He wiped away the moisture from his face and fastened the blanket securely around Kiara’s shoulders before scooping her up onto his back again. He kicked out the fire, picked up his pack and hurried towards the northwest, bound for Aleph at a slow jogging pace, his desperate love for her driving him to go faster.
In Aleph, soon after the sun had set, Heather was busily herding the children to bed in their little home near the outskirts of the city. Justin, Kiara’s brother, was gracious enough to provide them with extra blankets and sleeping beds recently. Heather was more than grateful to Kiara and all of the royal family for their kind generosity. She only wished that somehow, she would be able to repay them one day.
Just as she had finished tucking in one of the toddlers, she stepped outside with her lantern onto the empty street to gaze at the emerging stars. The night was clear, the air crisp and fresh. It was a promising sign of better days to come. Although, Heather could scarcely think of how the future could be bright when Kiara was still missing.
The poor maiden shed a tiny tear for her lost friend and was about to step back inside, when a strange sight caught her eye. Down by the gate, she saw a man stumbling into the city, carrying something very large on his back. When she peered more closely, she saw that he was carrying a person.
With a gasp, she quickly grabbed her shawl from inside and hurried out to meet the man, assuming that the person on his back was hurt or worse.
“Sir, is something the matter?” she asked, grasping the shawl about her shoulders and holding up her lantern to see the man’s face more clearly. He certainly was handsome, but his face was glistening in the dim light with sweat and he was panting fiercely.
“Yes, please, I need an escort up to Malcolm’s castle or a horse or cart, or something. Quickly!” the man pleaded breathlessly.
Heather lifted her lantern to shine upon the face of the person on his back and gasped as she saw the lost princess. “Princess Kiara! Oh, my word! What has happened? I have something that may help you, come this way.” Heather rushed back to behind her orphanage, with Nate following closely behind.
“We were crossing the Nun River and she fell in. Her skin is pale and cold, and she hasn’t woken up. She’s still breathing, but her lips and fingers are blue. She’s twisted her ankle, too. I have to get her back to her father. I don’t know what else to do.”
Heather led him to a large, covered structure behind the hut and pulled off the canvas to reveal a very small wagon. “I don’t have a horse, but the blacksmith may. Let me go ask him for you. Set her in the cart. I’ll be right back,” Heather said before running as fast as she could to her neighbor’s house. She pounded urgently upon the blacksmith’s door.
“We’re closed, come back tomorrow!” the gruff voice called out from inside.
“Please, I need to borrow your horse! It’s a matter of life and death, I beg of you!” Heather called out in a panic. There was some rustling inside the cabin, then a man in his sleeping tunic appeared at the door.
“Whose life? What’s going on, girl?” the blacksmith peered down at Heather with sleepy eyes.
“A man has just brought the princess, Kiara, into town. She’s shivering and pale and won’t wake up. She needs to be taken up to the king, but I have no horse to pull my wagon. Please, sir, may we borrow yours? I will bring it back as soon as I can.”
The blacksmith’s eyes went wide with disbelief. “You wouldn’t be telling a tale now, would you?”
“I never lie. Please, the more time you waste, the closer she could be to death claiming her.”
Without giving a yes or a no, the blacksmith grabbed a cloak and ran out of his house to go investigate. Surely enough, when he came around to the back of the orphanage where the cart was, he saw Nate leaning over the edge, gazing down frantically to the unconscious princess.
“Who are you?” the man demanded.
Nate looked up with surprise. “I’m Kiara’s escort. Please, may we use your horse? Or I shall be forced to pull this cart myself.” He looked serious as if he was fully prepared to pull it himself if he had to.
The blacksmith peered down with wonder at Kiara, then nodded and hastily ran to his shop, where his horse was tied up. Heather soon came around and looked down upon the princess with a mixture of happiness and sorrow.
“I can’t believe she’s alive. She’s been gone for so long. Where did you find her?” she asked, looking up to the young man, who looked even more distraught than she was.
“In the possession of a group of bandits, bound for the Field of Fire…” Nate looked up to the woman thoughtfully. “Are you Heather?” he asked.
She nodded and gave him a weak smile. “Yes, I am. Has she told you about me?”
“Not more than just a few hours ago, she was telling me about how she wanted to see you as soon as she came home.”
Heather felt touched to tears and couldn’t resist but to give Nate a warm hug. “Thank you for bringing her home, whoever you are. We are all grateful.”
Nate felt awkward, but patted her back anyway as the blacksmith came back with the horse.
“You take the princess right up to that castle, you hear? And have someone bring back the cart and horse,” the grumpy old man grumbled.
“I will surely deliver it myself.” Nate and the blacksmith hitched up the horse and as soon as the last latch was fastened, Nate leapt up into the driver’s seat and slapped the reins against the horse’s flanks to send it into a fast trot towards the road.
“Thank you!” he called out as he sped away, down the road and up to the castle.
Heather and the blacksmith were left standing in the street, alone, watching the rogue and princess disappear into the darkness.
“That boy has a lot of courage showing his face with the princess. The king’s going to assume he kidnapped the girl in the first place,” the blacksmith said before returning to his home.
“No… I think it’s an entirely different story than we think,” Heather muttered, gazing down the street with a smile before ducking back into the orphanage, hoping she will get to see Kiara again soon.
Chapter 22
Kiara’s eyes slowly fluttered open, with much difficulty, from her restful slumber. For a while, she let herself lay still, eyes mostly closed and breathing steady. Then, when her mind finally caught up with her, she felt like bursting up with fright. The last thing she remembered was telling Nate about her aching ankle by the riverside.
Her eyelids flew open to see that she was no longer by the Nun River. She was in a very familiar place: her bedroom. She first saw the velvet red drapes that formed her canopy bed, with bright sunlight streaming in and illuminating the room from her balcony windows. She could hear birds twittering outside and the dull crackling of her fireplace across from her bed.
She turned her head to the side, seeing that she was wrapped up very snuggly in her thick maroon comforter. Kiara tried to move her ankle, but could feel it bound up tightly in strong bandages to keep it from moving. It no longer hurt like it did.
Kiara sleepily gazed around the room, looking for a comforting face. Finally, she found one of an old man sitting in a comfortable armchair by the fire. She smiled to Eshean’s sleeping figure and pushed herself up in bed. She would have jumped out of bed herself and ran to greet her old friend, but she suspected that he would have fussed over her too much, for moving in her condition. It was good to see him well though. She half expected to never see him again.
She looked down to herself and saw that she was dressed in a warm sleeping gown. Kiara struggled to recall what happened. All she could remember was being dreadfully cold, dizzy and barely conscious. She figured she must have contracted some kind of serious cold from the river. Kiara looked over her room once more, looking for her rogue, but he was nowhere to be seen. She hoped he was all right and hadn’t left yet. The thought of him leaving without so much as saying goodbye, broke Kiara’s heart.
The princess felt like crying at the moment, knowi
ng that must have been what happened. But, there was no time for tears, because from one corner of the room, came running and stumbling, her little puppy, tongue hanging out and eyes lit up with joy. The dog yipped and barked, trying its best to jump into the bed with her, but still too short for that.
Kiara smiled and reached down to scoop the little dog up onto the comforter. Once there, the puppy yipped and barked more, covering Kiara’s face in countless licks, making her giggle.
All this noise woke Eshean up. As soon as he looked over to see Kiara’s smiling face, he moved with such swiftness that even surprised her, rushing to her bedside and kneeling down before her.
“My lady, I’m so glad to see you well,” he said formally, his head bowed.
“Oh, skip the formalities, Eshean and give me a hug!” Kiara cried, outstretching her arms invitingly.
Eshean looked up with happy tears glistening in his eyes and obeyed, embracing her. “Oh, my dear Kiara, it does my heart good to see you home again. We have all missed you terribly.”
Kiara felt like crying for joy herself. “I know. It’s good to be home, Eshean,” she said softly, pulling herself away to look him in the eyes, “There was a man who brought me here, I’m sure. Where is he?” she asked impatiently.
Eshean gave her a curious look, thought for a moment, then nodded in understanding. “Oh, yes, him… I’m not sure, actually. I’ve been at your bedside ever since you arrived.”
Just then, her chamber door opened. The two looked to the entryway and saw Justin, the crown prince and Kiara’s brother, peek in. He was another welcome sight.
Justin’s eyes lit up when he saw his sister finally awake. He grinned from ear to ear and hurried over to throw his arms around her without any hesitation. The suddenness of the embrace made Kiara give out a happy giggle, hugging him in return.
“Kiara, thank goodness you’re well,” he muttered, sounding like he was about to burst into joyful sobs.
“I’m glad to see you’re even better,” she replied. Her puppy, which she had decided to name Samson, wagged his tail gleefully in Kiara’s lap, watching the three.
Justin pulled back and held his sister’s face between his hands and kissed her lovingly on the forehead. “We have all missed you beyond what you can imagine.”
Kiara smiled and placed her hands over her brother’s and looked very seriously in his eyes. “Justin, there was a man who was with me when I arrived. He must have delivered me… Where is he?” She dreaded the answer, but she had to know.
Her brother’s face went grave and he sat down upon her bedside and sighed. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to see him again for long.”
Kiara’s mind swam and she felt as if she would faint.
“What do you mean? Is he near by? Is he staying with us in the castle or in town? My dear brother, please tell me before I have a heart attack!” she requested hysterically.
“Now, now, calm yourself, it’s all ok. He’s someplace where he can’t hurt you, don’t worry.”
“Hurt me? He would never hurt me, even if he tried! Please, tell me what has happened? What is going on?” Those tears she had been trying to hold back could be detained no longer and they flowed freely down her face.
Eshean and Justin were surprised by her panicked state, each putting a firm hand on her shoulder to steady her. Samson could sense the tension and snuggled against Kiara’s belly with a sad whine.
“What is the matter, my lady?” Eshean asked with concern.
“I wish to see him. Where is he? Where’s Nate?” Kiara pleaded to her brother, taking his hand and squeezing it tightly as if it would help the truth to come out.
Justin gave her a sympathetic look and pursed his lips together before telling what had happened.
Three days earlier, the night Nate and Kiara had arrived at Malcolm’s castle, Justin ran up to his father’s chamber. The prince pounded on the door furiously, but then let himself in without delay.
“Father! Father, wake up!” he shouted into the dim light of the sleeping quarters.
Malcolm stirred under his covers and grumbled at the intrusion. “What is it?”
“It’s Kiara! She’s come home!”
The king’s drowsiness was gone in an instant. He burst up from his bed and scrambled for his robe before running up to his son, holding him by the shoulders firmly. “Are you certain? Is it really Kiara? She’s home?” Malcolm couldn’t hold back his excited smile no matter how hard he tried as he spoke.
Justin was just as ecstatic and nodded. “Yes, it is her. A man came up to the castle walls, screaming and calling out for someone to open the gates,” Justin began to explain as they hurried out of the room and down the hall towards the grand staircase. “At first, we thought he was just some drunkard or beggar wanting money, but he shouted out that he had the princess with him and she was ill.”
At the mention of Kiara being sick, Malcolm grew pale. “Ill? Is she alright?”
“Yes, yes, she’s fine. She’s with Eshean right now. We let her and the man in. He told us that she had fallen in a cold river and sprained her ankle. She was unconscious, but we immediately sent her off with Eshean to get her into a change of dry clothes.”
“And the man? Where is he?” Malcolm asked as they descended the stairs down to the main courtyard.
“He was very weak and tired, so we insisted that he stay to have a drink of water and some bread. He’s in the great hall right now. Do you wish to see him?” Justin asked as they made their way to the throne room.
“Of course! I need to meet this brave man for myself. Are you positive that Kiara is well?” Malcolm asked cautiously as they entered the darkened throne room, which was slowly being lit by a few servants who were roused from their own sleep for Kiara’s arrival.
“Yes, I am sure. She is in her quarters right now with Eshean and a few physicians. She is being cared for. Do you wish for me to be present while you meet him?” Justin asked as his father shrugged into a more regal robe and placed the crown upon his head.
“If you wish, yes. I don’t intend to stay with the man too long. I want to see my daughter… Oh, my little Kiara, home at last!” the king exclaimed with utter elation, looking the happiest he’d been in a very long time. “Has Sir Claude been informed?”
“No, he is still in Lameda. I figured he would be next to the last to be told.”
“Well, send a messenger bird out or something to tell him!” Malcolm sat down upon his regal throne, still giddy and excited that his mourning was finally at an end.
Justin quickly called over two servants. One, he sent off to construct a letter for Sir Claude and the other was ordered to bring in Kiara’s preserver.
Malcolm and Justin sat in their respective seats and waited patiently for the man to come in. When the throne room doors opened to admit the man who brought them this exceeding happiness, Malcolm was startled to see who it was.
Nate, looking very weary and timid, walked into the throne room, dressed like the rogue that he was. His pack and weapons had been striped of him and his boots made a soft tapping sound that resonated through the high rafters of the silent throne room. Justin gave him a kind smile, while Malcolm’s grin was gradually washed from his face.
When Nate approached the throne, he knelt down onto one knee very respectfully and bowed his head without saying a word. He knew not what to say and he thought it wise to not say anything at all until asked.
“What is your name?” Malcolm demanded sternly.
“Nathaniel de Hunt, your majesty.”
Malcolm sighed and looked to Justin, who peered up in confusion at his father’s sudden resignation. The king turned back to the rogue, who’s head was still bowed and afraid to rise. “Stand up, Nathaniel.”
Nate did as he was told and stood tall before the king, his heart pounding rapidly in his chest.
“I give you my eternal thanks and appreciation for rescuing my daughter. May I ask how you came to find her and how you have managed to retu
rn her to us?” Malcolm asked very calmly, looking Nate up and down with a strict, but merciful manner.
“Yes, your majesty. I was traveling along the eastern border of Deceiver’s kingdom when I came upon a group of bandits who had the princess in their possession. They had kidnapped her, your majesty, not I. They had plans to take her to the Field of Fire to leave her there to die. I rescued her from them and took the liberty of escorting her around the edges of Deceiver’s territory to return her home safely.”
“And why did it take you two weeks to do this?” Malcolm asked, still keeping a serene countenance.
“I had planned to travel west, then north around Deceiver’s territory, deeming that path the safest, to go through Mem’s Pass and into your kingdom, my lord.”
Justin gave an obscene snort, trying to hold his laughter, knowing very well that Mem’s Pass no longer existed and finding it amusing that they had planned to go that way. Malcolm gave him a scolding glance to silence him, then turned to Nate for him to continue.
“But, upon discovering that Mem’s Pass no longer existed, we were forced to travel across the northern border of Deceiver’s kingdom to reach Resh Pass instead.”
Malcolm paused in thought and chuckled a bit, scratching his beard at Nate. “And what difficulties did you two run into while on this path?”
Nate sighed, but didn’t waiver in his strong stance with his hands behind his back. His mind slowly recalled each conflict in their travels. “Very many. The princess suffered from many blisters on her feet - which I mended - and almost fell into quick sand, but I saved her then as well. I got food poisoning from some berries that she advised me not to eat. We had to travel across a small portion of the Field of Fire and nearly perished there. We were attacked by the bandits, but successfully got away. Wolves attacked the princess and I sustained a very nasty bite wound as a result of rescuing her from them. We ran into a very immoral pack of gypsies. One of the men tried to rape her, but I, again, defended her honor. We were even captured by Deceiver himself and had to spend half a night in his dungeon before we made our escape. His scouts hunted us down, but we successfully eluded them. And the last trial was when we had to cross Nun River, but the princess fell in and twisted her ankle. Now, she’s very sick. She would have fallen over a waterfall if I had not fished her out.”
The Princess and Her Rogue Page 45
