by Sarah Olson
At noon, arrows flew at us from our right, striking some of the soldiers. I was off Dusk quickly, hiding behind her as my bodyguards created a perimeter around me. Archers quickly loaded their arrows and shot back at the attackers. The sound of them whizzing through the air made my stomach lurch as the pain from the one I had been struck with came to haunt me. My wound had healed, but in my fear, it felt as if it had begun to throb.
“Form the line!” Raphael was yelling as King Darius rode with his four guards back to his own men.
Shields were brought up quickly as the attackers began to charge.
“Charge!” Raphael yelled, his horse rearing.
He rode forward with his sword out and the other soldiers on horseback did as well. They clashed into Luther’s men and the clanging of swords began. My guards pulled their weapons ready to defend me when I grabbed onto Dusk’s saddle and yanked myself up into it.
“Layla! Stop!” Davorin called as I rode toward the fight, leaving them behind. I pulled the sword from my saddle and struck down two of Luther’s soldiers with a single blow. I kept moving through them striking and blocking. Adrenaline flooded my veins as I galloped into other soldiers on horseback. One brought his sword down hard and I deflected it and then rammed my sword through his chest knocking him off his horse. This was my first real moment in battle, and not an ounce of fear was running through me. I took a few more down when they began to retreat into the forest, running for their lives.
The rebel soldiers cheered.
“Lieutenant!” Raphael ordered. “Take your battalion and finish them!”
The Lieutenant called his men forward and they rode into the forest.
“What did you think you were doing?” Davorin yelled when he reached me.
“Fighting for my people,” I snapped.
Davorin’s nostrils flared as he glared back at me. “I promised James I’d keep you safe but you aren’t making it easy.”
“Your job is to protect the princess!” Raphael yelled at the guards as he rode up.
“She caught us by surprise,” Joshua said.
“Don’t let it happen again,” Raphael commanded as if I was not even there.
“Sir!” the Lieutenant that had been sent to finish off Luther’s men called. “It was a ruse! They retreated right into another battalion! Luther’s men have regrouped and reformed a line that blocks our way to the palace!”
“Damn it!” Raphael yelled. “Have your men form the line and wait for my signal to attack.”
“Let’s go, Layla,” Davorin said.
I followed him reluctantly to the back, where I was to stay until we could push back Luther’s men again.
A week went by as we slowly moved forward. I was kept under supervision day and night and rarely allowed to join the fighting.
“How much longer until they retreat,” I asked Davorin as the fighting died down for the night.
He served me a plate of the meat he had been cooking over the fire.
I took it gratefully.
“Any day now,” he replied. “They are stretched pretty thin now.”
“Well, I hope it’s sooner rather than later,” I said.
“I’m sure James is alright, Layla,” Davorin said, serving himself.
“I know,” I said, “but I need to see him so I can be sure. I’ve been so scared for him.”
Davorin gave me a knowing look. “We’ll get to him soon. I know we will.”
On the morning Luther’s men began their retreat again, my heart leapt for joy at the thought that we were only a few days away from reaching the palace—from reaching James.
During the next few days, there were more ambushes that slowed our pace, one of which forced us to stop for the night as the soldiers on both sides fought blindly. We were being hit by small bands of Luther’s soldiers trying to keep us from getting to the palace. Every minute we were delayed was a minute I was away from James and I did not know how much longer I could last without seeing him again.
As we neared the palace, I saw dark smoke filling the sky. Something was burning. I became eager and anxious as we got closer and closer. I wanted to push Dusk into a gallop so I could close the gap between James and me faster.
If he is even still alive. The thought stabbed me and the dark voice of doubt sent a shiver down my spine, but I had to acknowledge that it was a possibility . . . I looked over at Davorin for reassurance and he nodded. He knew what I was thinking.
“Halt!” Raphael commanded.
A group of riders approached us. They did not seem threatening and when they got closer, I recognized Sir Alexander.
“Sir Alexander!” I exclaimed as he came to a stop.
“Princess Layla!” he said. “We were wondering when you were all going to arrive.”
“It’s been a long journey,” Raphael said.
“Then you will be happy to hear that we took the palace. Luther ran straight into us when he tried to retreat,” Sir Alexander said with a laugh. “Taking the fort was more difficult, but then we burned it to the ground and those that didn’t run away surrendered.
“Where’s Luther now?” Raphael asked.
“He’s being held prisoner in the palace,” he replied.
I wanted to interrupt and ask where James was. The words were burning in my throat.
“Where’s the general?” Raphael asked.
“Not sure,” Sir Alexander said. “I haven’t seen him today.”
James was alive!
“Then let’s get on the move,” Raphael said.
We moved forward again but far too slowly for my taste. I wanted to see James. I needed to see him. As we rode, Sir Alexander, Raphael, and King Darius discussed the war and what needed to be done. I zoned out for most of it, my heart pounding harder as more and more rebels came to view. They cheered as they saw me riding in. They looked tired and dirty but happy. For about eighteen years, the people loyal to my parents had been hiding in Malan trying to gain enough strength to put an end to Luther’s reign, and now they had.
As the forest opened up into a large field, the palace came into view. A camp had been set up around it and in the distance I saw the smoldering remains of the fort. I could not take it anymore so I kicked my heels into Dusk and galloped for the palace gates.
I heard Raphael and Davorin call after me but I did not care. I glanced back once and saw that my guards were in pursuit.
I spotted an officer near the palace gate and pulled Dusk to a stop. “Where’s the general?”
“I believe he’s in the infirmary,” he replied.
“The infirmary?” I gasped.
“Lieutenant Ralph!” a soldier called to the officer.
Ralph ignored the soldier and continued, “It’s just to your right in the camp. You can’t miss it.” He bowed quickly and walked off.
I turned Dusk around and headed straight for the camp. The infirmary was easy to find as it had wounded men sitting and lying all around it. I jumped off Dusk and ran my eyes through the wounded, one half of me hoping to see him while the other half feared that I would. James was wounded. This could not be happening. He was a good soldier, the general—he knew how to protect himself.
I stepped around some of the men and entered through the flap of the tent. It broke my heart to see so many hurt and suffering lying on small cots or on the floor since there was not enough room.
“As soon as I’m done here I’m going to have them separated. They can’t all be kept in the same room.” I recognized the voice immediately and spotted him at the back of the tent.
James’s back was to me, and he was seated on a cot while addressing a soldier standing in front of him. His armor lay next to him and a physician was inspecting a large bloody gash on his left arm.
“James!” I exclaimed moving quickly towards him
At the sound of my voice, his head snapped around and he stood up.
“Sir,” the annoyed physician said.
James ignored him and came to me.
When he reached me, he hugged me with his uninjured arm and I buried my head into his chest.
“I was so worried,” I cried. “When they told me you were in the infirmary I thought the worse.”
“I’m all right,” he said, taking my face between his hands. He pulled my face to his and kissed me. It was overwhelming to be in his embrace again and feel his touch. I did not want him to let go.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, when he pulled away.
“I couldn’t be away from you any longer,” I said, “especially since you had left me that awful letter.”
He stroked my cheek. “I’m sorry about that, Layla. I just didn’t know what this war had in store for me and I couldn’t leave you without saying goodbye.”
Tears sprung up in my eyes but I fought them. “Just please don’t ever do that again—I was so scared for you.”
“I won’t,” he said, leaning forward to kiss me again.
I did not care that others were watching. Remembering his injury, I pulled away to inspect it. It looked like a sword had slashed the upper part of his arm. “Are you okay?” I asked, taking it in my hand.
“I am now that you’re here,” he said wrapping his other arm around me. “And don’t worry about that, it’s not that bad.”
“Well it won’t be if you let me bandage it,” the physician said.
“I’ll do it,” I said to him. “Go ahead and continue with the other wounded.”
The physician nodded and I led James back to the cot.
He turned to the soldier he had been speaking to. “I’ll be there in a few minutes. You are dismissed.”
The soldier nodded and left.
“Layla, you don’t have do that,” James said as I began cleaning the wound. “There are physicians and I’m afraid I already bloodied your dress enough.”
“It can be washed out,” I said with a smile. “Now hold still, I’m going to have to stitch it closed.”
“No,” James said. “It will be just fine with a bandage.”
“James,” I scolded. “Stop complaining and let me do it, I’ve spent the last few weeks in an infirmary. I know what I’m doing.”
“Are you sure?”
I pursed my lips.
“Fine,” James said.
I asked the physician for the proper tools and set to work. One look at James told me he was trying desperately not to show the pain he was in for his jaw was tightly clenched.
When I finished, I wrapped up the wound and kissed him on the cheek. “Done! Did it hurt?”
“Not at all,” he lied, standing up.
He grabbed his shirt and armor and put them back on with my help.
When we exited the tent, Duke came bounding up to me, tail wagging.
“Duke!” I exclaimed petting him. “It’s good to see you!”
Duke jumped up trying to lick my face.
“That’s enough,” James said with a laugh.
“It’s good to see you alive,” Davorin said. He and the guards were waiting outside the infirmary.
“Right back at you,” James said with a smile. “Weren’t you supposed to be keeping track of Layla?”
“She’s stubborn and likes to run off,” Davorin said, shaking his head.
James laughed, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I know. Thanks for keeping her safe.”
“I promised you I would,” Davorin said. “Is there anything you need me to do?”
“Yes, Tristan is at the command tent, so tell Raphael and King Darius to head over there. Tristan will fill them in on our positions and where we stand in the battles over at the Harvest Plains.”
“Of course,” Davorin said. He turned and walked away followed by my guards.
James took my hand and led me to the palace gates.
In the courtyard, King Luther’s statue and been torn down and shattered across the cobblestone. Now that we had taken the palace, it looked ominous and sad.
We walked up the steps of the palace and through the double doors. When I entered the ballroom, there weren’t any men or women dancing across it. The tables were not covered in food and the lively chatter that had once echoed through it could no longer to be heard. Luther’s palace had become exactly what the old castle had been when he murdered my parents.
“It’s different, isn’t it?” James asked as he led me down a hall to a room.
“Yes,” I replied. “Where are we going?”
“I thought you’d want to see the prisoners.”
“King Luther?” I asked.
“And some others. I was actually about to go see them, myself, before you came.”
“Then we’ll face them together,” I said with a smile.
We reached a heavily guarded room and stepped inside. Most of the furniture and anything else that could be used as a weapon had been moved out of the room. Guards lined the walls intently watching the prisoners. The rebels were not taking any chances.
King Luther sat in the middle tied to a chair. He looked tired and much older, but I did not pity him. Standing by the fireplace was Princess Rebecca crying in the arms of Queen Alyssa. I had remembered Queen Alyssa to be rather welcoming, but with the deadly look she gave me now, it was as if I dreamed of the kindness. Princess Rebecca looked up at me and held my gaze.
In the corner of the room sat Emily cradling a child in her arms. I watched as the hatred in her eyes faltered when she saw James.
“It was you!” she exclaimed, standing up. “I thought I’d seen you at the ball but didn’t think it was possible.”
James said nothing.
“I thought you were dead,” she said. “They all told me you were dead.”
“Well, I’m not,” James said.
“So now you are going to do the same thing I did to your family,” Luther said, looking at me, “all just because you want to be queen.”
“I never wanted to be queen,” I said, meeting his hard gaze, “but when you took away my people’s freedom and destroyed everything my parents stood for, I decided I needed to be. And when I crown my husband king, the world will wonder why they ever let you reign.”
“So the princess whore is married,” Luther said with a laugh.
James’s fist slammed into Luther’s jaw. I heard Alyssa cry out.
“James,” I said, grabbing his arm, “he’s not even worth it.”
James backed up and I felt him trembling with anger.
“Excuse me,” Rebecca said. “Where’s my husband? Is he still alive?”
“Yes,” I said and then turned to leave.
“Wait,” I heard Emily say.
I looked over at her and saw her staring at my hand with the gold band. Her eyes went down to James’s hand.
“You married her!” she exclaimed to James. “Of all people, you married her!”
“Why do you care?” he asked still fuming from Luther’s disrespect.
Emily looked back dumbstruck.
“Let’s go,” James said, taking my arm.
Once outside he turned to the soldiers. “I want each prisoner confined in a room by themselves. Make sure each room is clear of any weapons. Double the guard on King Luther, is that understood?”
“Yes, sir,” one of them said.
“Report to me when you are finished. Come on, Layla.”
“It’s over,” I said. “We’ve won.”
“Just about, but there is still more to do. War still rages in the south and in some areas here. Even though we caught Luther, he still has followers. The nobles are putting up a good fight. We sent more reinforcements today. It seems taking the palace was the easy part. Once we finish off the nobles, we start the transition of putting you in power.”
As we rounded a corner in the hall and found ourselves alone, James stopped and looked at me. “Crown my husband king?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
I blushed. “What’s wrong with that? I mean you are my husband. I don’t think I can rule without you.”
“It’s just normally
when a queen marries, her husband is never considered king—I never expected to be.”
“Well,” I said, taking his face in my hands, “I’m not every queen.”
He backed me into the wall. “In that case, you can do whatever you want.”
“Good,” I whispered, as his lips met mine.
He kissed me back hungrily. We had been separated from each other for too long. It felt unreal to be near him again.
“Let’s go find some quarters in this palace fit for a queen,” James said when he pulled away.
“I do not think that will be too hard,” I said breathlessly.
Chapter 58
THE REBELS USED the palace as their main headquarters throughout the rest of the war. I was happy with the set up since it meant that I could be near James even though it was rare that I would see him. The war raged on in the south meaning he would leave for days or even weeks at a time.
However, it was not as if I just sat in the palace all day. The village council had come to the palace and it was time to put together a new form of government in which I would rule, but would be accountable to all the people. The idea of nobles was done away with and replaced with elected leaders to run each province of Asteria.
Aria and Betsy arrived shortly after the roads from Malan to Asteria were secure. It had been about four months and I was happy to have my daughter in my arms again.
Once victory was declared, autumn had come and gone, and winter was in the air. Richard was sent to the palace, under heavy guard, to be added to our prisoners
It was decided that Luther and Alyssa would be executed along with the nobles. The decision on what to do with Richard and Rebecca was placed on my shoulders. James wanted Richard executed as well but I decided not to. Richard had been raised in the palace as a prince and it was all he had ever known.
He was not behind the murder of my parents and for that reason we would only exile him along with Emily and her husband, Rupert—James did not object. As for Rebecca, I wanted to speak with her before I decided her fate.