by M. K. Dawn
The worst part was every time I showed a smudge of improvement, the workouts would get harder, the ridicule worse. Nick begged me to tell Henry or let him tell Brady, but I refused, knowing if I complained again, things would never get better.
A week of torture and I haven’t learned one damn thing that would save my life if I was attacked. On the plus side, I’ve been so exhausted that my nightmares haven’t made an appearance all week.
I finish my makeup and force a smile. My body aches like I have never known, but if I walk into that training room and show weakness, the barbarians will eat me alive.
“Princess, you decent?” Nick calls out from behind my door.
“Yeah, come in.”
Nick’s normal light-hearted personality has all but disappeared. So, for him to walk in with a smile on his face catches me off guard. “I have good news.”
“You do? It must be something. I haven't seen a smile on your face all week.” Having to watch me take so much punishment has taken a toll on him, which makes me hate the barbarians even more.
“Well, if you would just let me tell someone…”
“Nick, drop it. It will only make things worse. We’re just under a week away from Henry’s castle and it will all be over. Once I’m queen, I will make sure you and the warriors oversee my training.”
“Why not do it now?” Nick asks.
“Because once I’m crowned, my memories will return.” I sigh. “Right now, I feel like a fraud, like I don't have the authority to tell anyone what to do. But once I get my memories back, I’m hoping my insecurities will disappear and enable me to become the person everyone thinks I should be.”
“You will become that person. There is no doubt.”
“Anyway, what’s the good news?”
His smile returns. “Aww, yes. The good news. You are a free woman for the day.”
“What, are you serious? What’s the catch?” I can't believe what I’m hearing.
“Prince Henry and his guards are in meetings all day with Eric and the warriors, in preparation for the final week of travel. Which means you have the day off.”
“This is amazing!”
“Don't get too excited. I’m needed in the meetings as well, so you’ll be confined to your tent. I’ll come get you at lunch and then at dinner. Other than that, you are to stay here. Ana is going to come and hang out with you. She is well-versed when it comes to battle, but she is no warrior and no match for Kakos. Again, I repeat, you are to stay here, is that understood?”
Well, that's disappointing, but at least I won't have to see the barbarians today so it's not all bad. I cast him a mock salute. “Understood.”
“Ana will be here any minute now. She went to grab you something to eat so you aren’t out and about without a warrior. I’m running late, do you think you can handle staying here by yourself until Ana gets here?” His tone is mocking, but I know he’s dead serious.
“Yes, go. I’ll be fine.” I wave off his concerns.
He gives me a weary smile then walks out the door, unguarded for the first time since I arrived at Nysa.
I grab my book and take a seat in the plush corner chair, wanting to get some reading in before Ana arrives. Just as I’m about to dive in I hear someone enter the room. I assume it's Ana, but to my surprise it’s Charlotte. The moment I see her face, I know something’s wrong.
“What is it?”
“It's little Alaina, she’s missing!” Panic etches her face.
“Oh Gods, are you sure? Have you looked everywhere?”
She nods. “Can you help me find her?”
Crap. “Ana should be here any minute. She would be better at helping find her. Or maybe some of the other soldiers?”
“No!” Charlotte explodes.
I take a step back, confused by her outburst.
“She’s terrified of soldiers after what happened at our house. She won't come to them. Please, we must hurry.” She grabs my hand and drags me towards the door. I hesitate, knowing I shouldn't leave, I had promised Nick I wouldn't, but a missing child should be a logical justification to the ‘stay in your tent’ rule. “Please, she is out there all alone.”
The fear in her voice is my undoing. “I’m coming. Let me just leave a note for Ana.”
“There’s no time. We must hurry. This way.”
When we reach the edge of camp, I stop, aware this is where the protection enchantment ends. If leaving my tent was a stupid move, then leaving the camp is outright ludicrous. “Charlotte, are you sure she went this way? I’m really not supposed to be out here.”
“Yes. We were playing hide and seek, right in this spot. I saw her go into the woods, but she never came back out. Come on, she could be turned around. I'm sure she’s scared all alone out there.”
Memories of my own experience in the woods as a lost child flash through my head. I'm not sure how long I had been out there before a hunter found me, but it was terrifying. There is no way I’m going to let another child feel that way if I can help it. “You said this way?” I leave the safety of the camp and head into the woods the way Charlotte pointed.
“Yes, I’m sure of it.”
As we walk, we call out for little Alaina. The farther from camp we go, the more panicked I become. “Are you sure she would have gone this far? Maybe when you came and got me she found her way back to camp.”
Charlotte continues to walk without acknowledging what I just said.
I give her a few minutes then add, “Charlotte? Are you listening to me? I was saying that chances are, she has gone back to camp. She’s a smart little girl; I don't think she would have gone this far.”
“We’re almost there.” His words are detached.
“Where?” I press. She continues to walk. I seize her arm and turn her around so she has to face me. “Where are we going, Charlotte?”
Her eyes glaze over. “Here.”
“And right on time.” The voice sends chills down my spine. “Come here, my pet,” Kakos commands. Charlotte doesn't hesitate to turn around and head for him.
“Charlotte, no!” I try to reach for her, determined to pull her back, but my arms are yanked behind my back.
“Don't think so,” a man tsks. “You are to wait right here until Kakos is ready for you.”
I writher around, straining to get away, but it's no use, he’s much stronger than I am. In my head, I curse the barbarians for the lack of defense training, wishing now I would have let Nick tell someone what was going on.
I watch in horror as Charlotte bows in front of Kakos. “My lord.”
“Rise, child. By bringing us the princess, you have made Lord Wright very proud.”
Charlotte's eyes stay focused on the ground.
“Now, turn and face her,” Kakos orders.
Again, she does as she is told without hesitation. Kakos leans in and whispers something in her ear. Her foggy eyes come back to life. She looks disoriented.
“Alaina?” She glances back and spots Kakos. Before she can run, Kakos grabs her across the chest and tugs her into him. She opens her mouth but before she can scream Kakos drags a knife across her throat. Charlotte’s once bright eyes turn lifeless as blood gushes from the deep wound.
Someone lets out a blood-curdling scream that pierces my ears. I only realize it’s coming from me when the cold blade of a knife hits my throat. “Quiet now, child,” my captor murmurs. Kakos drops Charlotte’s body as if she is nothing. He steps over her and he heads for me.
I must get away or I’ll be next. Or worse, be taken with them and tortured like Brady warned. Fear courses through me as instincts take over. Without a second thought, I kick my leg back as hard as I can, my boot making contact with the man’s shin with a pop. He screams out in pain and drops my arms. I sprint towards camp but don't make it far. Another man steps out from behind a tree and stops me in my tracks by ramming some kind of large hammer in my gut. I hit the ground hard, gasping for air. Wincing at the pain in my stomach, I pull myself up t
o my hands and knees. I don't even have time to catch my breath when someone grabs me by the hair and tosses me back to the ground. I claw at the arm and hand of the person who holds me, to no avail. The laughter that surrounds me is menacing. I’m dragged by the hair, back to the now group of four that have gathered.
When we reach Kakos, I’m thrown to the ground like a rag doll at his feet. The vomit that leaves my lips as I drag myself out of the mud is bright red. The pain in my abdomen grows worse by the second.
“Looks like your bravery will be the death of you. You should have stayed put and your death would have been a painless one. Now, because of your stupidity, I will let you suffer.”
I turn away and throw up again, a pool of blood now forms at my knees. With my arms around my waist, I cry out as the pain becomes almost unbearable.
Kakos laughs. “Tommy must have done a lot of damage for you to be deteriorating so quickly. I must admit, watching you die is worth the punishment Wright will dish out for not bringing you in alive. Though, on second thought, I will miss the part where I get to torture you. No matter. The result is the same either way. Wright will have his victory. Let’s go.”
I can hear Kakos, but the words are muffled. The world around me spins and I vomit again. Incapable of sitting any longer, I lay on the cold ground and enfold my body into the fetal position.
“Well, this is uninspiring,” the one he called Tommy marvels. “She isn't even fighting back.”
I gaze up unable to focus. Another round of blood-filled vomit comes up. I’m not going to last much longer. My body shakes from the unbelievable cold that now consumes me. The slightest movement sends pain surging through my body. I try to force my eyes to stay open. If I close them, chances are, I will never open them again.
“Come on, girl, don't you want to inspire the people. Make your death mean something? I know,” he lifts his leg and hovers it above me, “let's see if the threat of more bodily harm puts you in a fighting mood.” He lowers his leg, touching the tip of his boot to my very swollen belly.
I scream out in agony and he chuckles. He does it again, a little harder this time. The pain is so intense, I don't even scream, I just roll over and let blood ooze out of my mouth, gagging on the metallic taste.
“We need to go, my lord,” the one, whose knee I broke, whines. “We have been here too long. They are sure to be looking for her by now. If they find her - find us - chances are slim we’ll be able to transport back before they attack.”
“Yes, of course, you are right, Marcus.” Kakos frowns. “Tommy, finish her off.”
A wicked smile slides across his face. “You want to beg for your life, don't you? Go ahead, beg.”
I open my mouth, but the words fall flat.
“Sorry, didn’t catch that.” He raises his leg once more, this time with the intention of landing a fatal blow. “Oh, well.”
I gather my remaining strength and spit. “Fuck you!”
“Such a dirty mouth for such a pretty girl. Too bad it won't save….” His words are cut short as an arrow slices through his heart. Blood splatters everywhere. By the grace of the Gods, I manage to roll out of the way as his body falls to the ground.
Faces I recognize are all around, fighting what seems to be a dozen or so of Kakos’ men. I didn't even realize there were so many. Somewhere off in the distance, my name is called, but I’m too weak to even lift a finger in response. I gasp as my body gives out. There’s a peace to death I did not expect. The pain begins to fade and I allow my eyes to close as the warmth takes over my body.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Brady
“JD, Clint. NOW!” I scream over the sounds of battle, as I cradle Alaina’s limp body in my arms. “You will not die,” I whisper in her ear. “Do you hear me, Princess? You fight, fight the pain and peace, and find your way back.”
“Brady, move. Let me examine her.” Clint snatches Alaina’s body out of my arms and lays her back on the ground. He sweeps his hands over her body to conduct the examination. “You shouldn't have moved her. She has massive internal injuries. Her spleen has ruptured. And from the looks of the ground, she has lost a lot of blood, maybe too much.”
I want to hit him. “Don't you say that! Don't you fucking say that! She is going to pull through! She has to!”
“Brady, we’re going to do everything we can for her, brother.” He scans the clearing and spots JD, who’s healing an injured soldier. “JD, if it ain't life threatening, get your ass over here.”
He moves lightning fast and kneels next to Alaina, performing his own exam. “Fuck me. We need to get her back to camp and to the med tent. It's going to take several rounds of healing, using everyone we have, if she is going to have a shot.”
Clint nods and they are gone – Alaina’s life left in their hands. I stay where they leave me for what feels like an eternity, staring at the massive amount of blood that surrounded her. I'm numb, unable to face the possibility that we - that I - could lose her. What the fuck was she doing out here anyway?
“Brady. We have a problem.” Xavier places a hand on my shoulder. “She’s going to be okay. They’ll take good care of her. But we need figure out why she was out here. You should see this.”
I push myself up off the ground and follow him, surveying the damage. Only three of Kakos’ men lay dead on the ground. The rest fled, Kakos included. Fortunately for us, them fleeing meant no lives were lost from our side. I stop next to Xavier and follow his gaze, cringing at the lifeless body of Charlotte laying on the ground, throat slit.
“We need to get her to the Passage of the Gods,” Xavier says. Out of all the warriors, he was by far the most devoted to the Gods and our beliefs.
“We need Eric to pull her memories first,” I say.
“You can't be serious, brother,” Xavier implores. “She has been in limbo for long enough as it is.”
“I understand that, but we need to know why she was out here with Alaina.”
“I agree with Brady,” Nick chimes in. “There’s no way Alaina would have come out here on her own. When I left her, she understood the importance of staying in her tent. She may be outspoken and a little reckless, but she isn't stupid. She was well aware of what another encounter with Kakos could mean for her.”
“I hate doing this. She’s an innocent soul.” Xavier glances between Nick and myself, then sighs. “But I understand the need for it. Take her straight to Eric, Nick. Have him pull her memories. Then grab her family so that she can be buried and her soul can be at peace.”
I take in the battle sight once more. “We need to get this mess cleaned up.”
“I will have Tom and Bo take Wright’s men to the Passage of the Gods and have them buried.” Xavier offers. “Let Hades have their souls.”
“Thanks.”
“You should get back to camp. Be there with her. She will need a friendly face when she wakes up,” Xavier suggests.
I run my hands through my hair and try to calm my nervous state. “We’re going to have to move camp at once.”
“Yes, we are,” Xavier agrees. “But Alaina must be stable first. She will not survive another transport in her condition.”
Images of her black and purple, swollen stomach are forever burned in my mind along with the stillness of her chest and the pale texture of her skin. The coldness of her body still lingers on my hands. Tears I have not shed since my parent’s death threaten to resurface.
“Brady?” Xavier places a comforting hand on my shoulder. He and I haven't spoken much since we brought Alaina back to camp and I blew up at him for trying to talk to me about my budding feelings for her. If I'm being honest with myself, I have been avoiding him. As my closest friend, he knew as soon as he saw me with Alaina that there was something going on between us. And he would have kept bringing it up until I admitted it to him, then knocked the shit out of me for being so gods damned stupid. “You need a transport back?”
“Look, Xavier, about what I said a couple of weeks ago…�
�
“I was out of line and shouldn't have brought up your soul mate like that. I thought you were being reckless, flirting with the princess.” He lowers his head. “I didn't know.”
“Didn't know what?”
“The Gods work in mysterious ways. A door that has been closed is not always locked.”
I have no idea what he’s talking about. And at this point, I don't care. All that matters to me right now is finding out how Alaina is doing. We haven’t heard anything, which I take as a good sign.
Bo and Tom walk up, and Xavier informs them they are on clean-up. He grabs my arm. “Come on, Brady. Let’s get you back to camp.”
***
The first thing I notice when walking into the healer's tent is the smell. An unknown mixture of herbs fills the air, reminding me of my countless visits to the healer as a child. I find Alaina lying on a bed on the far side of the room, covered in several layers of blankets. Her face still lacks color, but her rising chest allows me to breathe a little easier. I pull up a chair next to her bed and gently uncover her hand, needing to feel if the warmth has returned to her body.
“She’s a fighter, that one.” Recognizing Clint’s voice, I don't turn around, instead, continue watching her chest rise and fall with each breath she takes. “The damage wasn't as severe as we first thought it to be. She should make a full recovery.”
That statement, however, triggers me to face him. “What do you mean? She was on the brink of death when we arrived. By the time you reached her, I couldn't find a pulse. Her body was cold, pale. That makes no sense.”