66 Self-fulfilled Prophecy (1/2)
After a brief struggle with selfish desires, Leal thought, 'If this is Hilde's destined path, it seems she would be in good company.'
With practiced mental agility, he avoided delving into the question of whether the same could be said where he was concerned.
Instead, he next thought about the Lord General's daughter. It wasn't that the possibility he might also be drawn to her hadn't crossed his mind. It was only that there was similar, and then there was SIMILAR.
The woman who was nearly of an age with him appeared to have a natural tendency to rub people the wrong way, yet she was not – strictly speaking – repellent. It was difficult to pin down what was making her tick, and Leal had a strong suspicion he wouldn't be able to puzzle her out without first stepping outside of himself.
He didn't have the inclination nor the leisure at present to do that. Ahead of their party, the forest would soon thin out to nothing, and they'll have no choice but to re-enter the city or continue skirting its perimeter without the useful cover of trees. Once in the city, they'd need to set an even faster pace.
Unfortunately, it would be a speed that not all of them could handle. The elderly Viscount was exhausted, and even Baron Harmin, who led a fairly active lifestyle despite his scholarly pursuits, was nearly at his limits.
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”Highness?” said the Baron, feeling guilty but not to the point of self-condemnation. They had paused within sight of a dark and small side gate that appeared deserted. With many eyes on him, he continued, ”Might I suggest you go on ahead?”
”Yes, my Prince,” the Viscount immediately seconded. ”Please.”
Presented with the first true test to his resolve to survive before anything else, Leal fell even more silent. His lords were automatically placing his safety ahead of their own because he was the heir to their kingdom. That was all the reason they seemed to need, and it should have been sufficient to him as well.
Somehow, dissatisfaction bloomed in the pit of his stomach. He found himself questioning, WHY should that be enough? What made the blood in his veins so precious that these men – important in their own rights – would be so motivated to keep it from spilling?
Alas, once again, this was not the time nor place to be posing existential questions whose answers he might not even welcome. Pursuing the present decision that needed to be made, Leal concluded it would cause the lords more problems if something were to happen to him.
He didn't like it, but he understood the necessity. After curtly nodding to them once, he addressed the leader of their escorts.
”Captain, is it advisable for our party to split up?”
As if being asked for advice by a man of higher rank was not new to her, the captain considered for a long moment and replied, ”It would depend on how each party plans to proceed, but I am for it. Is there something in particular you have in mind, Prince?”
Looking far off with a humorless smile on his lips, Leal recalled his own words that had been thrown casually earlier but had now become prophetic.
”Something in particular, yes,” he said drily. ”One I might never be able to live down, if there is a tomorrow after this day.”