Chapter 16:
She is Rather Cute
We head out at sunrise the next morning. Giddius takes point at the front, and he has Becky’s guiding lead. The trees are packed dense, their winding branches leaving only narrow openings for us to pass through. With my sleeves tied to the saddle horn again, I can’t direct Becky away from them. She often wanders off to the side of Giddius’s path, taking routes with clearings tall enough for her but not for the rider on her back. Perhaps this is her revenge for my escape attempt that ended with her stuck in thorn bushes.
She’s veering left now, and it looks like a cluster of green leaves will be the latest decoration added to my hair. Maybe Becky finds my return-to-nature hairstyles amusing. I duck down low against the saddle as we approach the branches.
Trevus brings Gramps up ahead and tugs Becky’s lead to the right, guiding her away from the leaves.
“That is an ickther tree.” Trevus rides beside me. “Every aspect of it is vicious. The leaves are clothed in needle hairs. ‘Tis best to be avoided.”
“Where did you learn so much about plants?” I ask. If I had skills like that, traveling alone wouldn’t be so dangerous.
“Botany is an interest of mine. As a child, I gathered samples for the king’s Master of Herbs, and he provided education on the subject.”
“How can you tell the trees apart? All of these look the same to me.”
“That observation is not misplaced. In most forests, a single species dominates.” Trevus reaches up to pick a leaf. He frees my right arm from the sleeve and hands it to me. “Observe the saw-tooth pattern around the edges. These are hellorin trees, which is old tongue for sand. As once cut, their wood crumbles to sand after a short period.”
I run my finger along the leaf’s jagged edge. Trevus is a master of herbs himself. He could teach me. I point to a tree with a trunk shaped like a winding snake.
“That’s an asenda,” Trevus says. “It matures slowly, and the finest bows are crafted from its strong, flexible wood.”
My eyes jump to the bow strapped to Giddius’s back. I ask about his bow, and then another plant and another. Trevus doesn’t tire of my queries, sharing the story of every plant I find.
By the time we’ve stopped to camp, Trevus must have covered over a hundred different flora. He removes my sleeves until morning, on the condition that I don’t get too close to Giddius and Marcellus. Now free to walk around, I collect a handful of unique leaves from the perimeter of our new camp and bring them to Trevus.
“Test me,” I say.
He picks up a leaf. It has the common sawtooth edge.
“Easy, hellorin,” I say.
“A name without meaning won’t be of any use,” Trevus says.
“It’s uh… the sand tree. You can’t build anything from its wood.”
“Good.” Trevus smiles. He picks up another leaf.
“Blentte, the short plant. It has a pleasant smell I think?”
“That is correct,” Trevus says.
“Mephian girl, how have you not yet exhausted of this?” Giddius says. He’s midway through unloading a saddle bag. “Can you not leave one leaf be?”
Trevus turns his way. “If you had taken an interest in matters beyond accumulating influence, the berry-poisoning in Ceramaya may have been prevented.”
Giddius grunts and continues on his way. Trevus holds up another leaf.
We have droavors, soup and berries this evening. Trevus’s meals far outshine the bland scraps I was given in Antiock.
Marcellus takes a seat beside Trevus. “Captain, Evecius’s horsemen wielded short swords and shields, yet engaged us on horseback. Why do you suppose they forewent spears?”
“Likely a matter of urgency and logistics,” Trevus says.
“Perhaps they ought to have taken their footmen’s halberds,” Marcellus says.
We traveled far today, and their conversation is of little interest to me. I crawl deep into the sleeping pouch, bringing the fluffy material right up to my nose. The air is chilly tonight, so I’m staying no further than an arms-length from the fire pit.
My eyes close, and I drift to sleep to the low drone of their conversation.
“The girly,” – Marcellus’s voice brings me back – “You have entrusted her with the heart of our venture.”
They’re speaking quietly. They don’t want to disturb me, so I keep my eyes closed. Judging by the warmth in my pouch, I must have been on the edge of sleep for a good while.
“There is not a choice,” Trevus says. “We are fortunate to have the Seventh of Six. Most call the Seventh a myth, yet here she lies.”
So I’m not as replaceable as Trevus would have me believe. Just a week ago I thought I’d live out the rest of my life forgotten in that tower, but now a Versillian commander is speaking like I’m akin to the Six rulers of Mephia.
“Do you suspect that the girly will engineer us harm the moment we rely upon her?” Marcellus asks.
“No. Jade is not of a hostile nature,” Trevus says. “She is not what one would envision upon hearing of the Mephian sorcerer imprisoned at Antiock.”
“I imagined a great warrior with black-shadowed eyes, held back only by silver chains and bewitched water,” Marcellus says. “What did you envision?”
Marcellus imagining me as some large man that iron chains can’t contain is amusing. Perhaps he included black-shadowed eyes to emphasize a dark demeanor.
“A vengeful, hardened soldier that harbored a deep disgust of Versillia and all who dwell here,” Trevus says.
Wearing this oban uniform is the closest I’ve ever come to being a soldier.
“Well, I have experienced her bitter side,” Marcellus says.
“’Tis only at surface level. Jade wishes to be accepted, and she reacts with a sour tongue when your words isolate her,” Trevus says. “The contempt with which the guardsmen of Antiock regarded her did not lead her to loath Versillians. She embraced their contempt, and sadly believes it to be deserved.”
There’s a thin pain in my chest. Trevus may know that a woman died at my hands, but knowing it with words is not the same as being there, as hearing people scream, as later seeing her lover buckle over and wail. I’d do anything to take back that moment.
“Though you believe her harmless to us, you still harbor reservations about relying on her?” Marcellus asks.
“She takes great discomfort when we describe her role at Nepolis. Though she does not speak it aloud, her eyes betray her inner truth.”
My heart races. Has he deduced that I won’t follow through with his plan to put Lord Reger and his guards to sleep in Nepolis?
“It was fortunate in the end. I prefer her over the warrior that I once imagined,” Marcellus says.
“As do I,” Trevus says. “Despite her poor circumstances, she harbors more enthusiasm and curiosity than most men. She makes for pleasant company.”
That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said about me. It wasn’t about my connection or usefulness as a tool, but about
me
. I have to tense my lips to keep myself from smiling.
“Plus, she is rather cute,” Trevus says.
I tuck my cheeks a little lower in the sleeping pouch. My insides are bubbling, and this woolen lining suddenly feels far too hot. A sharp man like Trevus finds me attractive.
Marcellus yawns. “I can understand. She does appear to have a particular affinity for you.”
I’m grateful the sleeping pouch is here to hide my pink cheeks. Has he considered that maybe I like Trevus because he behaves like an ass less than the rest of them?
There’s a long silence. I’m tempted to peek but resist the urge.
“How many units do you suppose Regent Evecius has mustered?” Marcellus asks.
Their conversation returns to battle and tactics. It’s not long before the days ride wares on me, and I drift to sleep again.
Author’s Note:
I’ve received so much support from you all that it gave me the confidence to start drafting this story over a year in advance, allowing for a much more cohesive plot, better characters and consistent updates, because I knew that it would be read one day. I’m very glad to have every one of you here.
Don’t hold back on commenting your thoughts! Reading your reactions to the story is the most exciting part of publishing. Criticism doesn’t bother me either.
I feel like he knows she’s listening…
hold up girl he said cute not attractive 😂
he’s gotta know it’s no dice then 😂
i love the writing😻
whipped
It is a really good story
It does take some getting used too. I generally have multiple books going. this isn’t too bad. There are some that are 2+ weeks, those are extremely rough to keep going with.
I was wondering if she was actually a 7th or if she was the missing daughter of the 6th.
Both seemed logical
Indeed
I think so, yeah. She’s the lost royal
but anyways pls understand that comment as a love letter for this story😋❤
is there a possibility that you update more regularly, for example every second day..bc it’s hard to stay fully in the storyline, when you have to wait 3 days for the next chapter.
mayve it’s because i’m not used to read not completed books yet
Still need to read one more, but I’ve read the rest and they’re all incredible.
This story has been amazing, and I absolutely love all of your another books on your other account.
If I were Jade Budz, I would definitely fall in love with Travus🤭🤭
Well he’s encouraged her the most and made attempts to look out for things he’s learnt of her
She can be adorable, so sweet
Really calling her out there 😂
What makes it better, is that he isn’t bringing up anything about her magic, like he’s truly taken to heart what she’s said about people only seeing her for her magic
Really calling him out lmao
aw, given a chance to learn and gain knowledge, she’s feeling safe enough to seek out a sort of approval and interest
Its a good story and im lookijg forward to more!
Aw!
So she is a royal or something…
Apart from really loving the story, I want to compliment you on your use of old English, it is simply delightful to read, and it shows that you have done lots of planning and research. That makes for an excellent author.
@JBF0601 I do as well
I really like your book and your high end quality writing style.
Same
😲🥰
I knew she was really important!
Same
lol Travis is def warming up to her. I am looking forward to their first kiss.
Eeeeeeeek he admited it!!
😂😂 I want to know what happened
Love it
All your stories are soo different from others and also from one another. I don’t know how you come up with such beautiful plots. keep writing you amazing writer! ❤️
Thank you for creating such good stories and updating regularly<3
Wow, it was very lovely. You are a unique writer
Awwww🦋 Even I am blushing🫣
Waaait so she’s even more important than I thought!😲
Aaahhh an update I’m so happy!!!🥹