Chapter 110: Chapter 110 - Parting ways
Away from the castle, Thalia rested her head on Solomon’s chest, tired from the long journey that seemed endless.
Solomon followed the rumours he had heard about where the queen was hiding and took Thalia there for her to confirm it. He had already decided that if Thalia could not lead him to her mother within the next two days, he would abandon her.
He could not endure much more of Thalia trying to command him as though they were still within the castle walls. He was most tired of her acting as though he could conjure gold from thin air and find her a warm bed each night.
Thalia stirred in her sleep and soon opened her eyes. She yawned, stretching lightly, letting the last bit of slumber slip away.
"What are you doing?!" Thalia exclaimed, realising she had fallen asleep upon Solomon’s chest. "Why did you not wake me and have me move from your chest?"
"You were finally in a deep sleep. I did not think it necessary to wake you just yet. We are near the home the travellers whispered about. Are you familiar with it? Have you finally remembered your mother speaking of this place?" Solomon asked, hopeful that at last they had found what they had been searching for.
"My mother speaks of too many homes for me to keep up with, but this does seem to fit her tales," Thalia said, examining the land. "We must be near. Is this not the land of the Marchioness? My mother has always been quite close to her."
The drowsiness left Thalia as she thought of being in her mother’s arms soon.
Solomon looked down at the road, noticing the markings of countless horse hooves. It appeared as though many had either come from this way or were heading towards it.
"I cannot wait to see my mother. I am sure she has a plan for how to storm the castle and take back what belongs to us. My little brother would become the king, or I could be placed as the queen," Thalia considered.
"If war breaks out, it will take some time for you to sit upon the throne again. His Grace is not an easy man to defeat. He helped your father to victories over the years," Solomon reminded her.
"Cassian will die, for he is not ready for what will come with my mother. I am certain many will join her side because we are the true royals. No one wants to support a bastard!" Thalia spoke with venom in her words.
Solomon halted the horse abruptly.
Thalia froze, fearing she had pushed him too far and that Solomon was about to kill her in the middle of nowhere.
"Do not kill me!" Thalia cried, squeezing her eyes shut as she braced herself for punishment.
Solomon looked up at her from where he stood and shook his head. "I am not going to kill you. This is as far as I will take you. I need to go back and cover our tracks."
Thalia’s eyes widened, fear gripping her at the thought of being left alone. "You cannot leave me just yet. What if my mother is not here, and the person here decides to hand me back to Lilith and Cassian? Should you not wait to see that my mother is here?"
"If she is not here, I will come to save you, but it seems she might be. Were you not eager to be rid of me before?" Solomon asked, grabbing the reins to lead the horse towards the Marchioness’s home. "You will have a warm bed soon."
"I do not want to be abandoned before I see my mother. I am not a fool. You are trying to leave me here in case she is not here, and I am captured. You are not to leave," Thalia commanded, her voice trembling with tears threatening to fall. "You are to stay at my side."
"Princess, you will be well. I will take you as close as I can and watch from a distance. I will not leave until I know you are safe, but I cannot stay. They will come looking for us, and I must throw them off. I will be outnumbered, so it is best that I hide you," Solomon explained.
"You are to stay by my side until I see my mother’s face. If you are worried she will be angry because you failed to save my brother and father, then I will save you. I will ensure you are spared and rewarded for getting me to safety," Thalia promised, desperate.
Solomon did not trust Thalia as far as he could throw her. The moment she found her mother and regained what little power she had left, she would not care about him. She was only afraid of being captured now.
"I will take you close and then leave. I rescued you once when you were captured, and I could do it again. Let us keep faith that your mother is here," Solomon said, his eyes fixed on the path ahead.
Thalia wanted to strike him for trying to rid himself of her, but there was nothing more she could do. She would not run after him and make a fool of herself. She could only hope her mother truly was here, as the rumours claimed.
’This is where she stops outside the castle,’ Thalia thought, keeping the knowledge to herself. ’She must be here.’
Solomon led Thalia to the manor of the Marchioness, which was surprisingly quiet. He approached the gate, one hand resting on his sword, the other on the reins.
"Stop! Who goes there?" the guards demanded, their swords raised at the pair.
"Princess Thalia Beaufort and her guard. We have come to see the Marchioness," Solomon answered.
Solomon relaxed his grip on the sword when the guards’ expressions shifted to shock. Without seeking further answers as to whether they could allow the visitors inside, they began to open the gates, as though they had been expecting Thalia’s arrival all along.
Solomon looked up at Thalia. "There might be some hope here."
Comments