by Jude Marquez
The long ride had exhausted her and Josette hadn't woken up in a very long time.
"Whoa, there, girl!" One man said and reached out to for Eros's reigns.
She snapped and reared at him. Paige was used to her outbursts though, and leaned with her, desperately clinging to the pommel for leverage.
All four soldiers stepped back.
"That's a mighty beast for such a small girl. And who is this here with you?" Another soldier reached for Josette and this time, when Eros reared, the warning growl from the shadow of the trees was clear.
"I am the ward of King Alyx, of the Cerith Kingdom. I am here on important business. Business that has almost killed my companion," Paige said and her voice was steadier than she felt.
The men looked at one another and then laughed.
"You stole that horse from some poor soldier and your companion is no doubt part of your trouble. Give the horse to us, call off your dog, and you can go," the first man said.
Why were men so thick? Paige thought.
"This war horse belonged to King Evander, and only few can ride her. Take us to Prince Alik and my wolf will not kill you all," Paige announced through clenched teeth. They were at the gatehouse, the castle was so close Paige felt like she could touch it, and she was so, so tired.
And Josette hadn't moved or said anything in such a long time.
"Come girl- Off!" The man shouted.
Then Kane was there, snapping at the man, Eros was rearing and the hand that was reaching for her reigns was impaled with an arrow.
From the other side of the guardhouse, opposite from where Kane was hiding, a woman with a bow and arrow appeared. She was dressed in dark green, with a wide belt around her waist and a dark cloak over her head. It also seemed lined with a thick fur.
"Kane, that's quite enough," the woman said quietly. Kane fell silent and sat. Paige wondered if she was hallucinating, if too much time running made her mad.
"Lady Issat-" the third man said and fell to his knee.
She studied him and then turned back to the forest behind her.
A man was following her, with a pale face and eyes so blue, they rivaled even Kane's. He did not look kind or even welcoming. He was more like the snow around them than any human that Paige knew. His hair was long enough to be pulled back into a low ponytail and his hands were folded neatly behind him.
"That is indeed King Evander's horse. And that is one of the barbarian's wolves. I believe that to be one of my good friends, dying on that poor girl's shoulder. Tell me, what is your thought process when greeting someone with a signet ring, claiming to be a ward of King Alyx, whose country is in such dire straits? Were you truly going to turn her away?" The man approached the other three slowly.
The other two men knelt slowly, though the one with the arrow in his hand was much slower than the others.
The woman with the bow approached Paige, who was desperately clutching Josette now.
"When you calm, so will your horse," she said but stayed a safe distance away. "Breathe slowly. Is that Josette?"
Paige fought to control her breathing and nodded.
"We grew up in the same place, her and I. It must have been quite the fight to take her down," Issat said and mimed breathing in and out for Paige to follow.
"Ten of them against her. I had a bad feeling and sent Kane for her. When Kane came back, there was a man with them that was carrying her. He helped to wrap her wound and put her on the horse for me," Paige whispered and she could feel her demeanor cracking.
"Good man," Issat said.
She was beautiful like Josette was beautiful. She was calm and strong and approached them warily. Her hair and eyes were dark and her skin was smooth.
"So when a ward of one of our allies approaches your thought was to... what? Take her horse and all her belongings and send her away?" The man asked, somewhere behind Issat.
"Alik," Issat murmured and glanced over her shoulder.
"Please, give me an answer," Alik said.
The three uninjured men looked to each other but none of them seemed willing to say anything.
"Answer me!" Alik demanded, his voice filled with fury.
"She is but a girl- how were we supposed to know?" One man whispered.
"You use your eyes,” Alik strode over to one man and grabbed him by his hair, forced him to look at Paige, “She rides a war horse with a wolf at her side and signet ring on her finger. She is dressed in fine riding clothes. She asked to see me by name and you deny her?" Alik scoffed.
"Finish your games, I need your help," Issat hissed.
"No, I will leave them to my cousin. He will give them a proper punishment, one that will help them realize the error of their ways," Alik said softly.
"Your Highness-" one man whispered.
"Please-" the one with the arrow said.
"Send for replacements and if you blunder this order, it will be your head," Alik hissed.
The three stood and hurried for the gatehouse.
"Cut Josette free, I will catch her on this side. Watch the girl," Issat ordered.
Paige forced herself to remain calm as Issat cut Josette's wrists free so that Eros would not trample them all.
"Do you wish to remain up there or would you like to come down here?" Alik asked and looked up at Paige. His tone was much more gentle than moments earlier.
"My name is Paige. I am a ward of King Alyx's," Paige murmured.
"Paige, it is my pleasure," Alik said and bowed. "Any ward or family or friend of Alyx's has sanctuary and safety here, I swear it."
"What will happen to Kane? And Eros?" Paige asked.
"Eros will be treated like the royalty she is. I believe Kane has gone to feast in the forest, but if you call him, he will return to your side," Issat said.
"I think I would like to come down now," Paige said. Her head felt strange, like there was an ocean inside of her and her vision was blurry. She was shivering.
"Very well," Alik said and helped her down. Once on her feet, she swayed. Alik took his cloak off and wrapped it around her. "You southerners are so delicate," he whispered. Then he bent down and picked her up off her feet and caught Eros's reigns in his hand. She saw that Issat was already hurrying for the castle, Josette in her arms much the way she was being carried by the Prince.
"Alyx-" she murmured.
"Rest, then tell me what you must," Alik said.
The last thing she saw was a huge castle, rising up against the afternoon sky, the spires seeming to pierce the clouds.
∞∞∞
When Paige counted the days, she realized that she and Josette must have been riding and searching for close to a month. It had been just as hard as Josette promised; often there was little food, it was always cold, and there was very little comforts to be taken out on the road. Paige was hungry more often than not, ached in places she did not know, but refused to utter a complaint.
She made Josette a deal, after all.
That deal said that Paige could go with Josette, but the moment it became too hard, Paige would go back to De Loughrey castle. That was their promise.
So when she came to, the first thing she noted was the warmth and the weight of many blankets upon her. There was something else, food, warm bread baking nearby, and soft voices.
Her first thought was that she had been taken by the fairies of the forest and she would never again see her home or her family.
When she finally opened her eyes to fight the fairies that had taken her, she was confronted instead by the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She had waves and waves of red hair, emerald green eyes, and flawless skin. Her neck was decorated with jewels that Paige had only ever heard of and her mouth was painted a beautiful shade of pink.
"Did I die? Are you the goddess?" Paige whispered and her voice cracked.
Behind the woman, someone snorted.
A man, half his face viciously scarred and the other half almost as beautiful as the woman came into view. He wore a dar
k cape and there was the slightest limp to his walk and a sneer on the unmarred part of his face.
"Are you the god below? Are you here to fight for my soul?" Paige asked.
The woman turned back to the man and the man shook his head.
"No, child. I am Lady Emelina. This is the Prince's cousin, Lord Margrave. He has tasked us with watching over you," Emelina said.
Paige blinked and her memories came back to her. The guardhouse, Eros, Alik carrying her inside, and then darkness.
"Josette-" Paige said and struggled to sit up.
"Is being watched over by Lady Issat. I dare anyone to try to harm her while the Lady watches her," Emelina said and with almost no effort on her part at all, she pushed Paige back into bed.
"Have I been asleep long?" Paige asked.
"Two days. You had a fever, our healers saw to you. Our servants bathed you. Your riding clothes will be replaced as it seems like yours had seen better days. Now what is it that you were so desperate to tell our Prince, little maid?" Margrave asked as he stood over Emelina's shoulder.
Emelina shot him a look of utter disgust.
"What? She rode here all this way, with a dying spy on her shoulder, it must be important. Tell me what it is and I will go to the Prince straightaway," Margrave bargained.
That court is filled with liars that will try to win you over, but do not trust them.
Josette's voice was loud and clear in her mind and she did not trust Margrave. His demeanor was that of someone who knew too much and used it as a bargaining chip.
"I was given specific instructions to speak to the Prince alone," Paige said quietly.
The half of Margrave's face that was not scarred feigned surprise. "You do not trust me, little maid?"
"I do not trust anyone but my Kings and Josette, my Lord," Paige said.
Emelina held a cup out for her and Paige struggled to sit up and take it from her.
"Smart girl. I will see if the Prince is available. Until then-" Margrave headed for the door and lifted the thick wood that locked them in. "Emelina, please do not let her out of your sight."
"I would never," Emelina said.
There was something on Margrave's face that Paige had only seen once, a fleeting look between Alyx and Evander.
"I will return with His Highness," Margrave promised.
When the door opened, Paige felt her stomach drop.
Outside, the door was guarded by men and women in purple cloaks.
Just like Thomas' men wore.
Margrave shut the door and Emelina struggled to bar it again, but once that was accomplished, she returned to Paige's side.
The concern on her face was fake and Paige knew that this would be the place that she died in.
"Now," Emelina said. "What is it you can tell me?"
Chapter 9
"How are you?" Auelina asked Alyx.
If he were being honest, he could have been doing a lot better. But thanks to Lissandra and Avelina who almost always flanked his sides when he was meeting with council members or visitors, he could have been close to dead.
"I am well. I feel as though I should be asking you that question," Alyx said and gestured to Auelina's belly.
She smiled at him. "We are well. I tire easily but I cannot express enough gratitude to the Ataton family. Between the four of them, they have managed to help keep the country running."
"Indeed they have," Alyx said and sat down across from Auelina. "How is Aldous?"
Auelina's eyes went distant. Aldous was out with the other men, securing their borders. Eamon had privately offered to let Aldous stay, run the security at the castle but after a long, hard talk with Auelina, he decided to go out with his men.
"His last letter said that he is well. He misses our bed and his family but will return soon enough. I believe him," Auelina said softly.
Alyx had nothing else to say about that but he wasn't willing to leave so soon. Auelina's company was soothing in a way that no one else's was. Perhaps because she was one of the few that knew that Alyx needed silence and with him, there was no need to fill that silence with words.
"I have something I wanted to ask you," Auelina said and put her sewing down.
So much for his wish for silence.
"Ask and it will be yours," Alyx said.
"It is not for me. It is for you," Auelina said.
Alyx wanted to sigh but held it inwards.
"There is talk of a new marriage for you," Auelina said.
Slowly, painfully, Alyx leaned forward and put his forehead on the table between them. "Would it be too much to ask you to kill me instead of continuing this conversation?"
"I could not kill the king. I love him and he is my brother. And I will not have this baby in a jail cell," Auelina admonished gently.
Alyx sighed.
"I know that your interest does not lie with women and with both Gael and I - We are both able to pass the throne along through our line. I just want you to consider the intricacies of what to consider should you choose to marry," Auelina said.
"I do not wish to marry. If I do, I will abdicate the throne to Gael first. This power is not mine. It did not come to me through any noble house or bloodline. Evander gave it to me. I will give it back to your family should I marry again, which is less likely than the goddess herself walking up to our gates and knocking on the door," Alyx said.
"So you will spend the rest of your life alone?" Auelina press and leaned forward. Alyx felt her hand card through his hair. "Alyx, no one wants that. I don't want that for you. Evander would not want that for you either."
"Why not? Wherever he is right now, he is alone. I would prefer to die as he does, instead of pretending to love someone for the remainder of my life."
"Marriages are made of less than love, my King."
"I know. Kingdoms made of less than that. Perhaps I will love another someday. But I do not know if Evander lives or is dead. It hasn't been a year since I have taken the throne. I wish only to have time to find out, to mourn, then we will decide what will happen next."
"I wish only that you be happy."
"Then wish for your brother's return. Wish for that with all your heart."
Auelina was silent for so long that Alyx turned his head so that he could see her. "I do. I wish for him. I wish that I could see him and that he might hold his next niece or nephew. I wish that you and he are together again. But we were raised to protect our people above all else."
Alyx nodded. "I understand. That is why the throne might have to go to Gael before all is said and done."
∞∞∞
The silence was beginning to kill Evander.
He knew the silence would take him long before the starvation and dehydration. His entire life was spent around people, with people, always with others near him.
Now he was alone, lying in a cell of hard packed dirt, a single blanket, and a pile of straw.
Sometimes he talked to Alyx if he saw him.
Evander had to admit that he was losing his mind but even seeing Alyx was a comfort.
Today he was sitting across from Evander wearing a white tunic and black britches, clean and bright in the dirty cell.
"Was it like this for you? When you were in Elewisa's house? I saw the scars and I know you never told me everything, but was it like this? I hope it wasn't," Evander said. He was sitting back against the wall.
Alyx remained silent.
"I think that no matter what I say or do here, you won't ever reply. Whatever my mind paints of you is a false equivalent to what you really are. The real Alyx would probably demand something impossible of me. Like to stand and fight."
Alyx smiled at him and Evander wished that Alyx was there with a gentle touch or a fierce word. To make Evander move, to make him fight.
The door was thrown open and Miss Vail stood there. Alyx disappeared.
Evander stared at her.
"Are you talking to someone?" She asked.
"Yes."
&n
bsp; "Who?" She demanded and peered into the room.
"My husband."
She stared at him and laughed. "You are losing your mind."
The words would have taunted Evander months ago but now it was just a statement of truth. Yes, he was losing his mind. Perhaps he would die thinking Alyx really was in the cell with him. There would be worse ways to go.
"I come with glad tidings," she announced and she did indeed seem to be excited about something. "Our King to the south is to get married."
Evander nodded, still unfazed by her words. It was the next logical step and he long ago accepted that when Alyx knew he was dead, he would have to marry again, perhaps to keep the throne or to stabilize the country.
Whoever the person that Alyx married, Evander hoped they were kind. He hoped that they were good to him and tried to understand him.
"What? No anger, no bitterness at your beloved, marrying?" Miss Vail asked. She smirked at him.
"It is the only logical thing he could do. Of course he would marry. I hope that whoever he does marry is cruel to their enemies. I hope that he finds you and Thomas and when he does, Alyx will carve you into something entirely new. I hope that you will be his wedding gift. In fact, I hope that it is the barbarians he married into. Eamon made sport of your men with his wolves. Would you like to hear how they were hunted down like the cowards they are?" Evander asked politely.
Miss Vail's face went cold. She did care about at least one man they had captured, it seems.
"You will die here, in the dirt, alone and forgotten. My father will carry your corpse to the gates of your castle and throw you in Alyx's face-"
"Then he must pray that the gods be on his side. I fear the monster you awake in my love."
The door slammed shut and Evander wondered when he would pay for his words.
∞∞∞
"I'm sorry you want me to what?" Alyx demanded.
Lissandra looked to Gael who was staring at Alyx and then over to her brother. They were all gathered in Alyx's quarters, ostensibly for lunch. Instead, Alyx realized far too late what it was.
An ambush.
"We think that it would throw your enemies off and give us a reason to stay. We will never go through with it-" Gael started.