Heart Over Sword
Chapter 179: Equal Standing

Chapter 179: Equal Standing

Ronan was pacing in front of Conrad’s tent when Evanna arrived, and he stopped, his eyes flicking across her body for any signs of injury; then when he saw none, he relaxed. Evanna smiled gently and patted his shoulder as she passed him and slowed her pace until he caught up with her. They walked a few paces, neither speaking and looking as though they were going on a pleasant evening scroll even though their attire was dirtied and more ready for battle. But although they looked relaxed, both were observing their surroundings.

Evanna knew instantly they were being watched. That chill down her spine was still there and was becoming problematic from how accustomed she was to it, and the Princess knew she should never relax when that feeling was there. But that wasn’t the only thing watching them; besides a few of the Dunhurst soldiers guarding the perimeter and watching them, one of Conrad’s men was also hiding among the trees keeping watch along with a few more ravens. She only noticed the birds because of their glowing golden eyes among the dark trees.

Did Conrad kill them all to create these little spies? It seemed like they were new; she had not seen them until now. That was how his power worked. What she knew of it anyway. He could bring the dead back to life, though she did not know if it only worked on animals or not; either way, the Prince turned into their master.

"Princess-"

"Raven," Evanna instantly disregarded her title. With Ger, Ronan and Axel, she was not only the Princess of Dunhurst but a travelling companion, someone who has fought beside them.

Ronan smiled back at her. "Apologies. Fair Raven.." He replied in his usual charm before his eyes flicked around them, and he leaned closer to her, looking the part of a flirtatious man on the road. It made a few of the soldiers shift uncomfortably, and others watched Ronan as though he’d made a grave error and he did not have long left to live.

Evanna did not move as he whispered in her ear. "How long until we leave?" He smirked. The Princess wanted to smack him away, but this little ruse worked so they could speak without others overhearing. Although it might chip away into her reputation slightly, when she glanced at the others, they had already turned their backs on them. That didn’t mean Conrad’s man was not looking, though, and he would report to the Prince when he returned. Though, his little spies were already showing him what was happening.

"A few days. That should be enough for them to let their guard down around us," Evanna whispered back, although she was leaning away from him with her brows furrowed, so it looked like she was scolding him.

"Raven.. I hate to say this, but from what I have gathered from the others, you already have a reputation for being.." He trailed off as he spun around and stopped in front of her with a lazy grin and leaned forwards again. "Rebellious." He winked.

Evanna couldn’t help but chuckle even if he was being overly flirtatious in his mannerisms. But she was used to Ronan being a little bit flirty with her as she suspected he was with most ladies. "So.. a few days isn’t enough?" She wondered aloud, sidestepping him.

Ronan fell in step with her as they rounded back towards another part of the camp where some of the men were sitting by already made fires and cooking meat. It reminded her of Axel, and her heart sank, wondering how he was and what he and Ger were doing, that was, if they were still together.

"I don’t think they will ever let their guard down around you," Ronan replied, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword by his hip.

Evanna sighed and stopped. "I suppose you are right. Still, we should at least stay with this group for now. We may be well protected for a few days to rest and gain our strength again," She replied quietly as her gaze landed on a certain red-haired shapeshifter. Cilv remained tied up against a tree again, her mouth gagged and her eyes covered.

"Whatever you command, I am at your disposal," Ronan replied, lifting her hand up and bending down to kiss her gloved hand.

Evanna shook her head and retracted her hand gently, resting her hand on his arm instead. "Do not say it like that. We are equals. I have your back as you have mine." Ronan stared back at her, and she saw a bit of sadness slide into his blue-green eyes, and she knew it was because, in society, they weren’t of equal standing.

"When we return," She continued, giving his arm a squeeze before lowering her hand. "I will grant you a title. A title worthy of land and riches. You, Ger and Axel will never want again."

Ronan smiled. "That might be wasted on me, Princess. Like Axel, I become restless staying in one place for too long." He stared off into the woods though Evanna knew he was looking further beyond what was right in front of them.

"Then maybe nothing as grandiose, but more like a safe house that you can return to whenever you need a place to rest? You name the place, and it will be yours," Evanna replied, and before he could decline any further, she continued to walk, strolling past the shapeshifter that made her chest burn in anger just by the sight of her.

Cilv seemed to try and speak, and Evanna knew it was because she recognised her even without seeing her. The shapeshifter most likely heard them or might have smelt her scent as she walked past. The Princess was not certain; she didn’t know all too much about Cilv’s kind, only from what she told her.

But Evanna ignored her and sat down by the fire, greeting the few soldiers that were surrounding it who stopped talking quietly upon her arrival. "Please continue," She smiled warmly as they gawked her sitting cross-legged on the ground.

"Princess!" One of them stood flabbergasted, removing his cloak and placing it on a log a few others brought over for her.

Evanna held a hand up. "Thank you, but do not fret over such things, be at ease. You have been travelling and working hard. Please relax and recover by the fire, eat and chat with me. I do not bite." She relaxed her shoulders and straight back to mimic their postures and put them at ease. The men watched her warily still, and the man who laid his cloak on the log pulled it back up and tied it on him once more.

Time flew by as the Princess became emersed in the soldiers’ stories of adventures, battles and of the dear families they missed. She ate among them, and they soon relaxed after watching her friendly demeanour. Their glazed-over eyes of seeing THEE Princess sitting with them and jesting with them as though they were friends were not lost on them. Sir Baldwin sat on the other side of Evanna when the meat was being handed out.

He watched his men relax with Evanna and engage with her. He knew from their early morning practice just how relaxed and open-minded the Princess was, and now the soldier’s mindset on the rebellious and overly confident Princess was changing before him. But Baldwin knew her better than them, and he kept a sharp eye on her. She’d already admitted to him her plans to escape, and he assumed this was a part of that tactic.

Though he knew Evanna would befriend the soldiers anyway, it was part of her character, unlike her sister, who looked down her nose at them.

"Evanna."

Evanna’s eyes twinkled from the sound of Conrad’s voice. It took him much longer than she anticipated to escape from her roots and vines. The surrounding woods were pitch black, and the chilling fog was surrounding them where the flames did not flicker into. The men sitting near her straightened their backs, and their eyes widened; a few of them showed the usual expressions of fear.

Evanna looked behind her and smiled. "Conrad, where have you been?"

The Demon Prince was expressionless though he seemed rather tired. His hands were behind his back, his hair dishevelled with the dirty blonde locks falling around his face more. "Funny. Come. It is late," He replied dryly, turning and gesturing for her to follow him.

"I am not tired," She argued and turned her back on him. She tensed as he heard his footsteps slowly approaching her, and she almost jumped when his head popped down beside her shoulder.

"I did not want to say this in front of the company.. PRINCESS. But I think a bath is in order. Unlike these men here, they are used to such smells and are being polite in your presence." Conrad made sure his voice was loud enough for everyone to hear, purposely embarrassing her and making a few of the soldiers sputter and gape at the Prince.

Evanna’s cheeks burned, and she struggled to refrain from smelling her clothes in front of the others. Instead, she slowly stood with a warm smile. "Thank you for such wonderful company. I hope my appearance was not off-putting." She started to turn and paused after they all disregarded her comment as nonsense.

"You are as radiant as they say, your highness. Prince Conrad must have surely jested," The man from earlier replied while the others nodded vigorously in agreement.

Evanna smiled again though the pink of her cheeks remained. She didn’t know if his commentary was because she was a Princess and they were being polite or if they meant it. Either way, she felt like Conrad was right. Even if she didn’t want to follow him right now, they had to remain on good terms. She bowed her head to them before catching Ronan’s mischievous gaze, and he bowed his head in return.

The Princess ignored Conrad’s glare directed at Ronan though she did feel anxious for her friend. Although he flirted and whispered to her as a means of talking secretly about their plans, Conrad may have perceived it as something more. The Prince already caught her lying beside Ronan and holding his arm in her sleep. She would need to get Conrad’s word that he would not do anything to Ronan.

They weren’t engaged yet, and she had no intention of that ever being the case. Even if she did not know about Conrad’s plans to usurp the throne, she would not return to him. His explanation did not alleviate the frustration and humiliation she felt over the years. And now, she did not have the time to waste on past feelings.

Evanna came to Direwood forest, to the Flori’s palace, for a reason, and although her plans had been disrupted by a certain shapeshifter, it did not mean she was going to give up. Conrad was a distraction, an annoyance blocking her path to what she needed to do next. Whether she was to go to Lyvaria or to return to Dunhurst, she would do so without the Demon Prince.

***

Behind the scenes:

"Let’s grab her and go!" Anwel whispered to Arawn as they watched Evanna sitting and relaxing with the soldiers.

"Garrett.." Arawn looked at his right-hand man, and Garrett clipped the back of Anwel’s head. "Evanna is not a sack of potatoes you cannot just ’grab her and go’. Let us wait and watch."

"Ow.. But-"

"You are still young and impatient," Garrett commented and shooed the other elves back into hiding. He then turned to the Prince. "Are you really going to wait?"

Arawn grinned. "I might drop by and say hello."