Mason rode on past the Inn for a short while before he steered his horse off and into the trees. He went deep into the forest until he could barely make out the road behind them. Then he stopped and tied his horse to a low-hanging branch.
He was anxious about leaving Ilona behind on her own. Slipping through the undergrowth of the woods, he retraced his steps to the edge of the road and settled down to wait for her, making sure he was well hidden. Sitting behind some shrubs, he leaned back against the trunk of a tree and pulled his hood low over his face.
Time ticked by, and Mason waited. A few riders went past and a carriage, but there was no sign of a pirate woman. The Prince's sense of unease grew with every passing minute. The sun overhead passed him and began its trip downward towards the horizon.
