North & South

by K T Munson

  Belvix grabbed the back of the man’s collar and jerked him back with such force that he pushed Missari forward. Ashira had been holding on to her and the two of them stumbled backwards. Lancel was only able to take a step forward as Missari fell with a hard slap onto the street. Ashira tried to gain her footing but slipped on the splattered old fruit and fell backwards in a flurry of cloth. Lancel watched in horror as the side of her head hit the wheel of the carriage and she fell to the ground.

  Silence descended like the weight of a thousand nightmares and everyone seemed to take a step back at the same time. He was stuck on the brink with the sword in his hand. Missari gave a distressing cry as she pushed herself up, stumbled forward, and collapsed at Ashira’s side.

  Lancel pushed his way through as though in a daze and he knelt next to the still body of his Queen. He reached down to touch her but paused when he saw the blood. His heart tightened along with his fist until he saw that she was still breathing, from the gentle rise and fall of her chest. His jaw clenched and his rage filled him with utter darkness.

  “Are you satisfied?!” Lancel roared his sword still in his hand as Missari pulled her veil from her head and pressed it against Ashira’s wound. “She is no longer your enemy and she has done everything to accept you as her people while you have done nothing,” Lancel’s voice carried over the heads of the crowd as city guards pushed their way through the thong of people. “You do not know her, but you know your King and she is who your King chose. He picked her! Of all the women in the entire world she is the woman that he selected to be his wife and to be your Queen. She deserves your respect and your love, not your ridicule. She has abandoned her home for peace; to end the bloodshed. Instead of celebrating her, you attack her? You are all fools.”

  Missari was crying as she whispered, “My Queen?” Ashira did not stir.

  Lancel pointed his sword at Ned and said to the city guards, “Arrest those men.” He immediately sheathed his sword and gently said to Missari, “I need to get her into the carriage.”

  Missari’s face was covered in tears and she whispered, “You all are monsters.”

  “I know,” Lancel said as he gathered Ashira into his arms.

  Her body was limp and she seemed to weigh nothing. It was amazing how much personality was packed into such a small body. Missari followed him as he loaded them into the carriage. He gently supported her head as Missari sat down. He rested her head on Missari’s lap and the girl continued to press the veil into the wound. He stopped once and stared at her with a thick lump in his throat. She deserved better than this.

  His eyes narrowed as he stepped back into the street where the city guards were placing irons on the Queen’s attackers. The crowd was watching like startled sheep. He strode up to the three men and had the sudden urge to tear out their throats. He had not felt such unbridled rage in a long time and he was struggling to keep it under control.

  “Take them to the castle,” Lancel finally managed. “I will deal with their punishment personally.”

  Chapter 29

  Ashira Highlander

  Ashira opened her eyes slowly, blinking away the confusion as she returned to consciousness. For a moment she didn’t remember where she was and tried to push herself up. As Ashira moved to get her arms under her and began to push, Missari immediately protested. She wearily sunk back into Missari’s lap as her head swam.

  “I was so worried!” She heard her little handmaiden say as the creak of the moving carriage wheels became unbearably loud.

  “What happened?” Ashira asked slowly, her mouth seemed dried and her head ached.

  “You fell and hit your head.” Missari said and Ashira noticed that the girl was pressing something against her head.

  “Are you hurt?” Ashira demanded tipping her head to the side to look up at her handmaiden.

  “I scrapped my knee when I fell,” Missari responded with a strained smile. “I am just happy you are awake.”

  “I am sorry Missari,” Ashira said wrapping her fingers around the girl’s wrist. “I should have made you stay in Roanoak where you would be safe.”

  “I am happy I am here to help the Princess that I admire,” Missari said tears rolling down her cheeks and she took hold of Ashira’s hand. “I was terrified you were dead, but Lancel knew you weren’t.”

  “Lancel,” Ashira whispered and swallowed down her rising stomach as she slowly pushed herself up. “Is he hurt? Where is he?”

  “We are nearly back to the castle,” Missari explained. “He went ahead to find a healer. He is unharmed. You shouldn’t get up, my queen.”

  “I hardly feel like a queen right now,” Ashira commented as the carriage jarred hard up and down over a bump, “Give me a horse any day over this infernal contraption.”

  Ashira knocked on the side of the carriage and the carriage slowed. She felt half way sick as she clung to the seat. She needed to be out of the carriage and into the fresh air. When a guard opened the door she nearly bolted out. Instead she offered Missari her arm and they slowly exited the carriage together.

  Ashira had to take a deep breath when she nearly stumbled. She must be a mess with her hair mused and without her veil. Yet somehow she didn’t seem to care, and her pride kept her back rigid. That is where Lancel found them, walking arm in arm with a dozen guards shuffling around them and trying hard not to stare. The healer was an older man, dressed in dark gray robes with a sash of blue. He was carrying a bag and wearing an expression of anxiety. Lancel’s face turned to anger the second he spotted her. The guards parted like a curtain before her to allow him entry.

  “What are you doing? You have taken a terrible blow,” he demanded.

  “I couldn’t breathe,” she responded breathless and then swooned.

  Missari steadied her as Lancel rushed forward to help as well. Clearly angry, Lancel lifted her into his arms and carried her towards the healer’s tower. The healer followed and Ashira saw him as her head lulled back. There were whispers around her and she kept opening and closing her eyes; catching glimpses around her.

  They laid her down and suddenly Lancel was gone and she was sprawled out. Someone forced her mouth open and she coughed on the liquid before she was able to drink some. It was bitter and it brought Ashira round for a moment.

  She saw Lancel and reached for him as she whispered, “Don’t tell the King.”

  “Don’t tell him what?” Lancel said coming forward to take her hand.

  “It will only worry him,” Ashira said softly not really listening to anything. “Do nothing. No violence or blood.”

  “You need to rest.” Lancel said as the healer appeared into her line of vision.

  “Promise me,” she whispered as tears touched her eyes and Mohit her memory, “Only peace.”

  She felt her tears run down the side of her head and over her ears, as she faded out of consciousness. She was floating, asleep but strangely aware. Her eyes would roll open and she would catch glimpses but mostly she dreamt. Mohit and she were among the flower fields of their summer home. Her aunt sat in a large chair under a small tent and watched them.

  Cain emerged behind them shouting for them to come back but they laughed and danced on. The poppies and black irises swayed in the wind. The swaying orange and yellow poppies were used in dying their fabrics. They brushed against Ashira’s legs as she ran. Then suddenly the sun started to dim and the flowers withered at her feet. She looked up and Mohit had stopped running. He was wearing armor and, as he turned slowly, Ashira saw that his side was carved open.

  When he opened his mouth black beetles fell out and he said, “You need to go back.”

  Ashira screamed in her dream and then her eyes flew open. Her heart was racing and her eyes were scanning her surroundings. She turned her head from side to side trying to figure out where she was. She didn’t recognize the room; it was not one of her own. Nor, she quickly realized, was it the healer’s rooms.

  She slowly pushed herself up in the overly large, four
post bed. She squinted but saw that it was still day from the specks of sunlight streaming through. Very carefully, she slid the covers back and attempted to stand. She strode across the length of the bed but she was instantly dizzy and had to grip the closest post.

  Walking towards the windows she pushed them open and blinked from the sudden light. It took her eyes a moment to adjust before she could see where she was. Ashira’s eyes widened when she saw her husband talking with a young woman. She was obviously arguing with him and pointing at him angrily. When she pointed at the window they both glanced over and saw her.

  The King immediately froze and searched her face. Then his eyes traveled down before he averted them hastily. Ashira looked down as well and saw she was only wearing a single layer of nearly sheen fabric. She immediately grabbed the edge of the curtain and spun around. After a moment the women opened the glass door and tipped her head in.

  “Do not worry; it is only us girls,” she said before coming in. “I am so happy to see you up and about. Really you gave everyone quite a scare.”

  “I am sorry,” Ashira said softly. Then her eyes darted to the woman, “Who are you?”

  “Oh silly me!” She said as she started flicking on the lanterns and bringing light to the room, “I am Princess Lisbeth, your sister by marriage.”

  “I’ve never had a sister,” Ashira said with a giggle and then put a hand to her lips in shock.

  “And that would be the result of the sedative they gave you,” Lisbeth said with a laugh that seemed forever alive within her words, “You are going to find yourself being a little too honest and a little silly. You should have seen me when they removed a tooth. I told my husband, before we were married of course, that I didn’t want to marry a man with a mustache. So he went and got rid of it, the poor dear. Took him nearly two months to get it back to the way he likes it.”

  “I didn’t realize you were married,” Ashira said before she could make herself stop. “That must be why you couldn’t marry my brother. He is really quite wonderful.”

  Ashira covered her mouth again and sank into the closest chair as Lisbeth purred, “I do love meeting under these circumstances. Although it does put you at quite a disadvantage.”

  Ashira eyes opened wide and she asked, “Where are my handmaidens? Where is Missari?”

  “Your little companion is fine, though I all but had to pry her off of you. Not to mention your new handmaidens, as you call them, were not easily persuaded,” Lisbeth said coming over to sit across from her. “You seem to inspire loyalty among those you have met.”

  “Why did they need to be persuaded?” Ashira asked pointedly.

  “My my, even sedative cannot dull your wits it seems. Ta, I have not properly welcomed you,” Lisbeth said standing up with flourish and spinning around once. “Welcome to my old rooms. When I arrived to find my poor brother distraught and Lancel arguing that you wanted nothing done, I knew I had to act. I had my brother make a long overdue trip into the city to reassure the people with my husband in tow. He had only just returned to check on you.”

  “Can you tell me why they attacked me?” Ashira said softly.

  “It isn’t because of droughts; there has been plenty of rain. It is because of a young lady by the name of Misandra Brodic,” Lisbeth said with the same amount of dramatics. “There seemed to be a rumor that my brother intended to ask for her hand.”

  “Did he?” Ashira asked startled, having never considered that the King had intended himself to another.

  “Well Misandra’s mother sure thought so and told anyone that would listen,” Lisbeth commented with a roll of her eyes. “The woman is a menace. Well anyways, because of her, the rumor spread and the people were excited because Misandra’s family is rich. Well not as rich as you, I imagine, but she is very pretty, very meek, and well liked. As far as I knew my brother had never even considered marriage for himself until I was settled. That is why you are such a surprise.”

  “It was for peace,” Ashira whispered and glancing down a moment before asking, “Did he love her?”

  “I think he liked her well enough,” Lisbeth said with a finger to her cheek, “but honestly I know little of what is in my brother’s heart. Unlike me and my mouth like the waterfalls of Evermore, he is the calmness of the lake. A very difficult man to read but I can say that he thinks highly of you.”

  Ashira felt her cheeks redden, an overly honest response she was normally able to repress, as she stated, “I misjudged him.”

  “As I am sure he misjudged you,” Lisbeth said with a smile as she leaned back in the chair. “Since I have you at such a disadvantage, why did you agree to marry my brother?”

  Ashira sighed before facing Lisbeth and explaining, “I am sure you are referring to leaving my home and everything I knew for a risky peace; one built on a political alliance with a man I have never seen before, in my life, and always thought of as my enemy.”

  “Ta, that about summarizes it,” Lisbeth said with that same little merriment in her voice.

  “My family and my people,” she answered honestly as she fought down the tears. “I could not bear to lose another one of my brothers so long as I could stop this infernal war. If I hesitated my people and my family would have suffered. My life and happiness seemed to pale beside theirs.”

  Silence followed her words before Lisbeth said softly, “You are a noble soul.”

  Ashira raised her eyes and smiled at Lisbeth. “Is this what it is like having a sister?”

  “I wouldn’t know,” Lisbeth said and reached over to take her hand. “Why don’t we find out together?”

  “I would like that,” Ashira said and gave her hand a squeeze. “There is something that I need to see to.”

  “You are in no state to see to anything,” Lisbeth said stubbornly. “Tell me what you need done and I shall do it.”

  “I want the men who attacked me released,” Ashira told her. “I will not have them punished on my behalf.”

  “Lancel said as much,” Lisbeth explained with a smile. “He came up with punishment that will humble them but not injure them.”

  “I don’t understand,” Ashira said her head still muddled.

  “He is giving rotten fruit to children and letting them throw it at the men,” Lisbeth said with a smirk. “A rather inventive punishment. It is good to see Lancel acting like he used to.”

  Before Ashira could respond, there was a rapping on the door. Lisbeth gasped and jumped up, “All this time I have been talking I was supposed to be getting you presentable for Eliron. He wants to speak with you.”

  “Right now?” Ashira said touching a hand to her hair.

  “I left him waiting, and everyone knows the patience of a king,” Lisbeth whispered before yelling, “Hold on to your patience, we are almost ready!”

  She bustled her up and hurried her towards a changing screen as Ashira pointed out, “We are not even close.”

  “A little white lie,” Lisbeth said with a devious grin. “One I have told countless times in my life.”

  Lisbeth had her undressed and dressed in a quick fashion. Many of Ashira’s favorite clothes were there and Lisbeth picked a deep blue one. Ashira’s head ached dully but it was no major discomfort. When she touched it gingerly there were little stitches running across the side of her scalp under her hair.

  “You really must let me try on one of these beautiful outfits,” Lisbeth said admiring one of them as Ashira walked around the changing curtain.

  “I will have one made for you if you wish,” Ashira informed her but her hands were shaking from nervousness. “I am ready.”

  “So you are,” Lisbeth said with a smile as she set the dress down and came over to take Ashira’s hands in her own two. “Ta, I am very happy I came back from my after wedding retreat, our summer castle in the north, when I did. You are more wonderful than I could have imagined.”

  “You and your brother are very different,” Ashira said absentmindedly.

  Lisbeth threw back
her head and laughed. “I see the sedative has not completely worn off!”

  There came another knock on the door and Lisbeth gave her a searching look before going over to open it. King Highlander was exactly how Ashira expected him to be. Although Ashira could feel the heat in the air, he appeared so calm and composed. It was like he was completely collected and Ashira suddenly regretted letting him in because she felt completely out of sorts.

  “I will leave you alone,” Lisbeth said as Ashira stared into her husband’s eyes.

  She heard the click of the door but she continued to meet his stare. His eyes were the darkest blue and in the dimmed light of the room they looked black. She didn’t know what to say and so she stood still and waited for him.

  Finally, she saw his jaw tighten and he asked, “How are you feeling?”

  “Better.” Ashira managed a little grin.

  “I never thought,” he started clearly not use to expressing himself so intimately. “That is it did not occur to me…I should have come with you.”

  “You could not have known,” Ashira said still trying to reassure him. “I knew that I was not welcome here and I should have listened to Lancel. He said we should be more careful. He was right.”

  “He often is,” King Highlander responded as he clasped his arms behind his back.

  “My king,” Ashira started shaking her head, “I am sorry for my behavior.”

  “There is nothing you should be apologizing for,” he retorted clearly angry. “I should be begging your forgiveness and yet you ask for mine. Here I worried you would not stay and yet now I see you have no intention of leaving.”

  “Leave? I am your wife,” Ashira responded firmly. “I have sworn myself to you for this lifetime and the next. I will not abandon my vows because of some rotten fruit and a bump on the head.”

  When she realized what she had said she stopped moving. Obviously the sedatives really hadn’t worn off because she would not have admitted to so much. He didn’t say anything but he leaned back and seemed to be thinking hard, from the furrow of his brow. She suddenly felt uneasy under his gaze and acutely she became aware that they were alone.