“I’ll handle the horses. Kaori will need your help.”
Help? What would she possibly need help with? The question had barely completed in her head before she heard a whistle of air only a few inches from where she was crouched, her eyes drawn to the shaft of a well-crafted arrow lodged deeply into the roof. Screams echoed from inside. Immediately Kaori’s mind went to the prisoners, concerned for their safety. The soldiers were taking chase. If they continued to fire upon the wagon, there was a good chance someone inside would get hurt. Sadly, there was nothing she could do about it. She had to stay where she was to defend them.
Unsteady from the rocking of the vehicle she sheathed her sword, grabbing for the bow still hanging from her shoulder. She was low on arrows. It wouldn’t take much for her to be overwhelmed by the enemy once her ammunition depleted. Sivar’s request for Therek’s assistance made perfect sense now, her eyes darting toward the front to make sure he was coming. She couldn’t do this alone. They were too close to victory to risk failure now.
Therek said nothing as he took his place at her side. Focused on the battle, he retrieved his bow, hands moving with expert precision to load the weapon, requiring little time to take aim and fire at the pursuing soldiers. His skill was beyond impressive. The strength and balance he displayed. Against him, the soldiers would have their work cut out for them.
Shaking her head Kaori forced herself to look away. Arrows were coming at them more quickly now, fired in rapid succession. Blood pulsed hard through her temples. It was hard to think. She needed to get her mind clear. Load your weapon. The enemy was surrounding them. If she didn’t do something soon, the soldiers would find their way aboard the wagon and kill them all. Renewing her focus she snatched an arrow from the quiver, placing it against the string with newfound determination. Aim for the closest target. Keep them from getting too near. It sounded so easy! If only that were the case. The constant motion of the vehicle made it harder to maintain proper footing, her first shot released wildly into the darkness, missing its mark completely.
“Damn it,” she hissed, reaching to grab another arrow. In the time it took her to fire a single shot Therek had already taken out three of the soldiers, his bow loaded and prepared to shoot again. A lot of good she was doing him. At her current rate Therek would win the battle by himself before she managed to get herself together.
Fists clenched tight she inhaled deeply. In. Out. Slow and controlled. Relax. The word made her want to laugh. How was she supposed to relax at a time like this? Still, she knew it was imperative that she try. Lack of concentration was defeating her confidence. She couldn’t let that happen. Carefully, she rested an arrow against the notch, her index and middle fingers wrapped securely around the string to draw it back. She could do this. It would just require more concentration than it did in practice. Picture the target. The soldiers weren’t entirely visible, but the sound of their horses was a good indication of where they were. Use of every sense would be necessary to pull this off. She couldn’t rely on raw skill alone.
Content that she had locked on to one of the soldiers riding up on the left side, she released the arrow, a loud thud reaching her ears, followed by a frantic whinny as the enemy horse diverted off course, slowing significantly until Kaori could no longer hear it in the darkness. Yes! She had done it. But one soldier down wasn’t enough to put them in the clear. She had to do it again. And again – until there were no more men behind them.
One after another she fired, pride building in her chest with every successful hit. More horses could be heard in the distance coming toward them, another riding dangerously close to the right rear wheel. No longer weighted by uncertainty Kaori leaned forward to gather another arrow, a muttered curse rolling off her tongue to discover the quiver empty. “I am out,” she stared at Therek, unsure of what to do. He had to be low himself. They hadn’t brought many with them, more for lack of supply than anything else. They were limited while trying to stretch their ammunition amongst such a large group. It hadn’t occurred to her that she and Therek should have taken a larger ration given that the most difficult task had been left to them.
“Take cover in the wagon,” Therek gestured toward the back of the vehicle, his stance wobbling somewhat as the wheels sped over a large bump in the road. “Check on the condition of the prisoners. We have taken a lot of hits. Some of them will have bypassed the protection of the fabric.”
A similar thought had come to her mind as well. While many of the arrows were directed at her and Therek, much too high to be a threat to the prisoners inside, there had been a few strays which may have torn through the flimsy walls of the wagon. With the number of people contained within, they wouldn’t have been able to evade the blows. Her stomach churned at the thought of reaching the prisoners only to discover that several may not have survived the rescue.
She needed to think positively. Maybe the arrows had been deflected by the sturdier frame. Not every low projectile would have penetrated the vehicle. There remained a likely chance that everyone inside would be alright. She would just have to be prepared for the worst. Giving no hesitation she made her way to the rear of the wagon, body low, palms down to offer support, moving at a swift crawl until she reached the edge. Both hands would be required to make the climb. Not that there was any point in keeping her weapon out. Without ammunition, it was nothing more than a useless piece of wood with a string tied at the ends.
In a rush she swung the bow over her shoulder, wind tossing her hair about her face, the hood of her cloak having fallen around her neck. Her only protection from sight was the long strands which shielded her from view. That was enough to stop her from brushing it out of the way. Through her impaired vision she gripped her fingers over the edge, holding on for dear life as the carriage continued along the road. A wave of uncertainty washed over her to think of what would happen if she fell. Impact alone might not kill her but the enemy horses were sure to trample her to death. And even if she happened to survive, they would apprehend her for certain execution in Eykanua. Either way, it ended in a painful demise.
After everything she’d already risked for the cause, she couldn’t let fear hold her back now. White knuckled, she clung to the wagon, eyes closing as she took the first step, one leg dangling over the edge. There was a board there somewhere. A flat platform at the base of the vehicle. If she could just reach it with her feet she would be able to better brace herself. Arrows continued to fire around her. Given her current location, the attacks increased the danger for those inside. The soldiers would aim for her. Every failed shot would go right through the fabric enclosure and straight to the unsuspecting victims within. Holding her breath, she stretched her legs as far as she could in search of the platform she knew was there. Her toes brushed over something hard, solid. In hopes that it was what she was looking for, she allowed her arms to lower her a little more. She was almost there. The only thing between her and the prisoners was the wagon’s cover. And that would be easy enough to get past.
Tightening her hold with her left hand, Kaori released her right fingers from where they were practically numb from grasping the wagon so hard. There was a knife at her belt which could be used to cut through the fabric. It was sharp enough to utilize with ease while too short to be a risk to those inside. Blindly, she fumbled over the leather strapped around her hips until her fingertips contacted the handle of the dagger, retrieving it with a triumphant exhale. “Everyone, stand back!” she called out as she stabbed the blade into the heavy material, listening with satisfaction to the sound of threads tearing under the sharp edge. Content that the opening would be wide enough for her to enter, she slid her right arm through the newly created hole to push her way inside and out of view from the soldiers.
Relieved to feel the wider support of the floor under her feet, Kaori nearly fell onto the bodies of the prisoners huddled together near the center of the wagon, their wide eyes staring up at her, fearful of who she was. They had been captives of the Emperor for
weeks. Months even, at this point. There was no telling what horrors they had been subjected to since their apprehension. Her heart went out to them. Guilt at having waited so long to arrange their rescue. But she couldn’t dwell on that right now. All that mattered was making sure she got them out alive.
Cries from a small child could be heard somewhere near the back, high-pitched, and frightened. Oh, how she must look to these people! Forcing her way inside, knife clutched tightly in her hand, face concealed under the long, disheveled locks of her hair – it was no wonder they were afraid of her. Up until now, she’d given them no reason to trust her. No assurance that she was friend and not foe. Mindful of the terrified expressions angled toward her, she brought her hands up in a defensive stance, fingers splayed, the knife barely remaining in her grasp, pinched between her thumb and index finger. It was important that she make herself as non-threatening as possible.
“It is alright,” she assured them, brushing several strands of hair away to reveal her face. Scattered gasps and murmurs erupted throughout the wagon from the few who could make-out her appearance in the dim light, whispering her identity to those tucked deeper into the shadows. Her eyes were drawn to the faces she could see, in search of her missing friends. Not far from where she stood, she recognized the vermilion glow of Koyl’s grateful gaze staring back at her.
“Lady Kaori,” he breathed, sliding forward along the floor to kneel at Kaori’s feet. “We thought you might be dead. I saw what Deliao did…”
“Do not worry about me,” she forced a smile, hoping it would be enough to deter any further questions. If she let herself think about the injury, the pain would be harder to ignore. And right now she couldn’t afford distractions. “Is anyone hurt? I can see what I can do to tend.”
Her question was met with silence at first. They were uncomfortable; and with good reason. Many of them knew her by nothing more than reputation. The only one who seemed to find their voice in her presence was Koyl. “One of the first stray arrows hit rather hard. I couldn’t see the victim, but I know someone was hit badly.”
“What of the others. Is Arcell safe?”
“Arcell is not here.”
Confused, Kaori peered at Koyl through the darkness, unsure what to think of his words. Arcell had to be there. Sivar saw him taken into custody… “Did he escape? Do you know where he went?”
The light from Koyl’s eyes moved from side-to-side with a gentle shake of his head. “Deliao was performing interrogations. I have not seen Arcell since he was taken by the General.”
Something about Koyl’s statement didn’t sit right with Kaori. Why would the General separate Arcell from the others? Did he know Arcell was involved with the rebels? It ate away at her to consider. If Deliao discovered the truth of his part in the rebellion, Arcell would be tortured. Sentenced to death in a more gruesome manner than a simple beheading. He would be made an example for anyone who might dare stand up to the Emperor. She didn’t want to think about the fate which would be in store for him. “The General would not stray far from his men. I should go back. Arcell may still be at the camp.”
“It’s not worth the risk…”
“How can you say that?”
“He is not there, Kaori. You would accomplish nothing by going back.”
“How can you be so sure?” she challenged. Was she the only one who understood the purpose of the rebellion? The importance of every Vor’shai life, no matter the cost.
A hand came to rest on Kaori’s arm in attempts to calm her, the light in Koyl’s eyes dimming slightly. “Because Deliao was not at the camp,” he stated plainly. “I heard him delegate authority to one of his commanders. Do you honestly think he would have let you get away so easily if he was anywhere near there?”
She hated that he was right. The same thought had crossed her own mind while swept up in the heat of combat. Deliao would have been prepared. One step ahead of them. If he’d been at the camp the rebels never would have succeeded. But that didn’t answer the question of Arcell’s whereabouts. Why would Deliao show him preferential treatment? He should have been in the wagon with everyone else. “I do not like this,” she shook her head, unsettled. Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do about it. These people needed her help. She could focus on Arcell once they were tended to.
Forcing the thought from her mind Kaori took a step forward into the darkness. She wasn’t sure what good she would be to the injured. Medical practices weren’t her specialty. If only Pehrona was there. With her help, they might be able to save those who had taken the hardest hits.
The feeling she experienced in that moment was surreal. Taking a deep breath she looked around, listening intently to the sounds from the shadows. The child she had heard upon her entrance continued to weep gently into the folds of his mother’s dress, the woman’s voice soft and soothing in her attempts to console him. Eyes focused on Kaori, watching, waiting – hopeful. They trusted her. Counted on her to save them the way she had done for the prisoners in Whitelyn and Voiene.
Outside, the arrows appeared to have ceased though the speed at which they traveled gave no sign of slowing. They couldn’t be too confident of their victory yet. It was possible Koyl was mistaken about Deliao. There was a chance he was close to the camp at the time of the ambush and came now to aid his men. She only hoped that wasn’t the case.
Recognizing her inability to do anything without the assistance of light, she allowed her body to sink down to the floor, the palm of her right hand coming to rest on the shoulder of a young woman at her side. Tears could be seen twinkling in the lavender glow of her eyes, overwrought from the excitement and danger of her current predicament. Kaori wished there was more she could do to console the girl, but she could offer little besides companionship and a few soft assurances of safety that she couldn’t really promise. But she couldn’t let these people sense her uncertainty. They were going to be alright. She refused to let herself entertain any other possibility.
They continued for hours in silence, the only sound that of wheels along gravel. When the wagon finally came to a stop Kaori was afraid it was her imagination playing tricks on her. The people around began to stir, curious about where they were and what would happen.
It was Sivar’s face that appeared as the flap of the tent was flung open, a soft, fresh morning breeze wafting over everyone inside. “Welcome back,” he smiled, offering his hand to Kaori where she remained seated on the floor. Happily she accepted it, a grimace crossing her elegant features under the strain of the movement. Somehow the pain seemed to have gotten worse. A dampness could be felt around her midsection that hadn’t been noticeable before, the fabric of her shirt clinging to the skin, applying a mild pressure to the wound to create an uncomfortably sharp stinging sensation.
The sun could be seen rising over the horizon as Kaori’s feet touched the ground, her eyes scanning the area to take in her surroundings. They were back in Rothdara. She recognized the lush green canopy of trees in the woods behind the Levadis home. There was no denying where they were although she doubted it was the safest location for any of them. “If the General suspects our involvement, this will be the first place he comes,” she whispered loudly into her brother’s ear. He turned his head to look at her, nodding in full agreement of her concern.
“They will not stay long,” he gestured toward the people in the wagon. “Pehrona can look them over for injuries and then we will send them on their way. It is more important that you and I be here when the General arrives.”
She wasn’t sure how she felt about Sivar’s plan. It wasn’t safe. Even now, Deliao could have been informed of the attack and be organizing a search. If he suspected Kaori or Sivar to have played a role, it was a guarantee that his soldiers would check every inch of the Levadis property. Nowhere in Rothdara was safe for the people on the wagon. But the longer she stood there and argued with her brother, the longer it would take for them to get the prisoners back on the road. “Fine,” she huffed, moving past S
ivar to check on Therek and Nichele. She needed to distract herself from the horrible thoughts racing through her mind. The safety of her friends seemed a good way to occupy her time.
Hunched forward, she applied pressure with her left hand to the wound at her side. It hurt to move. The length of time she spent sitting in the wagon caused the muscles to stiffen. She was afraid to examine the injury in fear that it had been exacerbated by everything she did throughout the night. Her body was put through its paces at every turn, and with a laceration in such a prominent location, each twist and bend only served to make it that much worse.
Just keep your head up. Eyes straight ahead. She didn’t want to let anyone see the pain she was in. Therek would question her if she gave him reason to suspect anything was wrong. He was protective of her, though she would never understand why. After everything she’d done to that man, it was nothing short of a miracle that he had come back to help her at all. She couldn’t say that she would have been quite as forgiving if the tables were turned.
Two figures remained near the front of the carriage, their hoods pulled tightly around their faces, perfectly concealed from sight. Certain that they were the two she was looking for, Kaori stepped up to stand beside the taller of the two, her eyes lifted to stare into the shadows of the figure’s cloak. She recognized the strong outline of Therek’s jaw, the beautiful azure light from his eyes meeting her gaze, seeming relieved to see her there. “How are the prisoners?” It was Therek’s voice, quiet, yet unmistakable. Filled with concern.
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning Page 42