Chapter 4
Each day seemed like an eternity as her anxiety grew with every step.
She was on edge, and she knew Silas could feel it as they traveled through the lush lands towards the north. They would have small conversations throughout the day, but she knew he was trying to distract her with most of the random topics.
Their first night under the stars, they made camp in the hillside a few yards off the main road. Luckily they were tucked out of view from any travelers and made a fire to fight the chill spring night.
The ground was hard making it difficult for her to fall asleep even wrapped in Silas’s arms for warmth. It wasn’t long after she fell asleep that one of her nightmares plagued her mind and she found herself shooting upright in panic.
The blades, the chains, and the stone slab where she had been carved up engulfed her mind worse than normal for the second night in a row.
In her nightmare Mavros’s onyx black eyes watched over her as he carved patches of flesh off her using iron and special potions to null her power or slow her natural healing, repeating the process daily.
Silas slid his arm back around her waist and pulled her back down onto him. Resting her head against his chest, she focused on his heartbeat to steady her. They had this routine down all too well, which was one of the many reasons she trusted Silas enough to return with him to go back to Ambros.
They had been making good time getting through the Cheshire Valley and made it past the Hydra river before rain hit the following day. Heavy rain always made the roads flood making it too dangerous to cross for at least a few days after.
Lush fields and mountains could be seen most of the way north, an occasional patch of forest giving them a break from the spring weather patterns. Other than their initial travel to her forest cottage, she had never really seen Ambros other than the capital.
She was surprised it was so calm along the main route to Elnora; no bandits or broken bridges in sight. Nothing would ever compare to her home, or at least what it used to look like, but she enjoyed the view as they traveled.
They had gone through a few villages, and were approaching their first big city closest to the capital.
Keeping her hood up and hair tucked, they made it quickly though the small main streets drawing little attention to themselves.
Silas left her with the horses to gather supplies a few times but most folks just glanced at them and retreated.
Having the horses in Royal garments helped.
Now they were entering the city of Ketras, one of the few majorly moderated cities in Ambros. The large stone wall casted shadows as they approached, the sky above darkened.
Every traveler from villages to the south would have to come through this city if they wanted to get to the capital. She and Silas were no different.
Keeping a low profile was going to be difficult.
“I already have arrangements made at one of the inns just inside the city,” Silas spoke softly next to her, watching her scan the city walls as they approached with the sun dropping behind the horizon. “No sleeping in the woods tonight.” he chuckled.
A nice soft bed would be a change from the hard ground they had been sleeping on the last few nights. If it all worked out, they would be in the capital by evening tomorrow and anxiety sparked in her again.
“I know the horses could use a good rest out of the weather as well,” she replied back, her eyes too anxious to meet him.
He didn’t say another word as they walked through the large wooden gate that was carved into a great stone wall.
The guards seemed to recognize Silas and didn’t move to stop them for the normal entrance check, just nodded as they passed.
She had never been to this city before, but it was more modern than she was used to.
Fae lights lined the cobblestone streets and the buildings were built of clean stone set a few feet apart.
Each one had well maintained wood roofing, and every window was made of perfect glass.
Doors had no large chips out of them, and everyone walking around was dressed in clean clothes.
It was a refreshing site compared to what she had become accustomed to.
Her head was dipped down to let her hood shadow her face, her horse keeping pace behind Silas’s. She kept close as they weaved through the stone streets until they stopped just outside a stable on the east side of the city.
“We are here.” Silas’s voice drawing her out of her trance.
She dismounted her horse, grabbing her bag before giving the mare a few pats on the neck and handing her to the stable hand. She watched the horse disappear into the barn before turning to see Silas waiting for her.
He kept quiet as they entered the inn that also doubled as a tavern.
The tables were full of patrons and the noise was almost deafening as soon as the doors opened.
She winced from the smell of spoiled beer and sweaty bodies that nearly overwhelmed her senses.
Scanning the interior of the packed room, a dozen tables were full of drinking townsfolk that carried on with loud conversations and unsavory games.
They caught the eye of a few patrons, Silas’s royal patch drawing some attention to them but no one said a word in their direction. Keeping her hood pulled down, she tilted her face forward as they approached the bar.
“Hey Jema.” Silas nodded to the bartender. “Our room ready?”
“Of course, up the stairs to the right.” The short, black haired stubby female handed him a key and they headed to the staircase.
Alyra adjusted her pack, peaking over her shoulder casually.
Anyone who had glanced in their direction quickly returned to their own conversations.
Up the stairs they went, the noise from the tavern fading behind with every creak of the wood as they climbed.
When Silas opened the door, she raised her eyebrow to him and smirked.
“One bed huh?” she teased, the first hint of a smile on her face since they left her small village.
“Jema doesn't have anything different. It's nothing fancy but it's safe.” He set his own pack on the foot of the bed and let out a long breath. “I can sleep on the floor if you like.”
“Then there would be no one to keep me warm,” she teased again as she set her bag on the floor and took in her surroundings.
There was a bed with nightstands, a fireplace with a window on each side, and a door to a small bathroom with a deep tub. It was well kept, but could use some modern improvements.
“I call the bath first!” She burst out as she jogged across the room and she could hear him laughing behind her.
“I’ll get the fire going to warm up the room for you when you are out.”
She could feel his eyes on her, her head turning over her shoulder to meet his gaze.
“I know I’ve been quiet the last few days.
It's just,” she looked down for a moment and sucked in a deep breath, “returning to society brings up so many emotions for me and I don’t know how to handle it.
I have no family, no kingdom, and my power is muted.
I’m afraid there are going to be high expectations and I will fail again. ”
Silas moved towards her slowly, pulling her into him and wrapping his arms around her. His head rested on top of hers, pressing her forehead against his chest.
“You have me,” he breathed quietly. “We will get your power back. I believe in you and I believe in us, working together to make it happen.” His hand stroked her back lightly. “You did not fail; it wasn’t your fault.”
“I was supposed to kill him and instead became his prisoner” she mumbled against him.
“You were betrayed, Alyra, if it wasn’t for that you would have killed him. You are not to blame.”
She took a deep breath, the vanilla scent calming her nerves once again as those last words rang through her head. He was her only friend and the anchor she had to keep her grounded. She had to hold onto that even if she didn’t agree with him.
“Now, go take a hot bath, relax, and I'll be here waiting when you are done.” he pressed a soft kiss to her head before pulling away, his finger once again grazing her hairline scar and pushed her hair away from her face.
Smiling, she turned and closed the door behind her, the fae light illuminating the small bath.
She lit the fire under the small metal boiler full of water next to the tub and waited for it to heat before emptying it into the marble tub.
Once she was undressed she lowered herself into the warm liquid, her muscles aching as they submerged.
Tomorrow she would turn the whole royal system upside down with her arrival. She was no longer the Princess of the Valkyrie, but Queen of a decimated kingdom and knew there was nothing left of her home except charred earth.
Now she just had to get her power back, and maybe, someday, rebuild.
- - - - - - - -
The bath was cold by the time she pulled herself from the water. Her body had finally felt relaxed for the first time since Silas showed up with information that imploded her life.
She dried herself off and wrapped the towel around her frail body then gazed into the small mirror above the sink.
Her hair was pulled around the front of one shoulder, her breast slightly peeking out the top of her towel as she walked closer to it. She looked herself over, realizing she had not really looked at herself for a long time.
Her cheeks were slightly caved in, and she had almost no color in her face.
Her pointy Fae ears appearing through her hair was one thing she was thankful for, if she would've had normal Valkyrie rounded ears she would be easier to recognize.
It was when she looked into her own eyes that shocked her the most.
They used to be bright, almost like a glacier blue color with a silver ring around the outside. Small silver flecks used to sparkle in them, but looking at them now, they were dull.
Too ashamed of her current condition she took one last look at her scar, the one that ran down her hairline on her left side from her forehead down to her ear. She stroked her finger down it, memories of that day flashing into her mind and she quickly shook her head to get them out.
She took one long breath before scrubbing her dirty clothes in the tub to try and get them somewhat clean.
It was not a proper wash, but she didn’t have time nor the energy to do it perfectly.
Once she hung them and emptied the tub, she opened the door to see the fire lit and Silas on the bed reading a book.
His eyes lifted and a grin appeared on his face. “Careful, not a lot of cloth covering you.”
“Oh grow up,” she laughed. “I forgot my bag.”
“Was that a genuine laugh just I heard?” His tone taunting her. “I should make sure you take baths more often.”
A smile formed on her face and stuck her tongue out playfully towards him in response before returning to the bathroom to get dressed. She could hear his laugh through the door and it warmed her heart and made it flutter slightly.
Once dressed in a long shirt and loose pants, she joined him on the bed. The fire had warmed the room to the perfect temperature and it was making her eyes feel heavy almost instantly.
He was still reading when she scooted herself next to him, her head resting on his shoulder.
“What are you reading?” she asked quietly.
“An old Fae history book,” he replied.” I’m trying to see if there is any hint as to the reason Emris and Mavros started their fighting.”
Her eyes glanced over the old leather-bound book in his hand, the pages faded from the centuries of wear.
“The Valkyrie always thought it was over a girl, but that seems a bit overkill if you ask me. We never got the full story,” she chuckled.
“Well, Emris did marry a beautiful female and it was known back then that Mavros was supposed to marry her. She was part of the old king's bloodline before Emris was put into power. It wouldn’t be surprising.”
“All of this over a girl? That is really hard for me to believe.” She smirked and settled into him more.
“Love can make a male do some crazy things.” He shrugged.
“Well if I ever return home to Mydalsa maybe the royal library has something to help if it survived.”
He set his book down and wrapped his arm behind her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll make sure you get home, Alyra, I promise.”
She smiled, her eyes closing before taking a deep breath. “You should probably bathe too. You kinda smell.” She giggled, lifting herself off him.
He gave her a nudge with his shoulder and grinned at her before getting up to head towards the bathroom. She watched him close the door and she settled herself in the bed, sleep finding her quickly.