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maid. The castle is always in need
of another maid. You’ll have your work cut out for you by the time you reach
the castle, I guarantee it.”
    “Thank
you so much, Your Grace,” Ayon said with a bow.
    Prince
Matthias patted him on the shoulder. “Consider it a wedding present.” Then, he
ducked back into his tent.
    “Thank
you, Ivy,” said Ayon as we walked toward the woods again. “If you weren't here,
I don't think I’d have the courage to approach the camp.”
    His
praise felt odd. It was usually him that dove headfirst into situations, him
that had any connections with the outside world.
    Ayon's
expression saddened as if he had read my thoughts. “You really are different,
you know?” he said.
    “It's
been tough,” I admitted.
    “Maybe
we can talk about it when I get to the castle.”
    “Assuming
I’ll still be there when you arrive,” I said solemnly.
    “Why
wouldn’t you be?” he asked.
    I
shrugged.  “Two weeks is a long time, that’s all.”
    We
stopped walking just before we got to the tree line.
    Before
he continued into the woods, he pulled me into a hug. “It’s good to finally see
you again,” he said.
    I
nodded against his shoulder uncomfortably. He was almost a married man. I
wasn’t sure if we should be treating each other like we used to.
    I
watched his retreating back until the trees swallowed him completely,
remembering a time when he had been my best friend. It was nice while it
lasted, but now we were older and going our separate ways. Perhaps when he
moved to the castle, Emillia and I could be good friends, but things could
never be the same with Ayon.
    After
I turned away from the woods, Sir Lochlan waved me over to where he stood, in
front of the second largest tent. “This will be where you sleep for the night,”
he explained. “Two guards will be stationed outside at all times—,” he said
gruffly before I cut him off.
    “Don't
waste the guards. I don't need them,” I said.
    “There
are bandits in this part of the forest. The prince just wants to ensure your
safety.”
    “I
can protect myself,” I protested, crossing my arms.
    “He
insisted,” Sir Lochlan said. “And as his subject, you will comply.”
    I
sighed. “Fine.”
    Sir
Lochlan gave a sharp nod and turned away. “Good.”

 
     
     
    -Chapter Five-
     
    That
night, as we sat around the campfire to eat dinner, my thoughts returned to the
pendant that Rowan passed on from Kurt. Unfortunately, I could only get to it
in half form, so I’d just have to wait until everyone else went to bed.
    Alyss
and Grix approached me as I tore into the leg of a rabbit the guards had caught
and roasted on a spit. I probably looked like a barbarian, but my hunger took
me past caring. They shot worried glances at the intimidating Sir Lochlan, who
sat between me and the prince, the two people he needed to protect the most.
He'd eaten quickly, and was now glowering at them as he sharpened a knife, as
if considering whether or not they were a threat.
    Grix
spoke up first. “We just wanted to say thank you, Ivy. It was a relief to
finally see the light of day.”
    “And
I've always wanted to go to the castle,” said Alyss quietly.
    I
took the time to swallow before answering. “Think nothing of it. It's nice to
have someone I know on this journey.”
    Alyss
smiled timidly. “You don't know me very well yet, but I hope that we can be
friends by the end of this trip.”
    “I'm
sure we will,” I said with a slight smile as I raised a canteen to my lips.
     
    *   *   *  
*   *
     
    Later
that evening, I was restless. I wanted to study Kurt's pendant, but I was
certain that the glow of my skin would attract attention through the thin
canvas walls. I was beginning to dislike the fact that I could only get to it
in half-form.
    Outside,
the guards talked quietly to keep themselves awake, but it kept me awake, too.
Finally, when their voices died down for a few minutes, my eyes drifted closed,
but no matter how much I