by Kira Freitas
- Bitch! - he screamed before he hit me with a slap in the face.
I felt the taste of the blood and screamed when my face started to burn. I started crying because of the blow that made me dizzy.
- Do whatever you want with her, but be brief. - he said throwing me into the arms of the other guy who grabbed me hard from behind. - Then tie her up and let's go. This forest is giving me the creeps and I don't want the wolves on our tail.
The man who had grabbed me turned me towards him and smiled showing his black and rotten teeth.
- Hmm! Too bad I'll have to be brief. - he said smiling. - I had so many plans for you, but I'm satisfied with a few minutes.
- Touch me and I'll rip your eyes out! - I threatened between my teeth. - Let go of me!
- Wow! I'm scared to death! - he laughed at me.
With a growl, I was able to free my arms and then I squeezed both his eyes with my thumbs. Dropping a roar, he dropped me and then I kicked him in the lower parts, but he held my foot and pulling me down made me fall to the ground. I dragged myself away and as he was about to grab me again I saw an arrow go through his throat. The big guy fell by my side and I widened my eyes. I heard the whispering of a horse, so I looked around to find out who had shot it. That's when I saw Alistair emerge as a Sovereign. He was still without his shirt and was carrying a bow that was still pointed at my tormentor. I breathed deeply with relief.
- He said he was going the wrong way. - Alistair spoke of serious tone disassembling the horse. - Why didn't you just stop? Have you become stubborn or very brave all of a sudden?
- I didn't intend to go with you, so I didn't see any feeling in hearing it. - I replied in an ironic way.
- Is that why you decided to take this road and follow the path to death? - he asked in a cold voice, but I could feel that there was more than anger in his tone. - She was almost attacked by that piece of shit. Is that what you want? Don't you have love for your life?
Alistair approached me and then grabbed my arm and put me on my feet.
- If you hadn't fooled me, maybe I wouldn't have run away. - I gave it back by pulling my arm so he'd let me go.
- How many times do I have to say I have nothing to do with Rose? - he fired. - I know I haven't been a good person, but you're my wife and what you did, running away like this, was insane.
- Insane? I married your highness against my will, have you forgotten? - said turning his back to go towards where Chimera was. - If my mother had not forced me to come, I would never have met him and would probably still be locked in my room, happy with the unhappy life to which I was destined.
- How can anyone be happy to be locked up? - Alistair asked by shrugging. - What do you think you're gonna do?
- Isn't that obvious? I'll ride Chimera and then I'll keep going. - I answered by stopping by the mare's saddle. - I want distance from you and that crazy girl. If I find her again, I might kill her.
- Then there's two of us! - Alistair fired. - As soon as we get back, I'll send Rose out of the castle. You won't have to look her in the eye anymore.
I stared at Alistair for a moment. He had a worried face.
- Hmm! Tempting, but no! - I said with a sarcastic smile. I looked at the man who was down and then I remembered. - Where's the other one?
- Another one? What other one? - Alistair asked.
There wasn't time for him to evaluate anything. With a scream, the twin with the torn eye jumped over Alistair with a sword in his hand. He was getting rid of the blows in a very agile way using his bow to defend himself. I was impressed with the way Alistair fought with only one bow, using it for attack and defence, but I knew the other had to be stopped or else I would end up killing Alistair.
Alistair lured the warrior near his horse where I noticed the sheath with his sword attached to the saddle of Sovereign. He got rid of the blow that ended with the adversary's sword stuck in a tree. That gave him time to take the sword out of the hem and start a crash. Suddenly, all I started hearing was the tinkling of the huge blades that collided with each other in precise and deadly blows. I had already seen something like that, but only as a performance and not in a real fight.
The fight began to get more intense and I could see that, no matter how skillful Alistair was, the warrior was much stronger and was using this force to get advantage. Alistair was surprised by a blow and the tip of the opposing sword passed in his abdomen opening a large cut through, going towards the right rib. He dropped a roar falling on one of his knees and put one hand on top of the wound, but trimmed the next blow with the sword on the other. Because of the pain, he was surprised again and the man hit him with a kick that made him hit against a tree and fall. Alistair tried to take the sword again, but the man hit another shot, this time in his face, and then kicked her away.
- Your reputation precedes you, Your Highness. - the man said in a debauched way. - I've been following you on the battlefields and studying all your moves. It will be a pleasure to dissipate the life of the man who killed my brother.
Alistair just laughed. That bastard was gonna kill him and he was laughing? He was a fool to laugh like that and, besides, to bleed to death.
- You're good. How did you get past the lines of defense? - Alistair asked the man.
- It's none of your business. - the man replied harshly.
- Besides being a coward, are you a traitor? - Alistais asked in a debauched way. - Who paid you to come and kidnap my wife? Was it that bastard MacGregor? Is his desperation so great that he's down to the point of resorting to greedy traitors?
Alistair was distracting him, perhaps to gain time and strength. The cut was bleeding a lot and it looked deep. I looked around in the hope of being able to help him and found daggers stuck in the other dead guy's boot. Taking a deep breath, I walked slowly to the fallen body so that no one would notice me. Dropping down next to the boot I grabbed the two daggers and hid them in my hands behind my back. I hadn't done that in years, but I had to try and pray that I was still good.
- Hey, hey, hey, hey. You ugly one-eyed guy? - I screamed. The man turned to face me.
- What are you doing, Aideen? - Alistair screamed, but I ignored him.
- I give you two options: - told the man that he looked down on me. - Drop the sword and go! In this case you will live, or stay and die like the coward you are. You have ten seconds to decide.
I started the countdown slowly and the man laughed in a debauched way.
- Your wife is hilarious! - he said turning to Alistair. - I'll be happy to kill her when the time comes.
Before I finished, he raised his sword and made mention of hitting Alistair, who was already standing and grabbed his hands avoiding the hit.
- Wrong choice. - I whispered.
Without hesitating, I brought my hands forward and turned the dagger to grab the handle. Praying to hit the target, I shot the man in the back of the head. He dropped a roar before falling to his knees on the floor and then tipping over to the side. Alistair stared at me in an astonishing way, but when I was about to ask him something, he grunted.
- Oh! God! - I exclaimed by throwing the other dagger away. - That wound looks serious. We have to get back to Dunhill now.
Grabbing Alistair's arm, I placed it on my shoulder and then took it near the Sovereign.
- Can you ride? - I asked.
- I think so. - he whispered with a face.
- Oh, great! Mount I'll take Chimera for us to leave.
He nodded and pulled Chimera down the reins. When I passed the sword of Alistair, I caught her handing it over to him. I tied Chimera's reins to the Sovereign's cell and stretched out my hand for Alistair to help me ride.
- Give me the reins and hold tight. - I did.
Alistair laughed, but then regretted doing so.
- What are you laughing at?
- If I give you the reins, then I will die.
I snorted angrily and I folded my arms. Alistair passed his arms around my body to keep me safe. I he
ld my breath when I remembered that I was in those arms a little earlier. I couldn't deny that I felt safe every time I rode with him. Tired and still dizzy, I put my head against her chest. That was another frustrated escape attempt, but it was not what I was worried about, knowing that I could do it again. What really worried me was what happened to those men. Who were they and why did they want me?
Chapter 13
Alistair
My vision was beginning to fail. We were only a few metres away from the castle and I felt my whole body weakening. I've never lost a fight. That one was the first time. If it wasn't for Aideen, I'd certainly be dead. I didn't know either of the two men who attacked Aideen and I knew how they got to Dunhill. There was an army besieged to the east by the Inverness border. It was the militia Bree commanded before he went to the front. There was no way they could have crossed there unless they were already there. His robes looked a lot like those of mercenaries. I was amazed to see you two acting together. It was usually a gang or just one. The idiot who attacked Aideen wanted to take her with him. That only confirmed my suspicions that they were mercenaries. Roy should have known about my marriage to Aideen by now, and he already knew who had notified him about it, but how did he manage to send money to pay mercenaries? Alec had said no one should leave that fortress. So how did these men get their paycheck? It was well known that the mercenaries received a part of the money before they began their mission. I hated them deeply for being the scum of society, without limits or scruples.
- Give me the reins! - Aideen asked as soon as I leaned over her even more. - If we continue at this rate, I'll have to bury him instead of healing him.
I hadn't noticed that I was bowing because of the pain and the lack of vision.
- That wouldn't be too bad for you, would it? - I retracted in an ironic way. - You'd get rid of a bad husband and gain your longed-for freedom.
- I didn't say that. You're the one who assumed. - she returned it. - What do you know about my desire for freedom?
- What I do know is that you ran away without knowing where you were going. He could have died.
- Death is not something that frightens me, Alistair. - she answered with satisfaction. - To me she's a mockingbird. He lives around me, laughing at my unhappiness. Still, I guess she doesn't like me either.
- I like you! - I fired without thinking. - I liked it the first time I saw her.
Aideen let out a debauched laugh.
- No, you don't like me. - she returned it with ironic air. - You like victories, trophies. I'm your trophy, Alistair. Your trophy on top of Ravenna. That's all you wanted: to piss her off, and you used me for it.
- What do you mean by that? I said I liked you. - I let out a laugh. - Irritating Ravenna was just a bonus.
- Did you see what I said? - she responded. - His ego is so great, that he does not measure his efforts to get what he wants and does not listen to anyone else, just his voice.
- You insult me a lot by talking like this. I wasn't the one who ran out of that bathroom without at least letting me explain something.
Aideen let out a laugh that made me shiver. Even their laughter moved me and several parts of my body turned around.
- You're a fool, you know that?
- I've been told that several times.
- Why don't you change this condition?
- Because it wouldn't be funny and it wouldn't be me.
Aideen laughed by folding her arms and I shared that laugh. It was the first time since we fought that we talked in a civilized way. My vision became even more blurred when we reached the stone bridge and the pain became unbearable. Before I fell off the horse, I was still able to help Aideen dismount.
- Damn it! - I mumbled rolling on the floor.
- Elaine! - I heard Aideen call his maid. - Adam!
Adam and Elaine came to me with despair when they saw me bleed.
- Oh! God! What happened to the prince? - Elaine asked in a frightened voice.
- Alistair was wounded by a sword stroke. - Aideen answered. - There were mercenaries on the road and they tried to kidnap me. Alistair fought with them, but was wounded. We need to get him inside so I can treat that cut. Can you help me, Adam?
- Yes, ma'am!
The stable boy helped me up and supported me as we walked inside. Everyone inside the fief looked scared of the amount of blood flowing from the open wound. I grunted every time I felt the skin pull and burn.
- Over here! Feel it on this chair! - she ordered it by pointing the armchair in front of our bedroom fireplace. - Elaine, I need to...
The bedroom door was opened violently and everyone looked to see who was coming in.
- What have you done with Alistair? - Rose's voice echoed through the room. She ran towards me kneeling in front of me to assess the wound. - Oh, God! He's bleeding pretty bad.
- I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay. - I answered in a weak voice. - What are you doing here?
- You look pale as if you've seen a ghost. - she continued, ignoring my question.
Rose leaned her hand over my face and hair. Aideen's gaze was fulminating and she started to turn red. It was then that I noticed his wounded face and a cut in his mouth.
- Your face... What's that on your face? - I asked.
She put her hand on her face making a face.
- That idiot slapped me, but I'm fine despite the pain. - she answered by reassuring me.
- Damn you! - I made mention of getting up, but Aideen stopped me.
- Alistair, don't move, or you'll bleed even more. - she asked calmly, flattening my chest. She looked around. - I need room to get the bandage done. If you want to help, bring some warm salted water and some clean cloths.
Aideen asked to take Rose's place in front of me. Rose grunted standing up and looked threateningly at Aideen.
- This is all your fault! - she screamed. - If you hadn't left like that, Alistair would never have had to go after you and wouldn't have gotten hurt.
- Are you really talking to me?
Aideen took a deep breath containing the fury. Rose was not intimidated and continued his attack.
- I knew you'd be a problem as soon as you stepped on this castle. Your angel face and that poor thing's never fooled me. - Rose was screaming in a harsh voice.
- That's enough! - Aideen screamed at everyone's surprise and even mine. - You're very disgusted and I'm tired of you chasing after my husband like he's a piece of meat. Put yourself in your maid's place, because I'm in charge here and not you. Now bring me what I commanded you and then withdraw from this castle.
Rose widened her eyes in anger and made mention of responding, but I managed to intervene. It was time to make Rose understand that things weren't like they were before.
- Rose, do what Aideen says and don't argue. - he said between his teeth.
- But, uh...
- Now! - I bellowed. - Damn it!
Rose turned around and walked out of the room. Aideen bent over in silence and took the cloth Elaine had brought to stop the bleeding. She and Adam were staring frightened at the rebellious, fearless creature in front of me.
- On the one hand, Rose is right. - said breathing deeply to contain the pain. - If I hadn't run away...
Aideen squeezed the wound and made me scream.
- Damn it, Aideen! That hurts!
- I know that, but if I repeat her words, it'll hurt even more. - she answered coldly. - For now, you only have the right to moan. That's the only sound I want out of your mouth.
- How authoritative! - I mumbled in a debauched way. - Is there anything else you want me to do?
- Yes. Stop insulting me or... - she took the dagger that was attached to my belt and hit on a bench that was next to the armchair. - It's not just that cut that's gonna make him moan in pain.
Laughing, I breathed and decided it would be better to remain silent. Not out of fear, for I was enjoying her attitude, but the pain became unbearable. Aideen started wiping most of the blood with
a cloth.
- Adam, I need you to stay here and hold Alistair while I stitch up. - she said. - Elaine, I'm gonna need that aloe vera spark we prepared a few days ago. Remember where we keep it?
- Yes, ma'am!
- Oh, great! Bring a needle, thread and also some bandages.
Elaine nodded and left the room to go to the mysterious place. Rose came in carrying the pelvis that Aideen had asked for. Her Machiavellian look and her ironic smile made me alert. Aideen was lowered in front of me with her back to the door. I saw what Rose was about to do. Leaning towards Aideen, I pushed her aside causing her to fall while sitting down. The water fell on me and it was too hot, so I let out a scream standing up.
- Oh! Oh, my God! I'm sorry! - Rose asked in a desperate voice. - I didn't mean to...
- I know what I wanted! - he said between his teeth, grabbing her throat tightly. - As of today, remember to call me Lord or Highness. I want you to leave now as Aideen ordered. When I recover, I'll settle my score with you. Do you understand?
Rose choked and grabbed the bowl and ran out of the room. I started to get dizzy from the pain and then fell to my knees on the floor bowing with my hands over the wound. The next moment I was already lying on my stomach and then I fainted.
***
I woke up with a throbbing and insistent pain in my abdomen and both arms. Opening my wandering eyes I noticed that it was still night and the room was immersed in a twilight. Outside I could hear the wind howling against the windows. I looked towards the side window of the room and saw snow. It was a blizzard that tormented Dunhill, but the room was still warm. Leaning my arms on the bed I stretched out to accommodate myself better leaning on the pillow. The fur cover slipped and then I noticed I was naked. I made a face and took my hand to my abdomen. Franzi's forehead looking at the forearms that were bandaged, as well as the abdomen.
- But what?
- Hmm! I'm glad you woke up! - Aideen said coming into the room. - I thought I'd sleep for more days. I had a soup made. You need to eat to regain your strength.