Chapter 196: First Night.

In the end, Xina joined the king’s entourage as they traveled to the western region, from where the troubling reports had surfaced. Despite her presence in such a serious company, no one questioned her identity. Xina was always by the king's side, and if not with Gary, she was with either Canan or Gallahan. This proximity made it clear to everyone that she was someone of importance—possibly the future queen, even though no official announcement had been made yet. The journey itself was no easy task. It would take four to five days, and they often needed to camp out in the open. Aside from Dalia and a few warriors Xina had come to know, it was Canan, not Archer, who accompanied them on this journey. Xina found this unfortunate; she would have preferred Archer’s presence, as she felt more comfortable around him. On their first night camping beneath the stars, Gary looked at her with concern. “We’ll be out in the wilderness like this for several days. Do you think you’ll be able to man