The further we travelled from Evergrove, the more the landscape changed. The rolling hills gradually gave way to steeper ground, and the forest grew thicker around the road. Pine and cedar crowded the slopes, their scent mixing with damp earth and fallen leaves. Somewhere ahead, beyond the trees, Verdura rose above the surrounding land, its peak hidden beneath a band of mist.
I had seen the mountain from a distance before, but there was something different about seeing it now. We were heading towards Braedon, a small town at the foot of the mountain. Alexander rode ahead with Liam and Gabriel, his attention fixed on the road. He had been unusually quiet since we left the lake. I suspected he was reconsidering our situation.
Returning to Eldoria would have been the obvious choice. The Astorian envoy was already there, waiting for his return with me. But going back to the royal palace came with complications neither of us could ignore. Especially for me. I had barely managed to avoid being dragged into Eldorian court politics once. I had no intention of walking willingly into another trap.
Alexander suddenly slowed his horse. "Liam. Gabriel."
Both knights immediately moved closer. "Yes, Your Highness?" Liam asked.
Alexander glanced towards the road ahead before speaking. "We need to send a message to Eldoria. Duke Lysander and his envoy are to meet us in Braedon."
Liam's brows lifted slightly. "You want them to come here?"
"It's safer than taking Elysia directly into the capital." Alexander's voice remained calm, but there was no hesitation in it. "And it gives us an opportunity to settle this before we reach the palace."
I watched him from a short distance away. So he had changed his mind. Not completely, but enough.
Liam looked towards Gabriel. "Should I carry the message?"
Alexander considered him for a moment before shaking his head. "No. Gabriel will go."
Liam didn't argue, though his eyebrows lifted slightly.
Alexander turned towards Gabriel. "You know how to handle formal correspondence, and you won't waste time explaining what doesn't need to be explained. I need the message delivered exactly as I give it."
Gabriel inclined his head. "Understood, Your Highness."
Alexander reached into his saddlebag and produced a sealed scroll. The royal crest of Eldoria was pressed into the wax. "Make sure Duke Lysander understands the urgency," he said. "I don't want this turning into a diplomatic misunderstanding before we have the chance to explain ourselves."
Gabriel accepted the scroll and secured it inside his saddlebag.
"As you command, Your Highness." He turned his horse almost immediately. Two knights followed him as he rode back along the road, their figures gradually disappearing between the trees.
I watched until they were gone. At least Alexander was willing to compromise. That was something. The rest of us continued towards Braedon at a steadier pace. I had decided that I might as well make use of the journey.
Since leaving the camp, I had started learning how to ride properly. The first few attempts had been awkward, mostly because I had expected my body to have the same limitations as Samantha's. It didn't. Apparently, Elysia's body knew what it was doing. My hands adjusted the reins almost instinctively. My legs knew how to balance with the horse's movements. Even when I was uncertain about what I was supposed to do, my body seemed to remember.
It was unsettling. It was also useful.
Lady Evelyn had chosen to ride beside me. For several minutes, neither of us spoke. She kept her posture straight, one hand resting lightly on the reins. Her eyes occasionally moved towards the road ahead before returning to me.
Eventually, she broke the silence. "Your Highness, do you truly think it is wise to meet the Astorian envoy here?"
I knew exactly what she meant. I sighed. "No. But I think it's less dangerous than returning to Eldoria immediately."
Her expression remained composed. "Because of the palace custom."
"Among other things."
I looked ahead at the winding road.
"The moment I enter the royal palace with Alexander, people will start making assumptions. Especially if they know the circumstances under which I arrived."
Lady Evelyn's fingers tightened slightly around the reins. "You are referring to the custom concerning unmarried women brought into the royal palace by the Crown Prince."
"Yes." I lowered my voice. "Alexander says the circumstances are different this time. That the custom won't apply because we're travelling together for a quest. Maybe he's right. But customs don't disappear simply because someone decides they should."
Lady Evelyn considered that. "The court is unlikely to ignore an opportunity simply because His Highness wishes them to."
"Exactly."
She gave a small nod.
That was what I liked about speaking with Evelyn. She didn't dismiss my concerns simply because they were inconvenient. She listened, considered them, and then told me when she thought I was wrong.
We continued riding for a while. The forest had grown quieter. Sunlight filtered through the branches in broken patches, falling across the road and the horses' backs. Then another horse approached from behind. I glanced over. Alexander had fallen back from the others.
Lady Evelyn noticed him too. Without saying anything, she moved her horse towards Liam, leaving enough space for Alexander to ride beside me.
I resisted the urge to sigh. Of course. Alexander looked towards me. "What do you think of our plan, Princess?"
I almost laughed. "Our plan?"
He raised an eyebrow. "You agreed to it."
"After you refused every alternative I suggested."
"That still counts as agreement."
I shook my head. "Fine." I adjusted my grip on the reins. "Thank you for agreeing to meet Duke Lysander in Braedon. But you should prepare yourself. He won't be easily persuaded."
Alexander's expression hardened slightly. "I'm aware." He looked ahead. "But this quest is important. I won't allow court politics to derail it." There was something in the way he said it that made me glance at him. He wasn't simply talking about Aetheron. Alexander had become increasingly determined since we left Evergrove. Whatever happened next, he clearly intended to keep moving forward.
I looked away before he noticed me studying him. For once, I felt like I had managed to avoid disaster. Meeting Duke Lysander in Braedon meant I wouldn't have to enter Eldoria immediately. I could explain the situation before we reached the palace.
Now I only had to hope my cousin would cooperate. I wasn't sure how much Duke Lysander knew about the Eldorian custom. If he did know, he would probably understand why I was so reluctant to return to the capital. After the second kidnapping, I couldn't blame the Astorian royal family for being suspicious of Eldoria. Especially when I was travelling with the very prince responsible for bringing me here. The thought made me wince. What a diplomatic mess.
By late afternoon, the trees began to thin. Beyond them, I caught glimpses of stone walls and rooftops. Braedon. The town sat at the foot of the mountain, smaller than Evergrove but considerably busier than I had expected. Cobblestone streets wound between rows of timber-and-stone buildings. Vendors had set up along the main road, selling fresh produce, baked goods, tools, cloth and handmade ornaments.
The smell of freshly baked bread reached us before we entered the town properly. My stomach growled. I pressed a hand against it.
Lady Evelyn glanced at me. "Are you hungry, Your Highness?"
"No." My stomach betrayed me again.
She looked away, but I caught the faintest hint of amusement in her expression.
By the time we reached the inn, I was more interested in dinner than diplomacy. The inn itself was a sturdy stone building with a thatched roof and ivy creeping up one side of the walls. Warm light spilled through the windows, and the smell of roasted meat and herbs drifted into the street.
The innkeeper, a broad man with a thick beard, greeted us warmly before leading us upstairs to our rooms. After we had settled in, we gathered in the common room for dinner. The place was crowded. Travellers occupied most of the tables, while locals gathered near the bar. Conversation filled the room, punctuated by bursts of laughter and the occasional clatter of plates.
I was halfway through listening to Liam complain about the quality of road rations when something caught my attention. Someone was sitting at the bar. Dark hair. Straight posture. A familiar profile. I stopped moving. No. It couldn't be.
I stared for another second. The man turned slightly. Sapphire-blue eyes met mine across the room. My heart gave a hard, startled thump. Lord Killian Ravenscroft.
He lifted his glass. Not quite a greeting. More like a private acknowledgment. A small smile touched his mouth, and there was something almost mischievous in his eyes. The expression seemed to say one thing clearly. Brace yourself.
I had absolutely no idea what that meant. But judging by the way Killian was looking at me, I suspected I was about to find out.