by Sarah Olson
I took off again hearing Duke bark. He was standing across the clearing. He looked at me and then behind him, beckoning me. Trusting the wolf to lead me was better than running blind. I ran up to him and he dove into the forest. Birds took to the sky as they heard me bounding through the trees. Deer and other animals prancing through the forest scattered but Duke paid them no attention. He knew I needed to get to the village. The sun rose to its highest point and began its descent.
My body screamed in pain and exhaustion. I stumbled into a pond and drank some water as fast as I could. I sat back onto the muddy bank and listened as I tried to catch my breath. The forest was quiet again. I began to think I had lost the soldiers when the sound of distant horse hooves reached my ears. I looked up and found that Duke had continued without me. Fear surged through me as I thought of facing these soldiers alone. Adrenaline flooded through my veins, my heart pounded in my ears. I forced myself up and dragged my feet as I tried to catch up, but Duke was gone.
Panic seized me and I twisted my ankle, falling through a wall of bushes. I let out a scream as the ground beneath me disappeared. I rolled down the steep hill hoping I would not hit a tree. Every bump rattled my body, the world around me spun into a green blur. I rolled to a stop a foot away from a boulder that would have surely knocked me unconscious.
The air was knocked from my lungs so I lay there motionless trying to will my body to get up and move again. When I caught my breath, I pushed myself up and bit my lip as I tried to put pressure on my ankle. I was bloodied and bruised but I was going to have to bear the pain if I wanted to survive. I took a deep breath as I forced my weight down on my ankle and began to move on as fast as I could.
The forest was darkening. The orange rays of the sun were fading through the greenish-black leaves. The sound of thundering hooves resonated around me. I ran.
I wanted to draw the dagger from my boot to defend myself, but I could not stop. The seconds it would take to reach it would only mean death to me—my dreams—my purpose.
The branches cut my face as I slammed through them but their sting on my cheeks did not slow me. If I could just reach the river, I might make it. Possibly, survive.
Through the dense trees, I heard the river, but the thundering hooves threatened to overtake the comforting sound of rushing water. Speeding up, I burst through the trees and caught my foot on a root that sent me crashing into the smooth gray stones. I flipped myself around just in time to see a spear flying at my stomach.
This was the end and I knew it. Everything seemed to slow down before my eyes. Memories and faces flashed through my mind—Robert, Betsy, Aria . . . James. Within the split second that meant life and death, a sword from my left came flying upward slamming the spear into the sky. I rolled out of the way and grabbed for my daggers as the soldiers dismounted. James had arrived in the last possible moment. Two to six.
James took two on as one ran in my direction sword held high. He swung at my head but I ducked, throwing my weight into the daggers as they stabbed his stomach. I yanked them out just in time to block a blow from another sword behind me. I fell to the ground avoiding his blade again and kicked my leg into his shin, knocking him over hard. His sword slipped from his grip as he fell to the stones. I tried to get up, but his arm shot out and grabbed my ankle, pulling me backward. One of my daggers slipped from my hand as he tackled me. I wrenched my right arm around to try get him in the side when his arm grabbed mine, pinning it down. He yanked the dagger from my hand and went to use it against me when he howled in pain. Duke’s jaws were locked down onto his leg. The soldier went for him with my dagger but I was faster. I picked up my fallen dagger and grabbing him from behind, slit his throat. He went still and I let him fall to the ground.
I turned to James and saw that two soldiers lay dead around him. He was engaging another but ended it quickly as he rammed his sword through the man’s neck. That made five. So where was the last one? I knew I had counted six. I turned around to see if he was hiding in the trees when something pierced my side. Pain burst through my body as I stumbled back staring at the wooden arrow protruding from my side. My vision blurred as I saw the dark shadow of a soldier stepping out from the tree line readying another arrow.
“Layla!” James yelled.
With the last bit of my strength, I threw my dagger and watched it bury itself in the soldier’s chest. I felt my knees go out and I collapsed. The pink, orange, and purple clouds faded to gray. James’s face suddenly appeared over me.
“Layla!” he yelled. “Layla! Do you hear me?”
I wanted to tell him I did, but I seemed to have lost control over my voice. It was as if I had suddenly forgotten how to talk.
“You’re going to be all right!”
A strange darkness dimmed the edges of my vision and I felt like I was floating. There was no more pain. Was I dying? Is this how Mitchell and Robert felt?
“Get help!” James barked at someone, taking my face in his hands. “Come on Layla, stay with me.” His blue eyes flashed with fear, pain, and something else . . . something I could not place.
I felt my eyelids become heavy as they began to droop.
“No! Layla!” James yelled. “Somebody!”
Then everything was quiet. No more voices, no rushing river, not even the sound of my own heart beating. I felt myself drifting through a black sky as my mind faded into darkness.
Chapter 45
MY EYES OPENED and I stared up at the ceiling of my room. The silver curtains swayed in the soft breeze that blew through the window. Something creaked beside me and I turned my head slowly to find Betsy in a rocking chair reading a book. I looked back to the window trying to remember what had happened. I had been running through the forest alone because the men who murdered Mitchell were chasing me. James had saved me, but then I had been hit with an arrow in my—
I reached my arm down my left side and felt a soft bandage wrapped around me. I ran my fingers over it sending a sharp pain through it. I bit my tongue so I would not gasp. I had not died. I glanced back at Betsy and saw her look up from her book.
“Layla,” she said, standing, “you’re awake, my dear.” She pushed the hair back from my face and kissed my forehead. “How are you feeling?”
“It hurts,” I whispered hoarsely.
“Let me get you some water,” she said, walking out of the room. She returned with a cup and helped me lift my head ever so carefully so I could drink it.
“How long was I out?” I asked when she pulled the cup back.
“Almost three days,” Betsy answered. “We were so worried.”
I took another sip of water. “Where’s Aria?” I asked, feeling the need to see my daughter.
“She’s been staying with Lamia Hopkins,” Betsy said. “She was very upset.”
“When can I see her?” I asked.
“I’ll go and get her before tonight. James on the other hand won’t leave.”
“He’s here?” I asked surprised.
“Yes. He has not slept much but I finally got him to take a nap on the sofa. I’ll get him in a minute.”
I smiled. “How bad was I hurt?”
“It could have been much worse,” she replied. “The arrow itself was thin. It got your left side but thankfully missed your major organs. You should be up in
a few days, but won’t be able to do much.”
I nodded.
“Well,” Betsy said, “I’m sure you’re starving so I’m going to heat up some soup.” She walked out of the room and I heard her wake James.
James came in looking both relieved and tired. He walked over and sat down on the edge of my bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Not too bad,” I replied with a smile. “Betsy told me you wouldn’t leave.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I was worried about you.”
“Thank you,” I said. “How’s Tristan?”
James’s jaw hardened for a second. “He’s doing fine. He was weak, but his wounds were superficial.
”
“Good,” I whispered, my mind now on Mitchell—that scream, those lifeless eyes. I was suddenly overwhelmed with sorrow. “Mitchell’s gone,” I said, eyes watering.
“I know,” James said. “Charlotte recognized his wedding band on you.”
“How is she?” I asked.
“She is managing.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said, tears slipping from my eyes. “It’s all my fault.”
“No Layla,” James said, taking my hand. “It’s not your fault. He volunteered to go with you.”
His touch was warm and I did not want him to let go.
“You don’t understand,” I sobbed. “It was the first time I had ever been on watch for anything and I fell asleep. If I had not, I would have heard the soldiers that found us and I would have stopped Mitchell from walking away by himself. If it wasn’t for me, he would still be alive.”
“Layla, you can’t know that.”
I tried to sit, gasping as pain ran up my side.
“Take it easy,” James said, as he carefully helped me up. He watched me intently. “It is not your fault.”
“No, it is. I’m so sorry,” I whispered, feeling the tears increase. “How am I ever going to face Charlotte again? She loved him so much.” I felt so vulnerable and weak.
James wrapped his arms around me and let me cry into his shoulder. My mind was too tangled to feel surprised. I felt like a child. He held onto me until my sobs ceased.
“Mitchell, like everyone else who has joined us, knew they may lose their life in this war,” he said. “They all knew the risk. Mistakes are made and plans are changed, but if we blamed ourselves for everything that happened, we would not get anywhere. It’s not your fault.”
I nodded.
“Here’s the soup,” Betsy said, coming in with a tray. “Oh, I’m sorry. Am I interrupting?”
She looked from James to me and back to him.
“No,” James said, standing suddenly losing all the tenderness he had just shown. “Layla was just telling me what happened. I need to go and see how Raphael is doing with our prisoner.”
I had completely forgotten we had captured Richard. “Has Luther started moving his troops?” I asked.
“No,” James replied. “He’s been sending soldiers everywhere trying to figure out who was responsible.”
“He doesn’t think it was us?”
“I’m sure he does,” James said. “But before he sends his entire army across the river, I think he wants to be positive.”
“Let’s just hope he takes his time,” Betsy said, placing the tray in front of me.
“We’ll see,” James said as he left the room.
I heard the front door close and then tried to concentrate on eating my soup.
After eating and cleaning up a bit, Betsy changed my bandage and went to get Aria. Aria rushed in the room excitedly calling to me. Betsy scooped her up and placed her gently on me so she could wrap her little arms around my neck.
“Mama!” she exclaimed with a smile.
“Aria!” I said, taking her into my arms. Tears came to my eyes as the joy of seeing her filled me. “I missed you so much!”
She let go and planted a kiss on my cheek.
I hugged her again.
Being able to see Aria was the one moment that day that I could put my mind off everything that had happened. All I needed for comfort was to watch her play with her dolls. She was very excited to show me a new one Mrs. Hopkins had given her. When her bedtime came, I kissed her goodnight and Betsy took her to her room.
As the room grew darker, I began to doze off when a knock sounded at the front door.
“Charlotte,” I heard Betsy say when she opened the door. “How are you?”
“I’m taking it day by day,” Charlotte said.
Her voice was not full of excitement the way it usually was.
“It’s not an easy thing to get through,” Betsy said. “Just remember if you need anything, Layla and I are here for you.”
“Thank you,” she said. “James told me she’s awake. Can I see her?”
“Of course,” Betsy said. “Come in.”
Betsy entered my room with Charlotte behind her. She looked tired and had dark rings under her eyes.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Betsy said.
“Charlotte,” I whispered when Betsy closed the door. “I’m so sorry.”
Charlotte smiled weakly and sat down on the bed.
“I can’t even imagine what you’re going through.”
“And I hope you never experience it,” she said.
I recognized Mitchell’s wedding band hanging around her neck.
“James told me you said it was your fault,” Charlotte said.
“I really am sorry,” I said.
Charlotte nodded. “He also told me exactly what happened and I know it wasn’t your fault. Even if it was and you made a mistake, I could never hold that against you because you are like my sister—you saved my brother.”
“Charlotte—”
“I will get through this. I know I will.”
“You were always stronger than me,” I said.
“No,” Charlotte whispered. “I’m falling apart.” Tears welled up in her eyes. I reached out and took her hand.
We sat there in silence as Charlotte got control of her tears.
“Layla?” she said. “When Aria asks you about her father, what will you tell her?”
The question took me off guard. “I don’t know. She is too young to understand right now. Why?”
“I’m pregnant,” Charlotte said, placing a hand on her stomach.
My heart broke for her. Charlotte was not only mourning the death of her husband, but of the father of her child.
“Charlotte,” I said, trying to keep my words from getting caught in my throat, “that child is going to grow up knowing how wonderful and brave his or her father was. It’s the best and most honest answer to give.”
“Thank you,” Charlotte said. “It just kills me he won’t be here—he didn’t even know,” she paused and looked up at me, “But I am thankful because a part of Mitchell will always be with me.”
“Always,” I said. “Before he died, he told me to tell you that he loved you.”
She took a breath, and I thought she would cry again. “I should go. My parents will be wondering where I am. I moved back in with them until I can face Mitchell’s house again. And now that Tristan is back, everything seems a bit more bearable.”
“I’m sure,” I said. “James told me he’s doing better.”
“He is. Thank you for going after him.”
I nodded.
“Well,” Charlotte said getting up, “I’m glad to see you’re feeling better.”
I smiled.
“Good night,” Charlotte said.
“Good night.”
Chapter 46
THE NEXT FEW days rolled by slowly, and James came by daily to check on me. I appreciated the company greatly since Charlotte had not returned. Each day he would brief me on what was going on with Richard and King Luther—which was nothing. King Luther was still in his castle and searching the kingdom for his son.
“Will he come here when he doesn’t find him?” I asked him.
“I believe his eye is already on us since his soldiers that were supposed to be watching the northern base of the mountains never returned. If Tristan knows how Luther makes his decisions as well as he says he does, I’m sure he’ll be sending a group of soldiers to negotiate with King Darius, maybe even with us. I don’t think we will be in any war for at least another month.”
“More time to prepare, right?” I asked.
James shrugged.
A knock sounded on the front door.
“I’ll get it,” James said, standing. He left the room and I heard him open the door.
“Oh,” I heard Tristan’s voice. “Um, I thought this was where Layla lives.”
“It is,” James said.
“Is she here?” Tristan asked.
“Yes.”
Silence.
“Can I see her?” Tristan said.
“It’s all right, James!” I called.
He led Tristan into my room. Tristan looked much better than the last time I had seen him. The bruises on his face were fading.
“Tristan,” I said with a smile. “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to visit me.”
Tristan gave me the same boyish grin from when we were younger. “I’ve been busy.”
“I’m going to go,” James said, uncomfortably. “I’ll let Mrs. Fallon know Tristan is here.”
I eyed him carefully. It was as if he was afraid to leave Tristan alone with me.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” I asked him, trying to lighten the tension.
“Yes,” he said and disappeared from the room.
Tristan pulled up a chair next to my bed. “Is he your body guard now?”
“No,” I said with a laugh. “Just a friend that keeps checking up on me.”
“Right,” Tristan said. “A friend.”
I heard the front door slam hard as James left.
“How are you?” I asked, changing the subject.
“I’ve been worse,” he said. “Thanks for going after me.”
“You’re welcome,” I said. “Are you healed?”
“Mostly,” he replied. “But I’ll always have the scars. And you?”
“Getting there,” I said. “I can get out of bed on my own now.” I touched the bandage and sent a dull pain through my side. “It’s bearable.”
“Good.” Tristan smiled.
I returned it. “How’s Charlotte?”
His smile faded. “She cries less and less every day.”
I looked down into my hands. “Why does life have to be so hard?” I asked. “I wish none of this had ever happened.”
“It’s not for you to decide,” Tristan said.
“Tristan!” Betsy exclaimed, coming into the room holding Aria. “It’s good to see you!”
“And you, Mrs. Fallon,” he said. “Is that . . . ?”
“That’s Aria,” I said with a smile as Betsy handed her to me.
“I’m going out for a few minutes,” she said.
