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IV. Unseen Perils

Eksel woke before the sun rose.

His muscles ached, but they always did. He scowled as he sat up, rubbing his hands down his face before peering over at the small woman that still slept soundly.

He watched her shoulders rise and fall with each breath and noticed the slight tremble in her figure. It was only then that he noticed the fire had dimmed to a soft ember.

Without hesitation or a second thought, he stepped to the fire, placing new wood that brought it back to life. The warmth was almost painful on his face.

He couldn't help giving her another look, taking in the soft yet sharp features on her face. Her brow was elegant, but her thin nose was a sharp contrast.

She was more beautiful than he ever thought possible.

He rubbed his palms into his eyes until he finally convinced himself to walk away. He dressed as quietly as he could before making his way outside. The air in that room was beginning to suffocate him.

He rolled his shoulders as he stepped into the cool air outside. There were drunk stragglers walking about the road, some laying in the mud, while others were still humping loudly in the areas between.

Mageaf wasn't exactly known for its beauty or cleanliness. That had never bothered Eksel. At least not before.

He looked to the east, watching as the sun began to crest over the horizon. It's beautiful warmth was a sharp contrast to the air that bit his skin.

"Will we be heading out soon?"

Sten appeared beside him, watching the sunrise with as much focus.

"She has to eat first."

Sten shifted his gaze to Eksel, "Have you eaten?"

Eksel shook his head.

"She'll be nothing but trouble, you know?"

Eksel knew that, but hearing the words from Sten ignited an angry fire deep within his chest and he turned to him abruptly.

"You don't have to tell me that."

"I see the way you look at her."

"I don't look at her like anything, Sten."

"And the way she looks at you."

That had Eksel scoffing, almost laughing as he responded, "She's scared of me. And she should be."

"She's not, she's curious about you. And if you're not careful, you'll end up crossing your brother."

"Since when do you care about my brother?" Eksel muttered.

"I don't. But you know your brother is well connected. If you cross him, you cross everyone."

The bitterness in his throat had Eksel snorting. It's not that he wanted to be the brother that everyone loved, it's that he thought Agnar didn't deserve it. Just like he hadn't deserved his past.

That was all thanks to their father.

Eksel's spine shivered and he blinked at Sten, driving his mind away from those deep, dark memories that still haunted his dreams.

He walked away, not responding to his oldest friend. But Sten knew him well enough to know that he was haunted by his thoughts.

Stepping into the stable, he sought out Ylva, taking a bowl of porridge from her before making his way back to Elva. He walked to the inn silently, chewing on his bottom lip in worry. As he shifted the curtain back, he was met with a soft gasp and her wide hazel eyes.

"I-I thought you had left me here."

Eksel grimaced, watching the fear that crawled through her mesmerizing pupils.

"And break the agreement?"

He thrusted the bowl of food toward her and she took it hesitantly, not even moving to take a bite. Eksel watched her intently, wondering why she even thought leaving her here would be a viable option.

"I guess not," She whispered to herself.

She took a small bite of the food, barely managing to swallow the stale oats. The small frown on her brow made Eksel hyper aware of the beauty in her expressions. He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms on his chest.

"Do you have any siblings?"

The question caught her off guard and her eyebrows shot up in surprise. She only managed to shake her head as she took another bite of the porridge.

He wanted to know every single thought that occupied her mind. It was dangerous to think like that and he knew Sten was right, but she called to him like a siren. He couldn't help the prying questions that left his lips.

"Do you hate your father for giving you to a complete stranger?"

He saw the way her eye twitched under his gaze but he couldn't bring himself to regret the question.

Her jaw clenched tightly and she looked away from him, her eyes focusing on the flames of the fire. He gave up on expecting a response as he pushed himself off the wall.

But her quiet voice reached his ears, "Yes."

He inhaled sharply, it was a feeling he understood all to well.

He nodded at the bowl in her hands, "Finish up, we'll be leaving soon."

She looked down at the bowl, forcing herself to take a few more bites. Eksel watched her, taking in the slopes of her face.

The light freckled that covered her nose and cheeks were like stars across her skin. Her thin lips, curved softly at her bow and Eksel could not keep his eyes away. He inhaled slowly as he looked at the way she licked her lips between every spoonful.

The sight was painfully alluring. His chest expanded with every deep breath he took to try and relieve the itching that spread across his body. He tightened his hands into fists before fidgeting and crossing his arms on his chest.

The silence was deafening and when Elva finally put the bowl down, he shifted uncomfortably while she shoved her shoes back on. When they finally stepped outside, he inhaled the fresh air, thankful to finally have something else to focus on.

Elva sighed when they stood next to the horse and Eksel knew she dreaded the thought of another day of riding.

He pressed his fingers into her skin as he grabbed her waist and lifted her onto the saddle. She hissed, groaning quietly when her legs protested against the position.

"You'll get used to it eventually," He mumbled to her as he sat behind her.

She only nodded, keeping her back as rigid as it was the day before.

Sten approached them on his horse, nodding his apology to Eksel before looking to Elva.

"Where is Kos?"

"He went ahead, clearing the path," Sten responded, turning toward the still climbing sun.

"Have the men in high alert, we can't risk Halfdan seeing us before we see him," Eksel felt Elva tense as he spoke, and he subconsciously tightened his arms around her waist.

The way her body loosened caused his chest to expand with a certain type of pride. The feeling was enlightening, though it died when he thought of his brother.

He clicked his tongue, leading his horse away from the stable and through the village. His men followed and they were soon leaving the village behind, riding with the wind in their hair.

They rode for a few hours, the journey seeming to take them nowhere as they rounded the outskirts of Bloodhill Forest.

The forest was dark, the trees so dense they could only see but a few feet in. Though Eksel wouldn't put them in the perilous position of being attacked in the thick and dark forest, he wasn't afraid of making his presence known.

He knew Halfdan was watching. Confronting them wasn't the issue, he just didn't want to be ambushed.

Kos appeared before them, waiting for them to catch up to him. He sat on his horse on the the top of the hill they had begin to climb.

Elva shuddered at the sight of him, finally giving in and leaning into Eksel's chest. He frowned, knowing her reaction was to the man he had trusted enough to send ahead and watch for their safety.

He wrapped his arms around her tighter, pulling her deeper into his chest. If it was comfort she sought, he could think of no reason to deny her it. At least no reason that mattered. Not with her supple and warm body pressed against his.

She wrapped her hand around his wrist, pressing her small fingers into the calloused skin of his hands.

"What is the matter?" He leaned down to whisper against her ear.

She tensed at the feeling of his nearness, tilting her head to the side to look at him. Eksel held her honey gaze, his eyes flitting down to her lips of their own accord.

It ignited a heat deep within him and gods, did he want to lean and capture those lips between his teeth. He swallowed the dryness in his mouth, clenching his teeth until the back of his jaw began to ache.

Elva inhaled a shuddering breath, tightening her hold of his hands. She hesitated for a moment before speaking her worry.

"I-I do not like the way he looks at me," Her soft voice almost disappeared as she returned her gaze to the man that awaited them.

Eksel snapped his gaze to Kos, narrowing his eyes to study the look on his face. Kos's intense, dark eyes were drawn in a concentrated frown and they pointed to one person.

Elva.

It made Eksel's blood boil.

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