Chapter 5 Recovery

Prince Jozin/Bane

He opened his eyes and sat up at the same time, a hand moving to his temple. He looked groggy for only a second but the girl remained quiet. Who was she? Why had she helped him? What did she want in return?

He looked up at her slowly. Questions in his eyes. She smiled softly but still did not speak. She was so beautiful, her skin shining in the sunlight like the aura of an angel. His heart skipped a beat when her pretty blue eyes met his. He shook his head to clear cobwebs from his thoughts.

After he had speared that soldier on the battlefield, he had retreated without anyone noticing. There was a barn nearby. He had hidden his leather armor caked in so much blood and donned a set of clothes that he had found in a closet, hoping they would make him less noticeable.

It had hurt so badly to walk on that leg. He had almost fallen a couple times just within the few steps in the barn. Fortunately, as he snuck out the back, his horse had found him. He didn't have the time to consider how it meant the horse caretaker was not doing their jobs.

Gratefully, Jozin had ridden into the forest. The pain had been so severe, especially in that bashed leg, that he had barely managed to get to his horse in the first place. But he had gone on until he found this girl. And then he couldn't go on.

He was acutely aware of the memories of the last day. The horse came over and nuzzled the back of his shoulder, pulling him out of his thoughts. The girl still had not spoken and he was thankful. Although she watched him thoughtfully.

He felt a little better. But his head pounded achingly. His body was sore from bottom to top. This is nothing, he thought, I've been through far worse. He sat up groggily.

Jozin continued to pet his horse's snout absently, as Sabrina stood. "I really must get back to my friends. They will be missing me."

Jozin smiled and she moved backwards. He knew that his wicked smile was out of place here. He assumed he had probably scared her. He lifted his eyebrows. "What did you do?" He asked, indicating his bandaged body.

She gave him a look that said she pitied his slow mental recovery. He fought back his angry response, she had helped him and he knew he was indebted to her. "I attended to your wounds is all." She said dismissively.

He chuckled. "Is that all?" Yes, he could tell she had cared for his injuries but there was something else. The pain was not as potent as he expected it should be. His wounds had settled down from searing and burning to a slight ache.

He had a headache, yes. But before he had passed out, it had felt like it was being split in two. All of the pain and discomfort he should be having was dulled.

She nodded her head. "Are you ok to get back to...." Her question ended there and he assumed it was because she did not know him and did not know where he would go.

He nodded. "Yes." A thought burned into his consciousness and he had trouble letting it go. "How long was I... not awake?"

She shrugged and glanced up at the sky. "A few hours."

Well that was a relief. At least it had not been a full day. He turned his attention back to her to see her still looking at him thoughtfully. But now she squinted those beautiful eyes, which accented her cute little nose. She opened her mouth as if to ask him a question and then quickly closed it. The motion drew his attention to those lovely full lips.

"What is it?" He asked hoarsely. He forced himself up to his feet. His knee hurt but it no longer felt as though it was being crushed with each movement, more like a sprain.

"I.." She paused, the single word melancholy and full of longing. Her tone changed to a guarded one, the longing and melancholy gone. "I have some family that live in Westerfall. I heard they had come under attack. Have you..." She paused again.

"Yes, I was there. It was a good fight." He said pridefully. She looked at him with an angry suspicion in her eyes.

He was sure the battle had ended. When he had looked over his shoulder as his horse strode from the battlefield, the homeland King's forces were scattered and struggling to stand on their own. "I could not stand to fight anymore. But I believe King Halbert has lost." The king's name seemed to bring more tears to her eyes.

She looked so mournful that he suddenly found himself torn. He wanted to be proud of his father and the accomplishment of taking the city. But this woman made him feel for all those that had lost their lives and were currently captured.

Jozin shook his head. He could not let this woman get to him. If his father had even suspected he was having such emotions, there would be a heavy price. "Was the King taken alive?"

He didn't know but he felt the need to reassure her for some reason. It grated on his nerves. But he nodded. "King Terrance will want the location of the sorceress that has helped him keep his city safe for so long."

She shivered and stood in front of him. Her feminine form was so hot. Her perfect perky breasts held above that slim waist and those hips... She was so tempting.

He wanted to reach out and grab her. He could take her here and there would be nothing anyone could do about it. She would leave this woods with his seed in her.

There were things that he did that seemed so inhumane at times. But his father had required him, punished him for not going through with it. He had long wished to hold onto his humanity. No, he would not do as his father surely would. He would not force her to her knees and...

"Like I said, my friends are awaiting my return. I must go." She said softly. "Thanks for the news." She spoke of thanks but her eyes were so sad.

He nodded. He did not want her to go. Something about her presence comforted him. He wanted to hold her to him and feel her breath push her chest against his. His eyes wandered across those lips again that looked so soft and sweet. She turned and started to walk away.

"My lady." He spoke out, surprising himself. Not once had he ever used that phrase before. It would surely have pissed his father off as a sign of weakness. He stepped quickly after her, ignoring the shooting pain in his leg. "Let me walk with you. It is dangerous in the woods."

She giggled, looking at him as if he was proof of what he was saying. But she did not give him a chance to respond. "Maybe for a while. But not all the way. The things they would say..." She giggled again and he felt a spot warm in his chest.