60. Keelan

Chapter sixty

Keelan

I cradled the Princess as the two Constables rowed.

If our first trip across the lake had felt long, this one was eternal.

We were only pursued by two figures in a small boat. The expert marksmen-turned-rowers dispatched them quickly.

At least our escape went somewhat according to plan.

Nothing else had.

The night replayed in a constant loop in my mind.

Why had the King insisted Justin be there? Sure, he was a Prince and heir behind Jess, but he was also a fifteen-year-old boy with no military training or experience. We knew this would be a dangerous mission. Taking Justin made no sense.

Jess stirred .

Her eyes fluttered open, and she peered up at me, confusion clouding her face.

"Who . . ." She started to turn her head but then winced and stilled. "Oh, Spirits. That hurts!"

I spoke softly. "Princess, your father sent me to find you. We're headed back to him now. Please, we have to keep quiet. Sound carries across the water."

"Water? What water?" She forced herself up onto her elbows, her eyes widening as she took in the surrounding lake. "I don't understand. Where's Danym?"

"Princess," I asked, "what's the last thing you remember?"

She rubbed her head, wincing again as her fingers pressed against her skin. "We were sitting at a table. There was an old couple . . ."

I had seen trauma cause memory loss before, but to reset so far back was unusual. I waited, not wanting to disturb her attempt at recall.

"No . . . we left that place. There were men . . . chasing us." She swayed and fell back a little too quickly. "Ow!"

"Just rest. We have another two hours before we reach the other side. Here, drink some water." I held a canteen to her lips.

She took a long sip before spitting the liquid all over the boat. "That's not water! Tastes like whiskey."

I gave her an apologetic shrug and pulled the canteen back .

Her hand shot out, and the canteen was pressed to her lips before I realized she'd snatched it out of my hand. "Oh, no you don't! This is exactly what my head needs right now."

Despite everything, I smiled.