Page 61 of A Kingdom's Heart
The moment I saw the masked man grab her, my sword was in my hand.
He was tall and broad, dressed in black, his face hidden behind a rough mask. Iris’s eyes fluttered shut in his hold, and for a split second I couldn’t tell if it was from fear or if he had used something on her.
Rage burned through me.
I charged, closing the distance before he could move another step. The man saw me too late. He dropped her, and I caught her before she could hit the ground. Her body was limp in my arms. I set her down gently and turned back to him.
One strike was all it took. My blade met his chest, and he fell
without a sound.
But the moment he hit the ground, more shadows spilled into the courtyard. Five, then ten, all masked, all armed. The guards shouted, steel clashing against steel, chaos breaking loose across the yard.
I looked down at Iris. Her head rested against my arm, her breathing faint but steady. The sight of her like that made something twist hard inside me.
I had to get her out.
I lifted her into my arms, her white gown streaked with dust. The noise around us grew louder. Arrows hissed through the air, striking walls and shields.
Then I saw Eric, sword already drawn, fighting off one of the masked men near the gates.
“Eric!” I shouted. “Take the princess to safety now!”
He turned, his expression shifting when he saw her. “What happened?”
“Go!” I barked. “Now!”
Eric didn’t hesitate. He sheathed his sword, moved to me, and took her from my arms. “I’ll get her inside.”
I nodded, turning to face the attackers again. My grip tightened around my blade.
But before Eric could reach the doors, a figure broke through the chaos. The man was fast as he charged straight for them.
Eric reacted on instinct. He dropped Iris and drew his sword in the same motion, meeting the man’s strike head-on. The clash of steel rang sharp in the air.
My heart stopped when I saw her fall.
I took a step toward her, but two men cut across my path, blades raised. I blocked the first strike, the force rattling my arm, then turned my blade and caught the second. They pressed hard, one coming from the side while the other swung for my head.
I ducked low and drove my shoulder into the nearest man’s
chest, knocking him back. The other swung again, his blade slicing across my arm. Pain burned hot, but I didn’t stop.
Across the courtyard, Iris lay still where Eric had dropped her. He was locked in combat, barely holding his ground. I couldn’t reach her, not yet.
The man I had shoved lunged again. I turned, parried, then drove my sword through his side. He fell, but before I could move, the second attacker caught my shoulder, dragging me back by the armor. I slammed an elbow into his throat and twisted free.
The courtyard had turned into a war. Smoke stung my eyes and the smell of blood and ash was thick in the air. More guards poured from the castle doors, shields raised, swords in hand. The masked men began to falter, their numbers outnumbered under the king’s men.
I didn’t wait for it to end. I sprinted across the stones, stepping
over fallen bodies until I reached her. She was still lying where Eric had dropped her, pale against the dirt, her hair spread around her like spilled light.
“Your Highness,” I breathed, dropping to my knees beside her. I brushed the hair from her face and pressed my fingers to her neck. Her pulse was there, faint but steady. Relief hit hard enough to steal my breath.
I lifted her into my arms again and turned, running for the castle doors. The sound of battle followed close behind, the clash of
weapons echoing against the walls.
