Page 115 of Once Upon a Crown
He brushed a tendril of hair out of my face like he hadn’t just hit me, and I flinched away.
“You will never find those Myrgonite objects, you know.”
My skin still stung. I didn’t want to turn my head to look at him. I found myself staring at his boots instead.
“I don’t need to find them.” Aries stood back up, dusted off his hands. He gestured to Frederick to pull me back into a standing position. My legs felt numb. My eyes went to Cordelia’s body lying only a few metres away. I’d failed to save her. She died because of me. My cheeks were wet but I didn’t remember crying.
“I only need to keep you alive until Cai gets here and he will lead me straight to them. He would never risk your life, not even if the fate of his kingdom depended upon it.”
His gaze became more sinister, if that was even possible. “And then nothing, or no one, will stand against me ever again.”
Chapter 46
Cai
Moving an army across mountainous terrain was usually challenging enough by itself. Doing so in winter felt damn near impossible.
My horse shuddered beneath me, as if to say, “Why the hell are you making me walk on rocky ground while an icy wind beats against us?”
Had my kingdom and the woman I loved not depended on it, I might have said, “Fair point.”
We moved slowly and stealthily, allowing the light of the full moon to guide us so that we wouldn’t have to use as many torches. Soon, the moon’s light would disappear, and dawn would spread over the kingdom of Norrandale. A feud that had been going on for hundreds of years would finally come to an end.
Our cavalry marched ahead, archers following, and the foot soldiers behind. Everyone was cold and uncomfortable, trudging through the dreary weather and making tracks in the thin layer of snow that coated the ground. The very last of winter leaving its marks before spring arrived soon. Luckily there had been no snowfall overnight or it would have made our journey much more treacherous.
What had felt like a fairly comfortable journey in the past now seemed to drag on for ever. We finally stopped close to the path that led up the mountain and into the valley. We stayed hidden in the coverage of the forest, hoping that the scouts Aries had no doubt sent out would not be able to spot us. The path itself was too narrow for our entire army to get through comfortably, not to mention we still needed to travel uphill before we reached the valley where Aries was camped. We weregoing to have to divide and hope that the uphill advantage would be enough to help us.
I mounted my horse again after having relieved myself behind a nearby tree.
“Your Majesty.” Alastor’s whisper came from behind me. We’d ordered the entire army to be as quiet as possible, not wanting to give away our location.
“Yes?”
“There’s a messenger here for you.”
The young soldier stepped up to my horse, his face covered in dirt, his eyes wide with adrenaline.
I took the note from him and squinted as I tried to read the scribblings in the dark.
“What does it say?” Alastor asked, having mounted his own horse.
“Men,” I said, suddenly feeling a little breathless, and even a morsel of relief. “Mannik and Ryker. Their men have arrived.” The noble men my father had entrusted to run his council had come through for me. Loyal to the Crown, to the end.
There was a slight laugh from Alastor. Almost nervous. He wasn’t the sort of person who got nervous easily, but war will do strange things to a person. “Just in the nick of time, then.”
“Yes,” I said, thinking about Elara. Wondering what she was doing, if she was safe. If only I could tell her that I was on my way. That I would see her soon. And as the first light began to appear over the horizon, I felt something I hadn’t been feeling for a while... hope.
* * *
My legs ached by the time we’d reached the top of the slope. I had dismounted and I was peering over the brow of the hill that we would soon descend. My archers were spread out next to me, waiting for my order. I carefully observed the camp.Endless tents and small burnt-out fires. It wasn’t too difficult to find Aries’ tent on the far side of the valley. My eyes travelled to the Myrgonite caves in the distance. It was obvious that Aries had discovered them now. I waited for that sinking feeling I was certain would come. But I realised that after today, it wouldn’t matter anymore. One way or another. And where was Elara? Aries would keep her close, which meant I needed to find a way to get to his tent.
“On my signal,” I said, lifting my arm. Row upon row of bowstrings were pulled taut, flaming arrows waiting to be released. I waited a second. Thought of my father. Of the king that he was and the man he wanted me to be. Today I would live up to his legacy, or end it.
Let me make you proud.I dropped my hand.
The sky turned yellow as the burning arrows made their way up into the air before dropping back down. Time seemed to slow as I watched the camp catch fire.
“Good morning, Aries. I hope you like surprises.”
