Chapter 27
Elara
It was strange to be back in Mistwood.
The memories of our last time here were still very fresh.
As I slowly made my way through the halls, I could see us running back to our horses, fleeing for our lives as we were outnumbered by Thatcher and the Argonian guards.
But not this time. This time we were prepared. This time we surrounded them.
That didn’t mean the Argonians weren’t dangerous, though. My hands clenched around the hilt of my sword, strengthening my grip. It felt cold and unfamiliar in my hands. It had been too long since I’d properly wielded a weapon.
I wondered where Cai was by now. Was he injured? Had he crossed paths with Thatcher? And what would he do if he did?
I entered another hallway and saw a body lying on the floor, unmoving. My breath caught in my throat for a moment but then I noticed he wore Argonian armour.
I kept my steps as light as possible while approaching the dead guard.
From the other side of the palace, I could hear fighting. They’d probably been alerted to our presence by now.
I’d lost Rhen somehow as we’d entered. The darkness and having to keep quiet stopped us from communicating. I would have felt better with him by my side, but finding Cai was the most important thing now.
I peered around every corner, making sure I was alone and moving slowly through the palace.
There were a few lamps that created a dim light in some of the hallways, at least enough to see where I was going.
The further I was from the servants’ quarters, the louder the fighting became.
I decided to avoid the worst of it and headed left, in the direction of the throne room.
My heart beat so loudly I was afraid someone nearby might hear it, but then I reminded myself that Rhen and I had practised my sword fighting. All those hours in the training yard hadn’t been for nothing. I was stronger than I’d been before, and I wouldn’t go down without defending myself.
“Cai,” I whispered, knowing it was possibly foolish and wanting desperately to find him all the same. Or Rhen or even Alastor. I felt too exposed here on my own. This was dangerous.
“Cai,” I whispered again. This time there was a noise behind me. I turned just in time to see an Argonian coming at me.
The man was quite a few years older, with a dark beard, hate flaring in his eyes. Despite it being winter, he wore a uniform with no sleeves, showcasing his powerful arms and the sword that was coming right at my chest.
I held up my sword to block the hit and my wrists strained at the impact.
He was strong, there was no doubt about it.
Argonians didn’t need much skill when they could simply use brute force.
Even so, he was quick, attacking me left and right, and my muscles burned as I attempted to hold off each swing.
I was merely defending, completely unable to attack.
With each move, I had to take a step back. How was I going to get out of this alive? Although I had a desperate need to survive, I struggled to imagine a scenario where I would walk away from this fight.
I couldn’t help but let out a yelp of pain as he managed to cut my arm, causing a burning sensation as blood quickly stained the ripped material of my white shirt.
He made another swing, for my neck this time, and I held my sword upright, stopping him only inches from my face. Sparks flew as the metal clashed. He held me there, pushing harder. My arm wasn’t strong enough and I clenched my teeth in pain, not wanting to give up.
The Argonian pulled back before aiming another hit at me. With a sickening clang, my sword hit the floor. I was as good as dead.
I looked up at the soldier in panic. He jabbed at my torso, and I barely dodged. I contemplated running but knew he would catch up with me.
I couldn’t die now. Not like this.
The Argonian’s eyes suddenly filled with surprise and then pain as a knife lodged in his shoulder. I looked around, never before so grateful to see the King of Norrandale, bloodied and breathing hard, but he was there for me.
I watched as the Argonian regained his composure and pulled the knife from his shoulder, not appearing to care about the wound or the stream of blood.
His eyes were locked on Cai, a new target acquired, who looked as ready as ever to take him on. They stormed towards each other, the hallway filled with the sound of male grunts. I watched them fight with worry in my chest, feeling slightly helpless.
But Cai could not easily be overcome. He’d had years of practice, not only with a broadsword — he’d faced many Argonians in his life. He knew the kind of style they fought with. He knew where to look for weaknesses.
He was quick, despite looking tired, and he not only defended against the Argonian easily but pushed him back with attacking swings.
I looked for my own sword. It lay on the floor, but the moment I tried to pick it up, my arm protested in pain, and I feared I would not be able to take a swing with the heavy weapon.
Cai let out a sound, catching my attention. The guard had managed to knock him to the ground. With one big swing, he knocked Cai’s sword out of his hand, and it slid over the tiled floor, away from him.
I was already up and moving towards them. He knocked Cai’s head against the tiles before wrapping his hands around his neck. This wasn’t about defending anything anymore. This was cold-blooded murder.
He was so focused on Cai and his thirst for blood that he seemed to forget I was also there.
I didn’t think. Not as I watched Cai fight for his life.
He was going to kill him.
I came up behind the guard, pulling the dagger with the Myrgonite stone from my pocket.
I wouldn’t allow him to kill Cai. And so I didn’t hesitate.
Blood spattered as I jammed the dagger into the Argonian’s neck, both of my hands wrapped around the hilt and the stone.
I felt something surge inside me. The guard tried to grab the dagger to pull it out, but I wouldn’t let him.
I was overcome with a strength beyond me, and I tried to push it further, his deep red blood soaking my fingers as I finally twisted.
Cai managed to get out from under him, eyes wide.
I pulled the dagger out, which took more effort than I would have imagined, and the guard dropped like a stone.
My chest heaved, as if I’d been holding my breath this whole time.
I didn’t hesitate to run over to Cai, not caring about the dead guard and the fact that it was like the dagger had sucked the life out of him.
“Are you all right?” I asked, kneeling in front of Cai. He had marks on his neck.
“What did you do?” He breathed out. He didn’t look angry, but he didn’t look relieved either. “What did you do?” he asked again as I inspected him for more wounds.
“It doesn’t matter now.” I tried to reassure both of us, placing a bloodied hand on his shoulder.
His eyes finally travelled to my bleeding arm. “You’re hurt.” His voice was hoarse.
The pain in my arm was growing and I could feel the blood trickling down my skin.
Cai didn’t hesitate before ripping a piece of his shirt and wrapping it around the wound.
“I’ll be fine,” I insisted. “The only thing that matters is that you’re still alive.” Still, I bit my lip to keep a sound of pain from escaping me as he tied the material around my arm.
His eyes wouldn’t meet mine as he helped me up.
“Yes, but at what cost?” he muttered under his breath.
I stared at the back of his head as he retrieved his sword and made his way further down the hall.
I was quickly on his heels, grabbing my own sword along the way.
I held it with my uninjured arm. My hands and the Myrgonite dagger were covered with the Argonian’s blood.
It felt sticky against my skin. I quickly shoved the dagger back into its sheath, blood and all.
At what cost?
“At what cost?” I whispered loud enough for him to hear once we’d reached the end of the hall. “When it comes to your life, it doesn’t matter the cost.”
Cai looked around to make sure there were no other guards nearby.
“I told you, Elara — in fact, I begged you — not to use that damned stone.”
“He was going to kill you, Cai, all right! I wasn’t thinking. My only thought was to save you.”
I wasn’t thinking. I should have used my sword or anything else. But it was too heavy, and I was so overcome with fear that Cai would lose his life that all sense went out of me. In that moment, I would have done anything to save him. And I would do it again.
I couldn’t understand Cai’s worry. This wasn’t me trying to make use of the Myrgonite stones for my own power or greed. This was about saving the person that I cared about most in this world. How could I be punished for protecting the ones I loved?
Regardless, I didn’t have much time to consider the repercussions, because Cai and I walked into the throne room.
And on the dais, Thatcher was waiting.