by CK Dawn
“Trystan, we should stop. My horse and I need to rest.”
“I agree,” Briggs joined in. “Breakfast was hours ago and my stomach is about to eat its way through my tunic right about now.”
Trystan looked as if he would deny the request, but with an abrupt nod, he reined in his horse and Rissa sighed in relief.
The little band of joking misfits that had sat around the campfire only two weeks ago was replaced by a more somber group as they shared the last of the stale bread and dried meat. Rissa knew she would have to hunt again. There was nothing left of their supplies. Hunt what, was the question. The mountains looming to the left of them had shown nothing so far in the way of wildlife and the dead forest up ahead promised little else. Davi wouldn’t be pleased but rat was probably back on the menu.
Rissa chewed slowly on her tiny morsel of food as she studied her companions. The closer they got to the Dreach-Dhoun border, the heavier the pall that hung over them. She was acutely aware of it, even if they were not. Davi still seemed his cheerful self, but his smiles were far less frequent as if something weighed heavy on his mind. Alixa’s and Edric’s shared grief encompassed them like a black aura. Avery appeared to have aged considerably in the past weeks and even Briggs had toned down his incessant, inane chatter. But it was Trystan who worried her the most. His constant anxiety had manifested itself as a deep furrow on his brow that never went away and dark shadows under his eyes as if sleep eluded him.
He sat quietly next to her now, studying the valley below the plateau in apprehension, the bread in his hand forgotten about. Suddenly, he whirled on the old man across from him and pinned him with eyes as hard as flint. “Are you positive we will find Lonara here in the mountains, Briggs?”
The old man startled at the Prince’s question, almost dropping the piece of meat halfway to his mouth. Nodding his gray head, he popped the morsel past his lips and licked his fingers before answering.
“Yes, yes, I’m positive. I already told you so. She’s here in the mountains. I feel we are getting close.”
“But how do you know?” Trystan insisted.
“How do I know? How do I know when I need to eat or sleep or piss?” the guardian replied. “My body tells me. Just like it’s telling me Lonara is here. The Tri-Gard are as one, even if we sometimes wish otherwise. I know she’s here, just as she knows I approach. I cannot promise that she’ll make herself known as willingly as I did. I’m much more open and forgiving of myself than Lonara. I have a feeling we will have to persuade her much to join in this fight.”
“So, you do remember what you did? The Tri-Gard stealing Dreach-Sciene’s magic. You forgive yourself for that?” Alixa asked. Maybe her distrust was born from finding out her own father had been a traitor, but she regarded the old man with obvious reservation, similar to Rissa’s own.
In response, Briggs glanced over his shoulder at his constant, unseen companion. “Yes, I know she doubts us. But she doesn’t know, does she? She wasn’t there when Ramsey fell under the dark influence.”
Alixa rolled her eyes at the old man. “I know that your ‘crazy’ moments seem to happen quite conveniently when you don’t want to talk about something.”
Briggs opened his mouth as if to argue but Trystan cut him off. “You can feel her presence? So, does that mean you can feel the presence of the third Tri-Gard member as well? We are very close to the Dreach-Dhoun borders, do we have to worry about Ramsey sensing your approach and warning Calis?”
Briggs laughed at this as if Trystan had told a thigh-slapping joke. “Don’t you know anything, boy?” He looked over his shoulder again and grinned. “Boy is as dense as they come. Hard to believe he descends from Marissa Kane’s bloodline. Yes. Yes. I know they don’t understand.” He turned back to Trystan. “If Ramsey was still in possession of his crystal, Calis would not be able to hold him. That tells me it has been taken. Without it, Ramsey is as impotent as a eunuch. Trust me, he isn’t aware of our approach.”
Rissa was not in the least comforted by this explanation. Especially with the strange unrest that had been plaguing her since the forest still running rampant. “So you mean to tell us Calis has a Tri-Gard crystal? That worries me more so than Ramsey, Master Briggs. Won’t he be able to feel your magic near?”
“No, don’t worry about that, daughter of Marissa Kane. Calis is not marked as Tri-Gard. Stolen magic, while still strong, is nowhere near as powerful as when used by those destined to carry it. Calis is totally unaware of our search for Lonara. If he’d been able to fully control the crystal’s magic or use it to its capabilities, he would have found us years ago.”
The speech, while undoubtedly meant to mollify them, only added to Rissa’s edginess. Knowing that King Calis controlled one of the Tri-Gard’s crystals did nothing to alleviate her fear of failure or danger on this mission. She yearned to garner comfort from the earth, but she couldn’t very well do that here in front of the others. They’d probably consider her as crazy as Briggs if they were to witness it. Instead, she brushed the bread crumbs off of her lap and patted her brother’s shoulder soothingly.
“Rest Trystan. You’ll need the strength. I’m going to hunt.”
He nodded and smiled half-heartedly in approval as she stood, crossing to her horse to fetch her bow. Davi followed.
“I’ll go with you, Princess,” he called to her back, but she turned to him with a slight grin and ran a hand lovingly over his whiskered cheek.
“As much as I would treasure your company, Davion, you’re about as graceful as an elephant tromping through the woods. What little prey there is to be found would hear you coming from a mile away and flee. No, stay here with Trystan. His mood scares me. Maybe he needs a little cheering up. Avery can accompany me.”
He put his hands on his hips and arched a brow her way. “What I’m hearing is that I would distract you too much. I get it. I’m a very distracting sort of guy. Okay, fine. I’ll stay here. But promise me you’ll be careful.” He glanced over his shoulder, making sure no one was listening as he softly teased. “I just found you, my love. Don’t get lost. We have a lot of catching up to do.” He placed a light kiss on the top of her nose before turning back to the group. “Avery, seems the Princess prefers your company over mine today.”
“Smart girl,” Avery drawled, ignoring Davi’s frown as she immediately obeyed the command and approached. Rissa laughed softly and threw the bow and quiver over her shoulder, addressing the sword master. “Which way do you think, Avery? The trees in hopes of a rat or the hills for a mountain bird?”
“Doesn’t matter either way, Princess. Meat is meat, but I think I’d prefer rat just to see the look of disgust on Davion’s face.”
“Careful Avery, my feelings are a delicate thing and not to be toyed with.” Davi threw a slight frown the woman’s way.
Trystan snorted. “Davi and feelings in the same sentence?”
“I guess miracles can happen,” the sword-master responded, straight-faced.
What the hell? Did Avery just crack a joke? Rissa’s laughter was cut short as the sword-master’s eyes darted past her shoulder, drawn by something the Princess couldn’t see. The spark of merriment dropped away and her face hardened to stone as she drew her sword, pushing Rissa behind her with such force she almost fell. Stumbling to catch her balance, Rissa’s chest seized as the unmistakable sounds of a force moving closer reached her ears. Heavy hooves pounded into the hard dirt. Armor clanged. It sounded as if an army had found them.
She swerved and the sight that met her eyes confirmed her fears. Soldiers, at least a dozen or more, emerged from the trees on robust, well-fed horses. Nothing at all like the skin and bone animals they were traveling on. The first indication these soldiers were not from Dreach-Sciene. The gold and black tunics with the dark, circled triangle sigil confirmed it. This was a Dreach-Dhoun contingent of troops.
“Fuck me,” Davi breathed.
Rissa froze, going as still as the mountain behind them. Briggs’s tiny squea
l of panic established that the rest of the group was aware of the new arrivals as well. That spurred Rissa into action. Her muscles tensed and she tightened her grip on her bow, nocking an arrow on instinct. Davi and Avery flanked her on either side, swords already in hand.
The horses lined up, forming a formidable barrier between them and the forest, as the soldiers atop studied the weary travelers in silence. Rissa, Davi, and Avery were joined by the rest of their companions, weapons at ready. Minutes passed, still, no one spoke. Finally, one of the soldiers, the troop’s captain perhaps, nudged his horse a little further ahead and gazed down at the ragtag group before him. Broad-shouldered and thick-bellied, he viewed them in irritation as if they were no more bothersome than pesky children. “Unless you’re all blind then I believe you’ve already ascertained that we outnumber you two to one. The King wishes your presence, so please spare any bloodshed today and come with us willingly.”
“Your king is no king of ours. We will be accompanying you nowhere today.” Trystan’s response was resolute and Rissa couldn’t contain the small moment of pride that overrode her fear.
“Trust me, Prince Trystan, you do not wish to fight us today. And if by some slight chance you do manage to best us, there are dozens of other soldiers searching the mountains and forest for you. You will not make your destination. You will lose.” There was no boasting or pride in the man’s voice. Just a matter of fact statement and Rissa feared it would be true.
“You know who I am?” Trystan asked and he failed to hide his surprise. So much for Briggs’s belief that Calis was unaware of their approach.
“King Calis knows all,” the captain responded. His eyes fell on the old man. “He is especially eager to meet you, Briggs Villard.”
Rissa desperately tried to contemplate a route of escape, even as her arrow stayed steadfast on the captain. She knew the mountains on one side and the sharp drop to the valley on the other were not options. They could try and make a run for it and lose them in the forest, but the soldiers astride their horses made a daunting line between them and the trees. Another option would be to go back the way they had come and try to outrun them, but she doubted very much their malnourished animals could outrun the soldier’s healthy horses. Her hand shook slightly as the only obvious solution came to mind. They would have to stand.
“King Calis is a fool if he thinks he’ll take any of us alive,” Avery snarled, coming to the same realization and brandishing her sword in threat.
“So be it,” the captain sighed and elevated his hand in a slight wave. Rissa caught movement out of the corner of her eye and pushed Avery aside with her hip as the thrum of a bowstring reached her ears. The arrow sailed by the sword-master, missing her by a thread. Instead, it struck the horse’s flank and the animal reared, squealing in pain as it galloped off. Rissa didn’t have time to worry about her mare. Instead she fired back, two quick rounds, catching the hidden archer in the neck and the chest. He stumbled from the trees and slumped to the ground. Dead.
The shock of just having killed a man registered on some level with Rissa, but it was outweighed by fear as the deed galvanized the rest of the soldiers into action. The captain leaped from his horse, surprisingly nimble for his girth, and the rest followed his lead, growling as they charged.
Trystan’s shout of “For Dreach-Sciene!” was echoed by Davi, Avery, Edric, and Alixa as they surged forward to meet the charge. Rissa fell behind knowing she needed distance for her bow to be effective, Briggs close on her heels. She sent off more shots, taking out a couple of soldiers at the back of the pack. She nocked another arrow and turned her attention to the captain and the other soldier targeting Trystan.
The captain moved fast, closing the distance as Trystan met him head on. The Prince’s sword swung up in defense, stopping the captain’s blade as it aimed for his chest. The two blades collided with a shrill clang, but the captain was the first to break contact as he whirled and attacked low, his sword now aiming for Trystan’s ribs. The prince dropped his blade and deflected this blow as well. His attention occupied by the burly captain, he almost missed the second soldier’s attack. Rissa cussed in desperation as her brother leaped away from the soldier’s sharp edge just in time, only to block her from taking her shot.
Trystan parried blow after blow from the young soldier and the captain, but Rissa knew he wouldn’t be able to keep up the pace forever. She tried in vain to take the enemy down, but they were too close to Trystan and she feared she would hit her brother. A scream stuck in her throat as the soldier landed a lucky shot and grazed Trystan’s arm, slicing him open. Blood spurted out; soaking his sleeve but Trystan’s only response was a grunt as he nimbly dodged another slice. She needed to do something to help him, and fast.
Blocking out everything else around her, she targeted the captain as she drew the bowstring taut. It released with a loud twang and arched through the air, straight for the captain’s back. Just before the moment of impact, he swung low at Trystan and the arrow that should have pierced him between the shoulder blades struck him in the side instead. It broke his momentum, throwing him off balance and he staggered as Trystan narrowly missed being eviscerated.
Trystan’s look of horror mingled with relief as he threw a grateful look Rissa’s way.
“Look out,” she screamed at him as the other soldier leaped past the captain, his sword held high above his head. Trystan pulled his weapon up just in time as the other slashed down and the two blades crashed with enough force to send the prince stumbling back. Rissa heard his growl of frustration as the burly soldier forced the Prince’s hilt closer to his body, but Trystan refused to back down. Putting all his weight behind his blade, he jerked it up and his hilt connected with the opposing sword, tearing it from the other soldier’s grasp and sending it flying through the air. The Dreach-Dhoun soldier had no time to react. Trystan’s attack bit into flesh and bone and the man screamed in pain as the sword tore in his chest. Trystan didn’t hesitate. Planting his foot firmly against the soldier’s right side, he pushed him off of his blade and sent him stumbling backward into another soldier, knocking them both off their feet.
With this second threat eliminated, Trystan whirled on the injured captain, a savage smile of victory on his face. Rissa tore her eyes away from her brother. She’d given him the upper hand by disabling the captain. He could handle it himself now. She had to help the others.
Searching the chaos for any sign of Davi, her heart jumped into her throat as she found him surrounded by a trio of attackers. Yanking up her bow, she targeted the one furthest from him but her hands shook so badly, the arrow fell out of her grasp.
‘Dammit,’ she growled as she grabbed for another arrow, her eyes never leaving Davi’s face. Raising her bow once more, she zoned in on one of the soldiers but didn’t make the shot. A primal scream of rage echoed in her ears as Alixa attacked the soldier from behind, running her thin blade through his back. The look of shocked surprise never left his face, even as Alixa yanked the bloody steel back out and rushed to Avery’s aid before his body even hit the ground.
Alixa had evened out the odds and Davi was skilled, but so were the two remaining soldiers. Every move Davi made was countered and one soldier was even smiling, almost as if he were enjoying himself.
Rissa couldn’t contain the small cry that fell from her lips as the tip of a blade pierced Davi’s shoulder and a pool of crimson began to stain the white fabric. Davi glanced down in surprise at the wound, as if he couldn’t believe such a thing had happened. The moment of inattention was all the soldier needed and he slammed his foot into the back of Davi’s knee. He hit the ground hard, his sword flying out of his grasp. Rolling instinctively onto his back, he jerked away just in time as a blade, as heavy as a guillotine, fell near his head and ripped a jagged slash in his cheek. The wound must have hurt like hell but Davi didn’t make a sound as he stared at the steel edge half an inch away from his eye in shock. The soldier lifted his sword once again, and holding it upright he
thrust the hilt straight down toward Davi’s head. It wasn’t meant to be a fatal blow. Even Rissa could tell that. It seemed the soldier only meant to knock Davi out, but he never made contact.
Before Rissa could target the man, Edric rushed by her and attacked from behind. The soldier paused almost in disbelief as Edric’s blade punctured the back of his neck and erupted in a splash of bloody debris through the front. He dropped his sword and grabbed at the protrusion as if he believed he could remove it. Finally, his knees buckled and he slid off the sharp edge to hit the ground, barely missing the prone Davi.
Davi bounced to his feet, blood pouring from his cheek and gripping his blood-stained shoulder, but through his pain, he shot Edric an extreme smile of thanks. It lasted all of two seconds before an arrow glanced off of Edric’s thigh and he crumpled to his knees for a moment in shock.
“No,” Rissa screamed. This needed to end.
“Briggs,” she yelled at the Tri-Gard member cowering behind her underneath the cover of a huge boulder. “Do something. You need to do something.”
He looked back at her, shocked etched deep into his face. “I….I can’t, Princess. If I do magic, they will know I’m here.”
“They already know you’re here. Do something!”
Rissa was stunned into silence as Avery stumbled into her, nearly knocking her to her knees. A small knife protruded from Avery’s shoulder and blood gushed from the wound. Rissa dropped her bow and arrow and tried to catch the sword-master from slamming her head into the ground. “Avery,” she pleaded but the woman’s eyes were not on Rissa. Instead, they were seeing something that carved fear in her face.
“The prince,” Avery whispered as she pointed a bloody finger. Rissa followed the sword-master’s gaze.
Trystan had somehow lost his battle with the captain and was kneeling on the ground between the stout man and another burly soldier. Blood covered his face, whether it ran from his nose or mouth, Rissa couldn’t tell. She was too horrified to even care. The captain’s hand was wound tightly into Trystan’s hair, holding his head back at an awkward angle while the other hand held his honed steel against the Prince’s neck.
