Page 78 of Rise of a Fallen Man

It felt so inadequate, but what else could I say with all of them watching us? I couldn’t even say his real name out loud here, where they could hear us.

“It was my pleasure, Princess.” He gave me a small, polite bow. “She’s hurt,” he told the guard. “She needs help, quickly.”

“Will you be alright?” I asked.

He shrugged a shoulder. “I’ll manage. I always do.”

“I’ll send the royal healing witch to check on you.”

He shook his head.

“You need her more than I do. Just...” He hesitated.

“You can ask for anything from me,” I assured him.

“Find a way to let me know how you’re doing. Please. Let me know how you’re healing, Princess.”

I held on to his hand for as long as I could. But he let go. He always let me go. And I had no way to hold on to him, either.

“Ari!” Mother rushed to me from the entrance to the arena. “Oh, Goddess, you’re bleeding. Get the healing witch here at once,” she ordered to the closest guard. “Let’s get you back to the palace, my child.”

With the dragon recaptured and the fire now contained only to the arena, many people lingered in the vicinity. Some of those who’d run away were now returning in hopes of more entertainment.

“How is Father? Where is Leafar?” I asked as the guards and my mother led me to the carriage waiting for us just outside of the arena.

“I sent the prince to the palace with the king. Both are safe.”

“Good. Thank you.”

Someone threw a shawl over my bleeding shoulders. A guard helped me into the carriage, along with Mother.

“Oh gods, what a mess,” she lamented.

The arena burned behind us. A thick cloud of smoke rose over the poles with burning banners, the pictures of Salas on them smoking and scorched.

With the shock and terror receding, the wounds on my shoulders hurt badly now.

What would’ve happened to me if it weren’t for Salas? How did he conjure the fire that saved us?

“Just an illusion, Princess,”he’d said.

But I’d felt the blast of heat on my face as the fire shot up his arms. Yet there was not a single burn on his skin afterwards.

Was it a miracle? It must be.

Chapter 21

Ari

Three days later, the judge reached the verdict in the case that terrorized the city for weeks. The man who brutally murdered women was sentenced to death by decapitation the very next day. He didn’t appeal the verdict. There’d be no use if he did. His crimes were too grave to deserve any leniency. He earned the death penalty many times over.

As the crown princess, I was required to attend his execution, but I would’ve come here either way. Like so many people who had gathered around the execution site that morning, I wished to see the end of the terror with my own eyes.

Mother and I got our seats close to the platform. A few long benches circled the execution site, providing some seating for the spectators. However, the crowd swelled to a size far larger than the benches could accommodate.

There was a sense of relief among the people that morning. The execution meant to put an end to fear that had reigned over the minds of many.

As the guards led the prisoner toward the block with the executioner standing nearby, I braced to face the devil incarnate in the man who’d killed so brutally.

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