The Heart Between Kingdoms

by Mary Dublin

  Seamus and Logan pushed each other farther and farther from the cave's opening, trying to get the upper hand. Esmae's eyes were torn between the battle and the entrance as steel clanged through the clearing once more. Her fingers scraped restlessly against the boulder.

  "If there were more inside the caves, don't you think they would have come out to help by now?" she murmured to Brennan.

  He threw a look over his shoulder at her, then glanced at the cliff. "Daniel's unguarded," he realized.

  "He must be."

  Before she could change her mind, she cupped her hands around Brennan and swept him off the boulder to take him with her.

  "Esmae!" he hissed in protest.

  "No need for you strain your wings," she whispered apologetically.

  Careful not to lose her footing on the slope, she made her way around the edge of the clearing, staying within the shadows of the trees to get as close to the entrance of the caves as she could without exposing herself. She glanced toward the chaos sporadically, knowing she could lose her opportunity at any moment if Seamus and Logan moved toward the cliff again.

  "Are you sure about this?" Brennan asked.

  Nerves clawed at her confidence. But powerful as Logan was, they were still outmanned. If Nadine lost her influence over the dogs, they weren't going to last much longer.

  If retreat was necessary, Esmae was not going to leave without Daniel.

  "I'm sure," she said, peering down at her hands. "If I get caught, fly away. Understand?"

  Brennan's eyes widened. "Absolutely not! How can you expect me to—"

  "I won't have these monsters hurting you again!" she snapped.

  Before a true argument could begin, Esmae caught sight of precisely the opportunity she was waiting for: Seamus had his back turned.

  She forced her legs to move, expecting any second for one of the bandits to shout that someone was sneaking into the cave. Dogs bayed and howled furiously. Steel rang out. Men cried for that Gerard to get up and take control of his hounds. But Esmae went unnoticed.

  The entrance of the caves immediately twisted into a sharp turn, giving her the cover she needed to catch her breath and gather herself.

  "D-Daniel," she stammered, pulling Brennan away from her. "Where are they keeping him?"

  He tugged at the nearest finger. "Left. Straight through that passage."

  Dread pounded through her in thick waves as she raced through the slanted, dimly lit cut of stone. Brennan had said the thugs had no intentions of actually harming Daniel, but she was terrified of what she would find when she rounded the corner. Her heart was already tight and cold, bracing itself for a gruesome reality.

  The tunnel grew tighter, and then stopped abruptly in a small, rounded chamber. A dying fire was in the center of the room, casting a red glow on a lone figure slumped against the wall.

  All the breath left her lungs when she caught sight of him.

  He was awake already, his hands bound behind his back. He wore a groggy frown, but the sight of her seemed to have an instant sobering effect on the prince.

  "Es?"

  Her gasp of utter, heartfelt relief resonated in the small room. Her legs spurred her to his side while her hands began to tremble so much Brennan had to take to the air once more. Esmae crashed to her knees and cupped Daniel's face in her hands. Her forehead pressed to his. His dark curls were matted with sweat and she could smell blood somewhere in the air. All at once, all the guilt she had been burying came bubbling to the surface in one violent strand.

  "I'm sorry," she murmured. "Oh, Daniel, I'm so sorry…"

  "Sorry?" He pulled away from her, frowning.

  Tears burned on her cheeks as though they belonged to another person. She made no move to swipe them away. "I made you go to Anglian. You wouldn't have been attacked if I hadn't made you go."

  "You didn't hold a sword to my back."

  She shook her head like a stubborn child. "I-I almost lost you. Oh gods, I almost lost you." She pressed tender, sacred kisses to his skin, savoring the taste of him. "What am I supposed to do without you?"

  Her heart hiccupped as Daniel leaned in and quieted her with a kiss of his own against her lips, strong and sure.

  "It's not your doing, Esmae. None of this is your fault." The renewed strength in his deep voice made it difficult to refute him. But the guilt was slow to ebb.

  She sat back when she noticed Brennan strutting into the gap between Daniel's back and the cave wall. There was a flash of white light and a gentle thump of ropes hitting the ground. The fairy re-emerged, wavering in his flight worse than she'd ever seen him. This time, Daniel was able to catch him in outstretched hands.

  "Thanks. I brought more help this time, so you can't be angry," Brennan announced with a half-hearted glare.

  "Angry?" Daniel shook his head, beaming. "I'm so happy, I could kiss you!"

  Brennan made a face and leaned away. "Gods, surely not that happy?"

  Daniel chuckled and clasped him to his shoulder suddenly in a gentle hug that left Brennan looking stunned. The prince released a rattling breath. "I thought they were torturing you, if they hadn't outright killed you."

  "Well, I must admit that Seamus' hand is pretty torturous in itself." Brennan shuddered, then patted Daniel's neck reassuringly. "But it'll take more than Anglian's louts to keep me down."

  A frown pulled at Daniel's face. He lifted Brennan away from his shoulder. "Anglian?" Looking between Esmae and Brennan with wide eyes, he shook his head slowly in disbelief. "What do you mean?"

  "They spoke of him right in front of me," Brennan said grimly. "They're working for him. He's behind this, and by the sound of it, they're expecting the fool to show up under the pretense of saving your life to put you in his debt. We need to get moving."

  Esmae nodded. "One of my guardians came with us. She's keeping the hounds snapping at the bandits' heels. Sir Logan—"

  "Logan?" Daniel breathed, sitting up straighter. "He… does he know?"

  "He knows of our alliance to fairies. That's all." Esmae tugged on him urgently. "What matters is that he's holding off that monster Seamus."

  Daniel let out a shaky breath. She couldn't tell if it was fear or determination that shone in his ice blue eyes. "We'd better get going, then."

  Shifting Brennan to one hand, he braced the other against the wall to support his weight as he stood. "Can you walk?" Brennan called, rocking between Daniel's palm and fingers.

  "I'll be fine."

  Esmae looped her arm around his waist. Even at her human size, Daniel was bigger than she was by nearly a head. But not so much bigger, she hoped, that her support would mean nothing.

  "Why wouldn't you be able to walk?" she demanded.

  "A hound tried to take off my boot," Daniel replied. "With its teeth."

  His voice had turned tight since he had begun hobbling towards the exit. Esmae glanced him up and down. She could see a set of small, messy punctures in the calf of his left boot. The marks looked painful, but not nearly fatal.

  "You survived the witch, but a dog has you limping?" she murmured, eyeing him slyly.

  The prince barked a laugh. "If you recall, I didn't fare too well with the witch, either," he pointed out.

  Esmae merely scoffed. To her relief, he seemed to walk a little easier as they made their way through the cave system, though he still had to lean quite heavily on her. The maelstrom that had followed her since Brennan came through her window felt a little more manageable knowing that Daniel was very much alive.

  Chapter

  Seven

  Esmae's relief petered out as the sounds from outside became more pronounced the closer they moved to the exit. She doubted they were going to get lucky twice as far as stealth went, especially with Daniel being unable to run.

  Brennan seemed to be fretting over the same thought. "If we can just get you away from here, they'll have nothing," he said. "You can say you overheard them speaking of Anglian on your way out."

  Esmae nodded
. "They have their horses tied up in the brush," she informed Daniel.

  "Horses," Brennan muttered. "Great."

  "Better than staying here," Daniel grunted, visibly trying to hide a wince as he walked.

  They paused just short of the turn in the path that lead to the opening. Hounds continued to snarl and bark ferociously outside. Esmae bit back a shudder at the thought of one of them sinking its teeth into Daniel's leg. Swallowing her fear, she urged Daniel to the exit.

  To her dismay, Seamus was still on his feet. But so was Logan. Both men were getting worn down. It was only a matter of waiting for fatigue to summon a mistake and make one of them suffer dearly for it.

  Before Esmae could tear Daniel's wide-eyed gaze away from the scene and help him toward the underbrush, a voice rang out across the clearing.

  "The prince!" one of the bandits in the trees cried. "He's escaping!"

  Seamus whirled where he stood. His face gleamed with sweat, his seafoam eyes glinting angrily in what was left of the torchlight. Daniel pushed Esmae behind him, bracing himself for an attack. His hand twitched towards his hip, only to recall the sheath was empty. Sir Logan, ever the opportunist, drove the hilt of his sword into the back of Seamus' head with a roar. Seamus reeled backwards, throwing up his ax to shield himself from the next blow.

  An opening came as the fight veered left. Esmae pulled at Daniel, her eyes fixed on the horses. The dogs didn't so much as sniff at the trailing end of Daniel's cloak. Esmae made a mental note then and there to ensure Nadine was properly rewarded for her loyalty.

  A shadow shifted on the ground and made Esmae yelp. A bandit, still masked and cradling a leg that was far bloodier than Daniel's, groped for a sword, attempting to block their path.

  "This is magic," he rasped, glaring at them both. "Unnatural. The lot of you. Anglian will know. And you'll pay—"

  He was silenced as Daniel kicked the weapon from his grasp. He tugged Esmae out of reach, and drove his heel into the man's injured leg. The bandit's threats dissolved into agonized curses as the prince stormed past with her glued to his side.

  "You mount first," he said when they reached the horses. "I'll go behind you."

  Her hands were shaking as she undid the ties around the tree. The horse whinnied nervously at its prospective riders. While Daniel was still trying to calm the beast, a mighty cry split rang out behind her that rose hairs on the back of her neck. All three of them froze, recognizing the voice.

  Esmae's heart sank as she turned. Logan's sword was on the ground, and so was he. The shock of seeing the enormous knight incapacitated made it all the more horrible to see Seamus press a boot to his mailed throat.

  "All that fairy magic, and the prince couldn't make himself a worthy warrior?" Seamus sneered.

  "You betray yer kingdom," Sir Logan said.

  The thug spat. "I don't give a flying shit about the kingdom. I serve no man but myself."

  He raised his foot for a devastating blow. But he never followed through. His head lifted, eyes narrowed as though focusing on a distant sound. After a moment, she heard it too: hooves beating against the earth. By the sound of it, there were dozens charging through the forest.

  Charging towards them.

  Fear coiled itself around Esmae like a snake as the hoofbeats grew louder like a foreboding drum. Perhaps Anglian had finally come to make his move in the scheme. She wanted nothing more than to climb onto the horse and ride to safety with Daniel and Brennan, but they couldn't possibly leave Logan and Nadine behind. Gripping Daniel's hand tightly, she gave him a helpless look.

  Several riders burst through the trees. Her breath caught in her throat. They looked familiar.

  One of the newcomers shouted behind him over the sound of approaching horses. "Here!" he called. "The commotion was coming from here!"

  Daniel gave a broken laugh of relief as more riders charged down the slope. His knights. There was no question about it.

  Seamus looked to stunned to do more than stagger back from Logan's prone form. In an instant, he'd gone from having the upper hand to having nothing at all. As the knights filled the clearing, the dogs suddenly broke away from their wild snarling and snapping to disappear into the woods.

  Faint movement teased Esmae's peripherals. She turned her head to find Nadine hovering half-concealed amongst the brush, a sheen of sweat on her pale face.

  "I'm sorry, Princess, I couldn't maintain the spell much longer," Nadine said breathlessly, eyes wide. "I had to send them off. But it's alright, isn't it? These… these men are on our side, aren't they?"

  Esmae grinned in disbelief. "You did beautifully, my friend. Don't you dare apologize." She swept her hair over her shoulder. Her hood had fallen at some point during the chaos. She left it down, tugging at the edge of the fabric. "Hide," Esmae urged. "And rest."

  The fairy was quick to comply, flying over Esmae's shoulder and lowering herself into the cloak's hood.

  "Prince Daniel!" One of the knights began riding across the clearing the reach them, while others made quick work of restraining the bandits, injured or not.

  "Brennan," Daniel breathed, lifting his occupied hand. "You should hide as well. With my injury, many people may be swarming me soon."

  The fairy was already on his feet. Quick as a wink, Brennan fluttered into Esmae's hood, settling himself next to Nadine. Esmae moved with particular care for her passengers as she hailed the approaching knights. They looked even more shocked to see her than the prince.

  "My lady! You should be at the castle," the first man declared with alarm. "How on earth did you end up in the Weeping Woods?"

  Esmae had been preparing herself for that question since the moment she set out. But when the time came to make her excuse, she fumbled over the lie like a guilty child. "I-I was…"

  "She heard me shout," Daniel interjected. He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand while his steely gaze never wavered from his men. "I'm glad she was riding past when she was. With Sir Logan's help, she was able to get me this far."

  The confusion on their faces wasn't quite eased by the Daniel's quick lie, but it was enough to set their questions to rest for the time being.

  "Are you hurt?" the man asked.

  "His leg," Esmae said. "The dogs had at him."

  She was glad to see him nod, sharing her urgency. "Kell is good with herbs. That will suffice until we return. Gods be good that this filth didn't get the better of you both," the knight muttered. He dismounted, and took a knee before them. "I beg your forgiveness for not coming to your aid sooner."

  "Arise, Devon," Daniel said hastily. "There's nothing to forgive."

  Devon bobbed his head gratefully, still looking nervous and sweaty. Behind him, Esmae could see Logan being helped to his feet, and a glimpse of the chestnut steeds they had rode upon being guided from the woods. Daniel's men had flushed out the bandits in mere minutes.

  "I'll have half my men ride with you to the palace. The other five will stay to deal with this lot," Devon said, jerking his subtly chin at the clamoring group of thugs. They were tied at the wrists much as Daniel had been when she found him, and their masks had been wrenched off.

  Devon searched the crowd and barked a name, and before long another knight emerged from the mess. He had a satchel slung over his shoulder. When he glimpsed the blood dried over Daniel's pant leg, he set to work immediately applying a salve to the wound.

  "These men are hirelings, not common thieves," Daniel remarked, addressing the others that had gathered.

  A few of the knights exchanged perturbed looks. "Our enemies are far from here," someone pointed out. "What more could they want than ransom money?"

  With his leg bound by crude bandages, Daniel slipped back into his boots. He stood a little taller, more secure in his footing, Esmae noted.

  "The ambush was Lord Anglian's doing. Question them, and you'll hear the same."

  A murmur ran through the group.

  "He didn't care for your offer," Devon muttered.

&
nbsp; "That crazy old louse," another growled. "He'll bleed for this."

  The near murderous convictions were disturbed as a smaller knight of Mirrel approached the circle, Amos trailing behind him. Frown lines on the prince's face eased at the mere sight of the animal.

  "We have your horse, Your Highness," the young knight declared with a little bow of his head.

  Daniel took the reins, running his hand over Amos' snout. He turned to Esmae next, beckoning her to mount.

  "Thank you. But we can't ride for home yet," he said.

  "Your Highness?"

  With some help, Daniel took a seat behind her and wound his hands through the reins in her lap. A little smile twisted his lips.

  "Lord Anglian is expecting to see me tonight. I don't want to disappoint him."

  The knights' attempts to dissuade Daniel from riding to Anglian estate had finally ceased, and he was glad for it. With or without them, he was going. A dull throb pulsed through his leg, but he was too furious to pay much attention to it.

  Anglian wasn't the only thing on his mind. The hirelings knew of Brennan. Daniel wanted to trust that his knights would take the information as the thugs' attempt to escape the punishment for what they'd done. Their employer might believe them, but Daniel had no plans to allow Anglian and his hirelings to come into contact with each other.

  Daniel glanced down at Esmae's hood. He was admittedly glad that his leg prevented him from riding as his anger begged him to. The extra passengers deserved a slower ride after what they'd been through.

  They had not traveled very far from the clearing when the sound of incoming hoofbeats echoed up ahead, on a path to inevitably meet them. Like clockwork, the five knights spurred their steeds closer to Daniel, no doubt determined that their prince would not be put at risk again.

  "Anglian," one of the men in front growled.

  Not a moment later, Daniel could make out the yellow insignia of Anglian's house in the darkness.

  The knights around the prince began to murmur amongst themselves restlessly. Even Esmae grew tense in front of him, glancing over her shoulder to look at him with a clenched jaw. Daniel called for silence and ordered his men to not lash out just yet.