Chapter 50 Cloak

Isla
THE BUSTLING MARKET makes me uncomfortable; all the gruesome memories of that day comes rolling back; the trader's banter, the woman's dyed finger, the harsh ropes, Mavli...
Lady Gin-Gin neighs under me softly. I hold on to the reins firmly. Honestly, I still feel very nervous about riding her even though we have already bonded. Kyan watches me warily from the corner of his eyes, he insisted we ride Fire together maybe he is scared I'll gallop off again. But I won't, I barely know where we are headed.
My eyes open with a start. I jump out from my bed. Sunlight is already steaming through the part in the curtains. I'm going to be late. I am late. I'm sure Kyan has left without me.
Grateful that I had packed the day before, I grab the beaded bag and make a race for the door. The door swings open slapping at the side my face. I groan, ready to shoot daggers at whosoever is responsible. Lyza peeps in, her face droops when she sees my expression.
"I'm so sorry!" She rubs her hand gently on the forming bruise," I'm so sorry," she repeats.
"It's okay," I say. "It doesn't hurt that bad." It is a lie. It hurts too bad, and I think I am tasting blood.
"I was in hurry, I thought you were still in bed. Kyan is ready to leave." She begins to drag me out of the room and down the corridor.
"Where's Rosa?" I want to say goodbye before I go. I know I'll never see her again.
"She's busy," Lyza says with a dismissive wave, "it's just a few days, you'll see her again."
I don't say a word because it's not true. It's not a few days. I won't see her again.
Kyan is pacing impatiently in front of the throne room. He looks up with a cloudy expression on his face. "It's about time."
Lyza slaps him playfully at the arm then stands on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. He doesn't flinch, or still or roll his eyes instead he wraps his arms around her.
Lyza embraces me warmly after wiggling out of Kyan's embrace. "I'll miss you so much," she whispers into my ear, her breath ticking me.
"I'll miss you too." And I will miss her. I know I'll never get to see her again and it's going to hurt.
"Well," she sniffs, her eyes are already watery, "it's just a few days." She giggles nervously.
Kyan and I exchange a look. Something shoot across his eyes and he turns his gaze away. Tears threaten to break out of my eyes too. "Yes," it's a tiny squeak.
"You have to get going," she says and plants a big kiss on my cheek.
"Bye." And I turn away following Kyan as he crosses the corridor with his lengthy strides. I think I hear Lyza sobbing. And my heart breaks.
Once we are outside, Kyan opens his leather rucksack and fumbles inside. He retrieves a black cloak and pushes it to me. "Wear it."
I eye the cloak carefully before collecting it. "Why?"
"So we will be discreet." He says with an eye roll.
I bite the insides of my cheek. I will not allow him to tell me what to do. If I have to wear a cloak then he has to too. Besides, it will be much better if we are both discreet.
"No," I offer it back to him, "I'm not wearing it."
"Why?" He eyes me like I've lost my mind.
"I'll wear one of the veils I packed."
"Put on the cloak, Isla," he growls obviously losing his patience.
"It will be better if we are both discreet," I dare to smile, "you won't want to let everyone see that you are the Prince, right?"
"I know what I'm doing", he snaps.
"So do I." I jut my chin out and hold his gaze when he looks at me.
"Listen," he takes an intimidating step forward, "if you want to come with me then you have to do as I say." He conjures another cloak from his rucksack and puts it on, the black hood hiding his regal face," I was going to put on one too." And he pushes past me leaving me stunned and feeling so stupid.
I jog after him and we enter into the stables. Only the man with the beady eyes is here, he bows lowly before leading the horses out. No words are exchanged, he must be used to the Prince's hikes. He does shoot me a worried glance probably wondering why I'm going along.
I freeze when Kyan's hands grab my waist and hoists me on the saddled mare. She neighs mildly and I scratch behind her ears just as I once saw Kyan do to one of the mares.
I shudder at the thought of navigating through the market, gruesome memories hits me so hard it has me reeling; the slave trader, Cera, the woman's finger pointing at me, the ropes, Mavli... But it's the only way I know out of this Kingdom. "Are we going through the market?"
He scoffs. "No. We are staying within the Kingdom. In the highlands."
"Oh." I feel the little bubbly happiness inside me die.
He smirks as if he knows what is going on in my mind. "We should get going."
We approach a settlement that is way too small to be a village. It sits at the outskirts of Altsasians and is made up of about five huts. We have been travelling for hours now, our horses trotting up a hill. I'm starving and fatigued but I won't say a word about it. I don't want Kyan to think I'm weak so I sit tight-lipped.
Two children sit naked playing in the dirt. I can't see their features clearly because it's smudged with dirt. They scream excitingly when the see us. One of they runs after Fire and grabs it's tail.
Kyan pulls Fire to a halt, he dismounts the stallion and sinks to one knee before the child. My eyeballs grows so big I'm afraid they are going to fall out of my sockets.
"Safir alihim mi," he says to the girl or boy. The child giggles and the other steps forward regarding Kyan with wide eyes.
What is happening?
Fire's snorts chime with my thoughts and I can't help smiling.
"Father!" One of the children calls out and dashes into the nearest huts. I hear muffled voices coming from inside and a tall thin man exits the hut.
He regards us with suspicious eyes. "Good afternoon," he greets.
I nod at him, my mouth refuses to open.
Kyan breaks into a smile. "Good afternoon to you too."
"How may I help you?" He asks. His eyes take in our horses and our clothing, I notice him swallow his adam apple bobs in his throat. I notice a female peep from behind the curtain of the hut.
"May you please help us with some water?" My head reels with confusion. Is Kyan politely requesting from someone.
He man nods, he eyes our horses again and disappears inside the hut.
Kyan scoops the smallest child in his arms and the child squeals in delight. I want to comment on how I didn't expect him to like children or how I didn't expect him to politely ask for water but instead, snappy words tumbles out of my mouth.
"Why didn't we just buy some food before coming on this journey?"
He gives me a bored glance,"did you remember that?"
"I didn't know it would take hours to get to the highlands!" I retort irritated.
"Well," he says, "I didn't know either. Never been to the highlands before."
"What?! So we are walking blindly?"
"Riding blindly," he corrects with a smirk.
The child watches our exchange with so much interest, her tiny mouth hangs open and her small eyes darting from my face to Kyan's and back to mine again.
The man returns with a small flask of water. He hands it over to Kyan who receives it with both hands. The child laughs showing tiny teeth as if thefunniest thing just happened. Kyan grins at her.
We mount our horses and I'm grateful to get moving again.
"My friend," Kyan calls out to the man," please, have this." He fishes out a rattling pouch and tosses it to the man who catches it.
The man stares with a gape and the female rushed out thanking Kyan who shrugs it off saying it was God's doing.
"Bye, little one!" Kyan waves to the child as we go. The bigger child waves us with both hands.