The forest around us blurred as we rode swiftly, the winding path beneath the horses' hooves a rhythm I had long become accustomed to. Yet, today felt different. Something gnawed at me ever since I had tapped into magic the night before, leaving me with a strange, unsettled feeling. As if unseen eyes were watching my every movement, lurking just beyond the trees. My senses were on edge, prickling with the instinct that I was not alone.

Maisie rode ahead with Harper, sticking close to her as they navigated the trail. Maisie made sure to stay beside her, a silent promise of reassurance as Harper adjusted to her horse. My thoughts drifted back to the night before. The healing spell I had cast on her had worked wonders, but I knew the relief would only be temporary. Tomorrow, she'd feel it, the aches, the bruises, the toll on her body from pushing beyond its limits during our training today.

Thorin rode beside me, his usual confident demeanor subdued today. He cleared his throat, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen between us.

“Do you have something to say?” I asked, curious but wary. It wasn’t like Thorin to be quiet for long.

His eyes flicked towards the women ahead, a hesitant glance that said more than words ever could. “Is she… okay?”

I turned my gaze toward Harper and Maisie, who were both riding in tandem. Harper’s movements were still a little jerky, but I had to admit, she was improving faster than I expected. “From what I can tell, yes. She did alright in training today. The healing spell probably helped her more than she knows. But tomorrow? She’ll be sore, no doubt.”

Thorin chuckled softly. “So, you went easy on her, huh?”

I raised an eyebrow at him, wondering if I heard him correctly. “I had to tone the training down to her level, didn’t I?”

He let out a low laugh, but it quickly faded into something more thoughtful. His gaze was distant now, as if something deeper lingered beneath the surface. It was a strange reaction. Was he frustrated? Concerned? Or maybe something else altogether?

I couldn’t help but notice the way he kept looking at Harper, like a man watching a flicker of flame, drawn in against his better judgment. It was the pull of something forbidden, the desire for something just out of reach. I didn’t like it.

“I’d like you to take over for Maisie” I said, my voice flat but my mind working quickly.

Thorin glanced at me, he smirked.  “Alright.”

Normally, there would’ve been some light teasing, a little back-and-forth banter from Thorin, but today there was nothing, just a flat, emotionless reply. It only deepened my concern. This could be a problem. I had to keep a close eye on him, well, both of them.

Without another word, Thorin urged his horse forward, riding to Harper’s side. Maisie, looking somewhat disappointed, slowed her pace to ride alongside me.

I watched them interact for a moment, observing how the group was shifting. Harper was laughing, her voice clear and unguarded as she exchanged words with Thorin. I saw a spark of something in her, maybe an inner strength that could serve her well.

Something else bothered me, something that gnawed at me.

Arion.

The last time I saw him, I had made the mistake of owing him a favor, a favor I instantly regretted when he came to collect. Arion had a way of pulling people into his orbit, making them think they could trust him, only to turn everything upside down. His favor had been a joke, that pet of his I was to find, was a crazed and dangerous animal. But there was always more to it with Arion. He was a puzzle wrapped in shadows, and I knew he wasn’t someone to be underestimated.

I mulled over the possibility of drinking from the pool if he allowed it. The magic, the knowledge, it was tempting. But some things were better left unknown. Still, if Arion made another request of me, something too extravagant to ignore, perhaps I would decline. Harper’s favors. It was an uncomfortable thought, but it lingered. I’m not sure what he would request of her.

Maisie’s voice snapped me out of my musings. “You should talk to Harper,” she said, her brows furrowed with concern. “She’s sharing her thoughts on Josh Carter.”

I tilted my head, intrigued despite myself. “What kind of thoughts?”

“She’s confirmed that she doesn’t know him, but knows of him,” Maisie explained, her tone tight with disapproval. “He sounds like a rake from the rumors she’s heard.”

The words hung in the air, thick with implication. The idea of Josh Carter, the man from Earth, the one who had arrived before Harper, sounded too familiar. His actions mirrored those of many men I had encountered in Eldoria. There was a shared arrogance, a disregard for the consequences of their actions. I didn’t like it. And I didn’t like how easily he seemed to fit into this world, where chaos often followed those who didn’t know how to tread carefully.

I exhaled, “Harper doesn’t know about the princess, let’s keep it that way for now.”

Maisie nodded, and we rode in silence for a while, the path before us stretching out endlessly. My mind raced, the pull of curiosity and protective instinct mixing within me. There was more to Harper’s story than I had imagined, and it seemed like I wasn’t the only one with secrets to hide.