Haeil's company made good time back to Bethmüda, avoiding Ulrek's patrols with relative ease as Haeil and Tanner guided them past the assassin's men. It was a wearying five day's ride back to the city, but a relatively uneventful one, thanks to the diligence of Haeil's scouts.
As they rode, Kedemar often dashed his hand across his eyes whenever they filled with tears. He refused to let the tears fall. He had to be strong for Natalya, who spent a lot of time weeping into the mane of her horse. After spending nearly a week together alone, the two were more relaxed in each other's presence, had a greater respect of the other and a better understanding of each other's hurting souls. Yet they felt more distant than ever from each other. Neither felt like speaking, when they were together, grief making words strangers to the tongue. And neither knew how to rectify their relationship. At the same time that their grief drew them closer to each other, it also rifted them apart.
Haeil seemed as feeling as a wooden post. Whenever Dath's name was mentioned he smiled sadly, his eyes unreadable. When Kedemar dared to ask if the assassin had managed to recover Dath's body, Haeil gave him a small smile and a nod. That led to a question about burial arrangements, to which the young assassin merely shook his head and turned away, not deigning to speak. Left Kedemar feeling angry and even more broken inside.
They rode into the city under cover of darkness, sending men ahead to make sure the way was clear and that no enemies were waiting. There was no opposition.
When they reached the Obsidian's house, Adalyyn ran out to meet them, crushing Natalya in an embrace as the girl slid down from her horse.
"You poor, poor child!" The north-woman cried, her peculiar musical accent thickening with emotion. Nat held on to her tightly and wept.
Tired, drained, they all trooped down to the feasting hall for some much-needed refreshment before heading to bed. At the entrance of the hall Kedemar and Nat stopped in their tracks. Stunned frozen, mouths open in disbelief.
There, sitting at a table, seemingly waiting for them...
No! It couldn't be!
But...
It was.
Nat launched herself forward with a glad shriek. Dath stood to meet her and grabbed her up in his arms, holding her close despite his half-healed wounds. He pressed his cheek to her hair and just held her, closing his eyes against tears of relief. Relief that he was still alive. Relief that the One-Who-Made-The-Stars had allowed him to come back to this precious girl, his daughter of the heart, one more time. Or rather, that she had come home to him.
"How...? How...?" Natalya sobbed, clinging to him, unable to speak more. Kedemar just stared at the clearly living bounty hunter, dumbstruck, the same question echoing in his mind.
***
Between everybody's emotion, Haeil was the only one who had his head on straight, and it was he who finally told the story.
It happened like this: After Kedemar had pulled Natalya, screaming, into the river, Dath had hefted Kedemar's sword in his good hand and turned to face Ulrek and his men. There were a lot more than five now, most with crossbows, all with blades.
Ulrek grinned, gloating over his victory.
"Such a fruitless, endeavor, Dathran." The bald assassin smirked. "Thank you, though, for saving me the trouble of killing those two myself. Such a pity that you failed to save them, and yourself." With that, he ordered his men forward.
Dath had dropped a few of the. soldiers, but was being overwhelmed, when screams and shouts echoed throughout the warehouse from the near distance.
Haeil's force swept mercilessly through the building with the lethal weapon of surprise. Ulrek's men never stood a chance. Haeil ordered his troops, bowmen all, and suddenly a deadly wave of arrows ripped through the ranks of Ulrek's men.
Dath used the distraction to lunge forward; the point of his sword took Ulrek in the right side of his chest. Cursing, the assassin had yanked himself loose and fled. A second volley of arrows took care of the rest of his men. Dath collapsed, but Haeil bore him safely back to the Obsidian and Myra.
Then Haeil had gone after his friends.
***
Natalya wheeled on Haeil and drove her fist into his shoulder.
“How could you be so cruel!” she cried, only a little angry. Mostly too relieved to hold a grudge. “Why didn’t you tell us at the first?”
Haeil merely grinned, rubbing his arm. His eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Perhaps,” said Dath, answering for the assassin, “because when he left to find you, he wasn’t exactly sure if I would still be alive when he got back. I suffered grievous wounds, as you well know. By the One's grace and Myra's talent, I was saved, but it was a near thing.”
Kedemar finally found his feet and his voice. He stepped forward and dug beneath his collar for the kingly seal ring, drawing it out and slipping the thong over his head. He dropped to a knee before Dath, bowing his head.
“My lord.” He said, extending his hand to Dath, offering the ring back to its rightful owner. “This belongs to you.”
Gasps and whispers rang through the room as everybody saw the gesture and the ring, heard the young captain's words. Dath gently raised the young captain to his feet, and smiled.
“Keep it.” The king said. “I named you as my heir, and I meant it. The ring is yours now, and so the kingship will be when I die.”
Kedemar swallowed hard, then fiercely embraced Dath, overcome at last with the emotions of the past week and a half. Tears of relief came, and this time he let them fall, not caring who saw.
***
The companions retired to their rooms and rested, exhausted bodies slumbering many hours without interruption.
But the next morning, Dath called a council of war.
“Ulrek knows now about the Obsidian. One way or another, he has forced your hand and you are not safe here now. My companions and I ride for Ajalon today. Come with us, or not, but I could use warriors like you, and I would pay you well.” Dath said to those gathered in the big council room. Warm late morning sunshine shone down onto nearly the whole congregation of the Obsidian, those who were currently at the house.
“First,” said Jashur, crossing his arms over his big chest, “tell us who you really are. After last night, I think we know; only confirm it.”
Dath sighed. Bowed his head, but complied.
“Very well.”
His voice rang out, suddenly infused with authority, sunlight glowing in his golden hair.
“I am Dathran ad Antoin of Anathod, bounty hunter, forsworn assassin, crowned oath-ruler of Gibethon, and Shadow King of all who dwell here. And on my oath, by the word that I swear, the ring of my office, and the witness of the One-Who-Made-The-Stars, the words I have spoken to you are truth!”
With his declaration and the witness that he had invoked, there was no doubt in anyone there that Dath was not who he said he was. In a rush of movement, every person in the room suddenly bent the knee to the Shadow King.
“We will ride with you,” said Jashur soberly, daring to look up into Dath's eyes. “To death or glory, and may the One let His favor shine on us all.”
Dath smiled down at him. Reached down a hand, grasped Jashur's forearm, and hauled him gently to his feet.
"So may it be." The king said. "So may it be."
***
Dath sent a hastily scribbled message to Gavin via an Obsidian messenger just before the companions rode out of Bethmüda unhindered. Told the young lass who was riding the message to try finding Gavin in the next town over, in either the finest inn or the most seedy one.
It really all depended on what the assassin preferred that day.
Most of the Obsidian followed Dath when he, Kedemar, Natalya, and Haeil rode out. Abandoned their house and caverns. Only a few of them stayed behind to maintain their ships and trade. Dannyl and his family accompanied Dath. The king set a hard pace, but not a punishing one, not wishing to exhaust their mounts, or Dannyl's wife, Marg, who was noticeably pregnant.
But they did ride hard that first day, stopping for the night in a small town. Dath left his comrades to find a reputable inn big enough to house them all, and slipped into a seedy tavern. He surveyed its dark, smoky interior, passing his gaze over a score of patrons engaged in dubious activities. Settled his gaze on a corner crowded with shadows.
There, at a table in the dark corner, Gavin waited.
Dath crossed the taproom and sat. Studied the assassin for a moment before speaking.
"Why didn't you tell us there was an assassin hideout in Bethmüda?" He asked, controlled anger evident in his tone. Gavin sneered.
"You didn't ask." He said. Dath's fist clenched, but he controlled himself with an effort. The two men regarded one another for a moment, without speaking.
Then Gavin asked softly, almost gently, "How fares Kedemar?"
Dath regarded the assassin without deigning to answer, anger simmering in his chest. He narrowed his eyes at the man, his gaze drawn suddenly to the familiar curve of his jawline, the arch of his nose, the set and color of the assassin's dark, dark eyes. Dath studied in silence, a suspicion beginning to form in his mind.
Gavin bowed his head at Dath's lack of an answer, sighing-- sorrowfully?
And then, after a moment, the suspicion clicked in Dath's brain. He sat back in surprise.
"Stars!" He breathed, his eyes widening. "You're the lad's... father?!"
Sat dumbstruck as the assassin nodded woefully.
Startled disbelief swiftly turned to white-hot wrath.
"How could you," the king hissed, wrapping his hand in the shoulder of Gavin's tunic and leaning close, "do such a thing to the lad's mother? To him?"
Gavin looked away, shame and sorrow filling his eyes. "I-- am not proud of what I did with Myrena. We weren't married, though I loved her so, so much. I just-- couldn't seem to break the assassins' cursed compulsion."
Dath shoved Gavin away, hard, back toward the wall the assassin sat against.
"You didn't love her at all." He seethed. "You had the nerve to get her with child, and then leave her?! She died in childbirth, the birth of your son!" Dath was shouting at the top of his lungs now, for the whole tavern to hear. And listen the whole tavern did, as Gavin turned his face away and took the verbal beating he deserved.
Dath continued, "You worthless sack of filth, you doomed that precious child to a life of hardship on the streets! You're fortunate the Guard picked him up when they did, and that the lad did not end up like you!" He quieted his voice somewhat, sneering, "I shouldn't be surprised if Kedemar disowns you when he finds out."
At those words, Gavin turned back to face him, fearful grief and shame shining in pooled tears in his eyes.
"Don't tell him." He pleaded.
Dath surged to his feet and stormed from the tavern, too angry to answer.
***
Kedemar rode beside Dath as the company left the town the next morning. Rain was misting down, seeming to add to the king's foul mood. Something was bothering Dath, Kedemar could tell, but he held his silence, knowing that Dath wouldn't talk until he was ready.
It made for a tense, grim ride across Kenrath's countryside.
Two hours into the ride, a scout came galloping up from behind the company as they rode across a hilly field towards a pine forest.
"My liege!" The scout gasped out. "'Ware! The enemy, they're right behind me!"
The scout suddenly jerked with a cry of pain. Slumped and slid off his horse, a black-fletched arrow embedded between his shoulders blades. He hit the ground with a thump, dead.
"Ride!" Shouted Dath, spurring his mount forward. Heaved the reins to wheel his horse around. The poor beast half-reared, whinnying in sudden alarm. Dath saw a large company of mounted soldiers crest the hills Dath's people had just crossed. The oncoming men gained quickly on them, even as a portion of them stayed back on the crest of the hill and watched.
"Men and archers, to me! Non-combatants and children get to the trees! Archers, form up at our back, between us and the forest; cover our families! Half of you, escort them to safety!"
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
The people sprang into action as a century of mounted Kathiran soldiers and assassins thundered down on them.
One instant, all was fairly calm, as the mounted warriors of Gibethon readied their weapons and formed hasty ranks to face the enemy, the Shadow King's young heir in the front line. The next, Kedemar was plunged into a world he knew all too well: the clash and clamor and blood and screams and death and bodies of men and horses and the spirit-numbing noise of battle.
***
Haeil rode with the vanguard, a few horse-lengths back from Dath and Kedemar. He paid no attention to them, to Dath's brooding silence, lost in the memory of his earlier conversation with Myra, who rode with the non-combatants in the center of the company.
He had met her accidentally in the hallway of the inn in which they had stayed the night, each going the other way down the corridor. Had passed her, giving a respectful nod as he did so, but she stopped. Called his name.
His breath caught at the sound of her voice, his palms suddenly slick with sweat as he turned toward her. She extended her hand to him, a mage-token in her palm.
“I made this.” She said. “For you.”
He shook his head, thoughts whirling painfully.
“I can’t,” he said, his throat dry. Cleared it and tried again. “I can’t give you anything in return for this gift.”
She smiled, her almond eyes crinkling at the corners. “I ask for nothing, only that you wait for me, Haeil.”
He knew what she meant, wanted it with all his might. Opened his mouth to deny her his deepest desire.
“Take it.” She said before he spoke, pressing the token into his hand. She closed his fingers over it. “It‘ll draw its power from you, and with it you can heal your friends when they suffer wounds, provided you have the strength.” She said.
He swallowed, closing his fist tightly.
“Thank you, Myra.” He whispered. "But I can't promise myself to you. I am sworn away already, to bleed for and defend my future king. Besides, you don't want a man like me. I'm a former assassin, Myra. The things I've done, the lives I've taken--. You're too pure for the likes of m--."
He stopped speaking, halted by the finger she laid on his lips.
"I know what you were." Myra said, looking gravely into his eyes. Holding them with her sincere gaze. He could not look away. "I know who you are now: a man who is loyal and good and true. Truth, you have blood on your hands, but, Haeil, it is already forgiven. I see the scars your soul bears, and I would help you bear them." She gave a little laugh. "Truth, it is I who should wait for you. And I will. I know your duty calls you away. I know you may die before this war is over. But I will have no other man but you, Haeil. I love no other. I will wait for you, no matter how long it takes for you to come back to me."
She leaned up and kissed his lips, soft and sweet and all too brief. Haeil's head swam and his hands automatically came up to cup her face as he closed his eyes. But she broke away, leaned her forehead against his. He swallowed, hard and painful.
"Just come back to me." The woman he loved whispered to him, her breath sweet against his face. Then she pulled gently away. Clasped his hand, the one with the healing mage-token in it. She squeezed once.
And then she was gone, down the hall, down the stairs, leaving Haeil lightheaded and teetering, his heart heavy and light all at once.
He could still feel the warmth of Myra’s hand on his own—.
Dath shouted suddenly, and Haeil was jerked abruptly to the present, startled out of his thoughts as all hell broke loose. He quickly fell into formation with the rest of the king's warriors. Stared as Kathirans rode down on them hard, smashing into their ranks. Haeil saw Kedemar and Dath riding into the thick of it, swords rising and falling in a barrage of death, and he spurred his horse after them, cursing himself for a fool, as the non-combatants rode hard for the trees.
After that, it was blood and death and screams and utterly horrendous noise.
Except for him, he who fought always silently, doling out death on every side.
The enemy broke, some chasing down the women and children, some fighting to the bitter end as Dath showed no mercy. Groups of the Obsidian warriors peeled away from the main battle, chasing down the Kathirans, until, at last, there were only a few warriors left standing on the field among a whole lot of slain.
But not all the enemy had fallen.
***
The Kathirans rode down hard on Dath’s company, and Natalya calmly watched them come, nocking an arrow to her bowstring. She heard Dath’s shout and orders. She saw Kedemar gesture and shout for her to follow the non-combatants to the near forest.
She ignored him.
She was no helpless little girl. With her bow she could do some damage to the enemy and protect the ones she loved.
So she joined the archers and let her bowstring sing until the enemy hit and all descended into chaos.
Nat managed to stay mounted for the majority of the battle, even in the thick of it, choosing to stay with her friends when others rode after the enemy that peeled away. With bow-stave and dagger alike, she deflected sword and spear strikes from the back of Snowspot. Survived through it all to stand among those who had triumphed in the end. She reined her pony in near a heap of stones, slumping in the saddle, exhausted, as Kedemar and Haeil each finished off a soldier apiece.
The battle was all but done when strong arms suddenly yanked her from the saddle.
***
Kedemar watched in horror as five burly soldiers leaped from behind a rock heap and one dragged Natalya off her horse. He raced toward her, but was too far away and could only watch as she battled all five Kathirans at once.
Three got arrows in their throats or eyes, as Natalya kicked her captor's groin and twisted out of his grasp. Made lightning-quick use of her bow. She leaped forward and jammed an arrow into the fourth man’s neck as he came close, then followed up with a dagger to his heart.
But it was the first man that proved too much.
He recovered from the girl's crippling blow to his manhood, and came in from behind her, a spear in his hand. He tangled his hand in Nat’s hair just as Kedemar and Dath came racing up. They skidded to a halt as the soldier spun around, dragging Nat with him. He held the spear to her back.
“Drop your swords!” He snarled. “Or she dies!”
Kedemar and Dath looked at each other helplessly. Nat violently shook her head.
“No!” She cried. "Don't do it! Don't you dare do it!" Bleated in pain as the soldier dug the spear-point into her back. She arched away from him.
Helplessly, furiously, Dath, then Kedemar, let their swords thud into the dirt. Kedemar flung his blade down savagely.
"Now let her go!" He cried.
But the Kathiran grinned savagely and drove his spear through Natalya’s back.
Nat screamed in agony.
Kedemar roared in anguish, leaped forward, snatching up his sword from the ground as the soldier let Nat fall to the ground, skewered on the spear. A knife arched out of nowhere, embedded itself in the soldier’s leg. He collapsed with a cry an instant before Kedemar’s sword took off his head. The head went rolling in the dirt as the body slumped, first to its knees, then forward onto the ground.
Kedemar dropped his sword and fell to his knees beside Nat. She sobbed and gasped as she lay curled in a fetal position around the spear.
“Kedemar, please— please help me!” She choked out through pain and blood and tears, hand grasping Kedemar’s arm. Her fingers gripped desperately at his sleeve, flexing as waves of pain wracked her small body.
"It-- uungh!-- hurts so much!" She whimpered and groaned.
The captain cupped her cheek with one hand, the other rapidly undoing the clasps of her long leather jacket. He jerked it open, away from the spear shaft, exposing her blood-soaked tunic beneath.
Natalya cried out as he worked, arching her back. Screamed with the pain that followed.
Haeil ran up, another knife ready in his hand. He closed his eyes briefly when he saw the wound.
"I'm so sorry." He whispered, his face draining of color.
Dath quickly knelt beside Kedemar. The captain stifled a sob as he sought to stem the awful flow of blood pouring from Natalya’s abdomen.
“We have to break the spear and draw it out.” Dath said, laying a firm hand on Kedemar's shoulder. Squeezed.
"No!" Natalya whimper-gasped as Dath's hand closed around the spear-shaft. He regarded her gravely.
"We have to remove it." He said. "Kedemar, lift her."
Kedemar complied at gently as he was able, but Nat's cries still tore at him.
"Hurry! The Kathiran reinforcements coming!" Haeil said as he knelt and grasped the butt end of the spear behind Nat's back tightly in both hands. Glanced back at the crest of the hill where the rest of the Kathirans were riding down to finish what they'd started.
Dath steadied the spear shaft, then, with a sharp savage jerk, snapped the spearhead off flush with the wound.
Nat screamed, long and loud.
Dath smoothly pulled the halves of the spear out of her, from the back and from the front. Kedemar tried to stem the spurting blood, but there was too much of it. Dath began tearing his own cloak into shreds of cloth to use as makeshift bandages.
"No, no, NO!" Kedemar cried, as Natalya's grip on his arm loosened and her eyelids drooped. Her hand slipped down his arm. He reached up and grabbed her hand in his own, blood-slick one. "No, Natalya! Stay with me, please!" He pleaded with her. He couldn't lose her. He couldn't.
Haeil stood, stepped around Nat's body. Reached down and grabbed Kedemar's shoulder and abruptly dragged him up and away, crouching down in his place and producing a vial of clear fluid from a pocket.
"What are you doing?" Kedemar growled, his hands balling into fists.
"Saving her life." Said Haeil, then shook-tilted his head, muttering, "If this doesn't kill her first." He poured the fluid into her mouth, massaging her throat muscles until she swallowed reflexively.
Kedemar grabbed Haeil by the back of his tunic collar and dragged him to his feet, spinning him to face his anger.
"What do you mean, 'If it doesn't kill her first'?" Kedemar demanded. Haeil stood his ground calmly.
"That was a potent poison that I gave her--." He began.
"You POISONED HER?" Kedemar roared, knotting his fist in the front of the collar of Haeil's tunic and wrapping his other hand around the hilt of his dagger. Dath ignored them, preoccupied with wrapping that terrible wound in his strips of cloak, and the rapidly approaching enemy.
"It slows your vitals way down." Haeil calmly told his grieving friend. "Which means she won't bleed out. I had to bring her to death's door to save her. There should be a way-house somewhere near here where you can hide. Get her there, and get everything inside that wound that needs it stitched up, or in two hours she will bleed out."
"What about you?" Kedemar asked, suddenly afraid. Haeil gave him a sad smile.
"I'm going to buy you and Dath some time." He said. "You both need to live. I don't."
Kedemar's heart thudded painfully against his ribs as his fist loosened in the cloth of his friend's tunic.
Not again. Not again. Not again. The words echoed through his mind as he stared at Haeil.
Roland's face, the 301st Company, Dath's last stand at the river all flashed through the young captain's mind. A helpless feeling flooded through him. He was not going to leave men, a man, behind again.
"No." He said, flatly. Bent to retrieve his sword from the ground. Haeil grasped his arm.
"Think of Nat." The assassin said. "Do you want her to die?"
Kedemar hesitated, torn between his future bride and his battle-brother. Haeil shoved him violently backward.
"Go!" He ordered. His face was calm stone. Kedemar stood still.
"Come on, lad." Dath said, sadly. Sheathed his fallen sword and laid a hand on the young captain's arm. Made his decision for him. The king watched the Kathirans come and knew that Haeil staying behind was their best bet. Much as he hated it.
The king inclined his head gravely to the young protector. Saluted him with all the solemnity of a funeral.
Haeil returned the salute.
Tears in his eyes, Kedemar finally turned away from his friend. His brother.
He stooped and hefted Nat into his arms, cradling her like an infant as she, still half-conscious, groaned and gasped and cried out.
Together, the king, the heir, and the huntress fled to the forest as fast as their feet could carry them.
Haeil watched them go for a moment. Wished they had horses, but all those were run off or dead. Thought of Myra, then abruptly shoved her face from his mind. A muscled in his tight jaw worked, and his dark hair stood out starkly against his pale face.
Then he turned and strode towards the enemy, alone, a blade in his hand.
***
They made it to the trees, Kedemar cradling Natalya, Dath scouting ahead and searching for the way-house Haeil had spoken of. They found it after a few minutes. Burst through the door. Kedemar laid Nat on the dining table found inside in the single room, while Dath dashed to a cupboard set high on the far wall and retrieved a medical kit stashed there.
Dath laid open the kit, readying what little metal medical instruments were inside. Took a flask of brandy from his pocket and sterilized what he could with it. Saved some for cleansing the wound.
While Dath readied a needle and silk thread, Kedemar lifted the edges of the blood-sodden leather jerkin away from Natalya's front. He drew his dagger and cut her tunic open. He blushed heavily as he worked, but realized that, in a situation such as this, modesty be dropped in a hole.
The terrible wound in Nat's abdomen, right beneath her diaphragm, sucked and sighed with every breath she took. Kedemar turned his face away, nauseated for a moment.
He'd seen war. Seen vast amounts of blood and gore and men perishing of wounds like this. It was a terrible way to die.
The captain took a deep, steadying breath. Let it out slowly through his nose. Turned back to Nat and helped Dath sew shut every torn artery, sundered organ, sliced muscle, all with painstaking carefulness. They doused the inside of the wound with Dath's alcohol while they worked, but they did not dare to pour any of the drink down Natalya's throat, unsure if it would speed up the wearing-off process of Haeil's poison.
Sometime between stitching a main artery closed and sewing up the lips of the wound, Natalya stopped gasping and crying out and slipped into total unconsciousness. Kedemar was grateful. It tore him to shreds inside to see her in such pain and be able to do nothing to help her.
It was a tense, wearying thirty minutes as Kedemar and Dath labored to save Nat. But finally it was done.
Now all they had to do was wait for Haeil's poison to wear off and see if they had succeeded in saving a life. Dath leaned exhaustedly against the wall. Kedemar dropped into the only chair in the place, Tenderly stroked Nat's sweat-damp hair away off of her brow. Lay his arm on the table and pillowed his head upon it and watched Nat sleep.
Natalya's eyes cracked open. Kedemar smiled into their gaze. He began to say something.
And then the sound of hooves and metal came from outside.
Kedemar leapt from the chair and crossed to the window as Dath startled awake and joined him in peeking outside.
Kathiran soldiers on milling, stamping horses.
A lot of them.
Which meant that either Haeil had betrayed them, or he had failed. In which case he was dead.
But there was no time to grieve.
The commanding officer of the group dismounted, gesturing for his men to do the same.
"We know you're here! Come on out!" He shouted.
Dath and Kedemar looked at each other, communicating silently, then slowly complied with the officer's orders. Kedemar shot a reluctant glance at Nat as he went.
He'd protect her with his last breath. He vowed it so.
The two men exited the way-house, hoping that if they gave themselves up, the soldiers wouldn't think to search the house. Perhaps Nat could remain hidden.
They should have known it was a foolish hope.
Dath and Kedemar walked forward, loosening their sword belts slowly, and cast down their weapons, raising their hands open and empty. The Kathirans pounced on them, binding their hands behind them and shoving them towards the waiting horses. The officer grinned evilly at them.
"Search the house!" He ordered his men. "There should be a girl too! Wounded, I think. Kill her!" He said, his eyes on Kedemar's.
The young captain's eyes widened, and he struggled wildly against the men holding him. Threw himself against their unyielding grip. To no avail. They held him fast.
"NO!" He shouted. "No! Natalya! Please, NO!"
A fist was hammered into his ribs, another into his gut. He gasped, sagged retched. The soldiers heaved him up and dragged him and a wildly fighting Dath away as the captives watched two other Kathirans vanish inside the way-house. Then the trees obscured their view.
"NOOO!" Kedemar screamed with all the fury, helplessness, and heartache inside him. Beside him, Dath grunted, fighting to get free.
But both men were beaten into submission and there was no escape.
***
Dath and Kedemar had left her-- in a bid to protect her, she knew, judging by Kedemar's shouts and sounds of struggle outside.
Natalya heard the Kathiran officer's orders, and came fully awake, her blood running cold. Her gaze darted around the cabin, searching for a way out of this situation. There was, of course, none.
If she tried to move, blinding agony erupted from her abdomen, spreading like wildfire through her whole body, leaving her gasping and weak. She was weak anyway, and without weapons. There was no escape for her.
A whisper of sound came at the window and she turned her head to look just in time to see a blood-streaked Haeil drop in. Literally.
He landed lightly on the floor and smiled at her. Opened his mouth to greet her.
Two hostile soldiers barged in the way-house door. Nat and Haeil's heads snapped toward the intruders and they all stared at each other for a moment in surprise.
Then the soldiers recovered their wits. Tried to shout and flee. But not fast enough.
Haeil leaped forward, kicking one man in the solar plexus, hands reaching for the throat of the other. The first man doubled over breathless, his shout aborted. Haeil savagely, yet quietly, snapped the neck of the other. Then he drew a dagger and slashed the first man's throat. Both soldiers crumpled to the ground. Blood spurted onto the floor.
Haeil turned back to Nat, wiping his knife on his sleeve.
"Hello, Nat." He said. "Sorry about that. I'd hoped to get here earlier, hoped I'd given you all enough time to get away. I'm sorry I couldn't delay the Kathirans longer."
Natalya gave him a relieved grin, just glad he was here and come to the rescue.
"Don't worry about it." She said, ignoring the blood and bodies on the floor. Then her face fell as relief turned to fear for Kedemar and Dath.
"Haeil!" She cried. "The Kathirans, they took Kedemar and Dath!" Gasped as her outburst send pain through her once more.
"I know." Said Haeil, taking a small bronze coin from his pocket. "But my first priority is you. Kedemar would kill me if I allowed you to be harmed. I need to get you someplace safe before I can go after the king and his heir."
The assassin placed his hand on her bared abdomen over the spear wound, clenching his other in a fist around the coin. He closed his eyes. A shudder passed through his body and his face drained of color. Excruciating pain erupted in Nat as her cells knit back together at hyper-speed. She arched her back and screamed. Her vision went dark at the edges.
But she fought to let the magic work, so that she might not hurt Haeil.
The pain only lasted a moment, and then it was over, fading away as quickly as it had come, leaving behind only a dull ache. When Haeil took his hand away, the terrible spear wound was well on its way to healing fully. The young assassin smiled tiredly, pale and sweating.
"Now we move." He said, hefting Nat into his arms.
He moved swiftly through the forest with her until they reached a jumble of tall stones. He deposited her here, hidden in the rocks' shade. He made sure she was laying comfortably on the soft, damp pine needles that covered the forest floor.
Promised, "I'll be back soon with Kedemar and the rest."
Then he left.