I just hope I have a quick enough head start.
I kept running through the forest for what felt like forever before I took a real deep breath and slowed down. I found a dried out creek bed and took a moment to wash some of the sand off my skin. It was very itchy and irritated me to no end.
I need to establish a plan and quickly.
While I feel like I am heading in the right direction, I have no actual clue where I am. Do I need to head towards my right or my left? I need to make sure I don’t get turned around, but I can’t leave visible signs as markers in case they left the ship and are looking for me.
I looked around me to see what is at my disposal. I found a rock on the ground, which had a sharp point on the side. I quickly picked it up and turned it so that the point faced the direction I came, and then placed it back where I found it.
There, one tiny problem solved.
I could really use my magic right now. How can it be that it’s gone?
I refuse to believe that. I desperately need it for my fight ahead.
I stretched my hand out and tried to create a fireball in my hand. But there was nothing, not even a spark. I let out a quiet sob.
How will I survive until I make my way back to the castle?
I reached for my control of water and felt nothing; besides, the sticky water still sticking to what was left of my clothes. I am a dud.
What do I do now?
Every second I am out here and not back at my castle, I am exposed and in extreme danger. I need to make a weapon to defend myself. I felt my side out of habit and missed the feel of my sword. I could use the strength of the mountain that is engraved into the hilt. I could also really use that sharp blade to help me stab someone if needed.
Because I was hiding in trees, there was no shortage of sticks to make a spear. I found a sharp rock and used it to cut away at the end of a straight stick. I felt myself breaking out into a sweat from the physical toll it took on my already weak body.
When I was satisfied with the point, I realized I need to move to my next priority, water. I can’t stay here, but I need to hydrate and then move along. Who knows how depleted I am after floating in the ocean all night?
I stopped all movement and listened. Maybe my ears are playing tricks on me, but I thought I heard the slight trickle of water. I walked in that direction, making sure to point my spear at all times in the direction of the water.
After walking through thick foliage, I found the source of the sound. I came across a creek that flowed downhill back towards the ocean I fled.
I smelled the water and didn’t observe anything of concern, so I stuck my face in the water and drank. I took in what I could and then took a moment to think. Because the foliage is thick here, I have some cover for now, and I would hear anyone approaching. I needed to rest and take a moment to figure out some missing pieces of my plan.
Obviously, I need to get my ass back to the castle as soon as possible, but I don’t know where it is, and I don’t know if I am being chased, or if the knights are out looking for me?
I wonder if Wisdom had been able to get the survivors to the shore and away from the ship? Did he make it back to the castle or a meetup point with the Knights who had been expecting us back today? If so, were they alerted I was missing yet? Would they assume I drowned, or would they come looking for me?
If I knew Axel, he would come looking for me himself. But how many resources could we spare? They can’t leave the castle unattended while they are looking for me. That just invites Tate to take advantage of the situation further.
I let out another sob.
I really am in a hot mess.
I am stranded, almost defenseless, hungry, and tired. I feel the tremendous amount of guilt that never seems to stop following me, and it continues to grow as more tragedy finds me.
I just need to get back to my castle. I can’t sleep here and make my body defenseless. I can’t go back to my apartment. I have what, days before I become severely dehydrated there?
I wish I still had the communication charm that would allow me to speak with Axel right now, but like the idiot I am, it is sitting on my desk in the ship and is now on the bottom of the ocean.
I decided to get one more drink of water and to relieve myself while I am in cover, and then I would follow the creek uphill. Hopefully, that will take me to a town that could then get me back to the castle. The stream would also not leave any traces of my travel. It would be unhelpful for those who I want to track me, but keep me hidden from those that will cause me harm.
I took off my slippers and walked uphill from the creek. The water was cold, but it helped keep me awake and moving.
I was caught in my ever-spiraling thoughts when I heard shouting coming from behind me. It was a reasonable distance back, but they were likely moving faster than I am. Unfortunately, I don’t know who it is, friend or foe, so I need to keep moving.
I picked up my pace and kept running through the creek, trying not to slip and fall and bust my face on a rock.
My heart picked up its pace along with my feet and my thoughts. This is literally a fight or flight situation, and flight it will be until I have to fight.
The yelling got louder, and they were calling for me by name. Did they know I was alive, or were they just canvassing the area in case? They were going to catch me before I could get where I need to. I need to hide and identify who it is searching for me to determine what happens next.
I looked around me, where can I hide?
My head turned upwards, and I had my answer.
The treetops were thick with foliage. I could hide up there and figure out what happens next. I climbed the closest tree, which was not easy in a slip and barefooted.
I am confident I have a splinter or five in the bottom of my feet, but I got nestled into the foliage just before someone came into view from my perch.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Iwatched as two guys ran through the trees below me, calling my name. They did not give me warm and fuzzy feelings. They were wielding swords and looked angry. One was on either side of my tree, and they were following the path of the creek.
That means that eventually, I will not be able to resume my prior direction when I decide to leave the tree’s safety.
I just knew these were not knights that belong to either of my Kingdoms.
Either of my Kingdoms.
I had to hold back a sob. I almost forgot that I inherited another Kingdom when my friends were poisoned, and here I am hiding for my life up in a tree.
It’s much different from the last time I hid in a tree. This time I don’t have the element of surprise, and I am being hunted. I also had Axel with me last time. I would give anything to have him here with me now. He would know what to do to get out of this mess.
I watched as they moved almost out of my line of sight. Before the pair were hidden entirely, I could see them standing in the distance. They sheathed their swords, and their back was to me.
What are they doing?
Then it dawned on me. They were urinating, and I could catch them with their pants down if I could be quick enough and grab a sword.
I climbed down the tree as quickly as possible and made a mad dash for the two men. I was as quiet as a mouse without any shoes. I got behind the man to the right. When my hand was on the handle of his sword, I knew I had already won this battle.
I pulled the blade from the sheath and startled the hell out of the guy. He called out in surprise. I quickly put the edge to his throat, and then he was done for.
He fell to the ground in a heap. Behind him was his now terrified friend. His sword was drawn, and he was taking a step back.
“If you call out to anyone, I will put a blade through your neck before you finish. Do you understand me?” I asked.
He quickly nodded his head.
I quickly disarmed him and took his sword. I grabbed his bag from his shoulder, searched through it, and found a bunch of supplies I was not surprised
to see.
I grabbed the rope from the bag and used it to secure the guy’s hands and feet once he was safely sitting on the ground.
“I’m going to let you live, but you are going to give me something in return,” I said to him quietly, but firmly.
I absolutely mean business, and I need to convey that.
“What do you want in turn?” he asked me while looking around for a possible escape route.
“You’re going to tell me where we are at and how far I am from the castle, and then you will point me in the right direction,” I countered.
He swallowed hard.
He could be killed if his prince found out that he got captured by me, then he helped me escape. However, he is out of options, because if he can’t help me, he’s dead now.
I could see the man thinking through his options, but he finally conceded.
“You have made it far from the coast and your sunken ship. Your castle is twenty miles from here in that direction,” he said, nodding his head behind him.
“It’s straight behind you?” I asked him.
He nodded.
“How can I help you? I know your prince will kill you on sight if he finds out you aided me. Can I knock you out to give you an alibi? I could beat you up to show that you didn’t help me, and I left you for dead before running,” I offered.
He thought about it for a moment and then eagerly nodded. So I did what he wanted and then moved along.
I stole his bag and cut him free. He won’t chase me without a weapon, and who knows how long he will remain asleep?
I took both swords, and then I ran.
Twenty miles isn’t crazy. I need to make it there today. People run marathons in a day, so I can do this. I have to do this. My life and my Kingdoms are on the line.
This was going to suck so much, but my anxiety would fuel this trip.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Axel
Iam absolutely beside myself. Violet’s ship was expected at the port this morning, and it didn’t show. I also did not hear from Violet last night by communication charm. I had given one to Wisdom as well, and nothing from him either.
Something had to be wrong, and I am absolutely terrified of being right.
When our big sun was high in the sky, I knew I had to do something. I saddled my horse and selected fifty men to accompany me to the dock where Violet was expected back hours ago.
When I got there, nothing could prepare me for what I saw. There were knights everywhere scattered on the beach. The Tate Naval ship was far in the distance but watching. There were injured men, and bodies of those who must have drowned, but our boat was gone.
I quickly put together the pieces. The ship had sunk, my men swam to shore, and Violet was nowhere to be seen.
I saw Wisdom far off on the beach tending to someone. He was hunched over and looked like he hadn’t slept in days.
I urged my horse over to Wisdom and called out to him.
“Where is she?!”
He looked up at me startled, and his hesitation told me everything I needed to know.
I felt my heart sink and fall to the floor. My horse could step on it, and I would no longer feel it.
“Hope is not lost. She was next to me when the ship went down. She was alive and well at that point. She could have swum to shore. There was so much chaos; I just don’t know. The storm was so dark and violent. I just don’t know,” he said.
“Do you have a way to contact her through magic?” I asked.
He shook his head.
“I am afraid our charms are at the bottom of the ocean. And I have some other bad news to share. Violet’s magic is gone. When I counteracted the poison, the cure took her magic. It can be temporary or permanent; before the ship when down, it wasn’t working. She tried with everything she had, but she couldn’t access her magic.”
That felt like a giant kick in the gut. Violet was still without her magic. If she was alive, she was out there almost defenseless.
“Did she at least have her sword?” I asked breathlessly.
Wisdom shrugged.
“I don’t know. There was so much chaos. You have no idea what we faced. We were trying to outrun a violent storm, while also trying to outrun the Tate Naval ship, which you can see off in the distance. They sent out a handful of people to search the beach and the lands up to the castle. We have to hope that if she is out there, she gets to the castle before they do, or she is in further danger.”
I don’t think my heart can take listening to any more of this.
“In the absence of the Queen, I have the authority to initiate a military attack. I want fire launched at that Tate Naval ship, and I want it sunk now. I don’t care what you have to do to see it done.”
Wisdom nodded his head.
“Consider it done. I will get a couple of magic workers at our disposal with control over fire to start an all-out assault on the ship. What will you do?” Wisdom asked.
“I am going looking for her. I refuse to believe that she drowned. I am going to put together a search party and go looking for her. I need to find her before those from Tate do.”
With that, I turned my horse around and took off towards my men. I split them into groups and told them to bring her straight to the castle should they find her.
With that, I took off towards the forest off to the right. If I were her, that’s where I would hide.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Violet
Iran for as long as my legs would carry me. A whole sun cycle passed, and I have now been up for a day and a half.
Saying I was exhausted was an understatement. I had to be close to the castle. If I wasn’t, I would pass out due to exhaustion, and then who knew what would happen to me? Adrenalin could only carry me so far…
As I was trying to figure out how much further I could go before I would need to take cover and sleep, I heard the thundering of hooves. If I had to guess, I would say at least three horses.
Then suddenly I heard voices calling my name.
“Violet!” was repeated over and over.
I could hear the voice in the distance. Then I heard a word that completely took me off guard and nearly brought me to my knees.
“Ice skates!”
That was Axel! He was the only one who knew about that here. Suddenly my adrenalin surged, and I went running for his voice.
“Axel!” I called running towards the sound of the hooves, which were growing more distant.
“Axel!” I cried out again.
The sound of the hooves stopped, but I still couldn’t see the horses or my love.
Did they already ride into the distance? Did I miss him? Please tell me I didn’t miss him! I don’t think I can go much further on my own. I’m hungry and exhausted. My feet hurt, and my splinters are sore. I’m dirty, sweaty, and miserable.
I came crashing through the tree line and saw the most beautiful sight I have ever laid my eyes on.
Axel was on his horse, a football field away from me. He had knights surrounding him. They were quiet and still like they were listening for me. Maybe they had heard me cry out.
“Axel!” I called just in case.
He turned his horse around at the sound of my voice, and before I knew it, he was off his horse and running at me full steam ahead.
I continued running to him with tears streaming down my face. I was with him, and I was safe.
When he reached me, his arms went around me into a fierce hug. If I weren’t desperate for his protective touch, it might have hurt, but I didn’t care. I was back with Axel; my prayers to the Goddess had been answered.
“Axel, oh my god Axel…” I said, but he cut me off before I could finish.
“Shhhh, its ok love, we are going to get you back to the castle where you are safe.”
Before I could say or do anything further, he put his lips on mine in a passionate kiss that melted me to my core. There was so much passion, heat, and desperation there it could have burned me
. But I felt the same way he did; I was worried that we would never be able to do this again.
How many times during my desperate journey back to the castle did I wish that I could see Axel one more time? Here I am, finally getting my wish, and I was so happy I was crying.
He picked me up with one hand beneath my back and the other underneath my legs. I put my arms around my neck to help him support me.
We made it to his horse, and he put me on her back before jumping on himself. He guided us in the direction of the castle. I relaxed as much as I could, and my back rested against Axel’s front. I was so glad to feel his warmth and smell his comforting scent.
When our ride was finished, and the castle was within my sight, I cried tears of joy again. Axel helped me down, and I was quickly escorted to my room. I was considered in a state of undress here in just a dress slip, no one needed to see their Queen like this, even with what I went through.
I pushed through my bedroom door in a hurry and found Trin sitting on my bed, hugging my pillow crying. She looked up as I entered the door and blinked. She rubbed her eyes like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
“Violet?”
“Yes Trin, it’s me. For the love of the Goddess, come give me a hug,” I said, so happy to see her.
She raced off the bed and was in my arms before I could make another move. She cried into my shoulder.
“Axel sent communication by charm. Your ship sank, and you weren’t found,” she said between sobs.
“Shhhh. It’s ok. I’m here, and it turns out I’m an excellent swimmer,” I told her.
She pulled back at my joke and smiled, then she hiccupped.
“Look at you,” she said, referring to my state of undress and absolute filth.
“Tell me about it,” I said.
“Let’s get you to a bath, so you don’t stink up the castle,” she said and smiled at me through her tears.
Axel coughed from behind me. I forgot he followed me upstairs in my mad dash to my room.
Emerald Mountains (The Dream Traveler Series Book 2) Page 15