Page 15 of Forgotten Fate

I shivered as a thought arose. Had he been watching methatclosely from the moment I stepped into the Cracked Hoof? That was…eerie.

“I see,” was all I could think to say.

Elias finally looked away, giving me a second to release the tension in my body. “It wasn’t hard to put it all together,” he carried on. “I’m residing in a kingdom in which its princess is rarely seen by her people. Then a secretive woman walks into a dirty old alehouse with elegance, hiding her face and paying for a pint in gold. The other fools there were either too stupid or too drunk to notice.” When he turned, it was me who looked away this time, finding it hard to meet his eyes. “It’s how I know you’re good for the four hundred gold pieces,” he admitted.

Right. His payment. It all made sense, I suppose. Elias was not only dangerous, but he was clearly smart and perceptive. A deadly combination.

“And you are still willing to travel with me?” I asked.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” was his blunt reply.

Whywashe here? Why would he agree to this, knowing who I was from the start? I met his gaze. “My father would set Rimor ablaze to find me,” I warned. “If he finds you with me, you’re dead.”

“I understand the dangers of the agreement,” he affirmed, a seriousness heard within his deep tone.

“Then why agree to it?”

Elias took his time to answer. “I have my reasons, Princess,” he muttered. “Just as you have your reason to sneak out of your own kingdom to go to the Forest of Torment. Would you care to tell me why?” he challenged.

“It isn’t any business of yours,” I snapped.

“Exactly.”

It was fair for him to keep his motives from me when I wouldn’t disclose my own, but the tension of him being so secretive still had me feeling uncomfortable. Elias must have noticed the shift because he let out a breath and softened his posture. His eyes locked onto mine again.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Aura,” he insisted. “I’m not going to steal from you or betray you. Like you, I also have my own reason to go back to the Forest. The four hundred gold is just the incentive I needed to do so. Alright?”

I stared into his honey eyes, searching for any sign of deception. I only saw sincerity in them. “Okay,” I said softly. With no explanation other than hearing his reassuring words, I somehow felt safe. Like this was where I was meant to be.

I put my pack down for a moment and pulled out two leather pouches. I tossed them to him one at a time, and he caught each one with ease. “Two hundred,” I said to him, needing no further explanation. “You’ll get the other half when we get there.” He nodded and placed the pouches into his own pack, not even bothering to open them and inspect their contents.

“Put your hood up,” Elias ordered.

“What?”

“There are two guards just outside the gate. Do you want them to recognize you?”

My eyes widened. “Guards?”

Elias nodded.

For some reason, the guards posted at the city gates at all times hadn’t even crossed my mind. Perhaps it was because this was the closest I’d ever been to the gates since my mother’s death.

I quickly put the hood of my cloak up, and Elias gestured towards the gates. I took a deep breath and walked, my heart fluttering wildly. Trying to remain calm and collected as I approached, I stepped through the threshold of the gate and passed the guards with my head low. I could sense Elias only feet behind me, providing another barrier between me and the guards.

“Oy!” a male voice shouted.

Shit. Were the guards looking for me? Had my father already realized I was missing, my plan to escape failing that quickly?

I slowed, but Elias pressed into my back, urging me forward.

“In a hurry?” the voice called out.

“Keep walking,” Elias ordered quietly.

“Hey!” the voice shouted louder. “You two!”

“Shit,” Elias cursed. He paused, so I did the same. “What seems to be the problem, gentlemen?” he asked, his voice deadly and laced with annoyance.