Nine
Rya shifted her seat on the all-black gelding, listening to the main gate clicking closed behind them. Her body was humming with nerves, and her hands were sweating under the soft leather gloves she’d been given. Seeing Cam relaxed on top of a dark brown mare she’d called Zara, looking cool and collected, only made her feel worse. The lump in her throat grew larger, and she tightened her grip on the reins. The feelings she’d pushed down for years were rising up inside her, twisting her stomach into a knot, and there was nothing she could do to keep it at bay.
“Are you alright?” Cam asked, noticing the green twinge to her face.
“Yes,” she nodded. “It’s just been awhile since I’ve been on a horse; I usually ride in my coach. I’m hoping it comes back to me quickly.”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine. Eclipse is one of the sweetest horses we have. He’ll take good care of you.”
Cam clicked her tongue and the horses began walking west into the open forest. The trees were spread out enough to allow the animals to pass without issue, but the terrain was rough and uneven, and Eclipse bounced Rya around in the saddle as he trotted up the hillside. She was just starting to find his rhythm when Cam looked at her with a wicked grin. In the blink of an eye she was off, galloping into the distance. Without thinking, Rya gave a gentle nudge and took off after her.
The trees blurred around them as they raced through the forest, swirling in a tornado of greens, yellows, and browns. The sound of the birds chirping disappeared under the thunder of the hooves on the ground, and Rya could smell the fresh dirt being kicked up in their wake. The wind whipped around her face, throwing her hair behind her, and stinging her cheeks. The rush of freedom was just as she remembered it, and it tore at her as it mixed with the pain in her heart.
After a few minutes Cam slowed down and allowed Eclipse to catch up.
“You could have killed me,” Rya said half pouting, half joyful.
“I knew you could handle it. Besides, from what I hear you’re not afraid of anything. A little ride should be no issue for you.”
Once more, Cam galloped into the woods and, with an arrogant smirk, Rya followed.
They’d been riding for a few hours, alternating between a brisk walk and a full run. Each time the horses took off, Rya’s heart jumped and then sank. The constant flux of emotion was as exhausting as if she was doing the running herself. She felt a sense of relief as Cam slowed Zara to a stop on one of the hilltops. Rya came up next to her, looking out over the sprawling kingdom.
“You can see all the way to the ocean from here.” Cam said, gesturing to the water glistening in the distance.
“And those?” Rya asked, pointing to a dozen pillars of smoke scattered across the treetops.
“They come from the chimneys of the woodsmen. They prefer living among the trees rather than within the village or castle. It makes their work easier.”
“Aren’t they harder to control when they’re spread out like that? I would imagine it’s easier to tame them if they were given less freedom.”
“If you were to put a pack of wild dogs in a small cage does it make them any less wild? If my subjects are angry, having them all in one area isn’t going to change how they feel. It won’t solve the cause of the problem. They don’t follow my father because he’s hovering over them, they follow him because he’s a fair and just ruler.”
“Not everyone responds well to that kind of leadership,” Rya replied.
“And not everyone can be that type of leader,” Cam retorted.
Rya eyed her with sympathy. “His shoes will be hard to fill, but I have no doubt it can be done. The ideas and beliefs of the Ashen have held up for centuries, they’re not going to come crashing down so easily.”
“As the time moves forward and our kingdom grows, the people change. They want to protect their way of life as much as anyone else, which makes them afraid of anyone from the outside coming in. But that’s who we are. If we close off the Ashen Forest to those in need, how can we still call ourselves the Ashen? How can we still consider ourselves the protectors if we refuse to offer our hand?” Cam sighed at some unspoken thought before giving Rya a weak smile. “Come now, I know of a small clearing nearby, we can give the horses a chance to rest.”
Rya followed in silence, watching the smoke disappear behind the canopy, thinking of her own subjects. She couldn’t imagine the rough and ragged people of the Isles following her without the fear in their eyes. They had hated her from the moment she arrived, and she was smart to use it to her advantage. Part of her was jealous of Cam; she would inherit a kingdom that loves and adores her father, only now was it obvious his legacy would be a hard one to uphold. Cam’s future would never be smooth and without turmoil, and Rya’s arrival was just the first sign of that.
The ground evened out, and the sun broke through the leaves, shining down on the circle of green. Coming to the edge, Rya dismounted and secured the reins to the saddle while Eclipse lowered his head, nipping at the soft grass. Cam found a fallen log near the other side, and plopped herself down, smiling at Rya across the open space.
“I know it’s nothing fancy, but it beats sitting on the ground.” She patted the open spot next to her. “I don’t bite,” she joked. “I promise.”
Rya shook her head as she joined her. “Yeah, but I might.” She looked down at the bow Cam had propped up next to her feet. “Do you always arm yourself when you go for a ride?”
“The forest is full of animals, and not all of them are friendly. It’s easier to fend off a hungry bear from a distance with a single arrow than up close with a sword.”
“Magic’s always easier,” Rya teased.
“I’m sure,” she laughed. “I bet you’d just wave your hands and turn him into an angry squirrel instead.”
Rya couldn’t help but laugh at the mental image. Cam waved her hand with a flourish, and Rya caught the small bit of black ink peeking from under her sleeve.
“What’s that?” She asked, motioning to Cam’s forearm.
“The royal mark?” Cam pulled up her sleeve to expose the small tattoo. It was made of thick black lines, and matched the etchings on the trees which had saved Rya’s life. Without thinking, Rya reached out and ran her fingers over the outline.
“I didn’t know the Ashen still practiced that tradition.” Rya’s cheeks burned red when she realized she was still touching Cam’s soft skin. She pulled her hand back.
“Each immediate member of the royal family gets one when they come of age. It used to be to identify the king if he died in battle, but these days it stands for so much more. It’s a symbol of who I am, and where I came from. I’m proud to have it on my skin forever.”
Cam’s face turned pink as she spoke, followed by a wave of red when she saw Rya grinning at her passion. She took a breath, smoothed her braid, and asked, “Are you having fun?”
“Yeah, I had forgotten how great it can be.”
“I don’t understand, as a queen you should have your pick of horses, why wouldn’t you take one out now and then?”
“I just don’t.” Rya replied. The memories twisted her insides, and her jaw jumped as she clenched her teeth together, fighting back the emotions. The corners of her eyes burned as she blinked away the tears threatening to spill out.
“It just seems like a waste.”
“Well, it’s not,” Rya snapped in return. Cam bit her bottom lip and leaned away, and Rya immediately regretted the anger that slipped out. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout at you. There’s just a lot you don’t know—a lot that’s happened, and it’s hard to deal with sometimes.”
“No, I’m sorry,” Cam sighed. “I can be a little overzealous and nosy. You don’t ever have to explain yourself to me, okay?”
“But I want to,” Rya replied, surprising herself with the words. She had never thought to share the story with anyone, not even Sora, but as she stared at Cam’s caring face she found the words spilling out of her mouth.
“The year I t
urned seven, my parents took me on my first trip to the Isles, traveling up and over the Bardo Mountains instead of heading all the way west to go around. I had listened to stories about snow as a child, but growing up in the Deserts of Asta made it impossible to believe in. It wasn’t until that trip that I’d actually seen it. As we crossed the mountain range a blanket settled over the rocks without a sound. It fell from the sky in little tufts of white, soft and cold, kissing everything it touched. It was the most beautiful sight and the most peace I’d ever experienced. I didn’t know anything could make me feel that way.
“After our time in the Isles was over, when we were about to leave, my parents gave me a gift: a three-year-old mare they’d bought from the castle’s stable. Every part of her was stark white, and the second I sat on her I felt the same sense of peace I’d had in the mountain pass. I named her Snowfall, as she was equally as wonderful and magical as the stuff I’d watched dropping from the sky. I cherished her.”
“Did you have to leave her back in the Isles when you fled?” Cam asked.
“No,” Rya frowned. “I’m afraid Snow was gone long before this mess I’m in now.” The sadness filled her chest, and she winced as the pain grew.
“Hey,” Cam whispered, placing a gentle hand on Rya’s arm. “It’s alright. You don’t have to tell me—"
“He killed her,” Rya confessed.
“Who did?”
“Gerrod. Years later, once I was brought to his kingdom. He killed Snowfall. He stabbed her right in the heart, and he did it in front of me. He told me it was a punishment for an offense I hadn’t committed yet. He’d feared that I would try and run from him, run away from the Isles, and he wasn’t wrong. It had crossed my mind. As a way to stop me, he took the only thing that was mine. He wanted me to know he was in complete control. He wanted to prove he was the king and while I was in his land, I was nobody. I knew in that moment he owned me, I was just another trophy for him to display, and I would never be free. I haven’t ridden a horse since then…until now.”
“I’m so sorry,” Cam said, covering her mouth in shock. The absence of her touch left Rya feeling empty. “I had no idea, if I had I wouldn’t have pushed you to come riding today. I feel horrible.”
“No, I’m glad you did.” The queen replied. “I needed this. I needed to remember what it felt like to be happy.”
Cam’s hands moved to her sides and the soft skin of her fingers once again brushed against Rya’s hand. The slight touch brought goosebumps to her skin. She looked at the princess, taking in the details she’d somehow missed before. Like the small spatter of freckles on the bridge of her nose, or how the wind blew the one strand of hair she could never get to stay put, no matter how many times she tried to braid it. Another brush of the hands and Rya’s stomach flipped over itself. It was a wonderful feeling, one she’d long forgotten, but also one she had never wanted again. As it registered in her mind she jumped to her feet, brushing the dirt off her pants and taking a few steps away, trying to distance herself from the girl.
“I think my arm’s feeling sore,” she lied. She looked away towards Eclipse, not wanting to meet Cam’s eyes. “We should start heading back.”
“Of course,” Cam replied. She hadn’t questioned the queen’s reason, but Rya could hear the confusion and disappointment in her voice. She kept her gaze away from the princess, keeping her face down and taking several long, deep breaths. I won’t let this happen, she thought to herself. Not again. Not ever.
Ten
A light breeze rustled the leaves above, separating a few and sending them to the floor below to meet their fallen brothers. Birds chirped and whistled from the surrounding bushes, and Rya spotted a gray squirrel scurry from one tree to another. The natural music of the woods was calming, until the sound of foreign footsteps interrupted it all.
The young man stepped out of the forest, hovering near the edge of the tree line, keeping his face masked in the shadows. The dark copper stain covering his shoulder stood out as a reminder of their last meeting.
“I thought you were smarter than this, leaving the safety of the castle,” Nix said with a sick smile. “It’s a shame you won’t be returning.”
Rya could feel her insides buzz as the power began to surge in her blood. Her bones shook with the force of her magic, and the pain in her wrist grew with each second ticking passed. Cam’s hand slid across the small of her back as she passed her, putting herself between the queen and the assassin before Rya had a chance to protest.
“As the princess of the Ashen Forest, I demand you leave this land at once.”
“I know who you are,” he laughed. “You’re the one who stuck an arrow through me. Only this time, you’re without your little gang, and without your weapon.”
Cam looked down at her empty hands, her face pale. The bow she usually carried lay propped against the log a few feet behind them, forgotten in the chaos of his arrival.
The assassin took a few steps, closing the distance between them. “Lucky for you, I’m here for the Black Queen and nothing more. Allow me to take her, and I’ll leave you and your kingdom untouched.”
“Once again,” Cam growled, “I’ll remind you she’s under our protection. She’s not going anywhere.”
“Tell me, has she explained the things she’s done? Has she told you about the man she killed over a basket of apples? Or the woman she had burned to death in a bath of boiling water?” He paused, waiting for a response, but found only silence. “Ah—I thought not. There’re another hundred stories just like those. You might not be so willing to put yourself in danger’s path if you knew the truth behind that woman.”
“I don’t care,” Cam replied, her words shaking. “I won’t let you take her.”
“Then I’ll just have to kill you as well.”
Nix pulled one of the ivory daggers from its sheath, and the anger boiled over inside Rya. She lifted her good hand and pointed her open palm towards the assassin. A smile spread across his face as he took another step forward, but when her fingers curled into a fist he froze.
“What are you doing?” he barked. “Release me!”
The vibration in Rya’s chest grew, and heat spread down each of her arms, but she kept her focus steady. The sweat started to bead on Nix’s forehead, and his arm trembled under her forceful grasp. The dagger shook along with his hand, unable to move forward and unable to break free of her power. The burn inside her broken arm grew to an inferno, devouring her bones, but she refused to yield. The corners of her crimson lips curled into a smile as she dug her fingers in deeper.
“What’s happening?” Cam gasped. She was still at Rya’s side, her face frozen in horror as she watched the assassin fight against the unseen force.
Nix’s knuckles had gone white, clenched around the hilt of the knife. The tip twisted towards him as his hand pointed the blade at his own face. Another grunt from him and it stopped moving. Rya was pushing her magic further, but he was fighting back with all he had. Cam gasped as the blood began to roll down the assassin’s sleeve; five small spots carved out in his flesh, put there by the invisible nails he struggled against. She was weak and had concentrated all her power on his one arm, ignoring the other as it moved to his thigh.
Rya watched in slow motion as the second knife slid from its holster and left his hand. It flipped through the air, rotating end over end towards Cam’s chest. In that moment Rya knew she’d lost. She shifted her focus, aiming her hand towards the flying dagger and halting it in midair, the tip stopping an inch from Cam’s body. The weapon hung suspended for a moment before falling to the ground, and the queen followed, collapsing into the soft grass.
“Rya,” Cam shouted. She dropped to her side and took the queen’s hand in her own. “Rya, are you alright?”
“Your bow,” she coughed.
Cam scurried over and grabbed her weapon in one hand while the other reached up for an arrow. She pivoted on her heel, arrow nocked and ready to release, but the clearing was empty. Sh
e whipped around once more, searching the trees for the assassin, but he was gone. “Where is he?” She shouted, spinning in circles.
“Ran,” Rya whispered. “He’ll be back.” The queen’s insides burned in agony, the energy drained from her entire body. It had been ages since she’d used that much magic, and the pain from her shattered wrist only made it worse. “We need to return to the castle.”
“There’s no way you can ride back now. You can barely sit up.”
“I’ll be fine,” she lied, rolling onto her side. She tried to push herself up only to fail and fall once more. “We can’t stay here, it’s too dangerous.”
“I know of a small cave a few yards down this pathway. We can hold up inside until you’re rested. Do you think you can make it?”
She couldn’t find the strength to respond, but it didn’t matter. Cam slipped her arm under Rya’s and pulled her to her feet, shouldering her weight as they shuffled down the worn dirt path. The cave wasn’t far, but with each step growing more difficult for Rya, the walk seemed never ending. With the rocky alcove in sight, Cam’s face burned red and sweat dripped down her neck as she carried the queen the rest of the way.
“I’ll be back,” she huffed as she propped Rya against the back wall. “I need to secure the horses. Here—" Cam had plucked the assassin’s abandoned dagger from the clearing and was placing it in her limp hand. “If anyone comes for you, use it.”
The queen watched through spotted vision as Cam ducked outside the cave and disappeared into the woods. Her hand wrapped around the hilt of the knife, but her flesh couldn’t feel it. The hum of her magic dissolving was the only sensation she had anymore. It drowned out the rest of the world as it dissipated. Her heartbeat started to slow, and her limbs grew heavy as if they were tethered to the earth, slowly sinking down into the dark rock under her. Her eyes were equally tired, and without the power to stop them, it all went black.
Á
Cam watched as the blue afternoon sky became streaked with the dull orange of dusk. Hours spent against the solid rock wall had left her back aching and her legs numb. A dozen thoughts had passed through her head as she waited for the queen to wake. Would Nix find them a second time? Would Thane come looking for them? Would she need to use the arrow she held pressed against the bowstring? But one thought popped up more than any other—was she wrong to have trusted Rya?
The Poison Within Page 6