by Jude Marquez
Paige stood, went through the supplies they had, and found some rice in one of the bags. Plain, she could probably feed it to him. She remembered Nell telling her that the plainer things were, the easier they were on the stomach.
Paige made the smallest fire she could, and let the water heat up while she gave Evander some more water.
"Slowly," she whispered.
He fell back and closed his eyes.
She checked back on the rice once more and returned to Evander.
It made her heart ache to see him like this. She reached for his hand but he did not wake.
"Alyx waits for you. He is doing just fine. He's great actually. The last time I saw Auelina, her belly was as big as a house," Paige whispered.
"Alyx?" Evander whispered. He did not open his eyes.
"He waits for you. He says that he cannot live without you. He might refuse to. As soon as I have gotten some food in you, we will go. We cannot wait. Is there anything else I can do? What can I do?" Paige half begged.
There was no answer.
Getting him to eat was an adventure all on its own. She boiled the rice too long and it was mushy, but it turned out to be just fine for him. His strength was failing and Paige was almost in a panic.
"Evander, we have to go. I have to get you back home," Paige said.
"I can't," Evander whispered. Paige could see that he might be right. But she refused to acknowledge that he might die out here in the woods, this good and kind man, with just an orphan, a horse, and a wolf at his side.
"Yes, you can," Paige hissed.
There were tears on his face and he shook his head. "Go. Go home. Tell him I loved him best I could."
"No," Paige said and stood across his hips. She knelt and made him sit up. Kane scrambled and got behind him, and they both pushed and pulled and then he was standing, barely. Paige was panting and sweating and she had to call Eros over to her. The horse had only rested for a few hours, her saddle hadn't even been removed, but she was still ready.
Then Paige realized how tall Eros was and how, without help, there was no way Evander could get back up there. Evander was slumped over her shoulder, she was all alone in the middle of the forest, and the stupid horse was too tall.
"Evander, help me. Please. If you die here, I'm going to die here with you. I'm not leaving you. If you die, I'm going with you," Paige begged.
"Just go."
"I will die first."
"Please, Paige. Go."
"No!"
The scream that tore itself from her chest seemed to bring Evander back to his senses. He reached one hand out to the pommel and looked up at Eros. "You're too tall," he informed her.
She knelt.
Paige really did cry then. She swung up on the back of Eros's back once more and again, they were off. She decided then and there they would not stop. She wasn't sure how far away home was, or how far Eros could even go without stopping, but getting him off of the horse felt like too much of a risk.
∞∞∞
Two days later, Paige changed her plans. They were not been able to ride the entire time, it was simply not possible. She thought by now that Josette and the others would have caught up, but she underestimated Eros's abilities to run when she urged her to. Paige couldn't read a map and she was afraid to approach any of the villages they came close to.
They were deep in the forest when she finally stopped. Evander wasn't any better than before, but he wasn't any worse off either. Consciousness came and went and he sometimes spoke to people that weren't there. Their supplies were dwindling and if she didn't stop soon or get home, they would surely die.
She made a spot for him on the ground and helped him lay down. Kane laid down next to him and soon, both were sleeping.
Paige laid out a map and leaned over it, the campfire helping her to see. Overhead, it was snowing, which was exactly what she needed.
"If I weren't so stupid, I could do this," she muttered. The lines and the letters made no sense to her and she wished more than anything that they would straighten out and that she would be able to read what was being said. She didn't know how long she sat there, staring at a map that made no sense to her, soothed by Kane and Evander breathing deeply, Eros dozing off on the other side of the fire.
"A stupid girl wouldn't have made it this far," a voice said.
Kane and Paige were on their feet immediately. Paige pulled out Josette's sword and the growl from Kane was not a welcome one.
"Call your wolf off. We have met already," the voice said. He sounded as tired as Paige felt and her vision was beginning to blur and a fever pricked at the back of her neck and made her head ache.
"Who are you?" She demanded. The sword in her hand was not steady but it wasn't fear; she was past that. This was exhaustion.
A man so large and imposing stepped out of the forest and the growls were turning to snarls and barks from Kane. He had a scar on his face and his cloak was lined so well that it made him seem even larger.
Paige blinked and then lowered her sword. "You are the man from the village. You helped me with Josette."
"You seem to be trading sick people in for sicker ones," the man noted. He knelt by Evander and put a hand to his forehead and frowned.
"Not on purpose," Paige said.
The man tossed a bag at her feet and she knelt and opened it. There was bread and cheese packed in it and a hunk of meat. She tore into it greedily and wondered how she could get some into Evander.
"Don't feed the wolf. He's big enough to take a bear down and can fend for himself. Come, up on that great beast of yours," the man said and gestured at Eros.
"We just-"
"I know, sweet. But they are on your tail and I can only fend off so many," the man said. Paige noted that there was blood on his cloak when he stepped closer to the fire and he limped. When he helped Paige with Josette, he did not have a limp.
"You've been following us?" Paige asked.
"For a day and a half now. Up. You must ride hard for your borders."
"Do you know how far?" She asked but did as he asked. She got up on Eros and pushed to the very back of the saddle. If she remembered correctly, this was how he was able to attach Josette to her so that she did not fall as Paige directed Eros.
Gingerly, he helped Evander up.
"Half a day. Do not stop. The ones in purple follow closely. They have begun to notice me killing their friends."
"How unfortunate for them," Paige said bitterly and arranged Evander once more on her shoulder. The man considered Evander and then took his own cloak off, created a kind of sling that had Evander leaning into her, secure.
The man smiled up at her. "Try not to turn too cold, king-savior."
Then they were gone once again.
The last glimpse that Paige had of him was him standing by the fire, watching her ride away.
∞∞∞
"How far ahead could she be?" Josette gasped. She had opened up the wound on her shoulder, not to mention the latest one to her ribs.
"On Eros? She could have been home days ago," Margrave said conversationally, as he slit the throat of a dying man. It was just the latest in skirmishes they were engaged in.
"If she is not, I fear for her," Issat said.
"I believe that girl is tougher than any of you give her credit for," Alik said and swung up on his own horse.
Once more, they picked up her trail.
∞∞∞
Paige was not familiar with exhaustion like this. Her brain was not processing things correctly. She didn't understand how they had traveled so far in such a short amount of time. Then she would look up at the sky and note the position of the stars and realize they had been going much farther than she realized. Eros knew her way home, so Paige stopped directing her, let her ride them home.
Then the sun was rising and she could see De Loughrey castle in the distance. Eros had slowed considerably in the last few hours and Paige did not urge her on. She loved this horse more than sh
e thought was possible, this horse and this impossible wolf, her only companions on this long ride home.
"Kane!" She screamed. "Kane, go home!"
He was nothing but a black streak, heading straight for the barracks.
The sweetest sight that Paige had ever seen in all her life was the stampede of horses and people pouring from the castle, running straight for her.
Chapter 14
Alyx was in the middle of another sorting session with Lissandra, going through all the information they had, when the doors were thrown open.
Sleepily, Alyx, Lissandra, and Lord Ethan looked up at Edmond who was heaving deep breaths in.
"Come!" He shouted.
Alyx was on his feet and down the stairs so quickly, he didn't even remember moving. Something had a hold of him but he wasn't sure what it was. Excitement wrapped up in terror with a healthy dose of anxiousness thrown in.
Then someone was putting him on Ranger and he was shouting at the others to move out of his way. Ranger was fast and though she was sweet, she easily knocked the other people and horses out of her in her urgency to move. It was all too fast for Alyx to process. He realized it was because there were only two things that would cause such a commotion in the castle.
An attack.
Or Evander was back.
In the distance, he saw Eamon riding hard for a familiar black horse in the distance. There was a strange figure on the back, short and wide and strangely formed, and Alyx could not make them out, but urged Ranger on faster. Eamon and Alyx rode for the horse and her rider from different directions, easily outstripping the others and Eamon arrived only seconds before Alyx did. As Alyx approached he realized that it was Paige on the horse. She was pale and her eyes darted around wildly and Alyx could see the sweat on her forehead.
"We're home, we're back, we're here," Paige was chanting and Alyx barely recognized her and did not understand who she was talking to. The cape that was tied around her was large and lumpy and Eamon jumped off the back of his horse before he was even completely stopped.
"Paige!" Eamon called.
"We're home, we're home, we made it, we're home," she said and Alyx wondered if her time in Nightfell had driven her mad. She didn't even acknowledge Eamon when he called her name. Her head was tipped back to the sky and she looked like she was crying.
"Paige, where is Josette?" Alyx demanded.
"We're home," she said again and began sobbing so hard, her entire body shook.
"Child, come," Eamon said and struggled for a moment to untie the cloak around her.
When he did, he barely had time to catch the body that accompanied it, the one that had been slumped over Paige. He fumbled and Eros blocked Alyx's view and then Eamon cried out, a wordless cry, not that Alyx could understand over Paige's whimpering of, "Home, home, home."
Alyx swung down and joined Eamon.
And saw Evander in his arms.
Beaten, bloody, and starved, but it was Evander.
"Alyx-" Eamon whispered.
"Alyx, protect us. They were coming for us- please, I do not know how far behind they are," Paige babbled. She was looking around now, more aware of her surroundings.
Torn between the two, Alyx looked to Eamon.
"Go," Eamon said and helped Evander up on Alyx's horse. His men joined them and Willhelm plucked Paige off Eros and another led Eros away. Eamon began barking orders and Edmond was echoing him, but Alyx could only focus on Evander, in his arms. He felt so small and broken, like he spent the last months in the underworld and now returned to him.
"Alyx?" Evander asked. One of his eyes was still shut but the other opened enough to see Alyx and there was an awareness there that made Alyx want to weep and burn the whole world down around them.
"Hello, Evander," Alyx whispered.
"Did I- Did Paige-?"
"No, you're home. You're home and I will kill them all."
Then Evander was closing his eyes and Alyx was riding back for the castle.
∞∞∞
The healers deferred to Lissandra. It seemed like the Princess's education outstripped their own and Alyx wanted to strangle them all. He was beginning to wonder if he should not send others to be schooled by Lissandra so that they might have decent physicians in their midst.
"We haven't the time," Lissandra said when she saw the fury on Alyx's face when he heard what the healers said. Alyx laid Evander out on the table.
"His clothes," she ordered as she pulled her hair back and out of her face.
Alyx tore the remnants of his clothes from his body and then stepped back. The bruises on his face were doubled all over his body and the injuries that Alyx could see plainly with his eyes were probably nothing compared to what Lissandra would find.
Lissandra pressed an ear against his chest, above his heart, and then the other side.
"Blankets, water, a thin broth," she ordered.
Alyx turned but Avelina was already there, rushing out.
Gael, Cade, and Auelina rushed in.
"How-" Gael asked.
Alyx shook his head. "Paige."
They gathered around Evander and Lissandra counted his breaths, his heartbeats. She cupped his head in her hands and then pried his eyes open.
"Okay," she nodded and turned.
Nicolas was there, waiting on her every command, like he had done for the past two weeks.
"In my room. In my trunks. There is a red trunk. Bright red. Take everything out. At the bottom is a long, black box."
"Red trunk. Black box."
"Bring it to me, but be very, very careful."
Then Nicolas was gone.
"Is he- Will he live?" Alyx asked.
"Yes," Lissandra said. "But it will not be pretty."
"I don't care," Alyx whispered.
∞∞∞
There was nothing outside of the pain. It began somewhere in his chest and radiated outwards to his shoulders, his hips, his legs, his fingers, until his entire world was soaked in it.
"Are you awake?" A voice whispered. "I’m here. I'm not going anywhere."
The voice was familiar, but far away. It was comforting, that he was not alone. He spent so much time alone, locked up, that he wasn't sure he could go much longer without a kind word or a gentle hand. Soothed, Evander fell back asleep.
∞∞∞
The pain was a little better this time or perhaps he was numbed to it. There were hushed voices, more than two, and Evander could clearly understand orders were given.
"Paige?" Evander whispered.
The room fell silent.
He couldn't bring himself to open his eyes. It was too much to utter that one name as it was. But he had to know, if they were somewhere safe, if she was okay. He remembered her words, her vow to die with him if he would not get on the back of Eros. He had to know if she was okay too.
"She's here. She brought you home. Do you want me to get her?" Alyx whispered in his ear.
Relief flooded Evander so much that he could hardly breathe from it. He didn't dare hope that they were actually home, with his family, because it was so much to ask. Safety and Paige's health was enough for him, but here, home-
It was too much to bear.
"Alyx?" Evander asked.
"Yes, Evander."
"Alyx?"
"I'm right here."
"Please."
"I won't. I'm not leaving you. Sleep."
∞∞∞
They were all gathered in Alyx's quarters. Lissandra would not leave. Gael spent more time here than in anywhere else. Cade came in and out often and though Auelina was ordered to rest, she came in often as well. Gia made her first appearance for the first time in a very long time to see Evander and spent her days there, reading to him.
Lissandra monitored him constantly.
The healers came and took notes of what she used and that black case that Nicolas retrieved rarely left her sight. She poured tinctures down Evander's throat at regular intervals and assured Alyx that it was onl
y for him to sleep through the pain.
No one should suffer through pain like this, she whispered more than once.
When his sleep was deep enough, she reset his fingers, his toes, his right ankle and his right shoulder.
For the shoulder, she required her brothers' help. By the end of the first day, she had tears on her cheeks but Alyx would swear that she did not know it.
Paige was sick.
Exhaustion sickness, Lissandra said. Avelina stayed with her and on the few occasions that Lissandra did leave Evander's side, it was to check on Paige.
She had a fever, she was delirious, and she spoke of a man that lived in the woods like he was a myth. She called out for Josette but Josette was in the woods and none could find her.
"If she does not want to be found, she will not," Lissandra advised.
"Is there no way to communicate with her?" Eamon asked.
"Not until she knows she is safe."
Alyx never left Evander's side. He refused to. There was no one that could move him, with the exception of Lissandra as she watched over Evander. Alyx took all his meals in their room and often slept with his head on the bed next to Evander. He did not occupy the bed, for fear of hurting him.
Five days after Paige and Evander arrived, Josette, Issat, Margrave, and Alik stumbled out of the forest and into the village.
Upon seeing Josette, all four were taken to the castle.
"Is Paige here?" Josette asked, over and over.
"She is here, she brought Evander," Edmond assured her as he carried her up and to Evander's room.
Lissandra was there, changing Evander's bandages and upon seeing her old friend, she cried out. One of the healers took her place and Lissandra went over to Josette where Edmond deposited her in a chair.
Then Eamon followed her in with Issat in his arms, and two more men helping both Margrave and Alik.
They were all dirty, bleeding, and had not seen a good meal in a long time.
"I'm fine, I swear it," Josette said and waved Lissandra off. Or tried to anyway. She was ignored as Lissandra ran her hands down her Josette's face, arms, and legs, frowned at the poorly wrapped wounds on her arms and shoulders.