As we stepped out of the tent, we found that most of our belongings had already been packed up, a testament to the efficiency of our attendants. Our breakfast was laid out where we had enjoyed our evening tea the day before, overlooking the cliff. Aware that we were already behind schedule, Flora excused herself to find relief in the nearby bushes, while I decided to wait in the carriage.
Moments later, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air, shattering the tranquility of the morning. My heart lurched in my chest as I leaped out of the carriage, the sound of hurried footsteps echoing behind me as the guards rushed to investigate. However, I halted them before they could reach Flora's location, realizing that this was a moment of privacy and vulnerability that should not be intruded upon.
As I hurried towards the source of the scream, my mind raced with a myriad of fears and possibilities. What could have caused Flora to cry out in such distress? Was she in danger? My steps quickened, propelled by a mixture of concern and dread.
Upon reaching Flora's location in the bushes, my breath caught in my throat at the sight that greeted me. There, standing over a naked man, was Flora, her expression a mixture of shock and disbelief. The man lay sprawled on the ground, seemingly oblivious to his state of undress, his features obscured by the tangle of bushes and foliage.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still as I struggled to comprehend the scene before me. What had transpired here? Who was this mysterious stranger, and why had he appeared in such a state?
As Flora and I exchanged bewildered glances, the air crackled with tension, the weight of the unknown hanging heavy in the air. With bated breath, we awaited an explanation, our minds racing with questions yet to be answered.
As Flora and I exchange startled glances, the atmosphere crackles with tension, a palpable sense of confusion hanging heavy in the air. Flora's flustered expression mirrors my own bewilderment as we try to make sense of the situation before us.
"He's probably Western, but what is he doing all the way here?" Flora's voice trembles with uncertainty as she voices the question that echoes in both our minds.
"I doubt he's Western," I murmur, my gaze fixed on the mysterious stranger lying before us. "He's too tall, tanned and is hair is to thick"
Flora's eyes remain fixed on the man, her expression a mixture of curiosity and shock. I follow her gaze and, realizing where she's looking, I can't help but slap her arm, snapping her out of her reverie.
"That's not appropriate," I scold her, though my own curiosity tugs at me. his rather gifted, I think to myself.
Before either of us can react further, Flora's urgent call for the guards pierces the air, breaking the spell of fascination that holds us captive. As she raises the alarm, I lean over the man, intending to remove the thick, dark hair obscuring his face.
But as my fingers brush against his hair, a surge of electricity courses through me, jolting me with an overwhelming sensation of energy. Startled, I recoil, my heart pounding in my chest as the man's eyes flicker open, revealing a deep, golden amber gaze that seems to pierce through to my very soul.
For a moment, we're frozen in mutual shock, our gazes locked in a silent exchange of astonishment. Then, with a sudden movement, the man springs to his feet, his sudden action causing our heads to collide painfully.
A cry of pain escapes my lips as I stumble backward, clutching my throbbing head. Flora's alarmed gasp joins the chaos as the guards rush towards us, their weapons drawn and ready.
"I'm so sorry, my lady," the man's voice rings out, his accent unfamiliar yet strangely familiar. "My deepest apologies."
As he kneels before us, attempting to cover himself, the guards surround him, their expressions stern and wary. Caught in a whirlwind of confusion and apprehension, I struggle to make sense of the enigmatic stranger who has suddenly appeared in our midst.
The guards exchange wary glances, their weapons poised, ready to strike at the slightest sign of aggression from the mysterious man. Flora and I stand frozen, caught between fear and curiosity, unsure of what to make of this unexpected turn of events.
"What are you doing here?" one of the guards demands, his voice laced with suspicion.
The man raises his hands in a gesture of surrender, his eyes darting between the guards and Flora and me. "I mean no harm," he says, his tone earnest. "I was... lost."
"Liar!" another guard barks, his grip tightening on his weapon.
Flora steps forward, her brow furrowed with concern. "Wait," she says, her voice trembling slightly. "Let's hear what he has to say."
The man's gaze shifts to Flora, a flicker of gratitude crossing his features. "Thank you," he murmurs, his voice soft.
I watch him closely, trying to discern the truth behind his words. There's something about him, something familiar yet elusive, that tugs at the edges of my memory. But before I can grasp it, the moment is shattered by the arrival of Miss Motan and Miss Mary, their expressions a mix of confusion and alarm.
"What is going on here?" Miss Motan demands, her eyes scanning the scene before her.
Flora and I exchange nervous glances, unsure of how to explain the situation to our advisors. But before we can respond, the man speaks up, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.
"I apologize for the disturbance, ladies," he says, his tone respectful. "I meant no harm. I just got a bit too wasted last night and then got robbed by some kids. I ended up wandering here, lost and disoriented."
Miss Mary eyes him sceptically, her suspicion evident in her demeanour. "And how did you end up here, in the middle of our camp?"
The man hesitates as if choosing his words carefully. "I... I'm not sure," he admits, his gaze flickering briefly towards Flora and me. "I must have taken a wrong turn, trying to find my way back to the village. My campsite is around the village, I believe."
His explanation seems plausible enough, but there's a lingering doubt in the air, a sense of unease that refuses to dissipate. As Miss Motan and Miss Mary exchange sceptical glances, I can't shake the feeling that there's more to this man than meets the eye. I want to know more. No person can have such energy coursing through them unless...
''Give him a bath, some clothes, and breakfast,'' I say, turning away to catch my breath, not waiting for people to disagree with me. I walk to the carriage with Flora following behind.
"Did you sense something?" she asks, concerned. Flora jumps into the carriage and looks at me. I see one of the guards bringing him a bucket of water and setting up a shade for him to get some privacy.
"I can't tell if that was all magic I felt in his body," I say.
"Explain," asks Flora, looking outside.
"People with magic can detect high levels of magic in others, but some are really good at suppressing it, when he was unconscious I couldn't detect it but awake... I think..." I try to explain, but I doubt she understood.
"So is he some great or grand sorcerer?" asks Flora.
"I don't know," I admit, glancing back outside at the makeshift bathroom.
"Only one way to find out," Flora says, leaving the carriage. "Just rest up; this will take a while."
I lean back and close my eyes, not realizing how tired I am until I pass out immediately. When I wake up, I find myself in the middle of the carriage moving. I can feel the motion, but my eyes struggle to open. I hear Flora laughing heartily. I look up to see her seated next to the guy we saw in the bush earlier. He looks clean and smart.
"Oh, you're awake," says Flora. I rub my eyes open and look at both of them clearly.
"What is he doing here?" I ask.
"I couldn't leave him behind," she says. "We are dropping him off at his camp. Just next to the town"
"Where is that?" I ask.
"Just 10 kilometres east of the town, where you're heading," he says.
"You walked a whole 10 kilometres in the night and got robbed?" I ask, sceptical about him as I straighten myself.
"I don't remember well, but from the landmarks, I can trace my way back to my camp," he says, smiling at me as he scratches the back of his head, '' hopefully my caravan hasn't left me.''
Excitedly, Flora turns to me and says, "He's going to Cai with his group. They just came by boat, they docked here and planning to finish the journey on land.," She explains.
''wouldn't it be easier to dock north of the Chai kingdom,'' I ask.
''it would but we had other commitments to do in some southern regions,'' he says. I guess his a travelled
''where do you come from,'' I ask
''solara,'' he says,'' big empire up north. I heard of it but I didn't know they trade on this continent.
I nod slowly, still trying to process the situation. It's all so sudden and unexpected. This stranger, who appeared out of nowhere in the bush, is now sitting in our carriage, is he a bandit thief or con artist?
"What's your name?" I inquire.
"My friends call me Sinbad," he says.
"And your enemies?" Flora asks jokingly.
"Chaos," he says with a smile. "My mum has a great sense of humour."
Flora and I exchange glances, struck by the sudden shift in tone. Winter's revelation about his name carries a weight we hadn't anticipated.
''which is your middle name,'' Flora asks
'' Chaos'' he says,''Sinbad is my first name.'' Flora and I can't help but laugh.
'' what did you do to your mother?'' flora asks,'' did you have a large head at birth.''
''not really,'' he says, ''I was born during a snow storm and my dad....had passed away that night I was born.''
''My deepest apologies,'' I say looking out the window of the carriage and seeing the landscape.
''he was a good man that I didn't get to see,'' he says as he looks away. the carriage goes quiet all of a sudden. moments later he busts out,'' Princess Daniella,'' he asks,'' may I see your book, been eyeing it for a while.'' he says pointing at my book of herbs. I slowly stretch my hand and give it to him. he opens it and starts reading through
"I'm sorry to hear that," Flora says softly, her voice filled with sympathy.
Sinbad nods, his expression solemn. "Thank you," he murmurs.
The carriage falls into silence, the weight of Sinbad's words lingering in the air. But then, he unexpectedly breaks the sombre mood.
"Princess Daniella," he says, turning to me, "may I see your book? I've been eyeing it for a while." He points at my book of herbs, a glint of curiosity in his eyes.
I hesitate for a moment, surprised by his request. But then, with a nod, I slowly stretch out my hand and pass him the book. He takes it eagerly, flipping through the pages with interest.
As Sinbad delves into the contents of the book, I can't help but wonder about him. Flora and I watch Sinbad intently as he pores over the pages of the book, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Find anything interesting?" Flora asks, breaking the silence.
Winter looks up from the book, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Quite a lot, actually," he replies, his eyes alight with enthusiasm. "Your knowledge of herbs is impressive, Princess Daniella."
I feel a surge of pride at his compliment, grateful for the recognition of my studies. "Thank you," I say, returning his smile. "I've always had a passion for botany."
Flora leans closer, her curiosity piqued. "What did you find?" she asks, eager to learn.
Sinbad's gaze drifts back to the book, his finger tracing a line of text. "This herb here," he says, pointing to a particular entry, "it's called sunbloom. It's known for its healing properties, especially for wounds."
I nod in agreement, familiar with the herb's medicinal uses. "Yes, blooms are quite potent when brewed into a tea but can also be poisonous in large potions," I remark. "It's a staple in many herbal remedies."
Sinbad's eyes sparkle with interest as he continues to explore the pages of the book, his fascination evident. And as the carriage rolls on towards our destination, I find myself growing more intrigued by this mysterious traveller and the knowledge he brings. Perhaps our journey together holds more surprises than I had anticipated.
The sudden halt jolts us out of our conversation, and we exchange puzzled glances as the carriage comes to a stop. Flora and I exchange a quick look of concern before turning our attention to Winter, who sits opposite us.
"What's happening?" Flora asks, her voice tinged with apprehension.
Sinbad frowns slightly, his gaze scanning the surroundings through the carriage window. "I'm not sure," he admits, his tone cautious.
Before any of us can ponder further, the carriage door swings open, and a guard's voice echoes through the air. "Apologies, Your Highnesses," he says, "but it appears there's a fallen tree blocking the road ahead. We'll need to clear it before we can proceed."
Flora and I exchange resigned sighs, realizing that our journey has hit a temporary snag. "How long will it take to clear?" I inquire, my mind already racing with thoughts of potential delays.
The guard hesitates, casting a glance towards his comrades who are already inspecting the fallen tree. "It's hard to say, Your Highness," he replies. "But we'll do our best to expedite the process."
I nod in understanding, acknowledging the situation for what it is. Despite the inconvenience, there's little we can do but wait patiently for the obstacle to be removed. Glancing out the window, I catch sight of the fallen tree, its massive branches sprawled across the road like a formidable barrier.
Sinbad leans closer, his expression thoughtful and worried. " It may be an ambush?" he says