Knight's End (The Knight Trilogy) by Jami Montgomery

Aston, about why he was searching for the Rogue. Would it hurt for the boy to know she was a princess? In answer to Richie’s question, she nodded. His smile returned and he hugged her, wrapping his grimy arms around her neck and squeezing gently.
    “Help him be free,” he whispered, before scampering off to Asto n’s side. “I brought you Edward ‘cause I thought you might need him,” he told Aston. Aston nodded and ruffled the boy’s hair. After a quick goodbye and a heartfelt hug, Richie left Jade and Aston in silence.
    Jade watched Aston fiddling with the horses, tugging on their reins and checking their saddles. She could tell he wanted to ask her something.
    Finally, he turned. “So…I guess you don’t have any questions I can’t answer now.”
    “You’re a runaway knight.”
    A quick nod from Aston confirmed. “You’re really intent on coming with me?” he asked. When Jade nodded, he pointed her to the white stallion. “Up you go, then. We have a quick stop to make along the way.” At Jade’s questioning look, he said, “We need to get you some clothes. And a bath.”
    Jade scoffed and turned away from Aston. He smiled and climbed on Sterling’s back, tucking the envelope from Richie into his satchel to read later .

 
    “There is nothing like returning to a place
that remains unchanged to find
the ways in which you yourself
have altered”.
- Nelson Mandela –

Ten
     
    The trees were thickly packed together in this part of the forest, barely allowing room for their horses to wal k through. Over head, birds sang in the highest branches of pine and cypress, saluting the morning. Quiet, melodic tinkling could be heard from the water running through a nearby brook. The sun shone lightly through the canopy of tree limbs, making small, well-lit patches between the dark shadows of low-hanging branches. Across the path, various flowers wound and flowed. Pink, red, yellow, and white decorated the thick grass of the forest floor. A light wind pulled at Jade’s hair, gently whipping it into her face before pushing it back again.
    She tried not to stare at Aston’s back on their ride to…wherever he was t aking her. He hadn’t said much to her since their exchange that morning, and she feared he was still angry. She hadn’t meant to act so spoiled; as a princess, it was almost second nature. Deciding it had been quiet long enough, Jade urged her stallion forward so that she was riding next to Aston instead of behind him.
    Aston spared a glance in her direction before putting his eyes forward again. “Yes?”
    “Oh..um..” Jade hadn’t expected him to say something first. She was still trying to think of a topic for conversation. “I was just…wondering…um… why did you run away?”
    “I thought Richie explained everything to you,” Aston said, glancing at her again.
    Jade blushed and looked down. “He did, sort of. I just wanted to hear it from you, I guess.”
    Aston sighed, but relented. Jade wished she could see into his mind and figure out what he was thinking. “I worked for King Donn in Fridel. I’ve been a knight for three years. Well, I guess I had been a knight. I don’t think I can use the title anymore.” At this, a frown graced Aston’s features, but he shook it off and continued. “I’ve never failed a mission and some of the oth er men hated me for it. They said I was too kind-hearted.  It never bothered me. I didn’t realize how much Prince Talbot hated me, though.”
    “Why do you think the prince hated you?” Jade asked, her curiosity peaking. She wanted to know everything about the man beside her.
    “He’s the one who lied to King Donn and told him I was the one who failed in my duties .” When she continued to stare at him, Aston sighed. “Talbot and I were sent to Adion to stop The Rogue Royal from murdering Duke Aeron.” Jade stiffened; Aston didn’t seem to notice. “A woman screamed while we were sneaking into the palace and Talbot took off,