Since Zalyric forbade him from attending the hunting, Rowan had been ordered to stay inside the tent. He had no idea that Zalyric already had eyes on him outside, beyond the knights guarding the king's tent while the nobles enjoyed their garden party in the sunlight.
Hours passed while Rowan just lounged lazily, almost dozing off when a sudden voice outside snapped him awake. A man was speaking to the knights that made his ears twitched violently, his chest tightening.
'Oh… oh, does that mean I can go outside now? Why… why can't I ever go outside? That jerk… but wait, nothing bad happened this time, did it? Or… is something about to happen?' Realizing that, Rowan's chest tightened with his heartbeat hammering in his ears like a drum. Then, there's a sudden wave of heat rushed to his face, and his hands trembled as he pressed one against his chest, trying desperately to slow the racing pulse that threatened to consume him.
