Loved Ones

We had just returned from the castle to the Golden Duckling and were now sitting at one of the tables in the inner courtyard of the inn. Zairah's shoulders were slumped forward ever so slightly, a sign of her annoyance and disappointment. I could tell that Eleona, too, felt that way, though she expressed it with sharp movements and an expression that would have scared the shit out of me, had it been directed at me.

I was just as pissed off about our situation, but at least we wouldn't be stuck in Aorelia much longer. We just had to keep it together a little longer and hope, that Nicoleas wouldn't provoke either one of us to do anything we'd regret. Unfortunately for all of us, him included, the Crown Prince of Lupear had a talent for getting on our nerves and pushing all the right buttons to anger us.

"I'd really hoped we'd be rid of the Prince soon." Eleona grumbled.

"Me, too." Zairah agreed.

"At least we'll only have to deal with him until we get to the lupean border, if we're lucky, that's just a few days." I tried my best to sound positive.

"A few more days than I'd like." Eleona replied.

"Try spending your entire life with him." a new voice said. Princess Mireanda sat down on the bench next to Zairah and across the table from Eleona and me.

"No, thank you." Zairah said immediately.

"A few days are more than enough." Eleona decided.

"Not all of us had a choice in that matter." Mireanda clapped back without missing a beat.

"Right. My deepest condolences." Eleona said honestly.

"So, might I ask what you're doing here?" I asked, mostly trying to change the subject. Mireanda tilted her head and eyed me for a moment, as if she was trying to figure out what I'd meant by that question.

"Do I need a reason to be here?" she asked challengingly.

"Admittedly you do not." I said, "But you do have one, don't you?" Mireanda raised her brows at me.

"What makes you think that?" she asked, her amber eyes now fixed on mine.

"Just a feeling." I shrugged. Mireanda looked suprised.

"He occasionally gets those feelings." Eleona interjected, "Annoyingly, these feelings are usually accurate." Mireanda smirked.

"Well, it seems to be accurate this time as well." she said.

"Seems to be?" Zairah asked.

"I did want to talk to the three of you without my father or his men listening." Mireanda admitted. I looked around. There was no sign of the man who had been following me around the past few days, nor anyone I had seen up in the castle.

"What about?" I asked. Eleona and Zairah were suddenly genuinely interested in the conversation.

"My father insists that Nicoleas accompanies you to the border and I was thinking: what if I joined you too?" Eleona's brows shot up, making her look just as surprised as I felt.

"Do you know how to fight?" she asked, "And have you ever travelled on horseback?"

"Neither." Mireanda admitted, "And my father probably won't let me anyway, but you might be my only chance for at least a little bit of freedom. I'm aware that it sounds like a crazy idea, but please, at least think about it." Eleona's face became doubtful, and Zairah looked equally sceptical.

I had to admit that I wasn't too sure waht to think either. On one hand, I could understand Mireanda wanting to get out of the golden cage she'd lived her entire life in. Then again, she had no experience travelling, let alone with the things that awaited us at our destination. Time was of the essence, so we couln't really afford to be slowed down.

"If you're sure you want to do this, you can come with us." I decided after a quick contemplation, "And if you decided that it isn't for you, you can always go back with your brother." Eleona stared at me, confused.

"That's a bad idea." she argued, "Our mission might determine the fate of our time, and her father has cost us enough time already. We really shouldn't bring someone who doesn't have any experience." The look Mireanda levelled at Eleona was a match for Eleona's own angry stare, and I was very happy not to be on the receiving end of it.

"I'm sorry that I never got the choice you eleonian girls have. Given the opportunity, I would have chosen any life other than the one I have. My father forbids me from doing anything that would go against the pretty, dainty, perfect image he expects from me, just so he can marry me off to some rich old dirtbag. I just can't take it anymore. I have to get out of this godsdamned beautiful, luxurious prison." Her tone was unhappy, teetering on the edge of anger, ready to change her situation.

"Fine, try to convince your father, good luck." Eleona snarled, though there was a touch of respect in her tone.

"I will." Mireanda snapped back, "See you tomorrow." She shot to her feet and stormed off.

"Was that really necessary?" I asked Eleona. She levelled a withering look at me.

"She'll only slow us down or, even worse, get us killed. You can't want that." she replied sharply. I held her gaze.

"Just because she's inexperienced doesn't mean she's going to be a problem. Besides, her brother's the one who would definitely slow us down and get us killed, and she's the reason we won't have to put up with him for the rest of the way." I replied drily. Eleona huffed in annoyance.

"You're only defending her because you want to fuck her." The accusation stung.

"I'm defending her, because she deserves a chance to be who she wants to be instead of who she is being forced to be. I figured if anyone understood that it was you. You're perfectly well aware that I don't want anything from her other than to maybe be her friend. I'm taken, damn it, and I will not cheat on him." I replied coldly.

"Oh, is that right?" Eleona hissed, "Because every. Single. Time we've encountered her you've been fawning over her like some lovesick fool."

"I haven't been fawning over anyone." I objected. Eleona opened her mouth to counter, but she didn't get to say anything.

"Shut it, both of you!" Zairah's order was so sudden and unexpected that we both did. I had to admit that she reminded me of my mother in that moment, the sharp tone that didn't allow any argument, the steely glare that one would rather not meet. I suddenly wondered wether she had experience commanding people. It woudn't be too surprising if she had. "Your damned bickering won't get us anywhere. If we want to stand a chance against Iohan, we can't have you two constantly at each other's throats."

"You're right." I admitted, still avoiding that steel in her eyes, "Besides, I'd hate it if we turned out like Father and Iohan."

"That's impossible." Eleona said, "As much as you piss me off sometimes, little brother, I do love you. You know that, right?"

"Of course I know that." I put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer, "Even though you have a very odd way of showing it. And I love you too, big sister."

"See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Zairah said, "Now you've said it at least once, in case one of you doesn't make it home. I never had the chance to tell my sister how much I loved her, so be grateful you still have each other. You can bicker all you want, as long as you don't ever forget how you really feel about each other."