Chapter
4
Kresten
She wasn’t coming. I sat back on my heels in my hiding place, worked the kink out of my neck, and tried to shrug off the dismay.
A dozen paces away, Jorg mouthed, Let’s go.
I held up a finger, indicating one more moment, and peered again through the thick foliage into the glade where I’d danced with her yesterday. She’d said she might return to pick berries, not that she definitely would. And apparently she’d decided not to.
I should have guessed so. She’d likely had too much time to think over the matter and come to the conclusion that a rendezvous in the middle of a deserted forest with a stranger wasn’t such a good idea. I didn’t blame her.
On the other hand, I had hoped she’d sensed I meant her no harm and that she could trust me. Obviously, I’d failed in that regard.
A pebble hit me in the back, and I glanced over to find Jorg nodding in the direction of the ravine, his brows furrowed with irritation. Already we’d expended valuable labor time by hiking to the river, locating the secret tunnel, and traveling to the clearing. And now we’d been waiting for over an hour for her to appear.
’Twas past time to leave.
But for some inexplicable reason, I couldn’t force myself to go. In fact, I had half a mind to locate her trail from yesterday and track it to her home. The only thing holding me back was the vow I’d made to go away and never come back if that was what she wished.
Certainly, that wasn’t what she wished. Was it?
Again dismay settled over me, chasing away the hope that had grown since yesterday’s meeting. After I’d left and made my way back to the ravine and the river, Jorg had taken one look at me and almost punched me. Even with his superior tracking skills, he hadn’t been able to locate the hidden opening and had searched for me all the while I’d been gone.
Though I hadn’t planned on telling him about the young woman, I’d needed to placate him in some way.
“She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” I’d said after describing how I’d outmaneuvered the boar, landed in the cavern, then explored the woodland beyond, only to hear her singing.
“You think every woman is beautiful.” Jorg’s scowl could have scared away a basilisk.
“Not like this one.” I hadn’t been able to stop smiling or reliving every moment of my time with the young woman. “She was truly God’s most exquisite creation. And I must see her again.”
“We’re already behind on our labor schedule today, and we can ill afford it again.”
I gave Jorg a playful push. “Loosen your belt and live a little.”
He seemed to wage an inner war for control before he breathed deeply, relaxed his shoulders, and forced a smile. “You’re right. I’m sorry for getting upset.”
I paused long enough to study him and for an instant saw the situation as he had. He’d been given a great honor to accompany one of the three Scanian princes to the Great Isle for the Testing. But it also came with great responsibility. No doubt Jorg wanted to please the king and the Lagting with how he handled his duties. In addition, his reputation as a great knight was at stake.
With so much pressure, Jorg was bound to be worried about me now and again, especially since one of his duties was keeping me alive for the duration of my Testing.
I clamped him on the shoulder. “I was insensitive. Please forgive me for causing you undue anxiety.”
My rare apology left Jorg speechless. I shoved him and laughed, hoping to resume our usual banter. However, the rest of the day, we’d both been strangely quiet. I’d been preoccupied with thoughts of the beautiful young woman—even in my slumber—so much so that by this morning, I’d been almost desperate with the need to see her again.
Though I wanted to keep the ravine opening a secret, Jorg had been adamant about accompanying me. I’d acquiesced so long as he promised not to speak or show himself to the young woman. She’d already been nervous enough with just me, and I had the feeling she wouldn’t stay if she saw anyone else.
As always, we’d used caution during our trek, especially through the unknown section of the forest, attempting to stay clear of the scorched ground that indicated the presence of basilisks. As with yesterday, I hadn’t seen any signs of the creatures. Jorg had remarked upon their absence as well, growing more careful the farther we ventured into the new territory, as if he expected the basilisks to play a trick on us.
I gave the clearing a final sweep and then stood. I needn’t have worried. She wasn’t coming, and now I needed to honor her request to depart and never come back. But first . . .
I shouldered through the thick growth and made my way into the sunny field where we’d danced. I knelt at the first cluster of flowers and picked them. At the very least, I’d carry a handful of the dainty blue flowers with me to remember her and the way she’d looked with a crown of them in her hair.
At the crack of a twig on the opposite side of the clearing, I glanced up. She stood there, the sun spilling over her golden hair that fell again today in long, loose waves to her waist. Her blue eyes were dark and uncertain, and she twisted the handle of her basket, poised as though to flee at the first word I spoke.
I wanted to race to her. But I made myself proceed casually. I couldn’t say the wrong thing and send her scurrying away. “For you.” I held out the flowers.
She tipped her basket to reveal flowers of all shapes and sizes.
Obviously, she didn’t need any more. Still, I wanted her to have them. “For you, so that you might make another crown.”
She took a timid step toward me. “Do you think I need a crown?”
“You are unrivaled in beauty and have no need of it. But you deserve one nevertheless.”
Pink infused her cheeks, and she dropped her gaze only to look up a moment later, shyly, her eyes full of interest.
“You can teach me how to make the crown.” Doing so would afford me more time with her in addition to the dancing lesson. “Unless you think such a feat is beyond the realm of my ability.”
Her lips started to curve upward. “’Tis simple enough.”
“Then I shall be your willing pupil.”
“Very well. Although, I must say I am rather surprised to find you are interested in weaving flowers. I had not thought a man would give himself over to such a task.”
I’d give myself over to any chore, no matter how menial, to spend more time with her, but I bit back my pathetic remark. “To be sure, the task may be too delicate for the sensibilities of others of my gender. But you’ll find I’m not so prejudiced.”
Her smile widened.
I lowered myself to the grass and patted the spot next to me. She hesitated but a moment, before she made her way over and sat, careful all the while not to get too close. She fanned her skirt out around her, one that was patched and frayed along the hem.
Once she was situated, I placed the bundle of flowers I’d picked onto her lap, and at her instructions gathered additional flowers, leaving the full stem attached and as long as possible.
For several minutes we collected flowers and bantered, until she halted and tilted her head, watching me. “I was beginning to think you would not come this morn.”