Chapter 38: Chapter 38Rose was surprised by the empty bowls before her. She didn’t intend to eat all the stew and rice but once she got started and found it to be delicious, she could not stop herself.

    "Well, this land brings interesting things. I’ve seen the day when a rabbit enjoyed eating one of its own. I will have them set aside enough for you to eat more of the stew in the morning and they will leave whatever they cook for you at the door tomorrow. I must go," Zayne said as it was getting late.

    If the sky got any darker before he decided to return to camp, it increased the risk of someone ambushing him. While he would love to see Rose go to her room and close the door, if he did not return soon the soldiers would get worried.

    "I will wash the bowls before I go to bed," Rose said, standing up with Zayne to walk him to the door.

    "Try not to overwork yourself, Rose. It is a simple job. I will bring the payment for your work upon my next visit. A worker should come before I return to do the cooking. Whatever you need to buy, you should use her to get it for you from the market. Do not leave those gates or go near them," Zayne advised Rose.

    "I know. I do not want to be seen by anyone even if they have no ties to Graham or Mathias. Please be safe on your way back," Rose bid Zayne goodbye.

    Zayne stopped by the front door, giving Rose one last look. She should be fine here in the hands of his guards. "Good night Rose."

    Rose held the door open after Zayne walked out heading toward his carriage. She was officially alone, getting to clean at her own pace and then do as she wanted. When Zayne returned, he was going to be amazed by how much she had cleaned.

    Rose closed the door and locked it after the carriage started to head out of the gates. She was quick to clean up the bowls they used and make her way up to her room to lock that door.

    Just like at the soldier’s camp, the first night felt scary as Rose didn’t know what to expect. She pushed one of the drawers to block the door and when she turned around, Rose stared at the bed. It looked like it would be comfortable to rest on for the night.

    If she would only be brave to sleep there instead of beside the bed then she could learn like she wanted to.

    Rose walked to the bed and sat down on it, her body feeling tired now that she was there. She laid down at the edge of the bed without her knife. She had taken a big step and once Zayne returned, she should be rewarded with his knowledge.

    Rose closed her eyes trying to fall asleep, but a small noise she heard from the window made her get up and find her way to the side of the bed. She had taken one step tonight so she should be applauded for that. Maybe tomorrow she will lay on the bed a little longer.

    Away from Rose, Zayne later returned to his camp after a long ride. His soldiers were nervous about his whereabouts as he expected.

    "Trying to have us search the kingdom for you, Zayne? This isn’t good land for you to go missing for an entire day on," said Finn, a fellow soldier and close friend of Zayne. "If you go missing here the king will have all of us killed. Just remember that when you are off exploring or were you with a woman?" Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Zayne walked by Finn and Lucy who were the only ones left waiting for him at the door.

    "Silly me. Our focused general wouldn’t be out with a woman. You are the same one who has been avoiding marriage talk back home. Your name travels far. What would you do if they suggested you marry one of the princesses here?" Finn asked.

    "He would not marry any of them," Lucy answered in Zayne’s place. He was set to marry one of the women from their kingdom so why should he come here to marry? "Do not put that idea in anyone’s head."

    Finn shrugged his shoulders. "What better way to end a war than through marriage? The kings are both married and neither one would accept sending their sisters as mistresses. Our prince here is not yet married."

    "I am your general," Zayne said, not wanting his other title to become talked about.

    "But still a prince. Which is why you are not to be gone all day without telling us where you have wandered off to. Everyone can rest now that you are here back in one piece. Dinner will be warmed up for you," said Finn.

    "I need to speak to you alone," Zayne said, slowly down as he reached the stairs. He needed someone to search for a woman to cook and Finn had been easily blending in here.

    Lucy frowned as it was strange for Zayne to not want to speak to her as well. She was always present for private matters. "Are you still angry with me?"

    "I am not thinking about you," Zayne answered.

    His mind was long off Lucy acting a fool since he had better things to do.

    Finn walked ahead of Lucy and then looked back to mouth, "Stop."

    Finn had always thought that it was a mistake that one of the women on the ridiculous list passed around was here with Zayne on this trip. Unfortunately, soldiers tended to find company in women after a long journey and while Zayne was more focused on a truce, there was no telling when there would be a woman to get his attention.

    It wouldn’t sit well with Lucy as she already viewed Zayne as her future husband but there was nothing she could do as Zayne never asked for her hand.

    "I find it amusing how much drama there is amongst soldiers. Lucy is hardly a woman to cry but I found her close to tears after you told her something about sending her back alone on a ship. We’ve talked about this, Zayne. You must try to be less blunt," said Finn.

    Finn could take it but there were others Zayne made cry.

    "If no one acts a fool, I won’t have to call them out for acting as one. Come in here and shut up," Zayne said after opening the door to his bedroom. "I need you to find a woman who can cook. Preferably one with a little age and will not speak of what she is hired to do. I need you to find her tomorrow."

    "A cook? Why couldn’t you tell me back then that you want a cook? Why be so secretive?" Finn questioned. Did Zayne not want them to see that he was getting other food cooked for him?

    "Because I can do as I please. No one needs to know what I tasked you with. When you find someone, have them go to the home I bought. That is all," Zayne said, finished with the conversation.

    Zayne began to undress as he needed to wash up. "Why are you still present? Do you wish to stand there and see me discard all my clothes?"

    "You are handsome, Zayne but far from my taste, which is a woman. I don’t know what is with all the secrets but I will get it done. Good night our little prince," Finn said, leaving Zayne alone to rest.