Chapter 16

Screams echoed through the passages. The walls shook dust cascading down on us. Small pieces of brittle stone smashed on the ground cracking and splintering. Light flooded in from the top of a staircase where dozens scrambled to escape the ruins. Orange flames flickered on the other side of the archway their red-hot glow reflecting on the armour of those ahead.

The mixture of dust and thick smog made it increasingly harder to breathe the closer we got to the arch. Alexis buried her head in my shoulder coughing harshly. I held onto her for dear life as I stumbled up the stairs my chest heaving. My lungs burnt with each breath my vision going blurry. Every muscle in my body screamed for me to stop.

People trampled eachother running up the stairs those who fell being left behind. I stayed to the side using the wall to support myself on the way up. More people went down with each tremor the walls and ceiling crumbling.

I rushed toward the exit as it got worse the walls shaking violently. Others weren’t so lucky many tripping in their haste and falling back down. Dodging out the way of the fallen I got us out of the ruins into the burning sun taking a moment to adjust to the light.

We were surrounded by carnage the fire by the entry wasn’t the only one. The entire camp was littered in fire and blood hundreds of soldiers and bandits fighting for their lives. Thick black clouds filled the sky, and the stench of gunpowder filled the air around us.

As I stepped away from the fire Alexis looked up gasping softly. Her hands gripped my shoulders tight her hands shaking, “You need to get out of here, now.” She said before trying to get down.

“Not without you,” I replied gently helping her down near a wall hidden from the commotion.

She shook her head quickly her hands balling into a shaky fist, “If they find you with me, they’ll kill you.” Her voice was low and uncertain tears falling from her eyes.

“Alexis please if I leave you alone and something happens, I wouldn’t forgive myself. We’ll figure it out please just come with me.” I begged taking her hands in my own.

Without warning I was pulled into a hug her face buried back into my shoulder as she sniffled. “I’ve got you,” I whispered wrapping my arms around her.

I pulled away realising the fire had spread closer to us and handed her the cloak I was wearing. Realising it was the easiest mask of her identity we had. Once she was hidden from view, I got her back onto my back and started the long trip away from the camp.

We passed through an empty part of the camp completely devoid of people looking around for anyone we might recognise. Alexis held onto me tight using her height to keep an eye out for any danger.

An arrow shot past my face without warning my heart stopping in my chest. I stopped in my tracks and let Alexis down before drawing my sword. She dragged me behind a nearby wall shaking her head, “Are you trying to get shot?” She asked with a sigh.

I quickly shook my head before looking around for who shot at us. Spotting a soldier approaching us I lowered my sword standing straight. The soldier approached me prepared for a fight sword and shield at the ready. They stepped up to me holding their sword in a defensive position.

“Explain yourself scum!” The masculine voice demanded pressing the tip of his sword to my throat in one swift motion.

Behind me there was rustling then the sword was quickly knocked away with a piercing shriek of metal on metal, “Stand down now!” Alexis yelled from behind me.

My ears began to ring again, and everything began to spin. Stumbling back, I felt firm hands on my shoulders and heard her whisper in my ear to breathe. Dazed and confused I took long deep breaths listening as she spoke softly to me until I regained my composure.

When I finally got my senses back, I saw the soldier was now kneeling with his head bowed before us. Alexis had taken my sword at some point sheathing it while holding me up. I turned to look at her pulling out of her arms gently still slightly dazed. She gave me a small smile before ordering the soldier to escort us to her parents.

He was more than eager to do so bowing to her then leading the way. We followed him closely through the battlefield gathering the attention of soldiers who had started their search efforts in full. The battle continued further away the screams and yells of those involved echoing through the open space.

Just before we could leave the ruins someone ran at us. By the time I realised they were already too close for me to defend myself. I yelled in surprise before my vision was blocked arms wrapped around me pushing me into cold metal. There was a groan above me before I was let go.

The soldier towered over me a dagger sticking out from his waist. He groaned lowly stepping away and checking me over for a moment his hands holding my shoulder. Grunting her turned to check on Alexis nodding silently.

 Our masked attacker stood silent as a statue for a moment before turning to run. I sprinted after them drawing my sword and kicking them to the ground. They stared at me wide eyed tears in their eyes, “I’m sorry” A child like voice cried.

I stopped for a moment staring down at the kid and shook my head, “Get out of here.” Turning around I left the kid to hopefully run away.

When I got back to Alexis and the guard, we continued on our way to the queens my chest getting tighter with each step. Alexis silently took my hand while we walked squeezing it gently. My shoulders fell from their tense position, and I took a deep breath calming myself.

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Regal carts came into view as we entered the treeline. Armed soldiers in identical uniforms flanked the sides standing to attention. The caravan’s leaders stood in the centre of it all with a group of well-dressed men and women. In the middle of them the queens stood holding eachother while the people around them spoke.

When Alexis spotted her parents, she ran in a blurry mess of hair tackling them. They stood in shock for a moment before both holding onto her crying. The people who surrounded them quickly made themselves look busy.

I made the slow walk to them with the soldier and waited to be acknowledged by anyone. Shifting uncomfortably on my heels my hands clenched into tight fists at my sides I looked around the space. The air was cold on my skin, and I shivered slightly my breath making a mist.

After they calmed down the queens turned to look at me. I quickly bowed my head tensing up the ground becoming infinitely more interesting. The cold and exertion finally set in my body trembling as the pain became unignorable.

A gentle hand was placed on my shoulder, and I looked up to Queen Arabelle who smiled gently at me. She led me to a carriage where I noticed Alexis was already seated with the other queen. I hesitated but got in when she told me to. The inside was immensely spacious the plush seats able to accommodate a larger group of people. A small table stood in the centre of the carriage and a soldier had started to serve us tea.

Warmth enveloped me the queen moving in front of me to wrap the fluffy blanket around me. Alexis seemed to be in a similar situation her mother having swaddled her in a thick blanket over my cloak. I felt like I had been thrown in the fire every inch of my body both overwhelmingly hot and cold.

Tea was brewed quickly, and I was handed a cup and told to drink slowly. Each sip burnt my throat and warmed my insides eventually relaxing me enough to sit back. Queen Celestia eventually left us for a moment returning with Dr. Allen and Kat. They both stared at me for a moment before I was pulled into a hug the blanket falling to the ground.

I sank into the hug for a moment before remembering Alexis’ arm. Pulling away I looked at her worried, “Alexis’ arm not good.” I said then realised I should probably explain.

As I attempted to speak again Alexis quickly cut me off with a smile, “I didn’t realise you hit your head that hard. Arm not good?”

Kat was the first to laugh at that moving past me to Alexis and helping her unwrap so they could see her arm. I just shrugged with a smile sitting back down. The doctor checked me over and was concerned about my head with how I’d been feeling. Once he was sure I wasn’t going to drop he went over to Kat and Alexis expressing shock at my cleaning the wound.

They recleaned it and bandaged her up. The queens got noticeably angrier with each cut they saw. At one point they left silently, and we heard yelling. Alexis sat there with a look of shock when we heard them yelling, “They don’t yell.” She muttered under her breath.

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The sun was setting by the time we heard the caravans horn blow quickly followed by drums and yelling. Lauren returned with the rest of the warriors and immediately came to find me. As she entered the carriage Raine pushed past her tackling me to the ground from my seat.

Sobs filled the room and Lauren fell to her knees pulling me into her arms and holding one out for Alexis. The queens sat silently watching the scene unfold their daughter joining in the expanding group hug. Warmth enveloped me entirely as I held my family close Kat and the doctor joining us.

Our moment was unfortunately cut short when a soldier entered the carriage yelling his introduction. Everyone pulled away from the hug quickly my ears ringing again the room spinning around me. Alexis was quick to grab me this time pulling me up onto a seat and hiding my head in her shoulder. The darkness helped and I held onto her tight through the waves of nausea.

People spoke around me, but I didn’t understand any of it my head spinning. I focused on the warmth and tried to take deep breaths like last time. The deeper my breaths were the wheezier I became but I started to calm down. I kept doing it until the dizziness wore off and I just laid in Alexis’ hold because it was warm.

Someone cleared their throat behind me, and I immediately shot up looking around. The soldier stood frozen in the doorway as if he had seen a ghost. My family looked at me in both concern and happiness and the queens were unreadable.

The queens scared me the most. What if they didn’t want me anywhere near Alexis? They could forbid it. I couldn’t do anything. My breathing sped up and I tensed looking at them for any sign. What were they thinking? Tightness. There was a tight feeling around my hand. I looked down to see Alexis squeeze my hand.

“You’re okay.” She said softly rubbing circles into my palm, “No ones angry just breathe you’re safe, we’re safe.”

I nodded breathing again then looking at the queens again they smiled before addressing the soldier, “None of what you just saw happened. If you tell anyone about this, we will punish you to the full extent of the law.” Queen Celestia said before dismissing the man.