by R. J. Lloyd
“No!” The man to Aeden’s right shouted. “Gael said to come and take care of them. King or not, she cannot be allowed to live. We do very well without him. So, if he has to go with her to save us from the…”
An arrow shot out, embedding itself into the man’s throat cutting him off. His hands wrapped around the shaft as he choked, gurgling up a surge of blood that filled his mouth, spilling out over his lips before he fell off his horse to the ground, lifeless.
The other men around Aeden reacted angrily, shouting and starting to surge forward, Dorian’s men responding in kind. I looked around to look for the source only to find Wulfgar putting a smaller crossbow back on its strap on his back.
He smirked and shrugged, pulling his axe around the front of him. “He was talking too much and insulting my king.”
I fought between shock and wanting to laugh at him. Still hearing the voices rising in front of me, I wrapped my hands around Kane’s arm.
Kane took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Enough!”
One by one, they all stopped yelling, pausing on their advancing. Aeden’s men snapped to look at Kane and me while Dorian’s men kept their attentions on their opponents.
“I have had enough of this prophecy!” He roared. “Ask your questions, Aeden. Auriena Raulson is here of her own free will. I have not forced her into anything with me. If questions will ease you, then ask them.”
I stepped forward. “I can tell you, before you ask anything, you cannot force someone into love. Not genuine love. So, if you want me to tell you if I am with Kane willingly? What I’ll tell you is that I am not only just that but love him deeply and am happy to be having his children. Now, if you would kindly tell your men to go home to their families, we would like to go home and start ours.”
A smile tugged at Aeden’s lips. He gathered himself and nodded. “As you wish.” He turned to Kane. “My apologies, my liege. I appreciate your cooperation and hope you understand the basis of the concern.”
Aeden steered his horse away and motioned for his men to follow. “Go home, men. They shall be allowed to pass.”
Another man pulled forward up next to his leader. “This isn’t what we came for. We came for her. Now, we end her before they bring the prophecy down upon us!”
Before Aeden could respond, Kane interjected, “You are welcome to challenge me, but you will not be killing Auriena. Not today. Not ever. And any man who attempts to will meet that very fate himself.”
Wulfgar walked around the carriage to face them. “I haven’t had a good fight in far too long. I welcome any or all of you to try.”
I wanted to tell Wulfgar to not encourage them and go back to watching our backs. But the spike in tension in the air was causing the hairs on my arms to stand.
Dorian’s men took another step forward as Dorian moved up near us. “Go home. That is an order from your king. I suggest you follow it.”
The man scoffed, causing Aeden to cringe. “That’s enough.” Aeden barked. “We are leaving. All of us!”
“No,” the man snarled. His horse reared up, and he unsheathes his sword, running toward us.
More than two thirds of Aeden’s men followed the traitor, causing Dorian’s eight men to draw their swords.
Wulfgar held his axe out before him and grinned from ear to ear. “Yes!”
Kane pulled his dagger out of its sheath on his hip, pulling me to his side. “Indrell. Take her.”
The Emalne healer gripped my arm and pulled me back behind the carriage, blocking my view as Kane stepped forward. I tried to move to see him as fear raked through me, but she yanked me back just in time as a man’s head came flying our direction, slamming onto the ground and rolling past us. The blonde hair a tattered mess as it came to a stop.
I yelped and started to run toward the decapitated face, the deepest of fears gripping my heart, nearly making it impossible to breath. But again, Indrell held me back, this time with Thaid’s help as he grabbed my shoulders. “It is not him.”
I was panting, eyes fixated on the dismembered head. This time, Indrell tried to shake me from my horror. “Look.” She held the carriage door open. “Look through the window. He’s fighting.”
I stumbled inside, ignoring the tears that were blurring my vision and rolling down my face. Throwing the curtains fully aside, I watched as the men clashed weapon to weapon. Some had dismounted and were fighting hand to hand. Some were up on their horses, swinging and hacking away at those around them.
Aeden and the remaining men in his infantry had pulled back. Indecision distorted Aeden’s handsome features, causing what would typically have been ethereally beautiful featured to contort.
Wulfgar and Dorian both were pressed in by two Emalne each. Wulfgar’s axe slid across one man’s armor, splitting it open before coming up the other direction, taking the foe’s arm off as the raider spun around and lodge the blade into the other man’s chest.
My eyes searched frantically over the gruesome scene.
I could not see Kane in the carnage. Dorian, I found. Wulfgar I saw. Aeden I’d spotted. But Kane was nowhere to be seen. The longer I searched, the further my heart sank.
“Where is he?” I gripped Indrell’s hand tight.
Tight enough that it caused her to wince. “He’s there. Trust me.”
“I...” Almost lost in despair, I jumped as a man flung himself on the door, trying to pry it open as both Indrell and Thaid pulled on the handle to try to keep him from gaining entrance as he yelled, “Give her to us. She must be disposed of! They must be stopped!”
The man was plucked from the door and tossed to the ground. Standing over him, Kane pressed his boot to the man’s chest, gripped both of his arms and yanked, tossing his arms each in a different direction. “You will not touch her!” His breath was ragged, blood splattering across him, hair falling into his face.
I pressed my hands to the glass. “You’re alive!”
His eyes met mine for a moment before he spun around, catching an attacker with his dagger. The blade slid all the way into the Emalne’s stomach to the hilt, but Kane didn’t stop. He lifted him off the ground, throwing him at a nearby enemy. Stalking over to them both, he pulled the dagger free and sank it into the heart of the man he’d bowled over with the now lifeless body, rendering him the same fate.
Kane turned back to me once again. He started back for the carriage, calling out. “Is she fine!”
“I’m fine!” I pushed the door open, wanting to go to him.
“No!” He held a hand out. “Stay in there!”
“But…” And my eyes widened.
The world started to spin as I saw the tip of a blade protrude out the front of Kane’s shoulder. He went to his knees with a look of rage, followed immediately with fear.
Another man came around the side of the carriage, reaching out for me. Inches from my hair, his hand flew back, pinned to the side of the caravan. My eyes went wide, and I stumbled back.
Not knowing where to look, I scrambled. Thaid was holding off someone from trying to open the door on the other side as Indrell tried to help me back inside. Once again, I found myself searching for Kane while trying to avoid the man’s other reach.
But his efforts were cut short as Aeden came through the crowd, holding a bow out and aiming it at the man. Releasing the string, the arrow flew straight into the man’s temple. Instantly, he went limp and fell, hanging from his impaled hand.
Pushing the door open again, I cried out, “Kane!”
But the noise was so loud, I couldn’t hear him.
I cried again, tears streaming down my cheeks and sobs almost choking off his name. “Kane!”
Three men, fighting two to one, shifted, and I saw him. He was leaned over a man, a short sword still affixed through his shoulder, but he wasn’t going down. He had pinned his attacker to the ground beneath him and slide the sharp edge of the blade over the man’s throat, opening the man’s airway to the world outside his body.
I sighe
d in relief seeing him alive still.
Kane rose, looking around. Some of Dorian’s men had fallen, but those that remained were still fighting alongside Dorian, Wulfgar and now Aeden’s men. The numbers had equaled as Kane held his arm and stumbled.
He snarled as he passed two soldiers locked in anger, swords crossed. Kane reached over and grabbed the Emalne and broke his neck, letting him drop before he continued my way.
Stumbling out of the carriage, I ripped away from Indrell. I threw myself at Kane, wrapping my arms around him. “You’re alive!”
“Of course I am.” He wound one arm around me.
I could feel him stumble slightly, and I pulled back. “You’re injured. We need to remove it and get a doctor.”
He scoffed. “Remove it. Yes. Doctor, no. I will heal on my own.”
Without warning, Wulfgar yanked the metal out of Kane’s shoulder and dropped it down next to us. “Yeah. He heals fast. Almost as fast as me.” He roared with laughter, patting Kane on the back, disregarding the wound he’s just unplugged. “Not bad for a small battle.” Wulfgar wiped his axe off on his pantleg and put it back over his shoulder, locking it into his holster.
“You fought well.” Kane pulled me into him and peered over at Aeden, who stood, solemnly looking over the bodies. “Aeden. Thank you. I owe you a debt of gratitude for saving Auriena. You will be rewarded.”
Aeden lowered his head. “I do not need a reward. This is nothing to celebrate for me. Saving her was less than I owe you for bringing this upon you. I did not know they would act out as they did. I owe you, my liege.”
Dorian and the remainder of his men, six of them, gathered around us as Thaid and Indrell climbed out of the carriage. Dorian scanned us all before addressing Kane. “We lost a few men. And a couple of their men escaped. But those that remained were dispatched and sent to their afterlives other than these three.” He stepped aside and three of his men pulled in an Emalne each in binds. “They should be tried by the council.”
“Thank you.” Kane winced. I could see thought the rip in his shirt that the wound was already knitting together.
Thaid stepped forward. “That they will.” He waved his hands, sealing the binding ropes with magic as they pulled tighter around the men’s wrists.
Dorian motioned to the men. “Take them to the keeper and return with haste.”
Thaid addressed Kane, “They will be tried with Gael for these crimes. Rest assured they will not be set free, and I will send word once their sentencing has been carried out.”
“Very well.” Kane pulled me in tighter.
Following the prisoners and their guards into the building across the street, Thaid left.
Aeden flicked his wrist, and several of his men started cleaning up. “I and my men will clean this mess and will accompany you back to Everwinter.”
“To what end?” Wulfgar pulled his axe back out.
“To ensure you all make it there safely,” Aeden replied, not sounding offended, just weary.
Kane put a hand on Wulfgar’s arm, pressing his hold on his axe down. “That is kind of him.” He turned to Aeden. “But that is not required of you.”
“Unless you insist that we do not, I would like to request the honor.” Aeden’s eyes shot back to Indrell before falling back to the ground.
I followed his gaze and saw the healer behind me, just as many tears had been falling from her eyes as had been mine. “Indrell?”
She shied away.
I turned to Kane. “They come.”
It hit me when I felt it. Aeden loved Indrell. And while I didn’t know the story, I could feel it was a love that, while she reciprocated it, they had either never been allowed or never allowed themselves to pursue.
Looking into my eyes, Kane nodded. “Dorian, be sure that our things are ready and help Aeden’s men prepare for the journey.”
With a huff, Dorian followed orders, snapping at his closest soldier to do tasks as he barked them out. It wasn’t hard to see that Dorian disagreed with our new travel companions.
I reached up and touched the place where I’d seen the blade pierce Kane’s shoulder. His skin was completely sealed, but the pinkish flush of new flesh was still there, telling me that he was still mending.
His hand rested over mine. “I am fine.”
“I am not.” I didn’t look up at him, instead, letting my fingers trace the ragged lines of the fading scar.
Blood still stained his clothing, splattering in all angles across him. It was hard enough seeing him have to fight, but the horror that ripped through me when I saw the Emalne’s blade shoot through him nearly took me to my knees. Even standing there, watching his wound heal, a nausea rose up in my throat, and I choked back tears.
He leaned down, moving into my vision. “Hey, little one. I am fine.”
I sniffled, tipping my chin up and averting my eyes.
He ran his hands down my arms as if searching something. Something in his voice turned urgent. “Are you hurt? Have you an injury I did not see inflicted on you?” He continued to look me over.
After a moment, I finally choked out, “No.”
He sighed in relief. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I nodded.
“Then what is it?”
I fought to speak around my tightened throat. “I thought he might kill you. When I saw him stab you through, I was blocked from seeing you again, and I didn’t know what happened. I didn’t know how bad your injury was or if he had been able to do worse. And… I…”
He pulled me in as I started to sob again. His hand smoothed over my hair as his other one held me, pressed to him. “I would rather it be me that dies than you. I will take any blow if it keeps it from you.”
My hands gathered the fabric of his shirt and held on tight.
He put a finger under my chin and lifted my head to look at him. “I am alive because I fought to keep you safe.”
“I can’t lose you now.” My cheeks were soaked.
He wiped tears away with both of his thumbs, cupping my face in his hands. “Then you will not.”
Wulfgar cleared his throat nearby. “We should be ready soon.”
Surprised by his statement, I looked around. Already, the men had stacked all the dead in a cart and were removing it. The carriage had signs of battle but was otherwise fixed up and cleaned. Horses were lined up. The men that had taken the prisoners to the keepers had returned and were in line with the others. And Dorian walked toward us.
When Aeden returned to our company, Indrell came out of the carriage and stood behind me, taking a handful of my skirt’s material in her hand. I reached back and placed my hand on hers.
Pulling only slightly away from Kane, I leaned toward her and whispered, “Is he a danger?”
She shook her head no.
“Will it be a bad thing for you, emotionally, to have him along?” I asked.
She shrugged slightly.
“You love him.” I felt the irony in me asking the very accusatory question she did Kane just recently.
She nodded yes.
“He loves you, too.” Her eyes went wide, not having left him the whole time.
I squeezed her hand. “I still need you.”
This statement broke her of her tortured gaze. She blinked and looked me, her jaw a little slack. “I’m so sorry. Yes. Of course.”
I smiled weakly. “Will you tell me when there’s not so many ears?”
She let her eyes wander back to him and smiled. “Yes.” When he looked her way, she blushed, her eyes going wide, and went back into the carriage, leaving the door open for me.
Kane pulled his shirt off and turned it inside out. Wiping my cheek, he grinned. “Once we are far enough away, we will stop somewhere safe and clean up more.” He used the torn fabric to attempt to clean off as much of the blood as he could.
“Thank you.” I tried to tuck my hair back that fell into my face.
Turning to the others, Kane switched to his commanding tone. “U
nless there are any further delays, we are leaving.” He went to the back of the carriage, he opened a trunk that was strapped there, pulling out a fresh shirt and slipping it on.
Wulfgar came around him on his horse. “Are you sure it is wise to bring along the Emalne after all of this, especially with Dorian already being uneasy?”
“What I think is,” Kane pulled out another flask and closed the trunk, taking a long pull from it, drinking deeply, “the more allies we have, the safer it is for her.” His eyes came to rest on me.
“Are we sure they are allies?” Wulfgar questioned.
I nodded, prompting Kane to do the same. “Yes.”
Chapter
Fourteen
Picking Up Strays
The sky was dark and starlight shone above us as we pulled away from Thillatheas. It would have been quiet if not for the sounds of more than twenty horses and the wheels of the carriage that echoed off the trees that lined the old, dirt road.
My heart barely found an easy rhythm, but as we got further away from the village that had brought so much violence, I finally started to breathe easier.
I scooted over to the window and pulled the curtain aside. Watching Kane as he spoke to Aeden, Lochlin and Wulfgar, I relaxed. All of them had put away their weapons and rode in stride.
I felt a hand on my shoulder which made me jump. “Indrell!”
She laughed. “Well yes. Who else?”
Embarrassed, I leaned back, letting the curtain fall back into place. “Of course. Sorry. I guess I’m just jumpy.”
It was her turn to stare out the window, wistfully. “I would not imagine anything less.”
Hearing the distance in her voice, I tilted my head. “Are you going to tell me?” Besides, the distraction of the conversation would be welcome.
Momentarily stunned, Indrell sat up before realization hit her. “Oh. Aeden?”
“Yes. Is he married? Are you? Do you have feuding families? Why are you two not together?” I leaned forward, propping myself up on my knees.
“No. None of that.” Indrell dropped her gaze to her hands, folded in her lap.