Page 77 of Crown of Hearts
“You know, I’ve never been to Everness before, but I have thought about travelling there.” Gwen pulled me back to the conversation. I’d seen plenty of her around the palace, but apart from our card game the other day, there had been little opportunity for us to spend time in each other’s company.
“The beaches aren’t nearly as beautiful as here in Norrandale,” I admitted. “It’s mostly just rocks and cliffs. But the forest certainly has some quality attributes.”
“Why would anyone want to be in a forest?” one of Gwen’s friends cut in, before she remembered she was addressing a queen. “Especially when one can bide in a palace like this, Your Majesty.”
“Rumour has it that Everness’s forests are filled with magic.” A few eyes widened and I held back a smirk. “But those arejust rumours. The towns, however, are lovely to visit during the festive seasons.”
“Perhaps I’ll be able to make the trip one day,” Gwen said, and her tone reminded me of how small her world must have been. She’d grown up in and around court, never left her kingdom and likely didn’t often frolic in magical forests. The last one was probably for the best. I certainly didn’t spend my adolescence scavenging in the forest for food for the mere pleasure of it.
The doors to the throne room burst open, making me jump. A group of men stormed inside, armed and clearly not invited. Someone let out a scream.
Their armour differed from anything I’d seen before. They were certainly not from Norrandale or Everness. Argon perhaps? My eyes flew to Cai as he reached for the nearest sword, from one of the courtiers. Behind me, a voice shouted to protect the King, as the men attacked whoever was nearest to the door. How had they managed to get inside the palace?
I looked towards the fire poker next to the hearth. It wasn’t much of a weapon, but it could do enough damage if used correctly. I grabbed it — it was better than nothing.
Gwen and her friends huddled together while the palace guards tried to move everyone to safety.
“Follow me, Your Majesty.” One of Jack’s guards ushered me towards the back corridor that led out of the throne room.
Everything was happening too fast. More screams came from the room behind us. I felt the heat rising in my neck. I was angered at my slow response thus far. My mind raced, trying to focus on what was happening. Who were they? Why were they here? Then I realised I was going the wrong way. Where was Cai? I needed to go back to find Cai. I couldn’t lose him. Not again.
More anger followed. Anger that I’d been so quick to run away. I’d run into the middle of a rebel uprising to save him. Had I become so frightened of my own shadow that I would now abandon him in his own palace?
“We need to go back. What about the King?” I stopped dead, causing the poor guard to almost bump into me. My voice was filled with panic.
“The King will be safe,” he assured me, in the middle of the dark hallway. I looked to his face, and I was sure I could see fear. With a roar, one of the attackers stormed down the corridor. He brought his right hand up, his sword’s sharp edge gleaming wickedly.
“Watch out!” I stepped back, giving him the space he needed to defend himself, but the guard was too slow, and I watched in horror as he was run through.
Without breaking stride, the attacker retracted his bloody sword, shouldering the helpless guard aside. The guard plunged to the stone floor, and in a second the soldier was past him. Our eyes met. Was he Argonian? He had to be. I’d never seen anyone who hailed from there before, but something in my gut warned me he was Argonian through and through.
He reached for my arms, and I tripped back over the hem of my long dress. We fell, him on top of me, and I gasped as the air was knocked out of my lungs.
“Elara!” I heard my name being called in the far distance. It was Cai’s voice. He was looking for me. I wanted to scream. Nothing came out.
Overcome with fear that screamed at me to survive, I grasped around desperately, reaching for anything I could use. My fingers found the dead palace guard’s helmet. The Argonian shifted, trying to get to his knees. His weight was still in his arms when the guard’s helmet found the side of his head and hecrumpled onto his side, dazed. It gave me the time I needed to scramble out from under him.
There was a clang beneath me as I accidentally stepped on the poker. The Argonian was recovering fast. I threw the now useless helmet at him and missed. His eyes gleamed with hatred. In a moment, he was on his heels. I grabbed for the poker and began swinging the sharp end towards him.
He lunged, his face filled with rage. The poker completed its swing and the sharp metal point sank deep into his stomach. His sword dropped to the floor. He grabbed at the poker wildly, trying to pull it out. I looked at his bloodstained hands as they encircled the poker. I couldn’t stop the fear inside me. Couldn’t stop myself as I pushed that poker deeper and deeper. The life slowly drained out of him. I pushed deeper still, until the metal point reappeared on the other side of his torso. He dropped to his knees. My heart was beating in my throat while I held back a cry. Blood blossomed, staining everything a deep red.
I didn’t want to stand there any longer, didn’t want to wait and see what would happen.
“Elara!” My name was called again, and the panic in Cai’s voice pushed me to run towards the sound. I didn’t turn around. Didn’t look back as a large red pool flowed across the floor. I practically ran into Cai at the end of the corridor.
My eyes immediately scanned for signs of fatal wounds. He pulled me in to him. “You’re okay.”
Cai attempted to reassure me, and I wondered how he could be so calm and collected when I was beyond frantic.
“What happened? Is everyone safe?”
“Everything is under control.” He sighed. “For now.”
* * *
I woke up to my body covered in cold sweat, the sheets stuck to my skin. I practically fell out of bed as I scrambled to get free, to feel like I could breathe again.
The only image stuck in my mind was that of the Argonian soldier and the poker as I drove it through him again... and again... and again. The red stain blooming, growing, flowing.
