Ephesus

Schon peered out the small window of the farmhouse. Behind her Vardia and Fulcher had collapsed, having been awake since the day before. She drummed her fingers along the length of the candelabra, her only defense against whatever threat would come her way.

So much has changed so suddenly, she thought, leaning against the cool glass. Maybe this is my chance to finally get back home to dad. Away from all this.

She peered back at the sleeping Prince, ire churning in her core.

Of all the people I had to be married off to, why that immature brat?

Her attention shifted to Stella’s giggling, the girl bounding around the small room with Arrow playing some kind of game with the wolf.

“Stella, don’t get too comfortable around that… thing. It’s a wild animal.” Schon said. Stella stopped to look at Schon, her smile obvious as Arrow caught up to her and licked her face. She smiled and hugged the wolf.

“It’s okay! He’s fuzzy and good,” she proclaimed. Schon sighed and looked out the window again, only to see the cavalry from early approaching the hamlet. She stood suddenly, placing the candelabra down.

“No, no no… Stella, stay here! And keep the dog quiet!” Schon said, grabbing a cloak from a table and slinking out the back door. The cloth covered most of her pink dress, but the ends remained exposed and frilly. She sneered as she leaned down, gathering up dirt and mud into her hands and smearing it across the bottom of her outfit. Once she felt it was properly dirtied, she moved to the center of the hamlet with the farmers. Quickly, she jogged over to the house the Councilor had walked into. As the cavalry approached she managed to intercept him as he emerged, grabbing his arm lightly.

“Councilor, please. Tell them we passed on the main road through the woods. Don’t let them know we’re here,” she pleaded. He looked at her, his face conflicted as he nodded grimly.

“Very well Princess, I’ll do my best…” he said, wandering to the cavalry as they approached.
Schon began to wander, weaving between the scattered residents towards the barn.

If they find the carriage, I can take a horse and get out of here, she thought. Sneaking into the barn, she quickly moved to saddle one of the farm’s stallions. She had been trained to ride before she was sent away, and felt confident enough in her ability to track her direction to make it back home without much effort. As she untied the horse she paused, thinking back to the farmhouse.

Stella… can I really leave her? The poor girl didn’t do anything to deserve this…

Her grip on the reins tightened. She had been away from home for so long, the thought of returning sent chills down her very spine. But in that dark keep, during her worst days, that little girl had been a ray of sunlight.

I can’t leave her behind! She thought, tying the horse up again. She slipped back out to the hamlet, once more sneaking across the small area towards the home the rest of her party was resting in. To her shock, the councilor seemed to be having quite a good time speaking to the visiting soldiers. The leader of the cavalry group had even dismounted his horse and taken his helmet off, sharing some form of story with the councilor as the other men patiently waited behind him.

She smiled lightly and snuck back behind the house, slipping back inside. She found Stella peering out the front window, using a stool for balance. Arrow stood on hind legs next to her as he too watched the soldiers in the middle of town. Schon quickly closed the curtains to the window, eliciting a whine from girl and wolf alike.

“Aw, Schon! I wanted to watch the men look!” Stella pouted.

“Well, if they saw you, they would take us back to the keep,” Schon said, reacquiring her candelabra.

“When will the game be over?” Stella said, looking up at Schon. “I’m getting really hungry for lunch. I’m tired of the berries from this morning.” Schon cupped the girl’s face, running her thumb along her cheek.

“Aw sweetie, we’ll eat a nice big meal when we get to Corvidrop!” Schon assured. Stella pouted and moved over to where Vardia was sleeping slumped against the wall, the girl sitting down next to the Custodi. Schon turned back towards the window to find Arrow staring up at her, waging his tail softly.

“What do you want?” she asked. The wolf whined and pawed at her hand. She looked down at the candelabra she held.

“What? No, this is mine.” She said. Arrow whined again and barked gently. Almost like he was giving her a warning.

“Shh! Stupid dog, do you want us to get caught?” She hissed, looking at the window with worry.
A second louder bark came from the wolf as he pawed at her legs for a second time.

“Fine, fine! Take it,” she said, offering the ornament over. Arrow sniffed it curiously and took it gently into his teeth. He pulled it from her grasp and carried it over to the corner, laying down with a thud as he began to chew on the metal object. Schon looked over at him with concern.

That can’t feel good, she thought. She was quickly distracted by a shout from outside. Rushing to the window, she peered from the curtain just in time to see the cavalry turning around. The man at the head of the unit offered a wave to the Councilor before he rode off back towards the woods, followed quickly by the rest of his squad.

Schon sighed and turned, relaxing against the wall. They could carry on without worry for now.