Chapter 47
The forest was unnaturally quiet.
Turner frowned as he rode beside Aurora's carriage, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The moonlight filtered through the towering trees, casting long shadows across the King's Road.
Something wasn't right.
He glanced around.
No crickets.
No owls.
Not even the rustling of leaves.
His instincts screamed, "Stop the carriage."
The driver immediately pulled on the reins.
Inside, Emily looked up, "What is it?"
Aurora drew back the curtain slightly, "Turner?"
Before he could answer—
Thwip!
An arrow flew from the darkness.
One of the soldiers was struck in the throat and tumbled from his horse.
"AMBUSH!" Turner bellowed.
Arrows rained from both sides of the road.
Masked bandits emerged from the trees.
Dozens of them.
The remaining three soldiers immediately surrounded the carriage while the driver drew his sword.
Turner spurred his horse forward, "No one gets near the carriage!"
His sword flashed. The first bandit fell. A second lunged.
Turner parried and struck him down.
Then three more surrounded him.
Their attacks weren't reckless.
They fought together.
One attacked high.
Another low.
The third kept him pinned, forcing him farther away from the carriage.
"They're trying to separate me..." Turner realized.
He fought harder, but every step toward the carriage was blocked.
Behind him, the remaining soldiers and the driver desperately held back the rest of the bandits.
Inside the carriage, Emily gripped Aurora's hand.
"They're getting closer..."
A heavy thud shook the carriage.
Then—
The carriage door was violently ripped open.
A masked bandit reached inside, "Got you!"
He grabbed Aurora's arm.
Aurora reacted instantly. She drove her foot into his chest.
The bandit stumbled backwards, "You little—"
Before Aurora could pull her leg back inside, he grabbed her ankle.
His grip tightened.
Aurora gasped.
He yanked hard.
She slid across the seat.
Emily wrapped both arms around Aurora's waist, "No!"
The bandit pulled again.
Aurora's body slid halfway out of the carriage.
Emily screamed as she struggled to hold onto her, "Aurora!"
Outside, Turner heard Emily's cry.
His heart stopped.
He looked over his shoulder.
Aurora was being dragged from the carriage.
"NO!"
Ignoring the swords coming at him, Turner forced his way through.
A blade slashed across his arm.
Another cut his shoulder.
He didn't stop.
He rammed one attacker with his shoulder, knocked another to the ground, and reached the bandit holding Aurora.
With a roar, Turner grabbed the man's collar and pulled with every ounce of strength he possessed.
The bandit refused to let go.
His hand remained locked around Aurora's ankle.
Aurora was pulled completely from the carriage.
She hit the ground hard.
Emily reached through the doorway.
"AURORA!"
Before Turner could reach her—
The thunder of horses echoed through the forest.
Ten Royal Guards rode at full speed behind a single rider.
Lucian.
The Crown Prince's sharp eyes immediately took in the battlefield.
The broken carriage.
The fallen soldiers.
Aurora lying on the road.
"Charge!"
The ten Royal Guards crashed into the bandits.
The sudden assault shattered their formation.
Lucian leapt from his horse before it had fully stopped.
His sword cut through the first attacker.
A second bandit rushed him.
Lucian disarmed him with one strike before driving him to the ground.
He reached Turner.
Without speaking, the two men stood shoulder to shoulder.
Turner blocked a blade aimed at Lucian.
Lucian struck down the man attacking Turner.
Together they forced the bandits back.
Several fled.
Others fought desperately.
The battle became a blur of steel and shouting.
Then—
A scream.
No one saw how it happened.
One moment Aurora was trying to stand.
The next—
A dagger protruded from her side.
Her eyes widened, blood bloomed across her gown.
She looked down in disbelief.
Then collapsed.
"AURORA!"
Turner caught her before she struck the ground.
Lucian's world seemed to stop.
The masked attacker turned to flee.
Lucian chased him.
With terrifying speed he tackled the man to the ground.
His fist struck once.
Twice.
The man's mask slipped away.
Turner's eyes widened, "...Eric."
The same man who had once worked with the thieves at the duchy.
Eric spat blood onto the ground and laughed weakly.
Lucian grabbed him by the collar, "If she dies..."
His voice was colder than the night air, "...you will wish you had."
The Royal Guards rushed forward, binding Eric and the remaining bandits.
Turner looked down at Aurora.
Blood covered his hands.
His voice trembled, "Aurora..."
He gently touched her cheek, "Open your eyes."
Her eyelids fluttered, "...Turner..."
"Stay with me.....Please."
Lucian dropped to his knees beside them.
Seeing the blood pouring from her wound made his chest tighten painfully.
He carefully lifted Aurora into his arms.
Her head rested against his shoulder.
She looked impossibly pale.
"Aurora."
She slowly opened her eyes.
"...Lucian..."
"I'm here."
She tried to smile.
Instead she winced in pain.
Lucian tightened his hold on her.
"The palace is closer," he said, standing. "I'm taking her there."
He looked at Turner.
"Tie up every surviving bandit."
Turner nodded, despite the blood running down his own arm.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Lucian mounted his horse with Aurora securely in his arms.
He looked back at Turner and the Royal Guards.
"I'll send more men."
Without another word, he turned his horse toward the palace.
As the stallion thundered into the night, Aurora's breathing grew weaker against his chest.
Lucian lowered his head close to hers.
"Hold on, Aurora."
His voice was barely a whisper.
"You promised you'd fight."
And for the first time in years, the Crown Prince feared he might be too late.
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