Everything was silent except for the approaching party’s steps.
The entourage stopped twenty paces away from where Alex still held the general’s arms and he was forcibly pinned to the ground by his weight.
“If you wouldn’t mind, please release my general.” He couldn’t see her behind the guards, but her tone was both tranquil and compassionate.
He released his hold of the general’s wrist and stood up. Alex’s foot wanted to plant itself in his ribs several times, but his temper was reigned in.
Both Lily and Maiot were standing right where he’d left them. Their items hung at their sides, while both looking astonished over the events. Over a ways, Marlin’s pole was retracted and Gyro’s sphere returned to its original oval shape. Shade and Quinn were standing off to the side, looking incredulously at new the scene, but Shade was releasing a primal growl that seemed to be too low for the others to hear. Then Alex’s full attention was zeroed in on Lily’s right arm. Her blood was streaming down her limb and dripping off her knuckles.
Alex stared walking over to her and the queen spoke. “Excuse me, but where are you going? Aren’t you going to bow or show me respect?”
He stopped to see Queen Allahandra standing between her two front guards, looking squarely at him with tranquil dark brown eyes. “Don’t take this the wrong way, your highness, but there is something more important than exchanging meaningless pleasantries.” Alex returned to walking towards Lily because she was wounded and needed help.
Everyone gasped at his words, but no one made a move against him.
His warrior goddess was injured and Alex couldn’t think of anything but her safety at the moment. Lily’s amethyst eyes locked onto his and she was bewildered as he inched in her direction. Once they were within a conversational range he said “Let me see to your wound.” When Lily didn’t move he did.
He reached forward and grabbed the crescent sword from her hand. Alex easily removed the painted cloth and tossed the fabric to the ground. He then slid the tip of her sword into the white sheathe on her left hip. After her item was safely out of the way he walked around to her back and examined the laceration.
The slice was deeper than originally noticed at a glance. The cut was actually as deep as one’s entire thumbnail and had sliced into the muscle, but the length was still from shoulder to elbow. Blood continued to trickle out of the wound and Alex knew that the wound would undoubtedly need stitches, but she might bleed to death if it wasn’t compressed quickly.
While making sure that the wound was clean of debris Alex’s throat tickled as he spoke without looking. “Shade, get over here!” The surrounding silence made it so he didn’t need to yell.
When Shade began walking, the queen’s personal guard reacted by moving three of the back ranged guards to the queen’s side. They didn’t initiate a fight, but they didn’t relax. Many wary eyes watched as Alex’s foster brother approached.
Once he made it he spoke calmly. “What can I do, Alex?”
“I need these.” His hands grabbed for the white cloth that covered his sabers.
While removing the long strip of unpainted cloth Shade began talking. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t help. I didn’t know she was in danger until you knocked Rakkian to the ground. He was in my blind spot because Captain Maiot and Lily blocked my view of his approach.” His golden eyes shifted to the general and a faint growl escape his teeth, but this time everyone heard the threat laced in the sound.
There wasn’t anything Shade hated more than someone making a surprise attack. It wasn’t honorable. It wasn’t difficult to realize that Shade wanted more than a simple punishment. He wanted personal retribution for harming his dear friend. He wouldn’t be as polite as Alex was to the general, given the chance.
Once he was finished unwrapping the cloth from both sabers Alex said “Thank you. Go over and get Marlin, bring him over here.” He nodded his bulky head in conformation and trotted over to Marlin. Walking by, Alex laughed silently as Shade growled at the general, hoping for him to flee so Shade could give chase. Rakkian was too frightened to move. General Rakkian was now in a sitting position while holding his limp shoulder.
“Lily,” She turned to look at him with uncommon confusion. “I’ll wrap this up, but you will need stitches. Bear with the pain for a moment.”
“It’s not that bad.” he touched the edge of her wound, testing her words, and she sucked in a breath through gritted teeth. “I stand corrected. It did sting.”
Her jaw clenched as the cloth was tightly wound around her arm. Her eyes were squeezed shut as he made sure to keep the slice as connected as they would go. By the time the ends were tied together, Marlin and Shade met up with them.
“How bad is it, Lily?” Marlin asked.
“It does let you know you’re still alive. The throbbing pain that is.” She retorted. Alex then quickly said “Alright, we need to find a healer or someone with skills to suture a deep wound. Maybe Niranene might give us a hand.” Marlin grinned at the possibility of the suggestion. He’d use any excuse to see her again.
He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off. “Perhaps I may be of service. I am a level five healer after all.”
The voice came from an unexpected source.
All turned to Queen Allahandra as she stood between two of her guards. She was holding up her case while wearing a smile. Her guards were looking at her as if she had lost her mind. Even the general looked astounded at her sudden offer.
Alex stepped around Lily, protectively, and blocked her from view. His voice had turned even as he leveled his eyes with the queen’s. “If it is within your range to heal her I’d gladly accept, but” he glanced between her and the general. “I must know that you will not harm her.”
“You have my word as the queen of Alluan.” It wasn’t hard to understand her desire to help when she just put her reputation at stake for them. She wouldn’t tarnish her good name or else what would everyone have to believe in. She was everyone’s hope and her standing could ill afford the tarnishing title of a liar.
As he nodded and as she took a first step, one of her guards grabbed her arm and brought her to a stop. “Forgive me your majesty, but they could kill you.”
She looked at her held arm calmly and the man released his grip, realizing the mistake he made. Once she was released she began laughing. Her company’s confusion was more of an understatement than that of her guests. She turned and smiled at Alex before looking at her guards. Her tone had become almost exuberant, her unseen anger subsided for the moment.
“What each of you need to understand is that there is nothing that could stop him if he wanted my head.” Her guard’s eyes widened as they all glanced at Alex and then back to her. “What any of you haven’t realized is that he is someone to treat with respect because he could easily kill each and every one of you before you could even blink…”
“Your Majesty…” General Rakkian slowly managed to stand up as he clutched his limp arm. “You cannot honestly believe he is capable of such a feat? He doesn’t even have an item. He told me so himself. He’s no threat. Why should you worry your personal guard’s.”
Her eyes darkened as she shifted her gaze to hm. Her voice turned icy. “You are here by ordered to be silent and not move. I witnessed your unspeakable actions and you will be held accountable for them.” His dark eyes became white all around. “As to your statement about him not having an item, he doesn’t need one. Apparently he hasn’t been trained, but he is still more dangerous than the Shadow Fang behind me. His clan is recognized by their ability to speak with fiends.”
“What do you mean by my clan?” Alex asked in interruption of the queen.
She didn’t seem to be bothered with the question, but she looked confused as her vision turned in his direction. “Don’t you know what you are?” Alex shook his head while getting excited. She knows what I am? Maybe there is another person like me around here. He hoped beyond all reason that there was and they would k
now what I’ve been through my whole life. She brought him back to his senses by stating “It looks like we have much to discuss, Alex.”
“Wait… You know my name?” She smiled, but there was something that needed to be accomplished first. “Later, right. Please help her.”
Queen Allahandra smiled as she walked away from her protesting entourage. Her guards feared for her safety, as they should. Knowing what it was like being worried about someone important to you, was a feeling Alex knew all too well. A beautiful reminder stood behind him. “If you are worried about the queen’s safety come over here to do your job.” He turned around to smile at Lily, she smiled weakly back, but there was something else in her look. Was it appreciation? Alex picked up his staff from the ground and held it tightly, incase it was another trap.
None of the fourteen guards hesitated for a moment as they approached the pack vehemently. Alex stood beside Mark and Shade as they stood four paces behind Lily. Then the fourteen spread into a circle with seven guards looking in their enclosure and the other’s watched the outside. Queen Allahandra moved around to study Alex’s wrapping. She then stood straight and laid a hand on her patient’s shoulder. “Lily of the Blood Moon, this will sting, but I need to take off these dressings. After that you will be good as new.”
Lily looked over and down and her voice was soft. “I’m sorry you have to do this for someone like me. It is an honor I won’t soon forget.” Lily shook her head. “I cannot believe my former enemy is going to help.”
“Don’t think too much on it. And you are not the first Kings Guard that has joined us.” Alex stiffened and so did Lily. Queen Allahandra didn’t miss the reaction. As she slowly unwrapped the tourniquet she continued jabbering. “A woman in my precarious position must be quite knowledgeable if she is to keep her head out of reach of her enemy’s reach. I know about many things and I stay up with current events. When I first heard your name spoken during a report I received two days ago, I had my aids compile a document of your whole life. It was truly remarkable, but I’m glad that you have changed sides before we met in battle. It is a pleasure to finally meet you though.”
Queen Allahandra dropped the bloodied cloth into the sand and went down to her case. When she opened it, inside resided two scalpels, four syringes that have been filled with some kind of clear liquid, and an ornate knife, but the knife wasn’t an item. The queen grabbed one of the syringes from the case and stood up.
She brandished the needle in front of Lily. “This specific needle and solution is a special healing item. It reacts like a sticky resin once it has contact with the air. It will bond the flesh together. It will increase your healing rate and also destroy any foreign particles that could cause an infection. It burns, but you will be fully healed by morning.”
“If you know I was a Kings Guard then you know we have been taught to endure pain. I can handle it.” Lily stated proudly.
“Alright, here it goes.”
The queen put the needle inside the reopened wound and started squeezing the liquid inside the fleshy opening. She squeezed it all out in one fluid motion, down the bleeding arm. The queen quickly placed the empty syringe back into the case and stood back up. Their new queen began pushing the separated pieces of skin together, with the palm of her hands. Lily’s jaw set and her eyes squeezed shut. She didn’t make a single sound from the pain she felt. It didn’t take long for her wound to hold together by itself. The clear solution held Lily’s wound completely closed and it was all over. There weren’t even any blood droplets pouring out of a small hole that the queen might have missed.
“You are good to go.” The queen said while closing her case.
Lily looked at the work and around the drying blood. “That is amazing your majesty. I’m in your debt.”
Lily, we are all in her debt; Alex thought to himself.
“Quit thinking like that.” The queen scolded playfully. “I did it because I wanted to.”
Queen Allahandra then turned to look at Alex with something akin to hope. She smiled politely as she lifted her case. “Before we leave together I have one other matter that needs attending.” She suddenly smiled darkly and it sent a mild chill down his spine. Alex then saw that she held one of her two scalpels in her free hand. She was up to something.
The queen turned around and walked around Lily and her guards moved with her as she walked away from them. While they moved away Alex and the others walked up to Lily to see what happened.
He began inspecting the queen’s work and it was truly remarkable. Her arm was still slick with blood, but it wasn’t pouring from the wound any longer. Then a closer look revealed more. There was a thin clear film sticking out of the closed wound, but it already looked less irritated than it had a minute ago.
When his grey eyes connected with Lily’s she asked “How does it look?”
“It will make a fine scar to drive the men wild.”
She let out a musical laugh. “So you are going to pull that out on me now?” Lily shook her head. “I told you the same thing after I patched up your arm.”
Lily smiled in remembrance.
The Pack began watching the scene together as the queen walked with her entourage towards the general. He hadn’t moved because of the order she made. Gyro and Maiot had moved closer to his side, they were loyal lieutenants. Maiot had removed the cloth from his claws and had them crossed over his front, clutching his hands together. All three of the men bowed deeply as the queen made her approach.
The entourage stopped as the queen spoke. “Captain Maiot and Gyro, you are dismissed for the day. I can tell you knew not of your superior’s grudge. You may both have the rest of the day to yourselves.”
Once she finished talking, the two men clasped a fist to their hearts and walked away. She didn’t give them a choice, but they knew how much trouble their commanding officer was in, even if Marlin and the others didn’t have a clue. They picked up the pace when they saw she was watching them. Once they were far enough away she returned a dangerous look at her top general.
Queen Allahandra’s voice had become distant and cold. “Remove your hand from your arm.” He did so reluctantly.
Unexpectedly she jammed her scalpel into his left arm. It went through his tunic like it wasn’t even there. General Rakkian’s jaw clenched, but didn’t scream. Then all watched as she held the item that was pierced into his arm because something was happening. His shoulder began moving of its own accord and it was amazing to watch as his shoulder popped back in place. Once it was in its proper location she took the bladed item out of his arm.
As she slid her item in her case again the general tested his shoulder. It was still sore by the look he had. His voice became weak. “Thank you, your majesty.”
The queen’s voice remained the same. “What you have done will require a punishment. Remove your items until a judgment has been decided.” She looked to a man on her left. “Confiscate his items, all of them.”
Alex watched as General Rakkian slowly removed his spiked gauntlets and his leg protectors. When he handed them over, the man the queen spoke to walked back to grab the battleaxe that still laid in the sand. Then the man returned to his original position while carrying the items.
“Rakkian, you will follow us to my caravan. If you do anything else I will have you bound, gagged and detained. Do you understand?”
He bowed and said “Ya, your majesty.”
She then turned around and her voice turned pleasant. “Alex, will you and your companions please accompany me to my palace?”
Each of them politely bowed, knowing they had just as much choice to disobey as Gyro and Maiot had. Shade bowed his head between his paws, even if he didn’t understand what was being said.
“Good people!” The queen began speaking aloud to the audience. “I am sorry for ruining your morning event, but it must be canceled for certain unforeseen circumstances. I beg your forgiveness and hope you do not think ill of me. I have immediate matters that must be dealt
with personally. I wish that you all have a pleasant day, despite my intrusion of this event. Once we depart you may do as you normally would.”
Everyone bowed for her gracious words.
She began walking towards the exit and all followed behind her. While they walked in the back Alex had to explain what the queen said, to Shade. He listened intently when mentioning that there might be others out there like his big brother, who wasn’t born with an item.
He smiled and asked “Why did she take his items in front of everyone? Isn’t that a little demeaning to a person of his standing?”
Alex walked between Lily and Shade to tell him “That was the whole point. She just showed that everyone is equal and will get the same treatment for their actions. Even a general will take the same consequences as surely if he were a subordinate. She cannot afford to coddle anyone; if anything, she proved he is no higher than a foot-solider. Attempted murder is a serious crime. I wonder why he would want Lily dead though. It doesn’t seem logical to me.”
“He definitely has a hidden agenda.” Shade said in grim agreement.
While they walked some of the guards turned to look at the tall boy because of how primal he spoke. Alex also checked on Lily to make sure she was alright. All she said was that the wound burned, but it was bearable. Marlin stood to her side so the general wouldn’t try anything. The other guards kept an eye on him as well. General Rakkian walked casually, but didn’t portray a proud persona at the moment. He was in a severe amount of trouble for his actions.
The crowd started speaking again, just as they entered the short tunnel. There were going to be varying stories by the end of the day.
The Pack was stunned once they saw what stood before them. In the courtyard waited a large carriage. The carriage was drawn by six white horses, all strapped together on the fore. There were fourteen other horses tied to the sides and back of the carriage. The coach was made of wood that was covered in pure white paint and every seamless line was brandished in gold embroidery. The coach used six wheels to accommodate for the large size. The shape was like a rounded bubble and there was a door on the side of the coach and three steps to get you inside. There was one man sitting on a bench and he was the driver.
Untamed Gift (Book One of the Items Trilogy) Page 42
