The wagon rattled as they went. Felix sat at the front as she and Lucien occupied the back. Occasionally, they would chatter about all sorts of things, but many were the times they fell silent lest they give away too much.
They had met up with the caravan hours ago. A tall, heavy, muscled man, presumably the leader, searched their wagon before deeming them fit to follow.
He had missed the secret compartment that hid their assortment of weapons, a relief even though they still had some on their person, because it would be strange not to. So Felix and Lucien held unamusing swords to their sides while she had a lone dagger; to everyone, they were just a poor lot heading north to look for greener pastures.
Lyla looked to Lucien, who had his eyes closed —her fiancé. It had shocked her when Felix introduced them as a couple, and it had shocked her even further when he said they planned to get married very soon.
Lucien, although his face gave nothing away, had shown his displeasure by smacking Felix's head once they were far from the rest. The male only chuckled, winking at her.
He played the role of Lucien's stepbrother and self-appointed best man in the imaginary wedding. She hadn't bothered to address any of it, even in the times he whispered to them to act more like a couple, holding hands and whatnot.
Feeling her stare, Lucien's eyes cracked open.
"What?" he asked, but she just shook her head, looking away. This trip was going to be complicated.
The caravan stopped for the night in a small grassy field, and people moved to build a fire.
Soon, chatter filled the space, mugs of beer were moved around, and meat was roasted. For people who didn't know each other, everyone got along well.
Lyla sat a few steps behind the group, monitoring each individual.
There were a total of ten wagons as part of the caravan; the tall, musculine man, Gerald, and his wife owned the first one, and the two led caravans like this across Umbraeth. One had to pay a fine to join in, half before the trip, and the remaining once they reached their destination.
Their carriage was at the rear since they arrived last, Gerald had said, but they didn't mind; if anything, it kept the rest in clear view.
Chatter continued late into the night, and by the time she and her companions moved to their wagon, she still had no solid person or persons she suspected; most of them seemed to be hiding something.
"Anything," she whispered as they sat beside the wagon
"Nothing," Felix said, disappointed
"Same here," Lucien corresponded, sighing
"Well, it's just the first day; we still have time until we reach the Moon forest."
"Yeah, I'll take the first shift guarding, you two sleep," Lucien announced
They had agreed to take shifts through the night, not trusting the people around them, even though each wagon had a planned day to guard the rest.
"Okay, Laura, you take the wagon," Felix offered. There was only enough space for one person inside
"No, go ahead, I'm not sleepy yet."
Lying on the mat spread on the ground, she looked at the stars glimmering in the sky. She had always felt at peace during the night, and here in Umbraeth, the night sky seemed even more comforting.
Lucien lay on his steps from her gazing above as she did, and for a long while they sat in silence. Just as her eyes grew heavy and sleep beckoned her, she had him ask in a low voice
"Is that how my eyes look?"
She mumbled something even she wouldn't remember as she was whisked away into a dreamless embrace, but he heard her
"Your eyes are prettier."
A smile bloomed on his face as warmth filled his chilled cheeks.
*
The caravan continued as usual the next day, and although their observations bore no real fruit. The third day had at least narrowed down their suspicions.
So that night, as they stopped and huddled beside a fire, she snuck away, her mission: to search the wagons.
She started with the one just before theirs, the stars in the sky her only source of light. She rummaged through it as best as she could without disorganizing it. Nothing
Then she moved to the next and the next and the next.
The sound of boots crunched on gravel outside alerted her, and she rushed to replace the things she had moved. The wagon owner's humming drifted closer, lazy and casual, before his shadow fell across the canvas flap. She pressed herself flat against the crates, heart hammering so hard she was certain it would give her away.
She held her breath as the flap rustled as if he might peek inside.
Now.
She slid silently toward the back, fingers gripping the rough edge of the wood. The moment the owner's head turned toward the horse, she slipped down, landing lightly in the dirt. A quick crouch, a glance—he was busy fussing with the reins. Perfect.
Keeping low, she ducked to the other wagon, crawling beneath it and exiting through the side.
Someone pulled her, and the familiar scent of wood, rain, and spice surrounded her. She looked up to find starry grey orbs already on her.
Lucien leaned in, whispering in her ear, "Calm down." Could he hear how hard her heart beat?
His hand on her waist squeezed in reassurance, and she swallowed down the thrumming of her heart. He smiled down at her as if proud of even that small accomplishment.
Movement sounded around them as people started retiring for the night, but neither of them moved.
The small bite of her lower lip against the tension, dragged his eyes to them, and he couldn't help but wonder how they would feel on his. He swallowed, heavens, he desperately wanted to know.
Lyla had never felt so aware as she did right now: his scent, his hand on her, his proximity, his face mere inches away, and his eyes on her lips. They needed to move, but she couldn't; she didn't want to
Anticipation built in her as his eyes lingered, and just because, she slightly sucked her lip. His eyes shot to hers, and she might have imagined they got darker.
His other hand reached for her chin, pulling at her to release her lip before his thumb grazed it.
He leaned in and…
"Shit, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt."
Lucien released her, taking a step back, "ahh…we should be the ones apologizing. This your wagon?'
"Yeah, but you can proceed." With that, the bearded male turned and left, but she did not miss his grin
"Ummm, we should…" she started
"Yeah, yeah"
And just like that, whatever heat lingered between them drifted into the cool night.
*
Later, the three gathered inside the small wagon, and Felix sat beside her, practically vibrating with eagerness.
"Well?"
Lucien stared at her, but when her eyes lifted to his, he quickly averted his gaze. Felix turned to her, motioning for her to say something.
She sighed, and Felix's face fell in defeat, "I guess we'll have to try tomorrow, we still have two days before we reach…"
He stopped short as a grinning Lyla faced him, holding a small bag before him. He looked at her, then at it, then at her.
"is that…you…"
Felix grabbed the bag, smiling broadly, and opened it. Seeing the contents inside, he turned to her, engulfing her in a hug.
"Our little spy did it," she shushed him, giggling.
To her front, she caught Lucien's proud little smile as he took the bag.