11. Eveera
Eveera
“Why are you bleeding?” Vada growls.
“ It’s nothing. One of the creatures got me.” I say, while settling on her spine.
“ I thought the snack you brought was here to help you? Instead he lets you bleed.” Her agitation isn’t just felt through the bond, it’s making her skin and scales twitch.
“ He did help, sort of, and he isn’t letting me bleed. I am letting myself bleed.” I argue back. She slams her mind closed to me while he climbs up, winding his arms around my waist. The motion accidentally brushes against my open wound causing me to hiss at the contact.
“Shit. Sorry.” He grumbles, loosening his hold.
I push my shoulder forward to create more distance, “it’s fine.”
“You’re going to have to see a healer mage before we leave.” He adds.
“No, really ? I thought I would let it fester and get infected.” Obviously, I need to see a healer mage before we leave, this would be murder to travel with without seeing one.
He clears his throat, his discomfort evident. “I’m just making an observation is all.”
“Well stop doing that.” I snap.
“Stop doing what?!”
“Observing me. It’s annoying.”
Stop speaking while you’re at it, the voice inside gripes. My shoulder screams at me as we take off. This is going to be the longest hour of my life.
Apparently not for Rorin, however, he nodded off fairly quickly against one of Vada’s spikes. After so many minutes and making sure he was truly asleep, I tried to loosen his grip. His hands are locked around me like iron and my struggle causes me to bump the injured portion of my shoulder into his collarbone. “AH! Dammit!” I shriek, pain racing up my arm.
“Gods you’re loud.” His tired voice reaches my ears.
My lip curls up into a sneer that he can’t see. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll be quieter next time you’re around while I bleed out.” I peer over my shoulder at him.
“You’re not bleeding out.” He says his eyes closing again.
“No?” I ask.
“No , you were bleeding out when you chose to stab yourself on the blade you so graciously threw at my throat. This is not that. You’re not bleeding out.” He peeks open one eye, assessing me. “But, it does look like that hurts.” He lazily lifts a finger and pokes at the bite.
My breath hitches sharply. “ Ouch! The venom is acting quickly.” My teeth grind together as the warmth of the toxins seep deeper into my bloodstream. And this is why you don’t bring other people with you to do that, too much of a distraction . My conscience chastises me.
His body straightens and two broad arms push me back into his chest. Careful to avoid my shoulder. “What in the bleeding hells are you doing?” My voice is shrill, pitching up an octave.
“Shut up and lean back.” I gape at him, looking again over my good shoulder. “Come on, you did it on our way here.” He pushes a second time so that I am snug against him.
“That was different.” I argue while trying to bring distance between the two of us again.
His head shakes, chin lightly ruffling my hair. “No, that was not different, if anything you were better off sitting straight as a board on the way towards the outer lands. But now you’re injured. So shut up and lean back, the tension from holding yourself upright the whole hour is only making your shoulder worse.”
“But—” One of the wide hands locked around me unhooks itself and clamps over my mouth - just like mine had done to him just a little while ago.
His lips graze my ear. The deepness of his voice as it dips to a whisper makes my stomach dip with it. “I said, shut up and lean back. ”
A growl rumbles beneath us. “ Both of you stop talking before I decide to eat him and cauterize that wound myself.” The corners of my mouth twitch, making me force a frown to counteract the smile that wants to break out at Vada's snide comment. I can’t risk the princeling thinking there is a smile on my face because of him.
Castle spires and red glass finally come into view. “We don’t have much time to get ready to leave, and you still need a healer.” The statement is the first he’s said since he forced me to use him as a human pillow. If Vada’s irritation at me wasn’t obvious enough, her landing was anything but graceful. The turbulence of it sending the prince and I knocking against each other.
He tries his best to avoid my shoulder as he untangles himself. My eyes drop down to where his hand is extended out, offering me his help off of her.
My nose scrunches up, “no thank you, I can get off my dragon myself.” He holds both hands up in mock defense. I move to dismount but the venom has worked too fast and instead my limbs fail me, my body tumbling off to where I land directly on my ass. “MOTHER FUCKER.” I shout, pain racing up both my tailbone and my shoulder.
Slow clapping sounds above me. “Very graceful, Your Highness.”
Vada steps back from the two of us retreating into her den. “You’re on your own. Don’t die.”
ARGH! The fist of my good arm balls up, punching the ground next to me. “ YOU CAN EAT HIM NOW!” I shout through the bond to her.
Her laugh carries through the cave walls as she descends deeper. “Not hungry, little demon. As I said, don’t die. It would be most inconvenient for me.” The line between us going silent. Dragons.
My attention refocuses on the princeling. He’s bent down in a position that suggests he’s about to scoop me up. I squirm aiming to get away from his grip. I don’t need to be in his arms a third time today . I warn myself.
“Keep doing that, Your Highness, and you’ll end up on your ass twice this morning.” He growls. Ignoring him my body continues to struggle, there is a sudden absence of pressure on my muscles and the ground meets my ass for the second time.
“ OW! YOU BASTARD!”
His face is smug, both of his arms crossed. “I warned you. Now, will you stop acting like a petulant child and let me get you to the healer mage? Because your shoulder looks disgusting and we really don’t have time for all of this.”
“Fine.” I reach out my hand for him to help me, but he slaps it away, choosing instead to throw me over his shoulder. His thick arm bands across my thighs. “Excuse me but I didn’t say ‘Fine. Carry me like a fucking sack of grain!’” I beat my good arm against his back. But it only serves to make him laugh, loudly.
He thinks this is funny.
“Actually. You didn’t specify how I had to carry you at all.” He comments.
“I hate you.”
“Tsk tsk tsk. Such sweet nothings you share with me.” The words coming out of him in a croon.
Oh bleeding hells. This is humiliating. On every level.
“You!” Rorin points to a younger boy, Seth, the son of my head staff. “Go get the healer mage and tell them to meet us at Queen Eveera’s rooms immediately.”
“Uh..uh..” Seth stammers.
“NOW!” Rorin roars and Seth breaks off into a run.
I shake my head. “Great. Now you’re ordering my staff around.”
Rorin winds down the halls stopping short between his and Mousy’s rooms, the latter of which happens to stumble out and quickly take in the sight of the princeling and I. Maxwell and Orem look equally as horrified.
“Um.” Orem squeaks out.
My hand waves out to cut him off, “If any of you mention this ever again. I will personally rip out your vocal chords with my bare hands.” Max blanches. A swift SMACK! hits the back of my thighs and the men’s eyes bulge, “what. the. HELL. RORIN!”
“Stop threatening people for five seconds and tell me where your room is before you die from this venom.” I groan. “Only twenty minutes.” He reprimands.
I’m sorry, I was wrong before, now I am going to kill him. If I wasn’t wanting to before I really am now.
“Straight down the hall through the pitch black.” Orem offers.
“Thank you.” Rorin nods moving us quickly down the hall with Mousy trailing behind on our heels.
“Did you just say venom?! And why are you two even together? ” He asks.
“Not now Mousy, the adults are handling things at the present moment.” I sneer.
His face screws up in a scowl muttering, “ I’m older than the both of you”, under his breath .
The prince kicks open my doors, neither Armond or Axel are outside, meaning they must have taken my advice and gone to bed. He lays me down gently, a sharp contrast to him smacking directly under my ass a few moments ago.
“Tsk tsk tsk. Oh Eveera, what have you done to yourself now.” Marjorie’s voice chimes in my ears. I watch as she shakes her head.
“I’m fine, Marjorie.” I grumble. H
er pointed look argues differently as she waves her hands upward at me. “Come on. Up, up, up. ”
My arms lift up as best they can. She peels off the shredded tunic, having to pick at certain parts that are glued by blood to my body. “Gah!” I hiss again, gods it got me good this time, I say to myself .
“She has to be shirtless for this?! ” The prince's companion, shrieks.
Marjorie’s face turns pained in annoyance. “You do not have to be here, Sir Will.” He flattens his lip at the clear reprimand.
“Yes, why are you here, Mousy?” I grit out while Marjorie’s gnarled hands work to get every last piece of fabric out of the wound.
“Because he’s here.” He replies, pointing at Rorin, whose face is stoic while he watches Marjorie work intently.
“Clearly an oversight.” I mutter before gasping at the warmth and pulse of Marjorie’s healing magic working on the bite. It draws on the venom, stinging the whole way as it’s pulled out.
The passageway door in my wall busts open, Axel tripping out of it, “EVIE WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED!” His face is wide with panic, Ezra and Armond filing in behind him. Before I can answer they all turn taking notice of the prince - who’s still staring at me. “Scratch that.” Axel shakes his head, “what the hell are they doing here?” He asks gesturing towards the two Vellarans.
“And why is he staring at you?” Ezra snarls. I roll my eyes, because that’s the most important part about this situation.
I grimace instead of answering right away as Marjorie pulls out the last of the venom. My head tilts a little to look at the old woman. “Almost done there Marj? Time’s not on our side here.”
“Impatient girl.” She mumbles while wrapping up my shoulder. I move to stand when she holds up her finger. “One more thing.”
I groan. " Marjorieeee. ” THWACK! Ow.
Her gaze falls to the prince and I, “ You .” She says, jabbing a gnarled finger at him. “Your kingdom does not deserve the help she offered. Bring her to me broken, battered, or bruised again and I will remove that pretty head of yours from your shoulders.”
“Understood.” He replies, but he doesn’t look at her, he keeps his eyes locked in on me.
Marjorie swats at him next, “I wasn’t finished. The way you will assure me of this, is through a blood seal. Which you both will perform. Now .” She starts rummaging through her kit.
All eyes whip to the mage, Axel and Mousy’s mouths dropping open. “Absolutely not.” They all say in unison.
"Hold out your wrists." She commands, ignoring their protests.
Rorin's companion steps forward, voice low as he speaks to the prince. “Ror- you’re not seriously going to make a blood seal with her are you?” He looks to me desperately, “you’re her queen. You can stop this.”
He’s right, I could, but there is a glint in the prince’s eyes. One that reads more as a challenge, and a tug inside me dares me to back down. When neither of us answer him, Marjorie takes out a small knife. There is a brief sting as she begins carving the runes of the seal into our skin. She mumbles ancient words that cause the rivulets of blood to rise. The droplets merge and hover over our wrists in the same shape as the mark she carved. Our gaze doesn’t break, with his hazel eyes burning into mine. A feverish feeling spreads through me as the ritual finishes followed by a sharp sting as the seal snaps into place.
“I’d suggest adhering to the agreement you signed. The blood seal is a magic that does not take kindly to broken promises.” She warns before turning her attention to my three men, next.
“We don’t have to perform a blood seal too do we?” Axel’s asks, his expression wary.
She ignores him. “It is your singular duty to protect her. She made an - albeit foolish - agreement to this Vellaran but—” she points a finger at each one, “you made an agreement to keep her safe. Over your own lives. Is that understood?” They all give her a small nod.
She takes one last long look at me, “we lose you, you damn us all. If they begin to fall then you let them.”
Noted.
Ezra’s furious with me. Everyone left the room after Marjorie except for him. He chose to stay and sulk in the corner, not speaking a word to me from room to hall.
“Whatever it is you’re assuming, I’ll bet you’re wrong.” I state, trying to throw a bone.
“You’re being ridiculous.” I add.
He scoffs, stopping in his tracks. “I’m being ridiculous?! I thought you were going to bed . You failed to mention that you were going to expel the energy right away!”
“When else was I going to do it? I don’t owe you any explanations.” I argue.
His eyes flare with anger. “NO! See you do! I am your HEAD OF GUARD, EVEERA. It is my job to know where you are so I can protect you. I could have gone with you! But you let him instead? And your explanation for the blood seal? You had nothing to say when she suggested that?”
Unbelievable. “I didn’t let him and it wasn’t like I had a choice with Marjorie.”
“YOU DID LET HIM AND YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE! YOU ARE QUEEN, YOU ALWAYS HAVE A FUCKING CHOICE. Did you even bother telling him no to accompanying you?!” He’s yelling now, making the soldiers passing us duck and avert their gazes.
“I said no originally, but he is very persistent.” The anger sloughing off of him has my magic twitchy.
Ezra’s fists clench while he takes a step closer to me. “The big deal?! Do you forget—” My power juts from my fingertips materializing into claws that rest against the pale skin underneath his chin.
“Do not finish that sentence, Ezra.” I threaten, the claws pressing in. Defiance flares to life in his stare. “I forget nothing. You are out of line.” He jerks out of my hold, stalking away from me the minute Axel comes into view.
“OOOO claws were out, what’d he do?” He asks, while his arm falls clumsily around my shoulders.
I stare up at Axel from the corner of my eye, “Don’t you have something you’re supposed to be doing?”
“Just came to grab you. Make sure you’re still all in one piece.” He says - turning me around - picking and prodding.
My hands swat him away. “Okay! Okay. I’m good. I’m good.”
“Well, you seem to be all there. But I won’t lie.” His eyes swinging to look at Ezra’s retreating back. “That looked intense, E.” He mutters low into my ear. I know , I want to say. But the words get trapped in the back of my throat. Instead, I let him lead us on the rest of the way to the stables where General Matthis is planning on meeting us.
There are a few final things to confirm before we head off to modern day Helys - also known as the Kingdom of Vellar. I glimpse down at the new addition on my wrist. It looks no different than raised, pink scar tissue. But something in me feels different since she carved them.
General Matthis is standing by the horses, right where I expected to find him. His eyes have darkened circles shadowing underneath them and his weathered face is filled with concern. Concern I don’t have time to entertain today.
“General.” I greet. He gives a curt nod before making his way towards me. Rorin quickly takes up the space next to me and my wrist twinges.
“Your Highness. The first round of soldiers will be following behind you. It will take them longer due to their size but, Prince Rorin,” he motions his hand towards the princeling, “has assured us that they’ll be able to move them quickly into place without too much disruption. Unfortunately that amount of people will be noticed. Be prepared for… interruptions .” His eyes flick back again to the prince before continuing on. “Based on the maps he’s provided we need to decide quickly which routes the second round will be taking to aid the post in the northeast.”
“Each company has 250 men and women? The beings from the Vast are somewhere around that number as well?” Rorin asks General Matthis.
He nods again. “Correct.”
“Including my personal guard, we’ll have soldiers with us. Then of course, your man, yourself and I. That makes the head count for your southern post, a little over 500.” I supply.
“We should reach Bair in six days, with full forces they’re probably going to be a week behind us.” He points to the map of Obsidian and Vellar. “We are getting beaten heavily both at Bair and in the northeastern city of Piram. I’d like to have your armies on standby. My father isn’t currently aware of what I am doing here, so—” Ezra cuts him off.
“Prince, if your father isn’t aware of any of this.” He snaps. “What exactly do you suggest we do? Matthis wants us to be aware of ‘ interruptions’,” he throws quotes around the word, “but we could be killed on sight as invaders.”
Frustration blooms on the prince’s and his companion’s features. Mousy ignores Ezra choosing to babble on to General Matthis that one of their commander’s will meet and lead us in, then do the same for the soldiers when they reach the same checkpoint. It’s unclear what state Bair will be in when we arrive but their conversation left off with Matthis stating he would wait for word from us before sending the second round of military. Their trek would of course be much longer, so the sooner we let him know the better.
I grin, “I hope it’s a bloodbath.” I mutter over to Axel while mounting my horse. He laughs nodding to Felix as he walks away from me to get onto his own horse. Felix’s hand brushes down my animal's mane before landing on my knee.
“This is what we’ve trained for, Eveera. This is what your parents built you to be, what I built you to be.” He reminds. “You both wear the blood seal. You understand what this means, yes?”
I smile, “Oh, you know, Marjorie was as explanatory as always.” He groans.
“Do not be stubborn. Now is not the time for your self sacrificing recklessness.” His eyes soften on me, his grip turning shaky as does his voice, “You - my dearest one - are our salvation. Whether you ever wanted to be or not. Be who they need, but if they begin to fall, you let them.” His final words are exact to what Marjorie said in my bedroom, striking a chord in me as they hit my ears a second time. My focus only breaks from him when Seth comes running at me along with a very important parcel in his hand.
I mouth a thank you at Felix, snatching the parcel up and winking towards Seth .
My horse settles into a standard pace next to Axel, “he tell you not to be stubborn?” He asks.
“Mm-hmm.”
“He tell you not to be reckless?” He adds. I turn to glare at him, a smirk pulling at the corner of my lips.
“I’m offended to hear you would think I’d be reckless and stubborn at a time like this. I happen to be very flexible.” I reply. Axel coughs out a laugh before very loudly stating, “Just ask Ezra.” That earns him a few snickers from the brothers while he earns a scathing glare from Armond, Ezra, and myself.
Remind me why I thought traveling with a bunch of men would be a good idea.