The Blacksmith Prince by Osiris Brackhaus & Osiris Brackhaus

Author:Osiris Brackhaus & Osiris Brackhaus [Beryll & Brackhaus, Osiris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Osiris Brackhaus
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT – DRIFTING AMONG THE STARS

They had barely reached the bridge of Beronsac when Giraud broke down.

Night had fallen completely by now, and an almost full moon hung brightly over the cliffs, illuminating the road and glittering on the lazy waves of the river to their left. They had been leading their horses in a swift canter since they had passed the gates of Castelfort, with Giraud going ahead. They both wanted to put as much distance between them and that town as quickly as it was possible without it looking like an escape. But as soon as the cliffs of Beronsac loomed on the horizon, promising safer ground, Giraud let his horse fall back until he was side by side with Jehan.

“I – I am so sorry,” Giraud pressed out. “This is all my fault. I should never have dragged you into this, and...” His voice broke off, as if choked by tears of anger he was valiantly trying to suppress.

A swift glance to the side showed Jehan that Giraud indeed looked miserable, and despite everything, he couldn't make himself feel anything but worried. So he pulled his horse closer and grabbed Giraud by his baldric, forcing him to slow down until they both came to a halt.

“Hey,” he said, placing a calming hand on Giraud's shoulder. “You didn't want anything that happened to you, either, and now –”

“Stop trying to defend me! It is all my fault, and now my parents are dying, and that Prince hates us, and you hate me, and – “

“Giraud! Shut up!” Jehan barked, and surprisingly enough, Giraud did as told.

Jehan used the moment of silence to wipe his face, cursing softly as the salt of his sweat burned in the scraps on his palm and the bruises on his face smarted. Next to him, Giraud was still breathing in jagged bursts, his legs twitching with nervous energy, making his horse just as jumpy.

“Nobody hates you. I don't hate you.”

Now, Giraud's expression mellowed to something between gratitude, self-loathing and despair, something that Jehan only found marginally easier to stomach. Strong emotions he didn't know how to make sense of, indeed.

Good Lord, that boy was in no condition to be on his own, right now. The thought of dropping Giraud off at his parents' and leaving him out of sight for the better part of a night and maybe half a day tomorrow filled him with dread. There were just too many short-sighted, heroic things Giraud could attempt in that time. And he could still do a lot more harm to himself and his loved ones than he already had.

A look up at the stars told him that it was still well before midnight, and with a little bit of luck, things would look a lot clearer after a few hours of sleep. Also, maybe his own body would have stopped aching all over by then.

“Here's what we'll do,” he said firmly, leaving no room for Giraud to voice any doubts. “We'll ride to my place now, get cleaned up and sleep.

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