The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 56: A New Companionship

The wolf chuckled looking at the moon. "She’s a beauty, isn’t she? Waning or waxing or on a full moon day, she’s the prettiest..."

"If you say so," Jessamyn smiled wryly. She had long forgotten the intrigue of the moon.

But she could understand that she was not the only careful one. The wolf too didn’t want to reveal his identity, she understood.

Maybe he doesn’t work for the council...?

Both of them sat in silence staring at the moon.

Suddenly the wolf stood up. Jessamyn was startled by his sudden movement and looked at him with her eyes wide.

Did he sense any danger around?

"Am I safe? You won’t pull out your crossbow on me out of nowhere, will you?" He asked.

Jessamyn ended up giggling. "No, I won’t."

He then shuffled to the side while side-eying her.

Jessamyn laughed seeing his reaction. Why is he pretending to be scared of me? "Even if I did, you’ll be fine, won’t you, Ye Great One?" She asked and scooted closer to him.

The closer she moved the farther he tried to move away.

"You can’t be trusted, Crossbow Lady," he said.

"You’re not going to call me Purple Hood like the others?" She asked. She likes that he called her by her weapon. He was the first one to call her by her weapon.

"Your bow is deadlier than your hood. I’ll give the proper respect to your hands and the bow they hold," he bowed his head.

Jessamyn couldn’t stop laughing. "I don’t think you should bow to me," she said although she had a feeling that he bowed in a joking manner.

"I’ll bow to the future Archduchess," he said.

Jessamyn’s smile froze on her face. So, he knows who I am.

Now that there was a tip in the balance, Jessamyn felt uneasy. "You won’t tell me who you are?" She asked bringing her confidence.

"I’m the Great One," the wolf winked.

Jessamyn rolled her eyes.

"Don’t be disheartened. I’ll give you clues to make it interesting," he added.

"Are you a friend or a foe to the Council?" She asked.

If he knew who she was for the outside world and in the forest, she had a strong feeling that he knew about the council too.

She was a little sad if she had to lose this odd friendship she shared with him. It had been a while since she made a new friend whom she laughed with. She wanted new people in her life.

The wolf stared at her for some time. She looked at him eagerly although she didn’t know what answer she expected. Even if he said he was against the Council, did she want to lose this friendship? 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

She rarely felt a connection with another person. This wolf is someone who saved her life. She didn’t want to lose him.

"Which answer would keep me close to you?"

Jessamyn giggled covering her mouth. "You’re glib, Ye Great One. I bet you’d have no trouble getting the company of ladies out there..."

"I’m making you laugh; I must be talented."

Jessamyn stared at the wolf. "What do you think of me?"

"I’m glib, did you forget? I’m not answering you," he turned his face.

"It appears that you don’t have a single good opinion about me," Jessamyn feigned anger.

"I still don’t trust the hothead lady who shot me with a silver arrow. I barely survived, " the wolf scoffed and turned his face.

"You do look like someone who barely survived a deadly lady," Jessamyn laughed.

The wolf laughed with her. The two of them bantered about mundane things for some time.

Jessamyn didn’t even realize that the sky had started to brighten as they talked about the weather, the falling leaves, and the crawling bugs.

"It’s time..." The wolf stood up and stretched himself. "It was nice talking to you, Crossbow Lady."

"You’re leaving?" That shock was Jessamyn’s reaction seeing him getting ready to leave.

The wolf stood majestically and looked at her with his head tilted.

Jessamyn realized she needed to curb her enthusiasm a bit. "I too enjoyed our time together, Ye Great One," she bowed her head.

"Can you find me some other name?" The wolf appeared to be displeased being called The Great One.

Jessamyn smiled sweetly hugging her knees. "I shall call you by your name if you wish to..."

"Great One sounds nice," he chuckled. "See you later," he turned to leave.

"When?" Jessamyn asked. As she tried to stand up in a hurry, she tripped on her skirt and fell to her knees.

"When is later?" She asked.

She didn’t even realize how desperate she sounded. She couldn’t think about anything else. She needed someone to talk to; someone she didn’t know. The most she liked about their interaction was the anonymity. She could laugh because she had no history with this person.

Even if he knew who she was, she didn’t mind. She didn’t think he’d go around spreading rumors about their meeting with others. He valued his privacy too.

The wolf walked to her and placed his front paw on her head. Still on her knees, she looked into his eyes. His eyes had softened considerably. She had a feeling of a protective elder from his touch.

"It’s dangerous for you out here. Don’t walk on your own..."

"But I want to talk to you..." she said, forgetting all propriety. She was desperate for some companionship--a companionship where she could laugh without caring for what that person might be feeling so as not to bring down their mood and companionship that didn’t cause her pain.

The wolf didn’t say anything for some time. Then he chuckled softly. "How about tomorrow night?"

"Yes!" Jessamyn answered before he finished. Her face bloomed with a smile.

"Do you know your way back to the castle?" He asked.

Jessamyn nodded.

"Go, then," he said with a tender affection she missed in her life. "If Jerrick didn’t see you there he will cause a ruckus."

Jessamyn nodded. She dreaded going back there.

"You know him..." She mumbled as the wolf walked away. Maybe this won’t last... I can never have anything good...

"He’s the last person you need to be afraid of," the wolf said.

Jessamyn looked up. The wolf stood facing her. The sky was getting brighter and she saw the first rays of sun peeking from behind the wolf.

"Are you close with him?" She asked. Will he tell Jerrick about our meeting?