Free Web NovelChapter 16: To Stop The Horse From Leaving The Camp
Aunt Freya left the tent, her hands balling tightly into fists. She managed to hold back her raging wrath just long enough to stride back to her own quarters.
Anyone who saw her along the way knew to stay clear; it was obvious she was about to lose her temper on whatever unfortunate soul crossed her path first.
The moment she stepped inside her tent, a waiting maid quickly poured water into a cup and handed it over to her with trembling hands.
"What happened to you, Mother?" Samantha asked, looking up with a worried expression. She wondered who on earth could have pushed her mother to this level of fury.
"It is that useless princess. She spoke to me as if I were her servant," Aunt Freya hissed, pacing back and forth across the rug like a caged animal.
"And what did you do to her? Have you punished her yet?" her daughter asked, standing up from her seat. At the mere mention of Arianna, a wave of disgust and irritation washed over Samantha.
"No. I let it slide because I was technically in the wrong, and it is better for now if she thinks I am scared of her," Aunt Freya said, finally stopping her restless movements.
She took a slow, deep breath to calm her frayed nerves. Realizing this was the perfect opportunity to strike, she decided it was time to hit the nail on the head. "I think there is something going on between the prince and the princess. What do you think?"
"I have no idea, Mother. But why would you think that?" Samantha asked, her interest instantly piqued since the matter involved the royal household.
"Did you not see the way Ethan looked at her yesterday?" Aunt Freya asked, wondering how everyone else could have missed what she had noticed last night.
The princess might have tried her best to hide it, but Ethan was never particularly good at masking his emotions. Having raised him herself, Freya could easily tell when the prince was being dishonest or hiding a secret.
"I still do not understand what you are getting at," Samantha confessed, completely clueless but more curious than ever. "Can you explain?"
"This morning, when I went to visit the princess, I met Kane on the way. And guess what happened? All the maids were standing outside, terrified. When Kane went inside, a commotion broke out. I could not overhear their actual conversation, because Kane has strictly prohibited eavesdropping on his business, and I had to keep my distance."
A wide smile broke across her daughter’s face. The princess had managed to get into a fight with the king on their very first day as a couple, without her even having to stir up trouble between them.
"Tell me more," Samantha urged, leaning forward.
"Prince Ethan stormed out of the tent, looking absolutely furious," Aunt Freya explained, her voice tight with excitement. "A few minutes later, driven by curiosity, I asked if I could go inside to perform the bridal ritual. Kane excused himself and left. However, he looked more dangerous than ever. Why do you think that is?"
"Are they lovers?" Samantha’s eyes widened at the scandalous thought. But then, she shook her head in disbelief. "No way. Even if the princess does not know the consequences of cheating on the king, Ethan is a Northerner. He knows that death is the only punishment for treason like that. It is not even open for negotiation."
"I also discovered that the king is sending Ragnar to the West tomorrow," Freya revealed, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I have already spoken to Ragnar. His mission concerns the princess; Kane wants to know everything about her background."
"Kane is doubting her already? What kind of marriage is this?" Samantha chuckled darkly. "But it is a good thing, Mother... especially for me and Kane."
"Yes, my sweet daughter," Aunt Freya said, looking at her with fierce admiration. In her mind, her daughter would soon take her rightful place as the Luna. "I instructed Ragnar that whatever he uncovers in the West, he must report back to me first. And if there truly was a past relationship between the princess and Prince Ethan, I will make sure the king grants me the pleasure of executing her myself."
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After eating breakfast completely alone, Arianna left Kane’s tent and moved back to the one that had been assigned to her when she first arrived yesterday.
She immediately instructed the servants to rearrange the entire space to her specific taste, trying to bring out whatever beauty she could find in the stark Northern design.
"What do you think, Eira?" Arianna asked with a small smile, looking over the new arrangements. It was not exactly like her chambers back home, but it was a vast improvement.
The young maid hesitated to answer, shifting on her feet before finally speaking. "It is beautiful, Luna."
"Luna?" Arianna laughed softly at the title, shaking her head in deep doubt that she would ever truly earn it. She noticed the girl’s tense posture. "There is something on your mind. Say it. Feel free around me."
Eira swallowed hard, keeping her head lowered. "You moved out of the king’s tent without his permission, Luna. He will be furious when he finds out."
"No, he won’t," Arianna said with absolute confidence. After everything that had transpired between them in the last twenty-four hours, she knew the king would not want to look at her face, let alone share a tent with her. And the feeling was entirely mutual.
"Come, let us go outside so I can see what is happening in the camp."
"As you wish, my lady," Eira bowed, stepping ahead to lead the way out.
The sun was not nearly as hot in the North as it was in the West. Instead, the weather was biting, cold, and incredibly windy.
Arianna instantly regretted not putting on a heavy fur before stepping out. In truth, she did not even own any proper Northern furs yet—only the standard traveling coat she had brought along from home.
As they walked through the bustling camp, Arianna allowed Eira to guide her, listening intently as the girl shared details about the people of the North.
"This place," Eira said, spreading her hands wide to encompass the entire sweeping region, "They are the King’s primary pack and tribe. But there are many others living here who do not belong to the king’s bloodline pack... like the iron benders over there."
"Really?" Arianna’s gaze shifted to where the girl was pointing.
A makeshift shade had been set up, and underneath it stood a man in his late fifties carefully placing a long piece of metal onto glowing, hot coals.
Even though several other craftsmen were working nearby, it was difficult to miss him.
"The woman who makes the furs is from our pack," Eira added, pointing toward an opposite shelter across the way.
"What about him?" Arianna asked, redirecting her finger toward a man sitting astride a powerful horse.
Eira chuckled softly, looking down at the ground. Her cheeks instantly reddened, and Arianna could easily tell why.
"Answer me," Arianna pushed gently, a small smirk playing on her lips.
"His name is Ragnar."
"I know his name. Who is he to the royal family?"
"The king’s cousin, my lady. He is Aunt Freya’s youngest son."
Arianna nodded slowly, her eyes tracking him as he rode a magnificent black mare with effortless grace.
He was undeniably a very handsome fellow, and she completely understood why Eira was blushing. In fact, she would not be surprised if all the young girls in the tribe were drooling over him.
"Is he training, or is he going out to hunt?" Arianna asked, noting that he was heavily dressed as if he were preparing for war.
The dark armor fit tightly around his muscular arms and shielded the front and back of his chest.
Ragnar suddenly pulled on the reins, stopping his horse to talk to his mother. Aunt Freya and her son immediately locked into a conversation that seemed to be dragging on.
"Neither, Luna. The king is sending Ragnar to the West tomorrow, or so I heard Samantha saying," Eira broke the news casually. "They said he is going to verify some information with your father, the king of the West."
Arianna’s heart skipped a violent beat.
She wondered if she had heard Eira incorrectly, or if the maid simply had no idea what she was talking about.
Was Ragnar really traveling all the way back to her homeland? If it were true, then Kane must have sent him personally.
Panic flared deep in her chest. If Ragnar went to the West, it would take him no time at all to uncover the hidden truth about her past relationship with Ethan.
In this kingdom, a secret like that meant a brutal death sentence. She could not let that horse leave the camp.
But how on earth was she going to stop the king’s trusted cousin now?
