Chapter 76: Episode 076: What do you think?
Gianna was too stunned by the polite respect to say no.
Her mouth fell open. The dark scowl that usually lived on her face vanished. Her older sisters always told her what to do. The guards were just terrified of her. Nobody ever just looked her in the eye and asked her nicely to do something.
A light pink blush crept up her neck. She quickly looked down at the floor, suddenly deeply interested in a scuff mark on the toe of her heavy leather boot.
"Well," Gianna mumbled. She kicked at the floorboards, her voice losing all its angry bite. "I mean, if you ask like that. I guess I can go. Somebody has to make sure you don’t freeze out there in the woods."
Rue smiled. It was a soft, genuine smile that made her tired pink eyes crinkle at the corners. She really appreciated it.
"Thank you, Gianna," Rue said gently.
She turned her head to look back at Queen Tanith. Tanith was watching the interaction with quiet amazement. She had never seen anyone calm her wild younger sister down with just a single sentence.
"But what about the rest of the guard?" Rue asked the Queen. "Can I borrow a few Vanguard soldiers for the long trip? Just to help carry the heavy supplies and watch the perimeter at night?"
Tanith shook her head. Her dark eyes sparkled with a small bit of amusement.
"No," Tanith answered smoothly. "You will not need an army, Rue. Gianna is coming with you. She is terrifying enough to protect you from anything you meet on the road."
Rue looked at the princess.
Gianna was currently crossing her arms and raising her chin up with pride.
Terrifying? Rue thought in her own mind. She looks so small. She looks exactly like a grumpy teenager who missed her afternoon nap, even though she was a grown adult. I doubt she could scare away a wild squirrel, let alone a pack of rogue beastmen.
[You forgot she scared you off when you first saw her.]
That was different...
Knox slapped a massive hand tightly over his own mouth. His broad shoulders shook violently. His bright golden eyes were squeezed shut as he fought with everything he had to hold back a massive roar of laughter.
Right next to him, Caius suddenly spun around and faced the stone wall. The snake beastman bit down incredibly hard on his lower lip. His entire back vibrated. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying his absolute hardest to hide a laugh.
Rue stared at them. She blinked in confusion. She had no idea they just heard her exact thoughts.
Gianna frowned at the two giant men acting like complete fools in the corner. She flipped her dark braid over her shoulder with a very proud, dramatic toss of her head. She had absolutely no idea what Rue had just been thinking.
"You will find out soon enough," Gianna told Rue confidently. She rested her hands on her hips. "I am a snake. I am very scary when I want to be."
Knox let out another muffled, wheezing snort.
Caius nudged the panther hard in the ribs with his elbow to make him shut up. Caius cleared his throat loudly, refusing to turn around until he forced his face back into a serious, flat expression.
"We need to pack the wagon," Caius announced to the wall. His voice strained slightly.
A few hours later, the quiet clearing outside the cabin was incredibly busy.
Because Rue was still recovering from the terrible fever, she was absolutely forbidden from walking. Her body was just too weak and fragile right now. Caius had spent the morning building a very sturdy wooden wagon. It had thick, heavy wheels meant to roll easily over rough forest dirt and rocks.
Although Caius and Knox didn’t like the idea.
Rue was deadset on going now.
He filled the entire back of the wagon with soft animal furs, thick blankets, and enough dried meat for Gianna and clean water to feed a small village. He even built a small wooden roof over the top to keep the cold wind and rain off Rue and the baby.
Rue sat comfortably inside the back of the wagon. Theron was tucked safely against her chest, entirely bundled in his thickest white blankets. The baby was wide awake, his golden eyes watching the tall trees sway in the cold wind.
Outside the wagon, Caius and Knox hovered near the wooden wheels. They checked the thick leather straps on the supply bags five different times.
They looked incredibly anxious. Their predator instincts absolutely hated watching their female and baby leave the safety of their home territory. The world outside the valley was wild and brutal.
Caius reached his long arms into the wagon. He gently touched Rue’s pale cheek. His golden eyes were full of crushing worry. He hated this.
"You have enough water?" Caius asked for the fourth time. He brushed a loose piece of silver hair behind her ear. "You have the thickest furs. If you feel sick again, even just a tiny bit, you come back immediately. Do you understand me?"
"I have everything," Rue promised softly. She leaned her face into his warm hand, seeking his comfort. "I will be careful. I promise I will come right back to you."
Knox stepped up right beside Caius. The Panther King leaned over Caius’s broad shoulder. Knox looked incredibly serious. He didn’t have his usual cocky smile.
"Do not leave this wagon," Knox ordered gently. His deep voice rumbled in the cold air. "No matter what happens out there. If something attacks, you hide under the furs until Caius and I get there. You do not try to be brave. You just keep the baby quiet and let the snake girl handle everything."
Rue nodded slowly. She looked at the giant panther. "I promise."
Queen Tanith stood a few feet away, watching the two massive Kings fuss over the small, fragile girl. Tanith walked over and placed a cold, reassuring hand on Caius’s arm.
"She will be fine, Caius," Tanith assured them. Her voice carried the heavy, steady weight of a ruler. "Gianna knows the roads better than anyone. The royal crest of the swamps is painted right there on the side of this wagon. Nobody will dare touch it. You have my word. They will return safely."
Caius took a shaky breath. He hated letting her out of his sight, especially right after she almost died from the fever.
He leaned forward and pressed a long, soft kiss directly to Rue’s forehead. He kissed Theron’s tiny nose.
Knox reached in and gently ran his rough thumb over the fresh, dark bite mark hidden right beneath the collar of Rue’s dress. He didn’t say goodbye. Kings of the jungle never said goodbye to their mates. He just stepped back, crossed his thick arms, and watched her.
Gianna walked to the front of the wagon.
She didn’t need a horse to pull it. She was a Snake. She had the raw, terrifying strength of a massive beast hidden entirely inside her small human body. She easily picked up a rope meant to pull the wagon. She barely even strained her muscles.
"Are we ready?" Gianna called out. She sounded completely bored, but her grip on the wood was rock solid.
"We are ready," Rue said softly, pulling her blanket a little tighter around her shoulders.
Gianna pulled.
The heavy wooden wheels groaned loudly against the dirt, then slowly started to turn. The wagon rolled smoothly forward, leaving the safe, warm clearing of the cabin behind.
The dirt path was uneven and rocky, but Gianna walked with a very steady, careful rhythm. She made sure the ride wasn’t too bumpy for the little baby resting inside.
Rue looked back through the opening of the wagon cover. She watched Caius and Knox standing side-by-side in the yard. The two giant men stood completely still, watching her leave until the pine trees completely blocked them from view.
The forest grew incredibly quiet.
The air was getting much colder the further they moved away from the Convergence valley. The tall, ancient trees cast long, dark shadows over the dirt road. The wind howled softly through the branches. It felt very lonely out here.
Rue sat near the front opening of the wagon. She looked down at Gianna. The princess was walking steadily right beside the heavy wooden wheels. She didn’t even look tired yet. She just marched forward, her dark braid swaying against her back.
Rue worried about the incredibly long road ahead of them. She worried about the wild tribes living out there in the deep woods. She felt very small in this massive, dangerous world.
The wagon started rolling down a steep, rocky hill. The heavy wood creaked loudly.
Rue looked at Gianna walking beside the wheels and asked, "Are you going to be fine, Gianna?"
Gianna did not stop walking. She just turned her head slightly and flashed a sharp, highly confident smirk.
"What do you think?"
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