The Princess and Her Rogue

by Sheritta Bitikofer

  Nate jogged over to the ripe fruits and grabbed a small sack that was hanging from his backpack. Kiara watched as he began to pick berries and fruits from the trees. So far, not a sound was exchanged between the two.

  He continued to harvest the food before he caught a glimpse of a small, low-growing bush off to the center of the grove that had thorny vines extending out along the ground it grew on. Nate grinned with satisfaction and ran to the bush, carefully avoiding the vines and thorns to pick the berries. Instead of putting them in the sack, he collected a few in his hand.

  Kiara followed slowly, inspecting the berries as Nate continued to pluck them up.

  “I don’t think these are safe to eat,” she remarked, examining the coloration and shape. These berries were oval shaped, much like a grape, but almost twice as large and they were red with purple spots instead of the usual green or plum color.

  “Yes, they are. I’ve eaten these before. They taste delicious. You want some?” Nate asked, offering the handful out to her with enthusiasm.

  “No, thank you. I still don’t think they’re safe. I’ve seen these in one of the books in my father’s library. They’re mildly poisonous. I don’t think we should be eating anything that grows near that river if it’s as toxic as you say it is.”

  “Oh, stop worrying. I’ve eaten fruit off this land before and I never got sick.”

  Nate then threw up one of the berries into the air and let it fall into his mouth. Kiara grimaced at the action and she winced every time he would pop one past his lips as they had continued their walk. She didn’t very much care for her guide, but she didn’t want to be stranded out in the middle of nowhere without anyone to escort her home. She didn’t know these lands as well as he did and she wouldn’t even know how to get back to Aleph if she did manage to make it through Mem’s Pass - if such a pass even existed.

  Luckily, Nate didn’t die from eating the berries or fruits. About five miles past the grove, they had to take a break to let Nate throw up his snack, last night’s dinner and the breakfast from the previous morning. Kiara sat on a small boulder, facing away from the grouping of bushes where Nate was vomiting almost uncontrollably behind them.

  She rested her chin on her knees that were pulled up to her chest and waited with a benevolent stare on her face. She hadn’t had one taste of the fruits he picked, and even though she was tempted to ask for an apple at the grove, she was glad she didn’t eat anything. The noises that came from that man’s mouth were unbearable. Kiara thought she might have thrown up herself if she had listened to anymore of his gagging.

  A little over a quarter of an hour had crept by slowly and Nate finally stopped. All the sounds that Kiara could hear now were exhausted panting. So, she stood up and cautiously tip toed over to the bushes to take a look at his condition.

  The stench that steamed up from the lake of vomit was almost as revolting as the bog’s. She avoided looking at the mess he had made. Thankfully, Nate had dug a deep pit for the vomit to collect in before the disgusting affair began and he was in the process of covering the pit back up with dirt.

  Nate looked awful. He was hunched over, pale and sweat dripped from his brow like he had been standing in the pouring rain. Kiara never saw a worse sight. She sighed, pulled out a rag handkerchief that she had torn from her old dress to use to mop up her own sweat on this journey and timidly walked over to the sick man.

  He looked up from his task of brushing the dirt back into the hole and glanced between Kiara’s face and the rag. Nate pursed his lips together and knew he couldn’t keep up the tough-guy routine. He took the rag and wiped his forehead, nose and chin.

  “Thank you,” he mumbled, then handed back the wet rag to finish the job of cleaning up.

  Kiara smiled as he uttered those words and blushed unexplainably. “You’re welcome.”

  She wanted to say, “I told you so” or “you should have listened to me”, but those words weren’t kind or good enough for reprimanding. Kiara watched him fill back in the hole, and then began to walk back towards the path.

  “I’m sorry for not listening to you.”

  Kiara spun back around to meet Nate’s piercing blue gaze. “What?”

  “I should have listened to you... I’m sorry,” Nate repeated, then took out his sack and dumped out all the fruits and berries he had collected onto the ground. “I don’t think it’s safe to eat anything that grows around here. I used to eat berries that looked similar to those back in Deceiver’s territory. I think the only difference was that the berries I ate were grown in bushes without thorns. The ones back there had thorns... I’m sorry. I should have listened to you… Forgive me?”

  Those words were like music to Kiara’s ears. She saw his shield of pride shatter to pieces in front of him and she liked what was left: a humble, vulnerable, possibly lovable, real man. Her father always told her that the way she could tell who was a real man from a fake one was if they had the guts to admit that they were wrong. Nate finally admitted it. Both her and Nate were learning to let go of their pride that day.

  She nodded and smiled. “Yes, I forgive you. So, from now on, we have to trust each other if we want to make it out of here alive.”

  Nate nodded in agreement and walked past her to the path. They were walking at a much slower rate, but she didn’t mind. For once, she might have actually been eager to stay with Nate on the trail a bit longer.

  Chapter 7

  Kiara and Nate marched on through the valleys and thin clusters of trees that followed, to come to even denser forests, much like they had to walk through before the bog. The only difference was that these trees were much more alive and green with youthfulness.

  She quietly stared around at the scenery, watching little rabbits and squirrels dodge in and out of their burrows and nests. She even saw a gentle doe grazing off in the distance, past all the trees and bushes. Kiara thought it best not to bring Nate’s attention to the poor deer, otherwise the doe would end up as their dinner.

  Nate, on the other hand, was growing increasingly nervous. It had been hours since the two little mishaps. He resented Kiara for her stupidity and unwillingness to follow clear instructions. He silently cursed her for being a stubborn, hair-brained female.

  But, then again, he was grateful to have her book knowledge handy for this journey. Something she might have learned in one of her stuffy libraries could save their lives. However, she could have killed herself by drinking from that poisoned river earlier, so he, again, scorned her lack of experience.

  Everything about her irritated Nate down to the core, but there was something tugging inside that made him resist the urge to hate her like he would a man. Something made him want to care for her and guide her more sensitively through these woods. He knew the method he was using thus far - being cold and unsociable - wasn’t going to work for long because he was obviously making Kiara upset.

  Nate glanced behind him and noticed the pleasant grin on her face as she was gazing up at the thin canopy of leaves over their heads.

  And it’s no wonder she would be happy! She just got a huge ego bust because she was told to be right. “How could a woman be right?” Nate thought to himself. He wasn’t used to having to put up with another person in his travels, so he knew he was always right when it was just himself. But, having to drag another person along, especially a woman, and competing for correctness with them was a nuisance to Nate. He never doubted that he was right, not once… until a few hours ago, that is.

  He inwardly scolded himself for even admitting that he was wrong out loud to her. Nate couldn’t remember a single time in his life when he had verbally said that he was wrong. Sure, he always boasted that he was right and everyone else was wrong, but never the other way around. It was humiliating and embarrassing now that he replayed the memory. He could see that excited, warm look on Kiara’s young face when he said those painful words. How could a woman affect him like this so soon? What was coming over him?

  Another hour passed by
with Nate contemplating to himself, trying to come up with some explanation why he was acting this way with Kiara and he began to notice something. Ever since they had left Nate’s hole of vomit, Kiara hadn’t said one word. Was she still behind him? Nate glanced over once more and saw that she was indeed, still following him, but from a very far distance. He could hardly hear her graceful footsteps with how far she had fallen back.

  So, she was still there… Did she think they were still playing the silence game?

  “Are you alright?” he asked curiously, slowing down his own pace to match hers, hoping that she would eventually be walking alongside him.

  Kiara looked up with surprised, almost like she didn’t expect to see anyone else on the trail but her. “Oh, yes, I’m fine.”

  “You’re not talking much.”

  “I know. I’m just admiring the scenery, that’s all. It’s lovely. Much nicer than back before the bog. Do you agree?”

  Nate wasn’t one for continuing such a menial conversation, but he figured he needed to get on better terms with her anyway. At the rate she was walking, it would take them an extra week to get back to Aleph.

  “Um… Yeah, I guess,” he replied, looking back towards a slight curve in the trail.

  Kiara slowly caught up with him, but stayed a good distance behind. Nate wondered why she was doing that… Actually, he never really wondered that until now. Before he really didn’t care or mind that she walked behind him. He was used to walking by himself, but now, he had an urge to walk with her. Nate then began to wonder if the berries he ate caused this new delirium.

  “You can walk beside me, you know,” he remarked, not looking back at her, but trying to seem nonchalant about such an offer.

  Kiara paused, unsure of if he really meant it or if he was going a little crazy from those berries. “I thought it was proper for me to let you take the lead since you know where to go.”

  “I do know where to go, but it would be easier for me to keep an eye on you and make sure you haven’t disappeared if you stay within my sight.”

  Gradually, Kiara made her way up to his side. She stared up at his erect figure and proud posture as he fixed his concentrated gaze on the road ahead. This was so awkward, not only for Kiara, but for Nate as well. He wanted her to walk beside him, but now that she was there, he felt his palms sweat and his heart beat a little faster.

  When she wasn’t looking, Nate stole a few glances down to her, studying the softness of her hair and the fairness of her skin. And whenever Nate wasn’t looking, Kiara would look up at his bright eyes and youthful features.

  It wouldn’t take long for the silence to seem deafening to both of them. Kiara knew better than to start jabbering on about the weather, the trees, her feet and anything of irrelevance. It was made clear to her early in the trip that such topics bored and irritated Nate, so she would avoid them.

  And on the other side of the tracks, Nate wanted to talk, but could think of nothing to say. He racked his brain for any kind of subject that might appeal to her, but Nate had never been very good at talking to women, so it proved harder than he imagined.

  “So… Uh… You read a lot?” he asked and as soon as he got the last words out, he felt like an idiot. “Of course, she reads a lot, stupid! How else would she know that bit about the berries!” he thought to himself.

  Kiara seemed to hang on every word that proceeded from his mouth, as if it were direly important to listen and respond. “Um… Yes, I do. My father has a large private library in Aleph and I spend most of my time reading there… Do you read?”

  “No, I don’t know how.”

  “You don’t know how to read!?” Kiara exclaimed, “How could you go through life without knowing how to read?”

  Nate suddenly felt a burst of anxiety like he had said something to offend her. “Well, I can read a little,” he stammered out, “I learned some words when I was a boy, but the most reading I’ve done since are maps and road signs.”

  “I guess that’s understandable. You wouldn’t have any other use for reading besides that. Can you write?” she inquired.

  “Nope, not one word. Can you?”

  “Of course! If you would read as much as I do, then you’d know how to write.”

  “What do you like to write?”

  “Mostly letters to friends in other cities and poetry.”

  “Poetry?” Nate peered at her curiously.

  Kiara beamed with excitement. Finally, she was talking about something she knew better than anything else. “Oh yes, I love poetry. Out of everything that I read, I read mostly poetry.”

  Nate had nothing to say in response to that. He had never heard poetry in his life and didn’t really understand what it was. Kiara watched his facial expression turn from confused to stern once more, as they continued to trek along the road.

  “Maybe when we get to Aleph, you could come up to the castle and I could read you some poetry?” she offered, hoping to keep the conversation going.

  “Uh, I don’t think so.”

  Kiara’s bright smile faded into a small frown, and she cast her gaze back to the dirt that she walked on. Why did those words feel like a punch to her stomach just then?

  Nate had no intentions of staying at the castle once he collected any reward for her safe return. He was only interested in the notoriety he might receive from the king for his services to the royal family. He wished for one thing in particular, but it was a long faded dream that would never come true. He could only hope that the king wouldn’t recognize him. A twinge of fear rose up in his heart at the very thought of what might happen if the king did.

  The two were silent again. Kiara wished she could ask so many questions. Nate was too busy recovering from his own dreadful thoughts of the future to think about talking to Kiara. However, they never neglected to glance to the other on occasion as they had before.

  An hour passed before Nate could be bold enough to speak again. He leaned his head back to look at the sky to the west. The sun was just below the tree line.

  “I think we better settle down and start making dinner now,” he murmured as they kept walking.

  Kiara, also, turned to look at the setting sun and nodded in agreement. “Ok, so where do we want to stop?”

  “I can see a clearing up ahead.”

  Sure enough, there was a safe looking grove just half a mile ahead, surrounded by two big hills to the left and the right of the path. Kiara observed that to the west of the path, there was a stone cave hewn in the side of a hill, perfect for sleeping in.

  “Can we stay the night in that cave over there behind the hill?” she asked, pointing in that direction. Nate only glanced and shook his head as he pushed his boot through some bushes that blocked their way to the clearing.

  “No, there might be a bear in it. I’ll check it out later, but right now, we need to eat.”

  Kiara carefully stepped over the jagged bushes to follow Nate into the clearing, where he set down his pack and began to gather wood and stones for the fire. She had to admit that she was starving. But, there was plenty of meat left from last night’s dinner, so she would have a lot to feast on if she wanted.

  As Nate collected firewood by breaking off branches from the bushes that surrounded the clearing, Kiara decided to help out by picking up good-sized stones from the base of the hills, which were so tall and steep that they seemed more like cliffs. She decided to herself that she would have to climb to the top of the cliff and judge where they were.

  Through their teamwork, the fire was built and meat roasting in practically no time. Kiara sat hugging her knees to her chest gleefully as she watched Nate rotate a large portion of deer meat over the flames, slowly cooking it. Nate sat on the other side of the fire and had one of his knees propped up to rest his elbow on, which let him hold his chin comfortably in his palm. Kiara couldn’t help but notice he looked terribly bored.

  “So, you said that you had visited Aleph before in all your wanderings?” Kiara asked, hoping to b
righten his mood.

  Nate didn’t move his head, but looked from their meal to her. “Yes, a few times. Why?”

  “I was wondering if you’ve ever been up to the castle and visited my father or family?”

  Nate looked back down to the fire and sighed deeply. “No, I haven’t.”

  There it was again: that look like he was hiding something. Kiara pursed her lips together and squinted at Nate, hoping to maybe read his mind. He was so mysterious and he did a bad job of lying.

  “Have you ever met any of my family? Maybe in the village or in another city?”

  “Nope, never,” Nate replied as he continued to roast the meat, turning the stick that it was stuck to evenly cook the surface.

  Kiara watched him and the meat with thoughtfulness. “So, if you’ve never met my father or family, why wouldn’t you want to come up to the castle when we get to Aleph?”

  “I’ll come up to the castle, princess, I’m just not going to stay long. And I’m sure your father wouldn’t want to meet me anyway, so there’s no point in me going up there and visiting like I’m some old family friend.” There was bitterness and frustration in his tone.

  “How many times do I have to tell you not to call me ‘princess’? I’m not just a princess. I have a name,” Kiara retorted.

  Nate gazed up at her, then gave a smirk and chuckle as he let his arm and leg down to let his head turn to her with coyness.

  “I’m sorry, Kiara.”

  She couldn’t help but let out a little giggle and grin widely. Nate just stared with a look of admiration, like she actually meant something to him as more than a key to riches and glory. Kiara just stared back with the same look of joy. She felt her cheeks grow warm and her heart fluttered when he said her name like that.

  Suddenly, Nate’s head darted to the south and his face became grave and serious. Kiara’s smile faded and she looked in that direction, as well, but she couldn’t see anything in particular besides dark trees.