Chapter Twelve
Lady Tara's eyes flickered toward the horizon, and after a moment of silence, she spoke softly. "There's somewhere I'd like to take you, Eryx. Somewhere... away from all this." She gestured vaguely at the sprawling view of the kingdom, the glistening city below, and the towering palace in the distance. "But it can't be done with your uncle's eyes watching. I need to get us away from his reach, even if only for a while."
The prince looked at her, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of interest in his eyes. "Where is it you want to go?" he asked.
Tara smiled to herself, as if the thought of it brought her comfort. She didn't respond immediately, instead whistling for her horse, which had been grazing near a tree just off the path. The sound echoed through the stillness of the mountain air, and moments later, her horse appeared at a steady trot, its hooves tapping lightly against the ground. Tara's hands moved to calm the horse, stroking its mane.
Prince Eryx raised an eyebrow. "You're not suggesting we ride all the way, are you? I'm not even sure where we're heading."
Tara hesitated, the breeze playing with the strands of her hair. "I was, but I want to make sure we don't draw any attention. I'm afraid your uncle would send out his spies if we travel in the usual way, even if we tried to ride unnoticed."
Eryx's gaze grew sharper. "That's true. My uncle knows my every move. Even a whisper of my absence would send him into a frenzy."
Tara thought for a moment, then nodded. "I know a way we can do this—without him knowing. We'll take a local carriage and disguise ourselves as commoners. No one will expect a prince and his companion to be traveling incognito."
Eryx smirked, the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. "Disguise ourselves? This should be interesting." He stood up from the stone and brushed off his trousers, a touch of amusement in his voice. "I'm curious to see how you plan to pull this off."
Tara walked over to where her horse stood. With a quick glance over her shoulder, she motioned for Eryx to follow her. Together, they made their way to a hidden road leading down from the mountain to the village. Tara had arranged for a simple local carriage—nothing extravagant, just a small, modest vehicle drawn by two sturdy horses. She greeted the driver, who nodded knowingly, as if he'd been expecting her. They had to keep their movements low, after all.
As they climbed into the carriage, Tara quickly handed Eryx a worn, faded coat that she had brought with her—a simple brown cloak that had seen better days. She herself wore a plain dress, one that was far from regal, with a shawl covering her hair, making her look like any other traveling woman. She tied a scarf around her head, tucking her hair beneath it, and took a moment to glance at Eryx.
He raised an eyebrow as he pulled on his own cloak, a woolen tunic beneath it that was much too large for him, but it would do. He adjusted the hood to obscure his features and turned to face her, his expression one of mild amusement. "Well, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were just another commoner yourself."
Tara smiled at the sight of him, her gaze softening. "And you," she teased, "make a very convincing farmer. Now, let's get going before someone notices something strange."
With that, they set off, the wheels of the carriage creaking softly as the horses began to move, the rhythmic clip-clop of hooves filling the air. The air was crisp, and the smell of fresh earth mixed with the faint scent of burning wood in the distance. Tara could hear the distant hum of a village coming to life as they passed through a small settlement, but they were careful to keep their heads low, not attracting attention.
The journey was slow, taking them through small, quiet towns that dotted the countryside. As they traveled, Eryx looked out the small window of the carriage, his eyes narrowed in thought. Tara sat beside him, her hands folded in her lap, but she could tell that something was weighing on his mind.
"So, where exactly are we going?" he asked, breaking the silence between them. His voice had a casual tone, but his eyes still carried that underlying tension.
Tara hesitated for a moment, her thoughts drifting to the distant kingdom she had in mind. "We're going to a small peaceful kingdom, away from the pressures of your world. I thought it might be nice to get away for a bit, see something new." she said quietly.
"Where exactly is this peaceful kingdom?", he asked,as his curiosity took over. Tara leaned closer to his ear and whispered " Marinia"
"Marinia," Eryx repeated, his brow furrowing slightly. "That'll take us a few days, won't it?"
"Yes," she answered, glancing out at the passing landscape. "But I'm worried about how much longer we have before your uncle realizes you're gone. He's always so... aware of your every move."
Eryx exhaled softly, his expression distant. "He's preoccupied with matters at his manor, too distracted with his own problems to pay much attention to me right now."
Tara nodded, although a part of her wasn't convinced. Lord Alistair's watchful eyes had a way of catching even the smallest movements. She pushed the thought aside, unwilling to let it cloud the moment. For now, they had time—time to escape the constant scrutiny, if only for a little while.
Hours passed, the scenery slowly changing from rolling hills to dense forests. The scent of pine and damp earth filled the air, and the sounds of nature were a soft backdrop to their quiet journey. Eryx shifted slightly, his gaze fixed out the window. The gentle sway of the carriage was oddly soothing, and Tara found herself lost in the peaceful rhythm of the ride.
Then, suddenly, the carriage lurched to a halt, throwing both of them forward slightly. Tara grabbed the seat in front of her for balance, looking toward the window in confusion.
"What's happening?" Eryx asked, his voice sharp with irritation.
The coachman, a middle-aged man with graying hair, leaned his head out of the driver's seat. "I'm not sure, Your Highness. We've stopped, and I can't seem to get them to move."
Eryx's heart skipped a beat. Your Highness. He leaned forward, opening the window to see what was going on. As he did, a guard approached the carriage, his armor clinking with each step.
"There's been a robbery," the guard said grimly, his voice low but clear. "We've been ordered to check all carriages and passengers. There have been deaths in recent raids by bandits. We need to ensure the safety of the Drakmarites."
Eryx's stomach sank. He had been expecting this. His uncle's spies were everywhere, and if there had been any trouble along the road, Lord Alistair would certainly have known. This was no coincidence.
He sighed heavily. "I should have known better," he muttered to himself. The prince turned back to the guard. "How long will this delay take?"
The guard hesitated before responding, his eyes shifting to the disguised figures within the carriage. "It's not clear, Your Highness. We're inspecting all passengers, carriages, and coaches to ensure there's no further danger."
Eryx cursed softly under his breath, the weight of his uncle's control settling in once more. He had hoped for a peaceful journey, but the moment he stepped outside of the palace, he was back under the watchful eye of his uncle, even in disguise.
Another guard approached, this one lowering his voice as he leaned in close. "Your highness, It's not safe for you to travel without your guards or servants. I'd advise you to return with them before things get more complicated."
Tara's eyes widened in shock, but she quickly masked her surprise. She glanced at Eryx, whose face had gone pale. There was no hiding it anymore.
"Well," he said, letting out a bitter laugh, "I suppose my disguise wasn't quite as convincing as I thought."