The Crown's Fire - Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Hot Spring
“Where is she…”

Some time had passed since Ezekiel had returned, and he was starting to notice something ever since Tarah had told her she would be going somewhere. Hours had already gone by since she left, and she had still not returned to his side. She was practically attached to him for days now, and to find her missing made him feel something that he had never felt before.

“Did something happen to her…” he muttered to himself, his worry growing with every second that passed. “She should be here by now…”

Surely, nothing had happened to her, right? She shouldn’t have gone far, and the protective barrier around the camp would ensure that no enemy would be able to enter their territory without alerting the proper authorities. Knowing all that, she should be within walking distance.

‘Wait, why can’t I just contact her through our bond?’

Ezekiel blinked at such an obvious answer. He didn’t even realize it earlier, but he could always just ask Tarah herself through their new connection.

[Tarah? Where are you?]

Going through their bond, Ezekiel broadcasted her thoughts to her. He then waited for her to respond… Only, she didn’t. All was quiet in his head, and it only further fueled the worry brewing within his chest.

[Tarah?!]

His eyes went wide as his worries came back in full force. If she couldn’t even contact him through their bond, then something must’ve happened for it to be so. He should look for her right then and there!

Wait… Cora was last with her, right? He should ask her first.

Swiftly exiting his tent, Ezekiel kept a keen eye on his surroundings as he shouted out her name. “Cora?!”

Immediately, his loyal subject quickly appeared by his side. “Yes, Your Highness?”

“Where’s Tarah?”

Cora blinked before replying, “Ah, I left her somewhere near the protective barrier. She should be there somewhere.”

Nodding, Ezekiel followed Cora to where she last saw Tarah. Despite this, the worry in his heart only grew with every step. It was almost as if he knew that he wouldn’t find what she was looking for at the end of their journey.

And sure enough, once they arrived, Tarah was nowhere to be seen.

“A-Ah…” Cora fearfully gasped. “She was just here when I left her…”

Ezekiel gritted his teeth in both anger and worry. He had instructed Cora to never let Tarah off her sights. It would seem that he had to discipline her somehow, but that would have to wait until his Seer was finally by his side.

“Tarah?!” he called out toward the empty forest. “Where are you?!”

Silence was the only thing that returned, and it didn’t take him even a second before calling out her name again. With every second of silence that followed, the sinking feeling in his chest only grew deeper, and it didn’t take long before he found himself scouring every single inch of the nearby forest.

“Cora! Spread out!” he all but shouted at her. “Look for Tarah!”

“Y-Yes, Your Highness!

With his haphazard orders given out, Ezekiel returned to his search. Again, she couldn’t have gone that far. There was no reason for her to leave, which meant that she should be near enough to hear his voice.

Surely, she was safe. Surely, he was only worrying for nothing.

***

Tarah let out a sigh as she returned to the forest through the same black portal she came in. Dealing with Devon was a pain as usual, but thankfully, she was back in the relative safety of Ebodia’s sphere of influence. All she had to do now was make sure that she hadn’t caused too much of a scene by disappearing-

“Tarah?! Where are you?!”

-without warning… Unfortunately, it would seem that the Prince was already trying to look for her.

‘I thought I had enough time,’ she winced as she heard her name being shouted by the Prince at regular intervals. ‘I have to look inconspicuous…’

Looking around, Tarah did her best to try and spin her way out of the situation. She was sure that she could come up with something. All she had to do was find a decent alibi that would explain why he couldn’t find her.

Making sure to temporarily avoid Ezekiel, Tarah eventually found what looked to be a hot spring. It was probably the hotspring Cora mentioned.

“Perfect…”

Nodding to herself, she stripped herself before soaking her body in the hot spring. She then cast a faint protection spell around her that could explain her being unable to be contacted by any sort of communication. It wasn’t much, but it would be more than enough for her needs.

Letting out a sigh, Tarah then simply waited for Ezekiel to find her. He was getting close, and it didn’t take long until he finally stumbled upon her.

“T-Tarah?”

Ezekiel’s tone of relief almost made her heart skip a beat even as she did her best to look as shy and coy as possible. She covered herself with her arms, refusing to look the prince in the eye for now.

“Ah… Were you looking for me?” she innocently asked.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” he grunted. “This is where you’ve been all this time?”

“I… Yes?” she meekly replied. “I just saw this hot spring while taking a stroll earlier. I had dismissed Cora before that though, having thought that I was going to be back in camp shortly. I guess I just lost track of time…”

“You… You worried me to death, Tarah…” Ezekiel sighed.

“Apologies, Your Highness…”

“And the reason why I can’t call you through our bond?”

“Ah… That’s probably because of the spell I used to protect myself,” she coolly lied. “The spring is located just outside of the camp’s protective barriers. It wouldn’t do for me to be defenseless when I could do something.”

“I see… Well, at least you’re safe…”

Tarah smiled upon hearing Ezekiel’s worry for her. This was one problem avoided, at least. She kept her cover intact, and it didn’t even take much for her to do it.

She just hoped that Ezekiel would forgive her if things ever came to light.