Not All Heroes Are Guiltless

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Aela’s POV

The saltwater air reminds me of home back in the palace. I lift my face to the warm sun to comfort the passing homesickness. When the shuffling of feet comes closer, I quickly pull my mate’s dark cloak’s hood tighter to hide my facial features. The last few weeks, we have traveled through the outlands to an independent port southwest of the farthest reach of Redland.

We camped outside of the port for nearly a week, and when a Bellarn merchant ship arrived. I was taken aback when my silent mate let me skip training to go into port to discuss with the Bellarn captain. I assume he plans to remove me from Hou Ndour search parties, and so a Bellarn would take me to friendly territory rather than staying here in their conquered ground. My mate flags me over, and I board the merchant’s vessel.

The captain had already walked away when I reached my mate. The sailors are all working on loading and unloading supplies in wooden crates with the word ‘Benlow Trading Co.’ marked across them. “He only has one room available for us, and I’ll have to take a shift on watch.”

“Is the captain a friend?” I tease in a whisper but, yet again, of course my mate doesn’t even answer me. He just goes below deck to where most guest cabins would be held. I am somewhat suspicious about how he already seems to know the layout of the ship. It’s almost like he has been on this ship before. Probably, he had been because he was waiting for the ship to arrive in port. He opens a door at the end of a dark dank hallway and ushers me into the small room. It is simple enough with a wardrobe, a desk with a chair, and a cot meant for one person. Everything is mounted as expected for a large merchant vessel, which takes on hurricane waters frequently.

After turning around the room, my mate is still standing at the closed door. He locks it with a large click. I pull the hood of the cloak away. “Anything specific I should do while we travel?”

“Benlow Trading hires primarily Bellarn veterans. You might not want them to recognize you as the enemy princess. But you are free to move from the dock to this room.” His words come off almost like a command, but I hear the waver in his voice. He doesn’t want me to feel imprisoned. “We will continue our training during the night when it’s easier not to be seen by the crew.”

I nod my head and shrug slightly with a teasing smirk. “Where am I going to sleep? We only have one bed.”

“On the bed.” He says with a matter-of-fact tone, which makes me recoil my attempt to flirt. He squats down at me when I realize I must have shown my disappointment.

I cross my arms and accusingly growl to attempt to hide my embarrassment, “so you do sleep?”

His eyes flicks across my face, almost as if he is searching for some emotion I could be hiding. Then he leans away from me. “Forgive me, Nadar. I’m not what you expect.”

I look at him and notice he is being sincere, “I wasn’t expecting anything. Yes, you are not the prince charming in all the fairy tales. But then again, I am not a five-year-old princess who believes every prince is guaranteed to be romantic and sweep me off my feet. I am, however, still grateful for you even if you don’t know how to flirt.”

He watches me, and with the same cold face, he always shows, “I’ve never been interested in anyone except for you. I avoid most encounters I have always deemed wasteful.”

“It’s really okay. I understand. You don’t sleep, so this predicament is fine with me. I’ll hide my face and only come out at night when the fewer people can recognize me.” I say, leaning back on the cot. “I think I’m going to go ahead and get some sleep before we leave port. Wake me when we can train.”

I lay down and wrap my arms around me, and close my eyes. I really doubt I am going to sleep, but this isn’t really the ideal place for me to go wandering. A crew full of Bellarn veterans? They would hate me if they knew who I was. I cringe at the thought of us going to Bellar. I’m doubtful I would be able to keep myself from anger with their treatment of Redland after so many wars.

“Don’t worry.” He whispers as if he reads his mind. “This ship is heading to Port Phindile. We will get off there and travel through the desert.”

I sit up quickly and he wasn’t even spooked and I glare at him with the sternest eyes I can muster, “Are you just trying to get me as far from Hou Ndour or do you have some other motive planned?”

He tilts his head to the side just like a dog would if they were curious, and then he laughs, “I think you would know by now. Very few people will babysit a princess without a hidden motive.”

My mouth drops, and I know I need to pull my jaw up. The way he phased that almost felt like he was referring to my relationship with Andrew. It’s true, Andy trained me since I was a child to fight, and I think that is the reason I was so stunned by his confession of love for me. Was his only motive to impress me enough to accept him as a lover? Wait? Why just a lover.

‘Because we met our mate before him. We never wanted anyone else.’ My wolf says, and I guess it's believable in some sense. It would explain why we never felt the need to be a frilly princess.

“Nadar, did I upset you?” His voice cracks a bit, and I shake out of my current thoughts. His hands are resting on my elbows as he still searches my face for an emotion.

“No, I just have used that term before, and you reminded me of an incident which threw me out of sorts. It was early in the evening the first night you were in the dungeon.” I say, trying to move away from the subject.

“Did he hurt you?” The words came so quickly I could almost hear the hidden jealousy underneath. I wanted to chuckle at the nearly momentous roar he would have if I had told him what actually happened. I chose, though, to let him stew and have a dose of what he’s given mean shake my head slowly in a no.

‘I can’t even believe he would ask that question.’ My wolf snips. I snapped back with her about the pain I felt because our mate was being tortured. A recognition flows through me. She remembers she just didn’t know why.

He stands up when I don't answer and saunters over to the desk. He sits down and pulls out some of the stationery, and begins writing. I’m interested in finding out what he’s writing but figured he wouldn’t tell me and definitely wouldn’t show me. I close my eyes and fall asleep. I am preparing myself for the rock and jostle of the high seas and its lingering effect on my stomach. I haven’t always been fond of boats.