Chapter 23

S leep did not come easily for Rosamund. She lay curled on her side in the bedroll, staring at the fire as the flames flickered and died down into nothing but hot embers. She was still staring at it, not having slept a wink, when the darkened sky began to lighten with the coming dawn.

Soon, the men would rise, and they would pack up the camp and be on their way. Possibly to her doom.

Today was her birthday. She didn’t feel as though she had aged another year.

As she lay there, listening to the world come alive around her, she thought of her mother and how she must be feeling this morning. Likely missing her and wondering when or if she’d return home. She envisioned her mother pacing the length of her chamber. Would she have tried to occupy her mind by convening her sewing circle? Or would she have banished them from her chamber to be alone with her grief and her agony?

Then Rosamund thought of her father who had removed every rose from the castle grounds in an act of love and protection. How he had made sure she never ventured out without an escort of castle guards. She wondered what he was doing now. If he was spewing his wrath to all those who were supposed to guard the castle. She could almost hear his voice now, chastising them for allowing her to slip out and disappear. Though he was generally a calm man, when he was upset or angry, his wrath knew no bounds and all those in his path were victim to it.

What a horrible daughter she was by sneaking off into the night.

“Rose?”

Her whispered name startled her. She sat up quickly to see Phillip in the bedroll next to her, his eyes nothing but dark orbs in the half light. He put a finger to his lips. She nodded as she tried to slow her rapidly beating heart. Then he waved her to follow him.

Crouched low, he walked to the horses. His steps were virtually silent as he made his way, leaving behind his bedroll. She quickly reached for her boots but decided not to put them on yet. Clutching them, she crawled out of the bedroll and stood. With a quick glance around the small camp, she saw Charles and Jeffrey were still sleeping.

Ahead of her, Phillip gave a frantic wave for her to hurry.

In her stocking feet, she hurried to the horses doing her best to be as silent as he was. When she was close enough, he took her hand and pulled her to him, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to whisper in her ear.

“I have one horse saddled,” he said. “We’ll leave together on that.”

“Leave?” She blinked up at him, her eyes wide.

The way he held her to him made her heart do a strange little dance. There was a swooping in the pit of her stomach and, for a moment, she thought she saw starlight in his eyes. His gaze flickered from her eyes to her lips and back again. The way he looked at her sent a shuddering thrill through her. She thought he might kiss her.

A desperate need for him to kiss her swept through her.

“To find the treasure,” he said at last. And then released her.

Disappointment flooded her when he didn’t kiss her. He made a motion for her to come closer. She held up her boots and he suppressed a laugh. He gave her a nod as if to say hurry.

She balanced on her good ankle and pulled the boot onto her other one. Then she wobbled when she tried to balance on the other foot. Pain lanced through her sore ankle, objecting to the movement. He was there in an instant, though, making sure she didn’t tumble to the ground. He placed his body behind hers, giving her something to lean against.

Her heart did that silly little tumble again as she glanced up at him, giving him a weak smile. Did he know what he was doing to her? Likely not.

Leveraging her weight against him, she managed to pull on the second boot. Then he turned to her, placing his hands on her waist. He paused, their eyes meeting again making her heart thud. She was sure he could see the frantic beat of her pulse. One corner of his mouth lifted in a quirk of a grin.

“Happy birthday, princess,” he whispered.

He remembered. Something about that endeared him to her and she flushed hot.

“Thank you.”

Then he helped hoist her onto the horse. He settled into the saddle in front of her. She wrapped her arms around his waist as he gripped the reins and gave a low click of his tongue and then they were at a brisk trot. Heading away from the camp to seek the dragon’s treasure.

She glanced back one last time to see Jeffrey and Charles still fast asleep. Ahead, the sun peeked over the horizon and morning dawned.

“Do you really think there will be treasure?” she asked.

“I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?” he replied.

“It seems silly to think there is a cave with hidden treasure,” she added.

“I agree, it does. But shouldn’t we at least check?”

Despite her reservations, she smiled. “We should.”

But she knew, as he did, neither of them had a choice. They were both compelled to continue onward to the mysterious dragon’s cave.

“Won’t Jeffrey be angry when he wakes to find us gone?” she asked.

“He will, but he’ll get over it.”

“Will he come after us?” she asked.

He was silent a moment before he finally answered. “Yes, Jeffrey is an excellent tracker. He can track anything or anyone.”

“That’s how he was able to find you in the woods, then,” she said.

“It is.”

“So, it means we have to hurry to get to the dragon’s cave before he finds us.”

“Exactly.”

But she wondered. Was it because he didn’t want to share the treasure with him? Or was there some other reason? She, herself, had her own reasons. Despite the guilt running through her, she was still determined to take what she could from the treasure and make a new life somewhere else.

“How long will it take us to get there?” she asked.

“You ask a lot of questions.” There was a smile in his voice as he said it.

“I’m curious,” she said.

“We should be there this afternoon.”

This afternoon, as the day waned and sunset neared. The curse sprang to her mind. She only had a few more hours left to avoid roses and thorns. Hopefully she would make it without pricking her finger.

They rode all day until the sun started to dip toward the horizon. He kept a good pace, only slowing the horse over rough terrain. When exhaustion from being up most of the night finally caught up to her, she managed to doze.

“Rose, look!”

Her head snapped up, her neck aching. She stretched as tall as was possible to peer over his shoulder as he brought the horse to a halt.

Though the trees were still dense here, there was a break where there was stone rockface. At the sight of it, her breath hitched in surprise and a gasp escaped her lips. A jolt of excitement skittered down her spine, sending shivers of anticipation dancing along her skin. The sight of it ignited a fierce eagerness propelling her forward with her continued determination.

“The cave?” she asked.

“Let’s find out.”

His voice quivered with a mix of enthusiasm and anticipation. He slid out of the saddle, then turned with his arms outstretched to help her down. She swung her good leg over but didn’t quite calculate the distance correctly and practically fell off the horse. Phillip was there, though, catching her in his arms.

They came nose to nose. Her breath caught in her throat as she peered up at him. It was as though there was an eager anticipation emanating off him. It was difficult for her deny she felt the same. She could not deny the yearning sweeping through her, trying to melt away her resolve.

“This is the second time you’ve landed in my arms.”

His voice was low and dark and floated over her, sending her senses reeling. He was so close his breath fanned her face as he spoke. So close, his lips were a breath away from hers.

“I’ll try not to make a habit of it.” Much to her dismay, her voice trembled.

The smile in his eyes contained a sensuous flame.

“Pity.” Then he released her to turn toward the rockface. “This has to be the dragon’s cave, don’t you think?”

Was he nervous? Did she knock him off kilter as he did her? She smiled to herself as he spoke.

“As you said, let’s find out,” she said, nudging him with her elbow.

There was a spark of elation in his eyes as he looked at her and nodded. “Right.”

He took her by the hand, making her heart soar with delight, and led her toward the rockface.

Overhead, there was the unmistakable whump, whump of wings. They both paused to look up as the shadow moved across the illuminated sky. The sun had not yet set. Her heart picked up speed.

“We better hurry,” he said.

He released her hand and jogged toward the rockface. She hurried after him. As they approached, though, they both saw it was nothing more than rock. No cave. But Rosamund saw there was what appeared to be a well-worn trail to the left and took it.

“I think it’s this way,” she said.

He followed her. “Don’t you think I should lead?”

“Why? Just because you’re the man?” she said.

“Well—”

“I’m perfectly capable—”

Her words were cut short by a creature leaping out in front of her. She squealed and stumbled backward, her weak ankle protesting at the sudden movement. The small, big eared creature with a long nose bared its teeth at her, lifting his hands with sharp pointy nails, and then growled.

“Och, did I frighten ye?” he said.

Phillip moved around her, pushing her behind him in a protective gesture. The creature’s ears drooped and his face fell as he looked up at Phillip with big, black eyes.

“I didn’t mean to frighten the lady. Honest. I thought she was something good to eat.”

“Be gone, goblin,” Phillip said with a wave of his hand. “There’s nothing to eat here.”

The goblin peered around Phillip to look at her with huge round eyes. “Forgive me, lady?”

He was hard to resist with him looking at her like that full of longing she would agree. She started to step around Phillip, but he put out his arm to stop her and gave a shake of his head.

“Don’t fall for it. He merely wants sympathy.”

“I didn’t mean no harm!” the goblin wailed. Then threw himself on the ground, covering his head and crying wracking sobs.

“But—” she began.

“No,” Phillip said, his tone firm. “He’s a trickster.”

The goblin continued to wail. “I’m no trickster, sir! I only want to apologize to the lady proper like.”

Rosamund started to melt a little, but Phillip’s eyes were hard and unrelenting. She glanced from him to the creature squirming with his cries on the ground.

“He wants your sympathy. Then when you give it and get close to him, he’ll steal whatever he can off you.”

The goblin continued to howl. As she peered at him, an idea formed.

“If I forgive you, will you do you something for me?” she asked.

That dried up the goblin’s tears almost immediately. He sat straight up and gave her his full attention.

“Anything for you lady!”

“What are you doing?” Phillip said, his words hissing through his teeth.

“Trust me,” she whispered back. Then to the goblin, “You will have my forgiveness if you take us to the dragon’s cave.”

The goblin stared up at her, sniffed, then wiped snot from his nose. “The dragon’s cave?”

“Yes. It’s here, isn’t it?”

The goblin glanced behind him, then moved closer and dropped his voice. “The dragon’s cave is near, yes.”

“Can you take us there?” she asked.

“And then you’ll forgive me for scaring you?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes, I will.”

“Then follow me! Come! Hurry!” he called over his shoulder as he scurried away.

“Very clever, princess,” Phillip said. He motioned her ahead. “After you.”