Besotted (The Fairest Maidens #3) - Jody Hedlund Page 0,55
collect our bags. When my faithful companion took his place by my side moments later, I nodded farewell to my brothers and the others who’d come outside, and then we started on our way back into the forest.
We walked for what seemed like hours. I wanted to put as much distance as I could between myself and anyone searching for Aurora. I was only frustrated I couldn’t traverse faster.
Navigating the woodland was difficult under normal circumstances, much less while having a major wound that still pained me. When I was assured we’d gone a significant distance, I halted and searched the thick brush and windfall for signs of anyone who may have followed us as well as any basilisk that might be nearby.
Jorg did likewise, taking in every detail of our surroundings.
“Has anyone come after us?” He’d be able to glean more clues than I would with his sharp attention to detail.
He studied the woods behind us. “If they haven’t yet, I have no doubt they will be on our trail erelong.”
“Do they suspect my association with Rory?”
“They suspect you know more than you told them, and they’ll be watching you closely.”
“She is the one, is she not?”
“She has to be.”
For the first time since I’d realized Rory’s true identity, I allowed myself a real smile. “I should have figured it out sooner.”
“I should have too.”
“All the signs were there.” How could I have missed them? And did it really matter? I loved her for who she was and not because of her status.
Jorg again glanced around, then lowered his voice. “When I saw Chester fight yesterday, I knew he was too well trained to be a charcoal burner. He has the skill of an elite guard.”
The elite guards were specially trained to protect royalty, knights who pledged to remain single and solely devoted to their charges. They were the best of the best. “He easily could have slain me and maybe even you.”
“Not me,” Jorg retorted. “At least, not without a good fight.”
Jorg was an exceptional fighter too, but not to the extent of an elite guard. Even so, I was grateful to have him as a friend and not a foe. “I won’t rest until I’m able to warn her of all that’s transpiring.”
“Especially since they are so certain she’s here in the forest. It’s only a matter of time before they stumble upon her trail.” The severity in Jorg’s expression and tone added to my worry.
“She needs to get away now. Perhaps return to the royal fortress in Delsworth. Even if Queen Margery decides to attack the capital, Aurora will be safest there, behind the castle walls and with Mercia’s army to defend her. Surely Delsworth can hold out a month until she comes of age.”
I veered toward the direction that would take me to the ravine, but before I could take two steps, Jorg grabbed my arm. “We can’t leave yet.”
I was under no illusion I could safely guide her to Delsworth, but Chester could. In fact, he probably already had decided upon a means and a course of delivering her there. He’d just have to do it sooner than he’d planned.
I shrugged out of Jorg’s grip. “The sooner we reach her, the better.”
He stepped around me to block my way. “If you go now, you will lead your brothers right to her.”
I halted, my muscles tightening. I didn’t want to unwittingly give away her hiding place. “What do you suggest?”
Glancing around the thick woodland, he leaned in. “We’ll depart under cover of darkness and split up. I’ll take your cane and lead anyone on our trail upriver in the opposite direction while you warn her.”
I didn’t know if Jorg’s plan would work, but we had to give it a try.
All through the long afternoon into the evening, we resumed our woodcutting duties. And by the time darkness settled, my body protested the final bundling of underwood. After the weeks of not wielding my axe while recovering, the muscles in my arms were out of practice and my calluses soft. Thankfully, the pain wasn’t as great as the first week or two of my Testing when my arms had burned and my blisters bled.
After a cold dinner from the provisions Walter’s daughters had given us, we rested for a few hours, then started out together toward the ravine river. The closer we drew, the more my anticipation mounted. Though we’d been apart for only two days, I was eager to see her again.