Chapter 24 Heated and Cold
Captain Jackson and I traveled back to camp in silence, our horses galloping at a steady pace. The clouded sky blocked out the moonlight. The only source of light we had was his torch. He rode in front of me, and I kept my gaze on his armored back. My mind still reeled, but watching the captain somehow made me feel at ease. Made me feel safe.
A quiet rumble echoed above our heads, and I looked up. A wet drop plopped on my forehead as a huge light flashed in the distance behind the forest’s towering trees.
“Shit. I knew this would happen,” Jackson grumbled while untying his cloak. He slowed Ruby until his horse walked beside mine and handed me the cloak. “Put this on.”
“Huh?” I glanced from the cloak, and then to him. “Captain, I can—”
“That’s an order, Robin,” Jackson snapped.
Several more drops of rain plopped onto my hands and nose. My lips pursed, but I reluctantly took it, wrapping the dark cloak around myself and flopping the hood over my head. “Thank you, sir…” I mumbled.
Jackson quickened Ruby’s pace until he rode ahead of me. “I gave you one job, Robin. One job. A simple task any knight could complete, and somehow you even fucked that up.”
Here we go again…
“How did I fu—uh, mess up??” I protested.
“For one, you strayed from the border you’re supposed to patrol. ANYBODY could’ve slipped through. Shit, somebody probably has because you abandoned your post! And two, you ventured into the most dangerous place in Embercrest territory! Have you not learned your lesson from last time?”
“But she needed help! I couldn’t let her go through Moir Forest on her own! It’s a knight’s duty to keep people safe! You said you believed that I saw someone!”
Jackson groaned, rubbing his forehead. “Fuck, Robin, if she’s from Velvetstone then she’s none of our concern!”
I fell silent, my eyebrows knitting together as I whispered, “Do you really believe that…?”
Jackson didn’t bark back this time and stayed facing the road. I couldn’t tell whether he meant his words or if he was just speaking out of anger.
I took a breath, voice quivering. “Princess Liliana didn’t have anyone to help her when she needed it. How could I abandon someone if they need help too?”
Jackson sighed, his broad shoulders sagging, head hanging. He mumbled under his breath, “You really were born to be a knight.”
My head lifted, eyebrows raised. “Captain…?”
“No more chatter. Let’s pick up the pace before the storm gets worse,” he ordered and yanked on Ruby’s reins. His dark red and black mare raced off ahead.
I watched him go, lost in my thoughts. I wondered, what if Jackson’s foul thorns were a shield to hide what’s really inside?
An answer I was hesitant to dig for.
I yanked on Snowdrift’s reins, and he dashed after them. Thunder rolled in, louder. Droplets turned into a shower of rain. The gust felt twice as cold, and I clutched onto Jackson’s cloak for warmth. Somehow, the fire on his torch still burned bright.
I spotted a crowd of knights standing at the camp, some on the road, and they shouted when they caught sight of us.
My cheeks flushed. Looks like I had the whole knighthood worried… Oops.
Jackson and I dismounted our horses, and everyone hoarded us with a barrage of questions; asking if we were okay, if I was scared, what happened, etcetera.
“Enough, enough,” Jackson barked. “We’re fine. Everything is fine. Now as you were, the lot of you. Retire to your tents. The storm will worsen.” He glanced around. “Everyone I sent out on patrols, sentry, and scouting, meet me in the group tent,” Jackson ordered.
Before I could follow Jackson, Erik got in my way and grabbed my shoulders. His deep blue eyes were wide with worry. “Are you alright?? What happened out there? You took so long, we thought the worst had happened to you!”
“I’m fine,” I murmured with an apologetic smile. “There was a woman whom I escorted but… got lost along the way.”
I didn’t dare get into further details. Thankfully, that was enough of an answer for him. Erik’s smile returned.
“As long as you’re alright, Robin,” he murmured.
“Robin,” Cedric called. “Let’s not keep the captain waiting.”
“I’ll prep your tent while you’re busy giving your report,” Erik added.
“Ah, right, thanks,” I murmured, flustered by the sudden kindness and quickly taking off after Cedric. I was the last to arrive out of the handful of knights. I recognized the big tent, which had a round table with a detailed map in the center. Like the others, I stood with my shoulders squared, hands behind my back, and chin lifted. I stayed at Cedric’s side.
“Alright…” Jackson paced back and forth, reading a paper before glancing at one of the men. “Any confrontations?”
“No, sir. Only sightings. Apparently, they’ve kept their distance,” he answered.
I glanced between the two in thought: I definitely missed something… who’re they talking about?
“I see. We’ll patrol that part of the border with three knights at a time. Stay on guard. It could be nothing, but we must be prepared for the worst,” Jackson said.
“Yes, sir.”
Jackson glanced at Cedric. “Report.”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. Though I must say, for that road to be abandoned is odd. There is usually at least one traveler,” Cedric answered.
“Noted.” Jackson turned to me—the last in line. “Report only the stuff I don’t know about.”
Everyone’s eyes landed on me, and I swallowed. “Nothing unusual, sir. The road was desolate.”
“Noted. Everyone is dismissed.”
I sighed and followed Cedric until Jackson snapped his fingers, his narrowed gaze fixed on me.
“Not you, dame. I’m not done with you,” Jackson muttered.
The other knights glanced at me as they left. I ducked my head. Cedric’s brief smile eased my tension. Slightly.
I walked up to Jackson. “Yes, Captain?”
He stared down at me, arms crossed, as we stood in silence.
I peeked up at him. “…Captain?”
Jackson sighed, rubbing his temple while grumbling under his breath.
I fumed, hands balling into fists. How much more does he plan to torment me?!
“If I’m such an inconvenience, you could’ve just sent a different knight to fetch me or left me out there,” I grumbled.
Jackson grimaced, gaze faltering. I waited for his feisty bark, but instead, he studied my face.
“Your face is red.”
“Because I’m angry!” I snapped.
“That wind and rain was freezing, you may have a fever.” Jackson stepped closer, leaning down to my eye level. He placed his hand on my forehead.
“H—hey!” I protested, my hand pressed against his chest.
“Stop squirming and let me see,” he grumbled.
“Hey, Captain!” I knight popped in with a booming voice.
I squeaked, jumping in surprise. A few inches forward, and my lips pressed against Jackson’s.