Chapter 11 Secrets in the Shadows
Aching pain traveled through my body, and I groaned. My eyes fluttered open, but all I saw was darkness. A void.
Where am I?
I looked down at my hands, and my jaw dropped. They were my hands. Soft, creamy skin with polished nails. Long platinum blonde—practically white—hair flopped over my shoulder.
I’m back in my body! Was it all really another dream?
I glanced around. “Hello?” I called; my soft voice returned, but only silence answered.
How do I get home? …Oh!
I perked up when the figure of another person came into view.
“Hello!” I called again, rushing over, almost tripping over my glass heels.
As I neared, I noticed their features—a woman wearing dirty, ragged clothes. I froze in my tracks when I recognized the bright ginger hair that caressed her shoulders. Her back was facing me, so I couldn’t see her face.
My breath quivered as I swallowed. My voice cracked, whispering, “H—hello…?”
I took a step closer, and the void flashed white. I blinked and was staring at a lantern on a nearby table.
What? What just happened?
“You’re awake!”
I jumped and looked around, realizing I’m in a tent now, lying in a makeshift bed. The loud voice came from Erik. Cedric stood at his side.
“E—Erik?” I croaked and groaned, pain surging through my body.
“Whoa, take it easy,” Erik murmured. “You’ve lost a lot of blood.”
“Captain Jackson fetched you and fixed you up himself,” Cedric added.
“Captain Jackson?” I glanced around.
“That’s enough,” came the captain’s voice. He stepped into the tent. “You can leave now.”
My battered body tensed up at his words. The men glanced at me briefly before leaving me with the captain. Jackson looked down at me with his muscular arms crossed. His narrowed gaze and twisted frown said it all. I turned my head away.
“Why did you come back for me? I thought you wanted me gone,” I grumbled grudgingly.
“Those two wouldn’t leave me alone about letting you go.” Jackson sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Good thing I did. That bravery and fire will get you killed…” His words were barely a whisper. My head lifted.
He’s said those words to me before—I mean, to Liliana…
“Just who the hell are you?” he suddenly demanded, his hazel eyes hardened. “Are you really Duke Nathanial’s daughter? You’re a Ray?”
What’s this? His demeanor changed… For a moment, he looked desperate. Should I keep lying? I don’t think he believes me, but…
I lifted my chin, my voice strong. “My name is Robin Ray.”
“Robin Ray, aye?” Jackson rubbed his chin. “…Robin the Thief.” He spun the dagger I used to fight the bear with his fingers. “Royalty-relative or not, you’ve got a nasty habit.”
I winced. Technically, I guess I did steal it… Oops. Here I thought I could clean Robin’s reputation.
“Sorry… Captain Jackson,” I grunted, struggling to sit up. “What do you plan to do with me now? …I’m going to Embercrest, even if I have to go through Moir Forest alone again.”
Jackson glared down at me. His lips pursed, holding back words, until his broad shoulders sagged. “My patrol is heading to Embercrest Kingdom to check on their welfare. I suppose you can tag along. Besides—” He gestured to my bandaged arm. “You’ll need to see a doctor. All I could do was clean it up and stitch it.”
I need a doctor for all these crazy dreams too.
A small smile crossed my lips. “Thank you, sir.”
“We’ll be leaving shortly. Gather your bearings; it’ll be a long ride.”
A long ride?
I quickly spoke up. “You’re in a rush. What is this chaos taking place in Embercrest?”
Jackson glanced down at me, and my jaw clenched. I knew what his response would be, but I still wanted to press one more time.
Yet, truthfully… I had a feeling I already knew what the problem was.
The captain turned away from me. “As I said, catch your breath while you can.” He ducked out of the tent without looking back.
I squeezed my pants, and my throat grew tight.
Robin. Just what have you done?
My hunch started to warn me that she may be the reason our souls swapped bodies.
If she ran away, then it makes sense why the knighthood is patrolling the border so fiercely. I have to find her and put things right.
My head hung with a futile thought: But how do I do that…?
The clang of metal and grunts from the horses saved me from drowning in my thoughts. I leaped to my feet and instantly regretted it; pain bolted through every muscle. I ducked out of the tent and hurried over to the knights mounting their horses. Each man was at least a foot taller than I and twice my mass.
To think I actually wanted to be a knight too!
I almost chuckled at the thought. All of them looked down at me as I passed.
“Excuse me, pardon me,” I piped up, weaving between the burly men.
I wondered, is there a spare horse for me?
“Oi!” called a familiar voice. I spotted Erik, and he waved me over. “Need a ride, My Lady?”
“Ah, yes! If it’s not too much trouble,” I said, scurrying over to him and his beige and white horse. “And just call me Robin, please.”
“Sure thing, My La—I mean, Robin.”
“Again, Erik?” Cedric rode over on his black horse. “Your horse is too skittish; it’ll kick her straight off.” He turned to me. “She’d be safer riding with me. Let’s go, Robin—”
“Hold on!” Erik blurted. “Yours is too moody! It’ll try to stomp her into the ground. Again.”
Are they arguing over whose horse I should ride?
“Um…” I laughed awkwardly. “I think I’ll ride with Erik.”
The blonde man grinned cockily at his brother while helping me mount his horse. Cedric huffed, giving him the stink eye.
A ways ahead, Captain Jackson barked his orders and led his patrol into Moir Forest. Cedric and Erik followed, along with many others. Jackson rode a dark red horse with a black mane, tail, legs, and snout. There was a white diamond on the horse’s forehead.
What a beautiful horse.
I rubbed my bandaged arm and then looked from Erik to Cedric. “Thank you both for convincing the Captain to come for me. If he hadn’t shown up, I might not be here.”
Cedric and Erik looked at each other. Cedric spoke first. “We spoke of our concerns but nothing more.”
“We’ve learned it’s better to just trust Jackie’s judgement. If he let you go into Moir Forest on your own, then we figured you must’ve been capable,” Eric admitted.
Huh?
I looked between the brothers.
But Jackson said… Wait. Was he lying?
I glanced ahead at the front of the group. Jackson’s armored back faced me. His black hair was still pulled back in a neat bun, exposing his sharp jawline, but I couldn’t see his eyes.
Was I wrong about him?
Maybe the cold, stern captain didn’t have a heart of ice after all.