Easily Acquired

The fire further in the cave crackled loudly in the otherwise still night. Standing at the cave’s mouth, Sophia prayed Redford was right. That the light wouldn’t carry into the darkness. That they wouldn’t be found by the hunter.

An eternity later, the normal chorus of the forest night resumed. The danger had passed, at least for now.

Sophia pressed her palms against her temples and turned back into the cavern. Relieved, she dropped onto the stone next to Redford silently. Her mind rattled with too many subject until they tied her tongue, allowing her to say nothing.

Redford broke the silence, “You did the best you could.”

Sophia glowered at the man. “I did the best with what you gave me.”

Redford’s gaze flicked up, meeting Sophia as his lips thinned into a narrow line. The look held the sharp reproach which would silenced any recruit back in Drakstone.

But they weren’t in Drakstone. Nor was Sophia just any recruit.

“You denied me your wisdom.”

Redford shrugged and, leaning backwards, braced himself against his knee. “Wisdom is easily acquired.”

Sophia sputtered, dropping her hands onto the rock’s sharp edges. He’d known. He’d always known. And he’d let them blunder into this predicament rather than share. The gall.

“Everything I could’ve said was in the journals you choose not to read.” Shaking his head, he leaned toward Sophia. “Admit it, Princess. You could have learned. Wisdom is easy to acquire, but hard to gain. Would you have listened before now if I’d spoken?”

“Did I ever not listen?”

His silence was answer enough.

Sophia stared at the fire, wrestling with the argument he’d hoisted upon her. Would she have learned? Would she have cared up until the moment knowing became necessary?

He’s right. Wisdom was easy to acquire, but hard to gain. Worse, he’d started calling her princess again.