by K. Lyn Hill
"The girls got spunk. I like when they fight." His stale breath assaulted her as he leaned in so far, his nose practically touched hers. "I'll bet you've never been with a real man."
Struggling in his grip, Aerity spat, "And I’ll bet you've never heard of a tic tac." It sounded much cooler in her head. As much as she wanted to avoid it, she was growing desperate. Releasing a shuddering breath, she reared her head back and swung it forward until it struck him in his face. Blood sprayed across her cheek and neck as his now broken nose let out a sickening crunch. Slightly gagging at the feel of the warmth sliding down her face, she used his moment of surprise to wrench out of his grip and swung her sword at his side, slicing a strip across his abdomen. He howled in pain and tried to lunge for her again, but she skittered out of his way and stabbed him in the back. Yanking it out, she tried again to locate Siel. When her eyes landed on him, her eyes widened at the man stalking up behind him.
"Siel! Look out behind you!" She cried as he ducked and spun. The man’s sword, that had tried to stab him, went through the man Siel was fighting before him. The man at the end of the attack cried out in anguish at the demise of his comrade. His furious glare landed on hers in a foreboding promise of death. She steeled herself for an attack, as Siel swooped back in and stabbed a hole in the man’s side. His frozen gaze would haunt her for eternity as he took his last few breaths.
Aerity glanced around at the carnage surrounding her to realize it had settled down to the final battle. Men in blue and gold mixed in swirls with the browns and blacks of the attackers in a sea of death and blood. "Aerity, look out!" The warning came from a different voice to her left, she whipped around to a sword inches from her face. Damien's harsh voice came just in time, as he swiped a dagger across the man’s neck.
Panting for air Aerity offered him a slight smile, ignoring the growl emanating from his lips. "Thanks."
His eyes widened at something behind her and she ducked and swung her legs out in a sweeping motion. The man behind her thundered to the ground flat on his back. Aerity raised her sword to his neck. The man’s eyes widened marginally as he weighed his options. Little did he know, he had none.
Suddenly all was quiet around them. Blue and gold swept across her peripheral as guards came flooding into the room. One hoisted up the man that was at her sword point and slapped his hands in cuffs. She released the sword with a shaky breath as she turned to look at Damien's downcast face.
He met her eyes as a flash of respect and dismay fluttered through. Then his expression turned to anger. “Have you lost your mind?!” Well thanks to you to. “Why would you even try to fight?! You could have been killed!" His incredulous voice boomed with ferocity. Like she was going to run away to hang out with the other wimps in the safe room. Not!
"Why would I not fight? They are my people and they were dying."
He stared at her for a moment longer than necessary before turning a glare to his brother and back to her. "You should have been in a safe room. Our people benefit much more with you alive rather than dead." He furious voice shook fervently.
"Technically I could say the same about you. Besides, I refuse to sit in a safe room while people could use my help."
His head tilted to the side as his gaze stripped her bare. "One person could hardly make that much of a difference in a fight." He growled.
A warm fury soared through her. Leave it up to Damien to be so negative. "I tend to disagree. I believe one person could change the tide in a war." He continued to stare at her until they both looked around at the carnage. A heavy weight shifted on top of her as she reflected on all those who lost their lives today. Pain seared her heart as she watched the guards carry Baldwin to the medical wing. Their eyes followed his travel until the stretcher disappeared behind the corner. He would be alright, but a lot of others wouldn’t be. Tears blurred her vision as a misted image of Siel made his way to her.
He slung an arm across her shoulder. "I thought for sure you were a goner a few times out there.”
She wanted to laugh at his easy words but the weight of all they lost still weighed on her shoulders. So many dead. Siel always tried to make light of the situation but she knew his heart was just as butchered over what occurred as hers was.
She attempted to push the heartache and tears from her eyes in order to keep the mood light. "Good thing I'm not that easy to kill."
Siel chuckled. "Thank the Gods for that. Who would I harass if you weren't around?" A hardness encompassed his gaze as if he was imagining her in place of a corpse on the ground.
“Where did you even learn to fight?” Damien asked suddenly. Aerity looked up to find him watching her and Siel’s interaction, glaring wholeheartedly at the arm slung over her shoulder. Crap. She hadn’t planned on him finding out. What excuse could she even give? When nothing came out and she continued to stare at him blankly, he exhaled expectantly.
“Well?”
“I’ve been teaching her.” Warmth spread through her middle as soon as Siel spoke. “I kind of want to brag about my teaching skills right now. She was a monster.” Despite all that had happened, she bit her lip to keep from smiling. Siel had her back like he always did, ready to defend her to anyone about anything.
Damien made a disbelieving noise. “You cannot be serious! Siel, she is the future Queen! Not some wild untamed warrior. What would possess you to do such a thing?!”
“Um, hello. I’m standing right here.” She tried to interject but Damien was spitting fire and it was all landing in Siel’s direction. All because he helped had helped her learn. Which had helped her fight and save their people.
“You cannot be that stupid!” Damien wasn’t letting it go.
“Can I speak, please?” She tried again but neither one of them was paying her any attention. “Uh, guys?” Her voice grew louder but they kept arguing back and forth.
“If you knew anything about her, you would realize she would have dived into danger regardless of sword skill so really you should be thanking me for teaching her. At least she could defend herself.” Siel retorted. True. Very true.
“Thank you?! Are you jesting with me right now?” Damien screamed. Their little hissy fit had begun to fill up the hallway with clatter, people were beginning to stare.
Enough of this.
“Shut up!” She yelled and everyone froze, turning towards her. “Look around you!” There was literally someone’s blood dripping down her face, and they were arguing about this? It was done. Over. Clearly, they didn’t get the memo. “There are more important factors here to worry about. Like, oh, I don’t know, why the castle was freakin attacked!”
Damien at least had the nerve to look a little bit disconcerted as he glanced around and noticed everyone watching them. At least that was a step. "We've lost a lot of men today. We have much to do." He leveled another glare at Siel. “But we will speak of this later.” He shot her one more reprimanding scowl before spinning on his heels and trudging away.
Aerity leaned her head against the arm still wrapped around her neck, taking a moment to appreciate that they were both alive when so many others weren't as lucky.
His gruff voice vibrated against her ear. "He doesn't know how to separate his emotions and his actions. He can't help but wear his heart on his sleeve.”
She tilted her head up to look at him. "But doesn't he understand that sometimes it’s needed to keep those still here from falling apart? That those that lost their lives would want the rest of us to not just to have survived but to continue LIVING?"
Siel’s eyes glazed over as he shook his head and dropped his arm. "My brother doesn't know what living is."
An uncomfortable silence settled over them as they took in the hallway. Bodies were still being removed while those enemies still breathing were hauled away for interrogation. Healers rushed around the room to see to any with injuries that were too dire to be moved. That gave her a wink of hope for Baldwin. They carried him away instead of coming to him. Aerity silently prayed fo
r his survival.
Siel slid his eyes up and down her frame, inspecting for any damage. She did the same to him. There was so much blood it was hard to tell how much of it belonged to him and those he slayed.
He shook his head. "Most of it isn't mine. You?"
Aerity cringed, remembering the head butt and the man’s blood smeared on her face. "Not mine.” She paused. “Why would they attack the castle?” She asked as she used her sleeve to wipe off some of the splatter. The tangy metallic scent made her feel faint.
Everything was finally settling in as her hand holding the sword shook. She had yanked it out of a person. Flesh and bone. The sickening slurping sound replayed in her mind, making her shiver. She dropped the sword with a clang.
Siel’s jaw tightened as he surveyed the corridor. “With the wedding postponed and the fires, everyone is on edge. The king is gone and we appear weak. Not capable of protecting our own. People lash out when they feel out of control.”
Aerity’s eye caught on one of the men she saw attacking. His mouth was gaping while his grip remained tightly on his weapon even in the afterlife. These men weren’t just some villagers with pitchforks. “Siel, these men don’t seem like normal villagers taking out frustration. They knew how to fight. They were trained in combat.”
“I know.” His gaze jerked to hers as he sucked in a deep breath. “There could be others still in the castle.”
She nodded solemnly.
“How would they even get into the castle?” Siel thoughts echoed her own. “I’ll have to speak with Elias to weed out any others remaining.” Again, with Elias. They put far too much faith in their army general.
“How did someone as young as Elias become an army General?” She asked as they began to move down the hallway over the bodies. Forcing herself not to panic, she carefully stepped over the still corpses.
“Damien appointed him.” Siel gripped her arm and helped steady her shaking legs. She was having a normal conversation while stepping over corpses. Yeah…cool.
“Because they are good friends?” She inquired, fighting the gag reflex when her foot slid on something wet and slimy. Why did Damien have such faith in him? They were missing something big; she just didn’t know what.
Siel shrugged. “They were always close for some reason. They both had it rough as kids and Elias always took everything so seriously too. I suppose they found a bit of a comradery with each other.”
She nodded her head but in actuality her mind was off in another world trying to ignore the scent of flesh filling the room. The clean-up crew had already made a large dent in the carnage with so many hands having a part.
“Does this happen often?” She asked.
Siel’s forehead formed a V. “No.” Something was troubling him and he was normally more forthcoming with information.
“When did the fires and attacks begin?” Too many questions were piling up that she needed answers to. The expression slipping across his face made her wonder if she wanted the knowledge after all.
His lips pinched before they opened, closed and opened again. His next words nearly knocked her off her feet. “The day you ran away from the wedding.”
∞∞∞
Damien
“This is all the girl’s fault!” Benjamin yelled.
He had been one of his father’s advisors since before Damien was even born. The man was probably as ancient as the dinosaurs and smelled like one too. His old crotchety self was so quick to throw the blame that Damien wondered why he was still on this council. He figured his father wanted loyalty but if it was up to Damien, the old man would have been out years ago. Instead of trying to find a solution he was always blaming the problem on nonexistent forces. Damien was surprised he didn’t blame the elves for this recent attack or maybe the fae whom Benjamin called a ‘slippery bunch’. No, this attack was not from elves or fairies, it was from his own instability. His inability to control his future wife was abundantly clear and people were jumping on it without thinking of the consequences.
Rupert, a much more level-headed member cleared his throat. “Do not be quick to pass the blame. Even if it is her fault, she will also be our salvation.”
Benjamin wasn’t all too pleased about being corrected if his furious red face was anything hint to his mood. “That is if she doesn’t run away like a wayward child again!”
Damien forced his anger down at the not so subtle reminder of his failure. God, he did not want to be king.
“We need to be focusing on how they got into the castle. Elias do you know anything of this?” Rupert asked Elias whose face drained of color.
“I can assure you I have no idea how those men got in and the notion that I did is absurd. I was told to hire more recruits. They were all tested out and in good standing. If some of them were responsible I will get to the bottom of it.” Elias defended himself all the while Damien tried to block out their yelling. Things were getting out of hand. Something needed to be done soon.
His shoulders tensed with strain as more voices rose in anger and accusations. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore. “Enough!” He boomed and everyone paused enough for a second of silence. “Elias, interrogate the men we have in the dungeon and do whatever you need to do to find out who issued the attack. I will convince Aerity to have the wedding date pushed up after I inform the families that their loved ones have died. Now is not the time to be bickering and casting blame but the time to stand together in unity.” When they all continued to stare at him, he gave them all motivating glares.
If only it was all that easy.
Chapter Twenty-three
Aerity
"Care for a stroll through town Princess?" It had been a few days since the attack and Siel’s voice soothed something raging inside her. He always made her smile despite all that had happened. People were on edge and anxious; it was no wonder why. Siel aimed to go into town and investigate any suspicious activity since Damien refused to let her into the war council meeting…again.
Things seemed to shift after the attack. Despite Damien’s anger, Siel greeted her each morning to run, sneaking in a practice session whenever they could. It helped to keep anxiety low, releasing some tension she was carrying but Aerity began looking at weapons and training as a means of survival and not just for play. Obviously, the castle wasn’t as safe as assumed and her caution around the guards tripled.
The men injured seemed to be healing well. Baldwin was caught outside the hospital room arguing with the healer. Stubborn mule insisted he was fine.
Thoughts of the wedding came as a useful distraction even if the idea still filled her with gloom. But weddings were more peaceful to think of then war and Siel could bring sunshine to the rainiest day. Now was the time to focus on things to be thankful for.
It had been a few weeks since she arrived, still no closer to making her way home or remembering how she got there. Words Siel told her the night of the attack wouldn’t die down either. The attacks started when she first got there. Not her but the princess. Did the princess have some connection to the men who attacked the castle?
Everything made her head spin. She thought being a cop’s daughter would help her solve the mysteries surrounding her and yet she was still completely oblivious. There were things she wanted to ask Damien, but he wouldn’t give her the answers she needed even if he had them. He was determined to keep her in the dark. Not to mention he had yet to seek her out again, to the point that she was beginning to wonder if he even resided in the castle at all.
They began their decent from the castle but Siel detoured towards the ocean. She didn’t complain, following closely behind. She didn’t want to bring up Damien but it bothered her he was never around. Most of her time was spent with Siel and that was wonderful, but it was also aggravating. How would her feelings for her fiancé ever grow if he was never there to get to know?
“You ready for that walk through town?” Siel placed his hand on her lower back. As close as they were, boundaries were still
needed. Developing feelings wouldn’t help either of them in this situation and when he sent her soft caresses, it was nearly impossible to resist the tug on her heart strings.
"You best be removing your hand, unless you want it cut off." Letting the threat hang in the air, she sped up, evading his touch and the emotions accompanying it. At times their friendship toed a fine line. Moments. Small increments of time in the grand scheme of things. Seconds that needed to stay in the past and remain insignificant. A blip on the timeline. She didn’t know who she was trying to fool. It certainly wasn’t herself. She was well aware the feelings stirring around her were anything but inconsequential and fleeting.
They had grown accustomed to playful banter, developing a comfortable companionship. He didn’t seem to appreciate the distance she tried invoking. Making it a point to reenter her space, he bent in so closely his breath warmed her neck causing all her hair to stand on end. "We all know you want me to touch you Princess, don't play coy." His playful smile caused one of her own to form. She stamped it down.
Rolling her eyes, she leaned in. "Oh yes. I want you. I need you. Oh baby oh baby."
Siel burst out into joyous laughter, the sandpaper dryness obvious in her voice. "Well, despite my need for you, I'm simply keeping you close as protection. The square is full of devils in sheep’s clothing. You do well to keep a look out for misdealing."
"As much as I know your ego wants to hear that I need your help, trust me when I say I can take care of myself."
"Something's been off since the attack. I would wish anyone to take care these days." Even though she was focused on Siel, she couldn’t help but think she heard a familiar voice pierce through the air.