Chapter 26 CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
ROSALINDA
Cyrus and I had been walking for hours, searching for a way out of this gods-forsaken stretch of sand. The little island on this beach felt like a maze designed by a practically sadistic architect. I had never been here before, nor had I seen this cluster of jagged rocks and hidden coves on any of the royal maps back home.
"We have taken this route before," I heard Cyrus say from behind me, his voice as steady as if we were just strolling through the palace gardens instead of being stranded in a land we don't know anything about.
"That's it! I'm tired!" I hissed, my legs finally giving out. I sank onto the sand, the heat of it radiating through my torn silk skirts. "You know what? I can't do this anymore. My body is literally done."
"We still have to keep on walking,"
"I can't!" I winced, reaching down to massage my throbbing foot. The arches felt like they were being shredded by hot needles. "My feet are hurting badly, I'm hungry and so thirsty I'd probably drink horse piss if it were offered in a clean glass,"
I heard him sigh- that usual heavy, long sound that made me feel like throwing something at his head. He walked up to me, his shadow falling over me like a cooling shroud. I looked up to see him hovering above me, the silver pendant he had snatched away from me last night was glinting under the harsh sunlight as it hung around his neck, slightly hidden by the collar of his shirt.
I really wanted to grill him, to scream at him to tell me why he had that, but I was too weak to agrue, and frankly I didn't care.
Which is a lie by the way. I cared so much it felt like my chest was being squeezed by an iron band.
Seriously, why does he have that and why does he seem to cherish it so much?
"That's why we need to keep on walking," he said, snapping me from my thoughts. "There's no food or water on this strip of sand. We need to find a way out before the sun goes down,"
"Can't we try to find the cliff we fell from and climb back up?" I suggested, looking around the place. I sighted the cliff from afar and gulped it. It looked vertical and impossible.
I heard him scoff making me turn to face him again. His brow was arched in amusement. "I'm not a moneky,"
"Are you calling me one then?" I hissed.
"No ma'am."
I rolled my eyes, forcing myself to stand up. I winced as I laid all my weight on my good foot, my balance was swaying dangerously I feared I might fall. "I'm really desperate, Cyrus. We need a way out,"
"I also desperate, but atleast I'm realistic," he said, scamming the treeline beyond the dunes. "There has to be a way out of here that doesn't involve us walking around in circles till we die."
He held out his arm for me. "If you insist, Princess." I looked at his outstretched out for a moment, my pride warring with the searing pain in my ankles.
My pride lost. "Okay." I reluctantly took his arm, leaning heavily into his strength as we trudged forward. We continued walking and eventually ended up into a narrow ravine we hadn't noticed before.
"See? Told you there's a way out," he said, a hint of smugness in his tone.
I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. "I just need food and water." As if on cue, my stomach let out a low growl making my cheeks heat in embarrassment.
He said nothing, his focus on the path ahead. We kept on walking until the path led to a lush green farm. It was a sprawling patch of life tucked away in the middle of nowhere, filled with fresh plants, rows of vegetables and trees heavy with ripening fruits.
"Holy smokes! Look! There are-"
"You have to be careful, there could be-"
"FUCKING OUCH!" I screamed.
A sharp, metallic snap echoed through the quiet air, followed by a blinding explosion of pain in my lower leg, I fell to the ground, my vision swimming.
"A trap," I heard him deadpan from behind me. I wanted to kick him, but my leg was currently being chewed on by iron teeth.
He moved quickly, kneeling beside me. He didn't panic, he just worked the mechanism with practiced ease, his strong fingers releasing the pressure of the trap. "You ought to be careful. This is a huge farm. You really didn't think the farmer would leave a place like this unprotected from thieves or animals?"
"Well, don't judge me for- Cyrus?" I called out in concern as he suddenly went still.
I nudged his arm but he didn't react. "Cyrus?" I called out again. "What's wrong?"
He slowly stood up, his eyes wide as he stared at something ahead of us. I followed his line of sight, squinting through the tears of pain. A woman was standing a few feet away, wearing a simple linen dress and a wide straw weaved hat that shadowed her face. She held a basket of herbs, looking as if she'd just grown out of the earth herself.
"Diana," Cyrus breathed.
The way he said her name and the way he was looking at her....I knew she was more than a stranger.
"Cyrus," she called out softly. Her voice was melodic, calm and entirely too poised for someone finding intruders in her garden. "It's good to see you again."
I looked back and forth between, feeling like as if I didn't belong her. I then felt the woman's eyes on me, it shifted from warmth to something else.
She let out a gasp as our eyes met. "Pardon me, your grace," she said, dropping into a deep, graceful bow. "Diana Denton at your service."
I blinked, stunned. "You know me?"
She smiled softly as she raised her head up. "Everyone knows of the famous Princess Rosalinda. Dare I say, you're even more beautiful than the rumors suggested. I also could tell who you are from the royal hairpin tucked on your hair,"
"Oh!" A silly blush crept up my cheek as I reached up and touched the hairpin. "Thanks. I think."
She stepped aside and gestured down the path that seemed to lead out of the garden. "Please, come on in to my small cottage. I'll attend to your injuries and help you freshen up,"
"Yes, please,"
She flashed a small smile, her eyes flickering from me to Cyrus who stood silently beside me, his eyes still wide. "Alright then. Please follow me."
She turned and began to walk away. Before I could even attempt to stand up, Cyrus caught me off guard by stopping me up into his arms. I let out a startled yelp, my hands automatically wrapping around his neck for stability.
"You really don't have to carry me," I muttered, my heart doing a traitorous little skip despite my hard resolve.
"If you die, I die." He simply said, his voice vibrating against my chest.
Okay chill man, it's not that deep.
"Right." I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the heat of his touch. "Of course. My safety is now your priority. Blah, blah blah."
He said nothing, his jaw set as he followed Diana towards the cottage.
"Who is that lady, by the way?" I asked. "How do you know her?"
He didn't look at me as he spoke. His eyes were still fixed on her. "She's my ex-girlfriend."