Their breakfast consisted of a handful of berries, raw eggs that Baron had found, and little bits of dried meat he already had on hand. It was nowhere near filling but helped to satisfy Sybella and bring some sense of comfort.
After Sybella finished eating, her mind wandered back to the events of the night before. Sorting through her memories and sifting through the chaos to find what she had missed. Maybe there was something she had heard or smelled that could help her understand what happened and why? Why attack the prince? Why now? What was all of this for?
“What are you thinking about?” Baron asked, pulling Sybella from her thoughts.
Sybella brought her knees to her chest and rested her chin on her knee caps. “I’m thinking back on last night. I’m trying to figure out why the elves decided to attack now. We had done so well to keep ourselves out of the Genoan eye, so, how did we catch their attention?”
“We don’t know if the people that attacked the temple are elves.” Baron said softly. “You do have your vision but that could mean that it was a Genoan spy. As for why? My guess is that it was politically motivated. There have been whispers throughout the city that our good King Albert has been feeling ill. And the archduke of Edinburgh has been looking to gain some power.”
Sybella shook her head. “That’s impossible.”
“How so?”
“Because I had a visit from the archduke a few months ago and he wanted to know when he would die. He will parish within the next year of natural causes and he has no surviving heirs. Why would he aim for the throne?”
“Power corrupts,” Baron said thoughtfully. “Perhaps it’s not he that is declaring war between the houses but someone else using his name to spread rumors?”
“Perhaps.” Sybella muttered.
It was very possible that the attack was an inside job. Social and political unrest was not a new thing. And Sybella may have been naive to think that those in power were united in their distrust of the elven kingdom of Genoa.
And yet Sybella couldn’t help but feel in the pit of her stomach that it wasn’t the archduke of Edinburgh or any of the other men and women that held titles.
The temple of Nerahah was at the very edge of their kingdom’s borders. It had a direct access point to one of the few major cities the kingdom had. And it was an excellent foothold if it was conquered.
If overtaken it would have a straight shot to the capitol.
If the king was as ill as rumors say then his death was imminent. With the sovereign prince dead – the only legitimate heir to the throne – it left a power vacancy. One in which the kings three brothers, minus the archduke, would no doubt fight over. Each brother had his own faithful following. In turn, this would create a fractured kingdom. Internal war was guaranteed. Effectively weakening an already small and weak kingdom.
If the elven king of Genoa succeeded in assassinating the prince and capturing the city, there would be no way to stop him from taking over.
It was all too perfect for it not to be a Genoan attack.
“What do you want to do now that you’re here?” Baron asked.
Sybella sat silent and thought.
The temple was gone, she was sure of that. Hera was dead. The priests were most likely dead and the servants as well unless they somehow managed to escape. Everything she had ever known was gone.
A sob caught in the middle of her throat. Quiet tears streamed down her eyes.
Sybella’s side grew warm as Baron sat beside her. Without a word Baron wrapped his arm around Sybella’s shoulder.
No words were exchanged as Sybella cried. She leaned into him, pressing her face against his chest. He held her tight, rubbing her arm intermittently.
Sybella calmed down after a few minutes. The tears having dried up. She pulled herself away from Baron, placing her head in her hands.
“Feeling better?” Baron asked.
“I don’t know why I’m crying.” Sybella sputtered. “It’s not like I loved them or anything. I was their property. They took me away from my home when I was a child and forced me to stay in that temple for years without ever letting me out. I hated them! And Hera! She never let me be a child. She only ever saw me as a Seer. So, why am I crying?”
“Because you did love them and maybe in their own way, they loved you. And you knew that. Pain is pain and sometimes there is no real explanation as to why you feel this way. It just is. But you won’t be alone. I’ll be here.”
Sybella raised her hand, placing it against Baron’s cheek. Baron grabbed her hand, letting her hand rest in place.
In one swift move, quicker than what Sybella could process, Baron leaned down and kissed her lips. He pulled back just as quickly, removing himself from her completely when he stood up.
“We need to get ready to move on.” Baron said, his words rushed. “We don’t know if those men are still around. And I would feel more comfortable if we kept moving.”
Baron stopped speaking. Grass crunched and twigs snapped as he moved. He placed his hands on her knees and Sybella was sure he was kneeling in front of her.
“Would you like to keep traveling with me?” Baron asked.
Sybella placed her hands over his and smiled. “I would love to keep traveling with you.” She said.
“Then I shall prepare for our travels. Before noon we will be on the road.
“Where will we go?”
“I have a friend who owns a home on the seaside. It is not very far. Only a few weeks’ ride. Would you like to go there?”
“Yes!”
Baron let out a laugh, patting her knee before standing up. “Then it’s settled, the seaside it is! You will love it; I am sure of that!”
Sybella smiled to herself and listened as Baron sang as he worked.
A thought crossed her mind. Although she had never really been giving lessons in geography, she was aware that where she lived was inland. Albeit just barely inland. There were two options when it came to the sea.
The first was a place called the Dragon’s Tongue, which was made of several small islands. It was rumored to be the home of sirens and mermaids. It carried a reputation of being more dangerous than what it was worth.
If they went there, it would be odd but it was the only unclaimed territory by the sea that Sybella knew of.
The second was called the Glass Sea.
The Glass Sea was well within the Genoan borders. From what Sybella knew, many nobilities vacationed there as it was renowned for its beauty and clear waters.
If they went there, it wouldn’t take long before the king’s men found out about them. Sybella was sure she wouldn’t live if she stepped foot in the Genoan kingdom.
Both were nearly equal in distance but opposite in direction. And both dangerous in their own right.
Did she really want to go near open waters?
“Are you alright, Sybella?” Baron asked, his voice heavy with concern.
Sybella strained a smile. “I am. I was just thinking.”
“If you want to talk, I am here to listen.”
“Which seaside will we be going to?” Sybella asked.
Baron laughed. “Which seaside? Well, we are certainly not going to the seaside near the Hidden Kingdom. That is too far and a fool’s journey.”
“I understand that. But there are two options we have from where we are located. Dragon’s Tongue and the Glass Sea. Which will we be going to?”
Baron paused. “Dragon’s Tongue. We will be in a safe location, so no need to worry.”
Sybella nodded. Her lips pressed tightly from holding back a frown.
Dragon’s Tongue was only rumored to have sirens and those only came out on the darkest of nights. Mermaids didn’t bother you if you didn’t bother them. And as long as they kept more inland, they should be safe. And who knows, this may be the start of her new life with Baron.
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