The world was yellow outside. I had heard that some of the other kingdoms had beautiful springs where plants were starting to bud and the air smelled like fresh grass. That was not the case here nor my home. Spring did mean the occasional bud, but it also meant awful sickly grass, greasy mud, and strongly shifting weather. Warm days, freezing nights. Clear skies to sudden sleet. It was the time we prayed for over our long winters then resented as soon as it came.

As we bumped along in the carriage, I kept my gaze trained away from Xion, out the window, staring at the world beyond as if it would suddenly change before my eyes. But it was all mud, slush, and small villages that seemed so similar to the one I had grown up in.

Yesterday, I went into the city to fulfill my side of the deal. Devlyn had been strapped to my side, Xion thankfully had been occupied with some military drill, but the city had felt harmless. Or, it might have if I hadn't known that almost every single creature that passed me could have sunk their teeth into my delicate flesh and sipped my blood.

But there was a kind baker who fed us bread rolls with cinnamon and sugar, a detour that Devlyn insisted on. The woman who sold me half a dozen laying hens had furrowed her brow when she saw me, but I wasn't sure if it was because any woman with a royal guard in tow had no business needing laying hens or if it was my humanity. At the auction mart when I was looking for a good stud horse and a couple of mares, no one even glanced my way. The only wandered eyes were for Devlyn and it would take one glance from him to send a group of women skittering away, smothering their giggles with their hands.

It was so strange to see what I had been raised to fear living almost exactly like we did.

But I was certainly not living like I had used to. I had never ridden in a carriage before, only ever had a single horse at my disposal and was a decent enough rider to manage it in the worst of conditions. What I was wearing today was comfortable and simple: a pair of pants that Daisy had scoffed at and a warm tunic. But in the chest was a dress finer than any girl in my village had seen. And outside the carriage, on the back of his trusted steed, was Devlyn, keeping us safe as we traveled. Before, robbery had hardly been a threat. We simply had nothing to offer as a family.

I had gone from being a plain village girl to someone with a royal guard escort, even if there were no emblems to be seen.

"Are you going to be silent for the entire journey?" Xion asked, not even bothering to raise his eyes from the book spread over his lap. He had opted to leave Croissant at home, stating she would be more trouble than help, but I could so easily envision the dog nuzzling under his arm to get his attention.

"I think it would be better for both of us if I stayed quiet," I reasoned.

"What a shame. I'm becoming quite fond of the sound of your voice. Is there a reason you don't want to talk?"

"I don't think you want to answer the questions I have for you. If I am going to gain nothing, then silence is best."

The book was closed with a thump and set to the side. The fine leather cover looked far too nice to be frolic with us in an older carriage on an overnight adventure, but who was I to tell a king when he could study up on the White Mountain Elves?

"If you have questions, Lark, I will do my best to answer them, whether I like what I need to say or not."

"Are you saying that you wouldn't lie to me? I'm just supposed to trust your word after all you have put me through?"

He shrugged his broad shoulders, glancing outside briefly at the passing world that had entranced me for so long. "I can agree that I have not given you much reason to trust me. And it is up to your discretion whether or not you trust me now, but I don't think lying in a relationship is a strong idea. If you really intend to spend your life with someone, the truth is bound to come out. But, the alternative side of that is knowing when to reveal particular truths. Bad timing can be just as damaging as lying."

A bump in the road jarred the coach hard enough that I was almost unseated. I let out a startled huff, using the opposing bench that push myself up, but not before Xion's eyes snapped to my exposed cleavage then quickly away like a teenager.

I knew a damn good way to squander any kind of lustful thoughts.

"So if I asked you about your father right now..."

"Ask me," he encouraged, with no anger or defiance in his voice.

I had just opened my mouth when the carriage came to an abrupt halt. I stayed upright this time, leaning against the motion. While I was clenching my abdomen hard to balance, Xion yanked the curtains over the windows shut.

"Hello there," Devlin greeted, his chipper voice carrying inside from wherever he was on his horse.

Even the friendly tone didn't soothe Xion, who seemed to be holding his breath as he perched on the bench. Eyes focused, mouth tense. My question as long forgotten and something about the set of his body told me not to repeat it or to even breathe too loudly.

"Where is the king?" someone demanded, his voice low and gruff.

A blade that I hadn't even noticed appeared in Xion's hand. Too short to be called a sword, but I'm sure it was just as deadly.

"Does this look like the travels of a king?" Devlin demanded, still as cool and collected as ever. "I am merely trying to get my family home before the sun sets. Now if you would be so kind as to move aside so we can continue on--"

"He must be in the carriage. Get him," someone else ordered.

"Lark," Xion's words were quiet and quick. "You are to stay here and stay quiet until I tell you it is safe. And if anything happens and you cannot stay in this carriage, you are to run. Do you understand me?"

His dark eyes, suddenly so wild, flickered over my face.

I could only nod mutely.

He leapt outside the carriage, slamming the door shut behind him. Was I really going to rely on a small piece of wood and some hinges to keep me safe from whatever was out there? It didn't seem like I had many other options. In hindsight, I would think of this as a moment when I could have escaped. The occurrence outside would be a distraction. But fear was an all-powerful being. I didn't know what was out there, but I was wise enough to be frightened. I whimpered and sank to the floor of the carriage as if I would be safer down low.

"I heard you were looking for me," Xion announced, his voice muffled by the material between us.

"King killer," someone else hissed.

There was the jarring sound of metal on metal. A grunt of a man. I didn't know who and wouldn't dare risk getting off the floor or moving a curtain aside to find out. I pressed my palms down on the wooden floor hard, feeling the splinters press into my skin. The light pain was not enough of a distraction as the sounds of more metal colliding fell over me. How many times had the blades clashed together? One or twenty? I didn't know. Would I even hear it if the blades pierced something or someone?

"Behind you!" Xion yelled, presumably to Devlin.

There was another grunt, a hollow thump. Devlin shouted something that I couldn't make out. All I could think was that I wished my father had taught me how to use a blade beyond the confines of the kitchen. Why did he think reading was an important skill, but fighting was not?

Oh god, my father. He must have already thought I was dead, but what if I died here? Would someone tell him the truth? Would it be worse than he ever imagined?

"I swear to the fucking gods!" Devlin roared.

Then I heard the awful sound of a horse screaming. I had heard it before when one of our plow horses had broken its leg. The sound had filled the house. In my mind I could see my father's pale face, hear my sister burst into tears from just the animal's cry alone. What could possibly happen to a war horse to cause it to make that sound? I didn't even dare let out a whimper for the animal, just jammed my eyes shut.

"Stop wasting time. Find her!" a man demanded. 

~~~Question of the Day~~~

What book do you think is the most overrated?