18 Chapter 18. Too Stupid

He stood above her when her eyes opened. Her heart beat frantically inside her chest when he kneeled in front of her. He studied then scanned her face.

Yuliah held her breath and watched him. He began to speak but paused. His brows came together, and the pupils of his eyes turned into a small dot and disappeared into the deep blue.

"I knew the North had strange customs. I didn't expect them to be this stupid. We need to leave now while there is still light out," his voice was gentler, but Yuliah could still hear the annoyance in his tone. Then he left without saying another word to her.

She tottered behind him out of the cave to where he stood next to his horse. He pulled her up into the saddle in front of him and off they headed down the dirt pathway.

It was an awkward ride between them neither one spoke to the other. While Yuliah hunched forward and tried not to fall back against his body, but every time the horse galloped or trotted a little too hard, she'd find herself tilt back against his hard body.

She did this for several hours until her back began to ache from her odd posture, but her pride overpowered her pain, and she kept up the front.

"You must have strong back muscles to be able to sit for so long like that," he said.

His warm breath brushed lightly against her ear then neck. Her body prickled mixed with a fluttery sensation in her stomach.

She hated this discomfort, and he seemed to be the cause of it but afraid that he'd call her bluff Yuliah straightened her posture. "Yes. I do," she answered loudly, but her muscles twitched on the brink of collapse.

She felt his arm around her waist and her body pulled back until it was pressed up rested against his chest.

His breath softly touched down on her neck again.

"You don't have to pretend any longer. Relax and lean back into me. You'll cause more complications if you hurt your back. So quit it with that posture," he said to her in a low tone.

Blood rushed to her cheeks and face, the same uncomfortable reaction she had before came back. "Why are you like this to me? One moment you're annoyed of me, for I can see and hear it in your tone of voice and the next you want to help me?" Yuliah's eyes began to moisten. His words were always harsh with criticism. "If you don't feel like helping me anymore I understand. We can go our separate ways once we get out of these mountains."

"I told your Father I'd get you to the Southern Kingdom and that's what I'll do. I don't like the decisions you make. They get in the way of the ones I've made," his voice less gentle now. "Do as I say, exactly when and how I say it. Then things between you and me will be fine."

Offended Yuliah asked, "Are you saying I'm unwise and make poor decisions?"

"Yes," he replied and said nothing else.

She couldn't believe he had just said that to her. His words were not kind at all. They were daggers that stabbed into her ego an ego that he killed bit by bit. "I hope I'm not too unwise when I ask this but where are we going?"

"No, you're not and were headed to Murai. I have to meet with someone there first before we head south," he said.

Yuliah shook her head in disbelief. Angry she kept her eyes ahead on the road, and for the rest of the ride, she did not speak to him again since she was too stupid.

It wasn't until night when Yuliah's head started to bob back and forth, and her eyes grew heavy that he finally spoke to her and broke the silence between them.

"Let's rest here for the night." She heard and then felt him gently nudged her side.

Too tired to respond Yuliah just nodded at him.

The treetops blocked out any light that tried to pierce through the canopy. It left Yuliah blinded in the dark, and she relied on him again to navigate them to where they would rest for the night. She held onto his cloak tightly as he lead them through the forest and then into a small clearing in the woods. She was warm earlier, but when they got off the horse, suddenly she felt the temperature changed, and with every breath, her lungs ached on top of being tired.

She sat still like he instructed while he built them a fire and finally when he finished Yuliah could see that they were in a small clearing but heavily surrounded by trees and shrubs. From his pack, he pulled out a bedroll.

"I only have this one we will have to share it," as he placed the bedroll onto the ground and motioned for her to come over.

"I don't think I can do that," Yuliah said through her chattering teeth.

"Our bodies are just flesh and bones. It does not represent who we are as a being. If that's what you are worried about your body. So come here before you freeze to death," he said to her this time his voice was tender.

"Yes, there is no wrong in this. All that she tried to do was to keep herself warmed," Yuliah thought to herself and walked over to where he laid.

He opened up the bedroll for her, and she climbed in. It was big enough for both of them if they stayed close to each other. She felt him move her hair to the side, "It's in my face, and it doesn't smell pleasant right now."

What? Yuliah quickly turned her head around to face him and gave him her dirtiest stare. "Well, I'm sorry I smell right now! If I could, I would love a bath! Who are you to talk you probably smell yourself!" She leaned into him and sniffed him, but she couldn't smell any hint of a bad body odor from him. Maybe she just needed to get closer. Yuliah scooted closer to him and sniffed hard again. This time her nose brushed up against the bone protruded in the center of his neck, and it stirred her senses. Yuliah quickly darted back and as she did her eyes met with his.

"Did you find it? What you were looking for," he smirked at her.

It was the first time she'd seen his face with a different emotion besides annoyance and seriousness. Her eyes were partially wide at the sight of his half smile. It seemed to mock her and made her feel not angry but silly, and she almost laughed but held back. Maybe she lacked sleep? Yes, that must be it as she felt her face flushed again, and those uncomfortable feelings returned. Quickly Yuliah turned around so that her back was to him before he could see. Now that she did not have to face him anymore she realized that they had spent all this time together and she had no idea what his name was.

"I hope this isn't another stupid thing I'm doing here but what's your name?" There was only silence, and he didn't answer her. "Fine. If you don't want to tell me, we can forget it then." Her eyes were heavy again. "I'm going to sleep now."

Yuliah felt his arms slide around her waist as he pulled her towards him. "It's cold we'll need to stay close to each other, and you can call me Ryas. We have an early start tomorrow so get some sleep Yuliah," he murmured.

Did he know her name all this time? Yuliah wondered, but her eyes were heavy and blurred now more than before but his name she liked the sound of it. She said it out loud. "Ryas," before she drifted off to sleep.