Flora tensed as what she could only describe as a beast came out of the woods. It looked like a wolf, but was nearly as large as the two horses that were now pulling against their ropes. King Erick’s horse Penelope settled after a moment but Condor continued to rear and tug at the rope as the wolf came closer.

“It’s alright Flora.” King Erick relaxed as he approached the wolf. The beast was large, and old if the graying muzzle and face were any indication. The wolf smirked as Erick approached it, and its smile resembled a certain other wolf Flora knew.

“Prince Erick, a pleasure to see you again.” The old wolf rumbled, his voice horse as if he hadn’t spoken in a long time. “What brings you to my section of the woods?” He tipped his head in the manner of a dog asking for a treat, and it was hard for Flora not to think of Spot. I hope Leon hasn’t forgotten him. She did not like the idea of her dog being locked in the bathroom for two weeks, for multiple reasons.

A flash of pain spread across Erick’s face before he replied. “It’s King Erick now.” He said quietly. “And we’re here on the Spring Inspection of animals.” He did well to master his emotions, but Flora could see the hurt in his eyes.

“Forgive me, it has been a long time since I have traveled among humans.” The wolf bowed before King Erick, a somber expression on his face. King Erick nodded in return, swallowing back his emotions.

“Forgive me, I have not introduced myself.” The old wolf rumbled, turning to face Flora. “I am Silas Anderson, former Captain of the Royal Guard.” He gave a small bow to Flora. She noted that despite being a shifter, he still remained as a wolf. Odd. She thought as she returned the gesture and introduced herself.

“He’s Dante’s grandfather.” Erick informed her just as she began to wonder about the relation of the last name.

“Regrettably.” Silas barked a laugh. “I hope the young welp is staying out of trouble?” Silas sat down, clearly willing to stay a while. Erick gave a small laugh and a wry smile.

“He’s actually taken your job.” Erick replied, returning to his seat by the fire. Flora followed suit, but remained quiet. They clearly know each other, I’d just be a third wheel. Flora resigned herself to a quiet dinner as she resumed eating her rice.

“Hah! That little scamp finally made it.” Silas laughed again, and again it sounded more bark than laugh. He lay down in the grass, tongue lolling like a dog. Flora must have given him a look because he turned to her to apologize. “Ah, forgive my poor manners. It’s been nearly six years now since I’ve left. Life in the forest has been a nice retirement, but poor for my manners.” He panted a laugh before falling into a coughing fit. Erick shared a look of concern with Flora before turning to Silas.

“I hope retired life has been treating you well?” The question was innocent enough, but Flora knew that King Erick hid his worries about Silas in that question. The old wolf gave a hrrumph in response.

“As well as it can I suppose.” Silas grumbled, stretching out in the grassy clearing, startling the horses. And Condor had only just calmed down. Flora thought in dismay.

“Well, you’re free to stay here for the night if you wish.” Erick offered. Flora wasn’t quite sure why, until she saw the look in Silas’s eyes. He seemed to lose the tension in his body and he looked at Erick with fondness.

“Thank you, it would do me well to have some company.” Silas replied in a gentle tone. The old wolf rolled over onto his side, lounging in the grass. He smiled again, and it reminded Flora of when Dante had teased Erick at the horse barn. Was that really only a few days ago? Flora couldn’t believe the days had gone so fast and yet they felt so far apart.

Erick seemed appeased by the answer and continued to eat his dinner. He then offered some to Silas, who politely refused. “I’m well fed enough.” He grumbled. With a shrug King Erick ate the rest of the rice. The man looks like he could eat a horse. In fact, he probably could. Flora thought with some humour as she began to clean up and put the few dishes back.

While putting her small pot and dishes away, Flora grabbed her small bed roll and was reminded that she would be sharing a tent with the King. She did her best to hide her awkwardness as she spread out on one side of the tent, making a neat bundle to sleep on. She started when she heard Erick’s voice behind her.

“I’ll stay up and keep watch tonight.” He called from just outside the tent. There was a tightness in his voice that had Flora worried.

“Ah don’t worry about that.” Silas called out. Flora heard him as he lifted up into his large paws and padded closer to the fire. “These woods are kept safe by my wolves, and I’ll keep an eye open.” Silas said as he plopped down next to the fire, looking for all the world like a tired old dog.

King Erick hesitated before answering. “Thank you Silas, I appreciate it.” Erick’s voice was terse, and he almost seemed stiff as he got his own bedroll ready. Flora had forgotten about his injuries until then, when Erick changed out of his riding clothes for the night. His cuts and sores had become more pronounced, with dark bruises and red cuts across his entire body. It was almost as if he had never been healed. Flora looked away as he settled down for the night.

“You’re not going to wear a shirt?” She couldn’t help asking. She had only taken off the riding jacket and boots, choosing to leave most of her clothes on. More clothes meant less bug bites, probably.

Erick shrugged. “I don’t really get cold.” He told her as if it were nothing. “Oh.” Flora replied, not really sure what else to say.

She looked away again, rolling over into her own bed spread. She knew it was probably rude, but would not be able to hold out much longer at the sight of him. What she would do, she had no idea, just that it would be embarrassing to say the least.

While there was some space between them, Flora still felt much too close for comfort. He is your king and you are a respectable woman, and that is that. Flora reminded herself, feeling almost suffocated under the weight of emotions that now blanketed her.

It took a lot of willpower to ignore the fact that a man slept next to her, seemingly already asleep, but eventually she gave in to exhaustion and let sleep take her. Her dreams took her to farms and fields, ablaze with fire as a dragon loomed over it all.

Erick was not asleep, and found himself restless. He did his best to refrain from his usual tossing and turning, not wanting to disturb Flora. Flora, who lied right next to him. Flora, who despite his best attempts he had still developed an affection for.

Finally rolling over, he saw the backside of her. She had fallen asleep by now, and his thoughts wandered to her dreams.

It was so easy to see into someone’s thoughts when they slept. Too easy. That was how he first learned of his night magic - he had dreamed about things he had never known and never seen before. He has been young, so young, and terrified. It wasn’t long before his father was teaching him the skills to harness his magic.

At this point it was hard not to, curiosity taking over as he gently peeked into her mind. He wasn’t sure why, just a strong compulsion to do so. Not expecting much, he was surprised to find her dreams so frightening. Shocked even.

The scent of smoke and fire hit him hard, and for a moment he felt as if he were there. He was standing in a field, its crops on fire. In the distance stood a farmhouse and barn, the light of the flames turning them into nothing more than an oversized torch. Hovering above it all was a dragon, dark as the night. Fear seized his heart, and he quickly yanked himself out of Flora’s nightmare only to find himself in one of his own.

He found himself on the floor of the dining hall, powerless as chaos erupted around him. Not this again, please. Anything but this again. His pleas were futile as fear dragged him deeper into the dream.

He saw his mother and father, face down on the table and unresponsive. He watched as his youngest sister Alice ran to them, crying as she was powerless to do anything. He saw Esther barking orders as guards scattered to and fro, noting that several of the usual members were missing. He saw Grace rush over to him, using her gift of healing magic to stop the poison that was now killing him. He could nothing but watch as his youngest brother Thomas, barely past sixteen, slumped over and fell on the floor. He was dead. In one night three of his family members had died, along with a score of guards and castle workers. And he was powerless, he could do nothing as the poison took over.

Flora jumped awake as she heard King Erick beside her, gasping for breath. She was immediately next to him, panic flashing through her. Her own panic was reflected in his eyes as he struggled for breath, coughing and choking.

Flora panicked, not knowing what to do. Thankfully, she didn’t have to as Erick took a shuddering breath and realization covered his face. Flora fell back as he sat up, rubbing his face with both hands. Then he sat like that for a moment, face in his hands as he took steadying breaths.

“Are you okay?” Flora’s question was barely a whisper, and she doubted he heard her until he took his hands away and looked at her. He no longer looked like he was hurt or upset, but Flora could see the pain in his eyes as he replied.

“I’ll be fine, I’m sorry for waking you.” His voice was quiet and firm. “Thank you.” His voice was barely a whisper, then he turned his back on her and returned to his bedroll. It was as good of a dismissal as any, and Flora wondered for a moment if she had done something wrong before returning to her own bedroll, sleep taking her in once again.

Flora felt a light push on her shoulder, which she chose to ignore. It’s just Spot again. Her brain mumbled as she tugged her blanket in tighter. The light push became a shove, and when she continued to ignore it she was then grabbed by someone’s hands and shook awake.

“I’m up! I’m up!” She exclaimed, panic filling her as she realized that she was not at home in her cozy bed but in a tent on the ground. With King Erick, who seemed stuck between annoyed and amused as she faced him.

“I didn’t think anyone could sleep so well out in the woods like this.” He gave the faintest laugh, clearly choosing to go with amused. “It’s time we get going.” He informed her as he pulled himself up and out of his bedroll. It was clear the sores still hurt him, his movements were stiff and he tried to hide a wince as he stood. Flora also could see more clearly every part of him that was not covered in clothes.

Behind the current cuts and bruises were numerous scars crisscrossing the planes of his muscled shoulders and back. Flora could also see his tattoo more clearly now. His right arm was covered from the top of his shoulder to the tip of his elbow in odd and fascinating creatures that Flora had never seen, and hoped to never see. Another one was spread across his right rib cage, as well as dots that lined in pairs down his spine.

King Erick caught Flora staring as he bent over to put his riding clothes back on. Her face immediately flushed red as she looked away, but she noticed his smirk as he continued to get ready. He’s probably just as bad as Dante. She thought bitterly as she pulled on her outer wear and tucked her bedroll into its pack. He didn’t mention it, but she could practically feel him watching her, and her face only grew more heated at the possible reasons that he would be watching her.

Turning around when she was done, she found King Erick had also finished and was waiting for her. “All ready? I’ll pull down the tent when you’re done.” He informed her, nodding his head to the space around them.

“Right.” Flora nodded in agreement as she collected her things and left the tent. At least he seems to be feeling well after last night. Flora had trouble shaking the dream she had last night. She couldn’t remember most of it, save for the smell of smoke and the sound of fire. It wasn’t the first time she noted, but hoped it would be the last.

Outside of the tent Flora found Silas sound asleep, snoring loudly. His paws twitched and eyes moved under their lids, clearly in a deep sleep and dreaming away.

“I suppose I was wrong.” Flora jumped at the sound of Erick’s voice. “There is someone who can sleep this well in the woods.” He gave a wry smile as he picked up the bundle of the tent. Flora gave a small laugh in response, unsure if she should be scared that they weren’t all that guarded last night, or if she should be laughing at how silly the big old wolf looked.

She continued to pack up with King Erick, getting the horses ready. Then she noticed he was getting ready to leave now, like now now.

“Aren’t we going to eat something? Or say goodbye to Silas?” She asked, feeling a little bold. Erick gave her an apologetic smile over his shoulder.

“I’ll leave a note for the old man, but it’s best not to wake him.” Erick tightened the girth on his horse. “As for food, this first farm usually offers breakfast and I’ve learned not to deny a farmer’s hospitality the hard way.” He gave a tight laugh as he finished tacking up Penelope, Flora shortly behind with Condor.

Erick quickly wrote a note and left it at Silas’ feet before mounting his horse. With Flora right behind him, the two took off at a trot before heading into a canter down the dusty road of the countryside.

The sun was low in the sky, still creating the top of the trees in the forest behind them as they followed the road to the first farm. They left the forest behind them, exchanging it for the rolling fields of wheatgrass that waved with the breeze. Birds fluttered about, and animals called from a distance. By all means it was the perfect pastoral scene.

Germinium’s economy thrived on this. It lived off the farms and products they were able to grow better here than elsewhere, allowing them to trade for expensive goods more easily. Even Flora’s father had once come home with a beautiful trinket for her mother, the matching set of earrings and necklace she had always worn. The set that Flora was supposed to inherit. The set that was now lost to her, sold after her mother died.

Flora tried not to linger on her gloomy thoughts, returning to watching the scene around her, including King Erick riding in front of her. Great, so if you’re not sad you’re aroused. Just great. Flora berated herself once again for having such traitorous thoughts.

Flora did her best to cool the heat that had begun to burn inside her by thinking of the upcoming farm. The thought of a warm breakfast put her at ease, until she was reminded of the inspection she had to do. The thought nearly crushed her mood, especially as she saw the farm just over the hill.