Shaking the memory of her encounter with that strange man, Lily looked towards their first sign of Stonehold Keep. A small town lay ahead of them, though it had changed its name plenty of times by now, she remembered the place well.

  An old memorial to a hero already forgotten to time, lay crumbling in what had once been the center of the town. The fountain had been moved and moved time and time again, each time engraved with whatever the current feudal lord of the land so fancied.

  But the children still played, the wheat still sowed and the world still spun in time. Everything could change in this place and yet nothing would ever change. Because the people of this small piece of land held their own traditions close to heart.

  They paused to stare as Thorne walked past, whispering to one another. Of course, the playing kids had the loudest voices and most daring hearts. One ran up in front of Thorne, standing defiantly in front of him.

  This was the first time she’d heard Thorne sigh happily. It was hard not to, the whole scene felt like it was out of a fairy tale. This small quivering child standing against this rust behemoth. Lily laughed.

  ‘Shoo, kid,’ she said, waving her hand at the kid, ‘We’re on an important mission.’

  The kid moved out of the way, sticking out his tongue and pulling at his ears. Still, this was probably the kindest gesture she’d seen from a human before, so she took it with a smile.

  ‘We?’ Thorne whispered to her, and she could almost feel him raise an eyebrow.

  She rolled her eyes, ‘I’m not explaining your life story to a five-year-old.’

  ‘You know my life story now?’ he teased at her, and she laughed so hard she almost cried.

  ‘You know what I mean.’

  The sun was still high, they had walked all the way through the night because Lily had insisted that this town was close enough. And she’d been right but she couldn’t hide the fact that her feet were close to giving out.

  ‘Excuse me,’ Lily asked a young farm-hand, the girl seemed startled to be spoken to, ‘Do you know where your inn is?’

  The girl nodded after she got over her initial shock. What had shocked the girl was anyone’s guess.

  ‘Just head straight and take a right,’ the girl said, pointing down the street. Lily thanked her, taking Thorne’s hand and pulling him after her.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The inn was just where the girl had said. It looked nicer than the previous one and Lily hoped the owner was less talkative too.

  She opened the door, turning a few necks. But she kept her head up high and she kept Thorne close behind her. Most eyes quickly moved on to him before they decided it wasn’t worth the trouble.

  ‘Room for two,’ Lily said to the innkeeper, a woman in her mid-thirties. The woman nodded, foregoing the small talk and handing the keys after Lily handed her a few coins. Lily beamed at the woman, the woman just shrugged and returned to polishing dirty glass cups.

  They entered their room; Lily didn’t even take off her shoes before falling down onto the bed. She closed her eyes and groaned into the pillows, her whole body felt heavy.

  She rolled over to see Thorne standing hesitantly by the side of the bed,

  ‘Could I…?’ he asked, looking down at her.

  ‘Of course!’ she laughed, turning over to give him more space, ‘You don’t even have to ask.’

  Thorne fell into the bed by her, armour and all.

  ‘I don’t think I’m familiar with this elvish custom,’ he said lazily turning to face Lily.

  ‘That’s because I invented it.’ Lily twirled her finger in the air at him.

  ‘Then I like it,’ he said.

  The curtains had already been drawn, they fluttered against a warm draft that poured into the room. Lily yawned, it was nice and dark in the room. The sunlight peaked inside, like an oblivious guest but she paid it no attention and closed her eyes.

  The next time she awoke, it was already dark.

  ‘Should we leave?’ Lily whispered to Thorne but got no response. The man was like a brick and he slept like one too. She sighed, but she didn’t mind it. No, she didn’t mind it at all.

  Lily twirled her hair, neatening it up with her fingers. It’d been some time since she’d braided it, there hadn’t been any reason for her to. She wondered whether he’d like that. She shook her head; her thoughts were slipping all over the place.

  She got up, stretching her arms. The wind was colder now and she shivered a little. Lily chose to fight the weather and get out from under the safety of her blanket to close the windows. When she finally did, the room still felt cold and she was unsure if she’d really done anything.

  She retreated back to comfort, hiding back under the sheets. It was weird to think about it but she did enjoy living like this, with Thorne. Even if it was all just for him, to reach his place and do whatever it was knights did. It was fun.

  They were almost there though, that wretched place. She had been avoiding thinking about it but their time was running dry. She had thought it over these past two days, how to keep him for longer. There was no going off-track, after their encounter with the border soldiers she’d realised that. And besides, she had this feeling that he was just keeping her around for the company. He knew the rest of the way already; she was just weighing him down.

  But weighing him down in a good way.

  She smiled at him. The way he lay in a full suit of armour like he was always under attack. The way his sword was dead blunt but he held onto it like a precious heirloom. The way he loved his sister. The way he loved…

  Maybe she was crazy.

  But that good kind of crazy.

  Lily hoped he would take her with him forever, she was sure she could find some way to be useful. Or even if she wasn’t. Especially if she wasn’t. She still wanted him to choose her.