Chapter 19 Audryn
AUDRYN
An hour passed as I sat on the opulent sofa next to the window. I had opened the glass pane, but the scream-filled air only heightened my anxiety. As the voices faded, my concern worsened.
I looked back at the book sitting in my lap. I'd spent nearly an hour staring at it, attempting to distract myself with Kuroden's history, but it didn’t work. Despite reading the same page dozens of times, not a single piece of information had penetrated my mind.
My gaze skipped back to the window, where orange hues filled the sky—proof of the falling sun.
A lone figure crested the hill first. Dozens of guards followed behind, some staggered, others held wounds, all were smeared with blood.
My eyes narrowed on the one at the front, wearing an aqua tunic and black trousers with a jewel-hilted sword at his side.
“Ryder!” I yelled. Whether the prince was covered with the blood of another or his own, I couldn’t be sure.
Without thinking, I threw a leg over the window ledge and jumped from the room in one swift motion.
My feet carried me across the walk I’d seen the guards travel nightly, through the thick bloom of blue flowers, and to the wide carriage path.
It took less than a minute to reach him, though it felt like ages.
“Great fucking Divine, are you okay?” I scanned him, unworried by the profanity that had spilled out. “Are you hurt?” I eyed his obviously destroyed sleeve and bloody upper arm. My hand moved to the wound, and he flinched.
“I’m fine, it’s nothing.” His lips pursed, and I realized he was keeping his left arm close to his body, making only slight movements. “You should see the other guy. The resistance sustained worse fates.”
My mouth fell open as the implication of their return hit me. My brother’s friend was likely lying lifeless just down the path, and everyone was so nonchalant about it.
“In fact, gather them.” Ryder threw out an arm and faced the crowd of guards. “Gather the bodies so we may celebrate their demise. We will feast while the death in their eyes watches on.”
A cheer erupted, and my stomach tilted.
“Do you think that’s necessary?” The words left my mouth before I could think better of it. The sudden silence from the guards, told me they heard my mistake too.
Ryder looked at the guards on his left and then those on his right before his stare landed back on me. His chin lifted as he drew in a breath and took a step toward me. Certain I was going to be publicly admonished, I braced for the impact.
“It appears Audryn cannot wait for the traitors to be brought in,” he said loud enough for all to hear as he grinned. “We will return to the gates where my lady may observe the fate of the resistance for herself.”
I went to object, but Ryder clasped my palm using his right hand. He turned with me in tow and began walking down the winding path. The thick, sticky substance on his skin pressed into mine, leaving me feeling ill.
With bloodied guards at our backs, Ryder and I walked at the front of the group. Some guards limped, while others seemed jovial. A female pushed back her blood-covered golden locks, which were nearly crusted dry, to the side of her head; her green eyes shimmered in the rays of the sunset.
“I’m sorry I questioned you in front of everyone.” My voice was shaking, nerves getting the best of me. The concentration it took to walk down the steep path was more than I’d expected. My thighs burned and begged me not to topple forward as we made the descent.
“While not ideal, I understand this life is new to you.” He paused and looked toward me with a tight smile before continuing. “I offer you grace while you adjust to your new environment.”
“Thank you.” I said, wondering why he’d offered me such empathy. Could he be so different from the king, who showed no mercy to the people of Rivale? Maybe it was possible the unwarranted executions would stop under Ryder’s rule and the kindness he gave me would be extended to all fae.
It took us far too long to get to the gate. But when we arrived, I forgot all about the pain in my body. Time froze. At least four dozen bodies of men and women were stacked near the front of the gates with broken limbs, severed heads, and blood-soaked clothes.
“These men and women killed half a dozen of the Rivale Guard.” Ryder scanned over the dead. “Their attack was unprovoked.”
My eyes roamed over the group of dead, selfishly looking for anyone with red locks.
Those with blonde hair were easy to misidentify as redheads with blood-tinged strands.
I scanned faces looking for distinguishing marks to tell me that my brother’s friend had perished.
None of the faces were familiar, which was odd considering I’d seen so many of the resistance every night.
“Two of my guards were mothers.” Ryder looked down, and for a moment I saw grief spread across his face. “Their children are now orphans because the resistance hates my family.”
Several moments passed as he remained deep in his thoughts before he looked back out at the dead. His tan skin was flushed, and he swayed slightly. Perhaps he was more affected by death since he’d never seen battle.
“This group was identified as one that lives in the eastern region. We have no intel on why they attacked, other than they’ll do whatever they can to claim the lives of the innocent.” His jaw clenched.
I knew all too well the innocents the group claimed. I’d lost two family members because of their selfish endeavors. “I’m sorry.” My voice was low; nothing I could say would bring back those killed or injured. My words were less than what was needed, but I had nothing else to offer.
Ryder winced as he touched his right hand to his left side.
A moment later, he pulled his hand away and peered down at his blood-soaked palm.
The blood glistened like the ocean reflecting the sun from its surface.
Fresh blood. My mind made sense of what I was seeing just as he collapsed to the ground.
Several hours passed as I sat on my bed waiting to be notified of the prince’s condition.
The carriage transported him back to the castle, and thank the Divine they allowed me to travel with him.
I cradled his head in my lap and tried to keep pressure on the gaping wound in his side, but blood flowed freely.
A robe-covered woman met the carriage before Ryder was carried inside.
It all happened so quickly I didn’t even get a look at the people who whisked him away.
Fisher met me at the entry doors and guided me back to my room. He instructed me to leave my blood-covered dress in the hall for disposal and then bathe. Nodding, I closed my door and sank to the ground. Time slowed as I stared at the wall, covered and crusted in the prince’s blood.
Somehow I had found myself more concerned with the health of the prince instead of using the chaos to find the king. I wasn’t sure when my priorities had shifted, but the realization of it was jarring. My brother would’ve been horrified to see me distraught over the son of his condemner.
I pulled it together and stood, reminding myself why I was there. After some effort, I tugged the dress off and dropped it into the corridor before making my way to the porcelain tub. The water immediately tinged pink as I submerged myself, a reminder of how much blood Ryder had lost.
Using the new floral-scented soap, I lathered myself until thick suds formed over my pale skin.
Even if I worked in the garden during the day rather than at night, I would never be the beautiful golden brown that wrapped around the prince.
I was either pasty or the color of a lobster; there was nothing in between.
A knock on the door pulled me from my stupor.
I didn't bother to dry before I tugged on a robe and sprinted through the room.
The hasty dash unfortunately cost me my small toe when I struck it on the bed frame.
Cursing under my breath, I hopped and avoided adding pressure on my little toe.
I threw the door open to find Ryder standing in front of me.
The sallowness of his skin had vanished, and he no longer wore blood-stained clothes.
“You’re okay!” I threw my arms around him. His laughter filled my ears in the sweetest way.
“I am.” He wrapped one arm around me and put a palm against the side of my head to pull me in close against his chest. “I hadn’t meant to worry you.”
“But you did,” I said, pulling back and looking at his freshly shaven face. “You scared me,” I whispered, as I tucked into him once more, too nervous to admit it any louder.
“I brought something for you.”
He stepped out of view, and into the corridor. A moment later he returned with a tray of food I didn’t recognize. One item was oblong, had short fuzz similar to a kiwi, but it was only in a singular line, leaving the rest of the skin shiny.
“Come,” Ryder said, moving to the sofa and patting the seat beside him. “These fruits are from the Oras. I requested them just after I’d met you at the ball.”
I eyed the second fruit; it was as tiny as a peanut. Its silky skin was black, and there were small orange speckles covering its outside. The last item was misshapen, not similar to any common shape I’d known to exist. It was bright pink with jagged, veiny lines throughout.
“Pretty presumptuous to think I was going to agree to come here, don’t you think?” I offered a wry smile to the man who’d somehow managed to steal my attention.
“Call it a hunch rather than a presumption.” He chuckled and picked up the peanut-sized fruit.
“This is an Alarian fruit.” Ryder inspected the black piece of produce.
“The witches say it is the fruit made for the fated, and I would like to hope that there is truth behind it. Though you can never truly trust a witch.” He held out the item. “You first.”