Chapter 6: Leaving
Celeste frowned. "Why do we have to leave so fast, Connor? I'm starting to like it here." She complained.
Connor lifted the bag of food onto the horse's back. "Because you want to find your father, don't you? Besides, you're a wanted princess. It's a bad idea to stay too long in one place." He said briskly. Then he turned and saw the sadness on her face; with a sigh he reached out and grabbed her close in a hug. "Relax, brat. You can come back here with your father and introduce him to everyone and everything." He said affectionately.
Celeste smiled hopefully up at him. "Really?" She asked.
No, not really. In fact I doubt you'll hear anything about your father outside the palace. Connor thought, but the smile he gave her was warm and extravagant. "Really. Now come on. Do you think you can walk some on that foot? We don't want to strain our one good horse." Connor added, trying to change the subject.
Celeste nodded. "Yeah, it's not as sore today. Maybe it was the berries I ate!" She added hopefully.
Connor smiled again at her, then realized that he hadn't let go of her since he hugged her and let his arms drop. "Maybe. Come on, you can walk a mile and then ride the rest of the day, okay?" He said cheerfully. He felt like an awful hypocrite, acting so happy and relaxed when his heart was beating so hard he felt like it might beat out of his chest.
As if reading his mind, Celeste rested a hand on his chest. "Are you okay? Your heart's beating so fast." She worried. "Maybe you're sick. Do you feel faint?"
Only when you're near. Does that tell you anything? Connor thought, but he gave a forced laugh. "Come on, Celeste, you know me! I'm just hyper to be on the road again." He lied.
The mayor of the village walked past. "I don't blame you, strangers. Rumors say that a huge snake-person slithered through town. I want to leave too, but I don't want to leave my duty." He agreed. Then he eyed Celeste with a relish that made Connor tremble with anger. "Are you two travelers brother and sister?" He said meaningfully.
"Husband and wife, in fact." Connor said in a clipped voice. "Now if you'll excuse us, my wife and I will be going." He lifted Celeste onto the horse, forgetting that he meant to make her walk for a while, and lead the horse off.
Celeste leaned over and caught Connor's eye. "Why did you say we were married? We don't even like each other." She demanded.
Connor resisted the urge to laugh. I think you like me more than you're willing to admit, Celeste. He thought. "You never tell your real marital status or name when you're traveling. Especially when you ran away." He said sternly.
Celeste slid off the horse's back and began to walk beside Connor. "Oh. I never thought of that. Well. It's a good thing you're traveling with me, Connor. I doubt I would have made it this far." She paused to catch a butterfly in her hands and draw it closer to her face to observe it. "I wonder if your mother and father blame me for this adventure." The butterfly flew away, and Connor grabbed a flower to hand to Celeste.
"I doubt it." He lied.
"Elyon, this is all your daughter's fault!" Will complained. "Connor never leaves like this."
"Will--" Caleb tried.
Will waved him off. "Okay, maybe he does, but he always left word for us a tavern or some such place!"
"Will--" Caleb offered again.
"But no, this time Celeste had to drag him off!" Will whimpered.
"WILL!" Caleb shouted. She gave him a reproachful look but fell silent. "Thank you. I think what Will means to say, Elyon, is, have you heard from either child?"
Elyon had sat still and silent in her throne until that point. Now she looked up, and her eyes were red from tears. "No, neither have sent word. And Elrin has joined the search parties. Excuse me." She said in an unnaturally quiet tone as she walked past them and raced to the dungeon. Then she gazed down into the well that housed her children's father. "Where is she?" Elyon shouted. "Where is my Celeste?"
"How would I know?" A voice rumbled. "I haven't seen her since she was born."
Elyon threw a rock down in the well. "She acts just like you! You know where she went!" She howled.
The voice laughed. "Is she alone?"
"No. One of the Guardians' children accompanied her." Elyon said quietly. "Do you think he's holding her back?"
"I doubt it. He'll probably take her to my home village to see if she looks like anyone there." The voice replied.
Elyon knelt down by the well. "Where is your home village?" No answer. "Where is your home village?" She screamed.
The voice chuckled. "I'd rather not say. Let the girl roam." It replied. "She'll return, Elyon. My child would be as drawn to power as I am. And now you owe me a decent meal, instead of that slop you drop down here."
Okay! I'm now taking guesses about who the father is! Please send me a private message! And also, please tell me if you have any criticism, comments, ect. (Oh--also, am I giving too many clues?) Thanks!
