Chapter 16

U p the winding wood staircase she went and stepped into the loft that was shrouded in darkness. Edward followed and halted next to her. He fumbled in his pocket and a moment later, she heard him strike a match.

True to her word, there were two narrow beds with a table between them. On the table, an oil lamp. He went to it and lit it. The yellow light illuminated the small loft in a soft glow.

“Well, it’s not much, but she did say she had beds for us,” he said.

He removed his sword belt and dagger and placed it on the floor by the bed, then perched on the one closest to the staircase. She took the one near the wall with the one window covered by shear curtains. She pushed back the material and peered out through the window but saw nothing but darkness and trees.

With a sigh, she sat on the bed and pulled off her boots, dropping them on the floor with a thunk.

“I suppose it will do,” she said.

She swung her feet up on the bed and laid back, rolling to her side to face him. She curled her arm under the pillow, her eyes heavy. He was seated in the center of his bed, his long legs stretched out and the map on his lap as he studied it some more.

Something he said came back to her. That they could split the treasure between them. He was already dreaming of treasures and gold and they hadn’t even left yet. And what if they did find the treasure? Then what? They split it between them and go their separate ways? Though he hadn’t said it, she sensed that’s what he inferred. She stifled a yawn, watching him as he muttered to himself about routes and how to get to the cave. There was a definite excitement emanating off him.

“Perhaps the old woman would give us some provisions before we go,” he said, more to himself than her. “We’d need a couple of water flasks. Then we could ride straight through to the dragon’s lair.”

Something about all of this didn’t sit right with her. From the moment Olga made an appearance in the woods and found them, she had the distinct feeling something was amiss. It was difficult to ignore her roiling stomach.

“Don’t you think it’s odd she happened to come upon us? And that her cabin happened to be nearby?” Rosamund asked.

He lifted his head from the map to look at her. “Do you think it’s odd?”

Another yawn threatened but she pushed it away. “It seems rather coincidental she found us. And why tell us about the treasure? Why doesn’t she go after it herself?”

“Have you seen the woman?” he asked, his voice laced with sarcasm.

But Rosamund ignored him and went on. She flopped to her back and stared at the ceiling. “And the map. It was quite handy she had the map ready to give you after she interested you with talk of gold and jewels.”

“You think I’m only interested in gold and jewels?” He sounded wounded.

She glanced over at him. “You’re not?”

He turned away, leaning his head back on the fluffy pillows and blowing out a breath. “When I was younger, I wanted nothing more than to be a hunter. But my father…” He paused, his mind working as he chose his next words. “My father didn’t want that for me.”

“You said you hunted with friends,” she reminded him. “Oh, wait. That’s wrong. You said you liked to sit in taverns with your friends and drink ale.”

His lips thinned into a straight line. “How well you remember, princess. What I’m trying to say is this would be an opportunity to finally…”

“Be the hunter you always wanted to be?” she asked.

“Something like that.”

She understood what he was doing. He was trying to convince her. Still, she had reservations about the whole thing and she couldn’t help but feel as though the ordeal was contrived by Olga. There was something strangely familiar about her. Something that set off her senses that told her not to trust her. Yet Edward was ready to throw caution to the wind.

She peered at the map resting on his lap and wondered if it would be the grand adventure she dreamed of. Her heart skipped a little at the thought. The impulse to go was pounding through her but she said she would sleep on it. And truthfully, her eyelids were heavy and all she really wanted to do was sleep.

He gave her a weak smile. “I suppose we can decide in the morning.”

“I suppose we can,” she muttered, her voice thick with fatigue. “Good night, Edward.”

“Good night, Rose.”

During the night, Rosamund awoke. For a moment, she didn’t recall where she was and it took several seconds to reorient herself to her surroundings. She glanced at the window, darkened by the nighttime shadows. Everything came back to her in a rush. Her pulse raced as she thought of going on a grand adventure to search for a dragon’s treasure.

It was likely a foolhardy quest, not to mention dangerous. What if the dragon was there guarding its treasure?

And if it wasn’t, and they found it…

She would have the means to truly start a new life somewhere else.

Her parents would be brokenhearted. Guilt swept through her. Could she truly take a step into a life of independence? A life that did not include servants and luxury? A life that did not include a loveless marriage?

Rosamund sat up in the bed, her heart racing. She watched the sleeping form in the bed next to hers, his chest rising and falling in rhythmic breathing patterns indicating he was fast asleep. She had to tell him now, though, before she lost her nerve.

Slipping from the bed, she gave him a gentle shake. “Edward?”

He grunted in response but didn’t wake.

“Wake up,” she said with another shake.

His eyes popped open as he lunged from the bed, reaching for her. She stumbled back, her hands outstretched.

“It’s me! Rosamund!”

He huffed out a breath. “Gods, you scared me.”

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to tell you…” She paused as her breath hitched.

“Tell me what?” He rubbed his eyes.

“Let’s do it. Let’s find the treasure.”

“That? That’s what you wanted to tell me?” He frowned at her.

“Yes.”

“You could have waited until morning,” he grumbled.

“No, I couldn’t wait,” she said. “I had to tell you now. Good night.”

With that, she crawled back into her bed and pulled up the bedcovers. Before too long she was fast asleep.