perhaps if she apologized...
Guilt instantly consumed her. He’d done that very thing the previous night.
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