Chapter 4: The truth... I did not know...
The sun had disappeared behind the mountains in the horizon and the dark blanket in the sky was covered with millions of miniscule stars. The chirping crickets sung their nightly songs throughout the night and the chilling breeze resonated with the crickets in peaceful harmony. However, even that did not calm the green haired wyvernrider's rampant emotions.
On the side of a hill overlooking the camp, Heath laid on the blades of grass as his mind and heart remembered the afternoon's events. Heath's memory of Priscilla's soft skin on his fingertips made his body numb, and the fair maiden's lingering scent was refreshing and sweet. Her heavy and rapid breaths of air when Heath held her aroused him to the point of testing his sanity. His mind had even went to great lengths as to create a silhouette of her making her way towards him.
"... Heath?" Heath rose from the surface of the ground and noticed that it wasn't a silhouette created from his mind, but rather the real Priscilla herself. She stood over him with confused and mixed expressions. Heath did not think they would be reunited so soon after the unexpected afternoon blunder. Priscilla stood in silence, trying to gather her words as Heath avoided her gaze to hide his embarrassment. Heath sat himself up and propped up his right leg as he forced himself once again to break the silence.
"...Priscilla... I... I am terribly sorry for earlier... I feel I embarrassed you in front of all those soldiers... I even made a fool out of myself..." Heath slapped his right hand on his right knee with a look of disappointment on his face.
"...But Heath..." Priscilla's soft tone made the young wyvernrider turn to face her but she turned away her flushed face making Heath also blush upon seeing it.
"...You are always protecting me... I... I feel I am indebted to you..." Priscilla said as she tried to hold back her feelings, but she was reaching her limit on her control. Heath rubbed the back of his neck out of whim to calm himself as he searched for the proper words.
"...Priscilla, I..." Before he could finish, Heath was interrupted by a trio of sentries making their rounds towards them. Heath thought it would not be good for Priscilla and him to be seen together at that time of night and quickly reacted.
"Priscilla... You must leave for now... I do not want rumors to spread that may tarnish your good image. We will speak another day..." Priscilla looked at Heath intensely of his request.
"...V-very well... then... I beg my leave..." Priscilla rushed away towards the camp with her figure disappearing between a set of tents. Heath decided to lay on the grass as he had done before.
"Oh! Sir Heath! Enjoying the stars tonight?" One of the sentries asked as he recognized the green haired soldier.
"Yes... You men should enjoy it as well..." Heath offered.
"We would... but we are on scouting patrol." The second sentry said with a look of regret.
"Well... I do not want to keep you too long from your duties." The soldiers nodded and went about their business. As they edged further away from Heath, the trio began softly talking amongst themselves as if to avoid Heath's ears, however, Heath was able to make out most of their conversation.
"... Does he know Lady Priscilla is the daughter of Count Caerleon of Etruria?"
"... Such a lady of high nobility... does he truly not know?"
"... Well... a deserter like him would be unable to get her hand in marriage... He's a good guy and all but... someone should tell the poor fellow before he gets his heartbroken..."
Heath couldn't believe what he had heard.
"...Ah... So that's the case..." Heath muttered softly to himself as he was left with even more problems he had never imagined.