This love is like a curse (41)
For the last few days, Talia had been keeping her eyes on her - and then that same woman silently came out from behind the tents, gliding in the shadows.
The second princess watched her movements with narrowed eyes, then carefully followed her.
She seemed to know very well how to move without attracting attention. Her steps were so silent and swift that if Thalia had not been familiar with the manner of movement of people trained in the Talen house, she would probably have already lost sight of her.
The maid crossed the camp in just a moment and ducked between the long rows of carts.
After waiting a little, Thalia crept behind the large cart and looked into the narrow gap between the carts. But the women are already gone.
The girl, looking around in confusion, squeezed between the bulky carts. At that moment, something suddenly caught her leg.
“This is...”
Leaning down, she noticed a small glass bottle under the wheel and frowned. When she took it in her hands, a few drops of slippery liquid from the neck touched her fingers.
Thalia squealed in surprise and threw the bottle away. Raising her hand to her face, she sniffed - and a sharp floral aroma pierced her nostrils, mixed with the smell of animal flesh and some kind of vile rotten meat.
The nauseating stench made my head spin. She vomited. Crouching, she wiped the strange liquid with a handkerchief, but the disgusting smell did not disappear.
"Abomination."
She furiously threw the soiled handkerchief on the ground and straightened up - and immediately noticed that a dark shadow was hanging over her.
Sharply raising her head, Thalia screamed and fell to the ground. Barkas towered over her with a cold face.
- What are you doing here?
Thalia stared at him in shock, then jumped to her feet.
“Since when did he follow me?”
Her heart was thundering, even though she had not yet managed to do anything. Trying to maintain her composure, she raised her voice.
- You scared me! What is this habit of sneaking up like a rat?!
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
Letting her taunt go unheeded, Barkas opened his arms crossed on his chest and took a step forward.
Thalia involuntarily retreated, but immediately raised her chin:
- Why should I answer you? Why do you care where I am and what I’m doing?!
She turned around, about to leave, but Longboat suddenly appeared in front of her, blocking the way.
Caught between the cart and his tall body, Thalia looked up at him with alarm.
- What... what are you doing?
“If I leave you alone, who knows what kind of abomination you’ll get into again.”
She flinched at his harsh tone. He looked at her intently, then sighed restrainedly and nodded his chin:
“I’ll take you to the tent.” Go ahead.
- No... no need. I myself...
“Is there a reason why I can’t accompany you?”
Thalia reflexively clenched the handle of the knife in her pocket. Stupid. Now he will definitely suspect that she is hiding something.
Longboat narrowed his eyes. Seeing his gaze narrow, Talia abruptly pushed him away from her with both hands.
- What's your business?! Get out of the way!
Но, даже вложив в толчок всю силу, она не смогла сдвинуть его с места. He seemed slender, but his body was as strong as iron.
Trying to hide her fear, Thalia raised her chin arrogantly.
-Are you deaf? I said, move away!
He looked at her silently and slowly took a step back.
She did not miss the chance and immediately ducked into the narrow passage between him and the cart. But as soon as she tried to run away, a strong hand grabbed her arm and turned her around sharply.
Before she could scream, his fingers penetrated the folds of her dress and pulled out a knife, the blade of which she had carefully sharpened herself.
Turning pale, Thalia looked at him. Longboat ran his finger along the blade with a graceful movement, then looked up at her with an inscrutable gaze.
She could lie, say she wears it for protection. But looking into his piercing eyes, it seemed as if he was reading her thoughts. And all her fragile self-control crumbled to dust.
She attacked him with fury, as if her only toy had been taken away from her.
- Give it back!
He raised his hand with the knife up. Thalia stood on her tiptoes and reached with all her might, grabbing his uniform.
- Give it back! I said give it back to me!
Longboat looked coldly at the girl who had lost control, then threw the knife away. Thalia hurriedly bent down to pick it up, but before her fingers touched the hilt, a golden sabaton boot tossed the weapon far to the side.
Talia stared in confusion at the knife that had slipped under the cart, and was about to rush after her, but before her body touched the ground, a strong arm grabbed her waist and roughly lifted her to her feet.
She angrily twisted her face and stared at him with hatred, but Longboat’s face looked no less irritated.
“I won’t ask what you were going to do about it,” he moved so close that their faces were almost touching, and pronounced each word with icy clarity. His muffled voice sounded like a sharpened blade. “From now on, you will be under constant surveillance.” So throw all these useless and stupid plans out of your head.
Who are you to talk to me like that?
Who are you to take away what is mine?
Who are you anyway?
You who will become another woman's man.
You who will be gone forever.
You who make me want to kill her and then stop me from doing so.
Chaotic thoughts formed a lump in my throat.
She wanted to shout curses, but she was afraid that if she opened her mouth, she would burst into tears like a ten-year-old girl, and she clenched her teeth.
Longboat, without taking his eyes off, straightened up and with a slight movement of his chin pointed forward, as if he told her to go.
Talia flashed a look of hatred at him and quickly walked between the carts. And his words about “constant surveillance” were not empty threats - Barkas was following her like a shadow.
Once her heart sank with joy at the sound of his steps, but now this very sound caused disgust and chills. When she needed him, he was not there. And now, when she decided on her most important step, he appeared to destroy everything.
"To protect Ayla..."
No. Perhaps he is protecting Gareth.
He would never understand why she carried a knife in her pocket. She won’t understand why she doesn’t care about her brother, who beats her at every opportunity, but painfully hates her stepsister, who silently tolerates her.
She turned her head, looking at the camp, which had already begun to fall into darkness. Most likely, Isla is having a great time right now. Surrounded by those who love her, she enjoys every minute of the upcoming happiness.
Thalia remembered her ruddy face - and everything inside was distorted. Disgusting woman. She had everything, and her sad eyes and unhappy expression on her face when she saw Thalia were unbearable.
“I still want to kill her.”
With these thoughts, Talia unconsciously twitched her lips, tearing off the dried crust of blood, and then Longboat, walking behind, suddenly pulled her and sharply pushed her back.
She looked up at him in fear.
For a moment it seemed to her that he had read her thoughts, and her heart sank to her feet. But he wasn't looking at her.
He looked intensely at the sky. Thalia followed his gaze - and then took a convulsive breath.
Something huge, the size of a house, was rapidly falling down. Before she knew what it was, there was a deafening crash and a cloud of dust flew into the air.
- Monster!
After the cry of some soldier, heart-rending screams began to be heard from all sides.