In the late afternoon of the following day, Prince Julian found himself kicking tufts of grass in front of Winter's tent in impatience. The sun would soon fall below the western horizon, bathing the entire camp in gold and marking how long he had stood outside waiting for Winter to return from healing soldiers.
"Are you sure she didn't mention how long she would be?" he asked the guards in front again.
"Harassing my guards, are you?" Light footsteps crunched in the grass behind Julian.
The young man whirled around to see a frowning white-haired girl, the attendants following behind her denoting her newfound status within the camp.
"My dearest Winnie," Julian said with a charming grin.
Winter rolled her eyes hard enough for him to see the whites. But he could see her fatigue, her golden eyes dull and not as lively as they usually were.
"Move. I need to eat," Winter grumbled, shoving past Julian.
