17. An Early Betrayal
An Early Betrayal
Aradia
She hadn’t expected this. All of the stories spoke of Vidrena as a city of wonder.
The kingdom before her was in ruins. Not only had it withheld a siege by the largest army she had ever seen but they were under attack by monsters of the night.
The crisp autumn air which followed them from Gail was merely a canvas for the stench of decay and the cries of the dying.
It was enough to make even the bravest tremble in fear.
Two armies fought alongside one another to defeat the hellish nightmare continuing to line the western tree line like ants attacking a hill.
Except this hill was already cracked and bleeding from the inside after such a battle against Arkan.
Fear rattled through her and she was thankful for the horse she sat on top of.
She leaned against Quinn’s chest in support as they stared at the horror awaiting them.
“We have to help them.” Calia’s voice was a calming steel over the bells tolling incessantly.
Aradia shivered. “How?”
“Let’s go!” Calia edged her horse forward, not listening to her question.
“Calia, wait!” Her shout was drowned out by the wind and the shrieking of monsters at the tree line.
Eos, this woman would be the death of her.
“Do we just follow her?” Quinn shouted in her ear.
She ground her teeth against her fear but kicked her horse in the flanks, attempting to catch up.
The gates were boarded and the entrances heavily guarded.
Would they even be able to get in? She couldn’t imagine having to wait out the battle outside the protection of the castle.
If the monsters were here who’s to say they weren’t throughout all of Vidrena.
“Hurry,” Calia called. “They’re denying entry.”
Aradia clicked her teeth, picking up speed until they were in front of the back gates.
A guard shook his head at a poor family of four who begged to be let in.
“Please.” The mother made eye contact with the soldier who seemed to be in charge.
The soldier stared at her with a passive face.
Even on top of her horse she found his gaze unnerving. The feeling of being beneath him in his eyes settled into her very bones. He must be Arkanian.
“Just let us in.” The young boy next to his father stomped his feet in frustration.
The soldier’s eyes squinted in thought or perhaps it was his normal cold expression.
Calia huffed with impatience and slid off her horse.
“I demand entry.” She raised her voice, and threw her shoulder’s back, emulating a woman of importance.
The soldier’s eyes squinted further until they were practically slits.
Definitely anger. Aradia forced herself not to shrink away as she slid off their horse.
Calia’s hair blew back with the wind and her eyes gleamed as bright as the sky above.
“I am Cahira Valencia, descendant of the goddess Morana, Lady of Draydon Hall, and Princess of Arkan. We are not the enemies here. If you deny us entry and word gets back to my brother who is within these walls, you will not live to regret it.”
What ... The ... Depths?
Aradia and Quinn gaped in shock, glancing at each other. Her heart withering with rage and hurt.
The soldier launched into motion, shouting orders to the ramparts above. The gates creaked ever so softly, opening with enough room for them to squeeze through.
“The family too.” Aradia held out her hand for the little girl to take it and follow behind her. She could practically hear the soldier grinding his teeth but he said nothing.
“Bless you, ma’am,” the mother said.
Aradia nodded and watched them shuffle away.
The little girl raised her tiny hand and waved quickly before gripping her doll and running after her family.
Calia — Cahira — kept her head held high as she walked in front. Ripping her cloak off like the identity she had worn, she slung it across her horse before clasping arms with a group of Arkanian soldiers.
Aradia stayed rooted in place, feeling like an idiot for trusting not just anyone, but the daughter of her mother’s murderer. Quinn’s presence was the sole support as he naturally moved in front of her.
“What’s this?” A man the size of a mountain stomped toward them.
He wore plated armor from head to toe. His helmet was in one hand, tucked at his side, and a double-edged axe the size of two heads gleamed in the sunlight.
If the gods had chosen a simpler life for him she imagined his skin would be much fairer than the sun-kissed color shining in the cracks of his armor.
“The princess, sir,” the soldier from the gate said.
The man turned his attention to Cahira. His hair was longer than any Arkanian warrior.
It settled around his shoulders in brown waves.
Even amidst Cahira’s betrayal, Aradia had to admit he was handsome.
His eyes were a deep brown underneath thick lashes and bushy brows.
A crooked nose from one too many battles.
Behind a thick beard she imagined a jawline as sharp as his axe.
“It’s about damned time, lass. I told the lot, yuh must have gone on holiday?” The man’s accent was thick and foreign.
Definitely not Arkanian.
“Come on Rhydar,” Cahira laughed, “as if I would ever leave you with all this fun?”
She leaped into the man’s open arms, almost disappearing within his hug. The open affection made Aradia blush but she couldn’t have looked away even if she tried.
The man spun Cahira once before putting her down
“Has my brother made it yet?” Cahira asked.
Aradia stumbled at her words and she squeezed Quinn’s forearm to center herself.
The prince is here.
She glanced at the man named Rhydar, who was clearly in charge of this platoon, and found his gaze was already on her. No doubt, wondering who the depths she was. She wanted nothing more than to slink away from his gaze.
“All able-bodied men and women go to the wall,” Rhydar said. “He should be there.”
Again, she was taken back by the way his a’s were drawn out and his words were clipped and short.
Cahira nodded without turning around as she made for the wall.
Quinn shared her glance of confusion. They had walked straight into a snake pit. If she thought too hard about it, she had no one to blame but herself.
Quinn stepped forward to follow Cahira, but the shine of the sun glinted off Rhydar’s axe as it came between them and Cahira with lightning speed, stopping right in front of Quinn’s face.
Aradia froze, fear making her yank Quinn closer to her.
“Can yeh fight?” He asked quietly. He eyed Quinn, then his gaze settled on her and he stepped closer. “Lass?”
Aradia looked into his eyes. No, yes, sort of.
“Leave them be Rhydar, they’re with me.” Cahira’s gaze for the first time fell to her. An apology shone through her eyes but her lips were in a firm line.
Aradia’s heart hardened. “You tricked me.”
“No,” Cahira said. “Everything I said was true.”
“Really?” Aradia shouted. “Calia Wrenn, daughter of a wealthy Vidrenian merchant?”
Cahira smiled unabashed. “Except that part.”
A horn blasted in the air, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Can we talk about this later? Right now you need to get to safety and I’m needed elsewhere.”
“There won't be a later, princess.” Aradia seethed, keeping a lid on her magic and rage.
“I can explain, I promise. We want the same things.” Cahira’s voice filled with urgency even as she stepped backward and took off toward the city. “Can you handle a bow and arrow, little Q?”
Quinn seethed at the nickname Cahira refused to drop. He took a hesitant step toward Cahira.
“Don’t.” Aradia whispered. She stepped in front of him, holding him by the shoulders. “We can leave right now.”
Gods, when was the last time Quinn had wielded a sword correctly instead of a pen? She couldn’t remember a single memory. He had never been a fighter.
Rhydar cleared his throat, casting a scrutinizing gaze at Quinn. A few soldiers snickered behind him.
Quinn’s spine straightened even as his eyes held a wavering concern. “It’s okay, I’ll come find you later. Get somewhere safe.” He called behind him, already taking off to follow Cahira.
“Yeh be more helpful attendin’ to the wounded.” Rhydar stood beside her. One hand on his hip, the other holding his axe over his shoulder.
She wanted to scream. Sweat coated her palms as she forced her fists to open. She kept her head lowered, hoping to hide the look of rage.
“The tents.” Rhydar pointed with his axe. “We’ll take care of yer horses.”
She felt his eyes on her, questioning. Her legs moved but her mind raced in a million different directions.
“Eos, protect us and let us live to see another sunrise,” she whispered under her breath.
The screeching began again and this time it shook the very ground she walked on. Aradia matched it with a scream of her own as she ran to the healers.