The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 462: Something to share (1)

"We are close to where we will spend the night. There are a few stops I want to make to enjoy what I see on the map, but that would make it a little over three days before we reach the orphanage. Four if our stops are long," Annalise said, reading the map as the horse slowly carried her forward.

"This is a trip, Annalise. You are meant to enjoy the places you travel to," said Rafael.

"But we must also be quick before she is adopted by someone else. Hopefully, the letter you sent will stop that from happening. Is there really a small town where people throw swords into a fountain in hopes they are given talent?" Annalise asked, wishing to hear that it wasn’t true.

"There is. I’ve travelled through there once and saw the fountain. It is filled with swords," Rafael answered.

"How dare they," Annalise muttered, gripping the map. "It is a waste to throw swords in a fountain. Why not use the sword to train and be better rather than wishing for it to happen? Nothing gets done because you say you want it. You must do something to get it. We must go there."

Rafael thought differently to Annalise as he believed they should avoid the town. He imagined Annalise would go right to the fountain to take out all the swords and demand the owners to come to her so she could scold them.

She might even hit them with the same swords and then Rafael would be faced with defending her. Rafael would like to avoid tales of a strange woman coming to town and crying over swords in the fountain to be started. He didn’t want posters of Annalise going up.

"Maybe another day,’ Rafael replied. "There are more exciting things to see. We might not see them all together on this trip, so we will need to take another trip."

"I envy that you have much experience about the kingdom. You have the perfect job of fighting and travelling. I would happily trade places with you if I could. For a little time because I like my life," said Annalise.

"To get rid of this envy, you should let me wear your armour more often when we are alone. Your armour, not the one you had made for me. I would show you how grateful I am in return," Annalise said, folding up the map.

Rafael liked her offer and he now wanted to see how Annalise would look wearing his armour because it would be too big for her. It would be like a child dressing up in their parent’s clothes. "If that is what you want."

"Hmm. There you go again saying yes to me. If it is not something you would like, say no. For something else. I know that you like seeing me in your clothes. You shirts specifically. You made me late for a meeting with my mother," Annalise said, closing her eyes as the moment flooded her mind.

It would have been a hard challenge for them to not sleep with each other before the wedding came. Whenever they wanted each other, they didn’t attempt to hold off and let the moment pass. Annalise was told that they wouldn’t want to part with each other during their honeymoon and with that, it sounded to Annalise like they would spend their time after marriage in their home.

"We should stop here to camp for the night," Rafael said, looking around at the flat land with trees that would help to hide them from other travellers.

The day was soon coming to an end and there wasn’t anywhere close by for them to rent a room so they had to sleep outside until tomorrow. There would be a few stops they could make to rent a room from tomorrow so they wouldn’t have to sleep outside.

Annalise followed Rafael off the road to go into the trees to find the perfect place to set up a tent. Annalise slid off her horse and grabbed the reins to lead it to where it would be tied for the rest of the day.

Rafael was up ahead of Annalise to find where they would rest and when he did, he slid off his horse to tie it to a nearby tree. "Stay here with the horses, Annalise. I will look around for water. We’ll have to use the water we have if there isn’t any."

While Rafael wandered off to find water, Annalise decided to help by taking down what they needed. It would have been better if they still had Rafael’s carriage so they could sleep in it during the night and it would have helped with carrying more bags, but it was needed to escort her friends home.

By the time they reached the orphanage, Rafael’s carriage would be on its way to the orphanage so Lydia and Siena could use it as they wouldn’t be used to riding on a horse for long hours like Annalise was.

Annalise took down the cover for the tent and began to look around for sticks to help with building it up. She would normally prefer to just have a blanket and lay out without a tent, but the night would be cold.

As she walked, she kept an eye out on Rafael who was still visible because there weren’t many trees or bushes in the way. Annalise also looked out for anyone who might be curious to know who she was and where she was heading.

They had long passed where no one from the Castro kingdom travelled as it was considered too dangerous and reached where many travelled. They were bound to have guests at some point. Some annoying, bringing trouble, or some they might enjoy speaking to.

Annalise hoped to meet the latter because she wanted to make friends during her trip. People she could see again when she travelled months later and find out what was new in their lives.

Annalise heard leaves making a crumpling sound as they were stepped on and knew that it was Rafael coming to her. "I am looking for sticks to hold up the tent and to burn. There must be few that are not wet from what is left of the snow."

"There is some water flowing nearby but we’ll need to warm it up before giving the horses. It is ice cold. I will get some branches," Rafael offered, as he was tall enough to reach some in the trees. "Or you can just climb," he said, watching Annalise start to go up one of the trees. "Get down, Annalise. You could hurt yourself."

"Certainly not. I’ve climbed taller than this one. I will get all the good branches and break them for you to-"

Rafael lifted Annalise from the tree to stop her from going any further. "I can reach to grab what we need," he said, turning Annalise around to face him. "You ask that I say no, but you don’t listen when I do. Why do this when I am tall enough to reach? Are you listening to me?" Rafael asked as she seemed to be in a daze.

"I must be crazy for liking it when you disagree with my plans. Is there time for a quick kiss before continuing with setting up?" She asked.

Rafael looked to the sky, at the setting sun. It was later than when he wanted them to be set up for the night, but shouldn’t keep them back for long. "We have time," he answered.