Chapter 54 Keep Watch
Chapter fifty-four
Keep Watch
Alaceandra
Tears well in my eyes and I do my best to not let them fall.
"Lace!" The voice I now recognize to be Sorin's calls again.
"Over here!" I yell, cringing at the sharp pain in my throat.
He appears behind me with Baldar at his feet. When he gets a good look at the scrapes and bruises covering my body, he collapses to the ground in front of me and tenderly holds my face. "What the fuck happened? Why are you out here by yourself?"
I cough again. "I was ambushed," I say. "I think…" I search my memory for the any information he gave me before he attacked. "I think he wanted to take me to his king. He might have been… connected… to those men that captured us before."
His eyes widen at the sound of my voice.
I brought him to you as soon as I realized you were missing. Baldar says. I apologize it was not any sooner I was summoned this morning and by the time I got back… He curls in my lap. By the time I got back I knew you were in danger, so I grabbed the closest one I could find.
"Thank you, Baldar," I whisper.
Sorin scoops me up. "You need water, please stop talking until we get you some." He sprints through the forest and back to the cottages. When he opens the door to the kitchens, Sam is sitting at the table looking at something. At our entrance, he shoves whatever it is in his pocket.
"Why are you-" His eyes fall onto my form, and he jumps from his chair. "What the fuck happened? Why are you carrying her?"
"She was attacked," Sorin says pushing things off the table so he can set me down. Once he does, he runs to grab me some water, which I take and drink gratefully.
"How? Was no one watching her?" The room darkens slightly and my heart races.
Sorin pushes at Sam. "Apparently not. Now are you going to help or just yell?" The room brightens again.
"I am okay," I say, my voice already sounding less strained. "Maybe a couple bruises here and there, but I did not get terribly injured." Maybe if I act like if it is less of a big deal, they will not question why I was out there in the first place.
"You sound like you were choked," Sam says, his voice filled with barely veiled anger.
"That is because I was," I say, trying to sound cheerful, the tone causes a tickle in my throat, and I cough again.
"So then obviously you are not okay," Sam growls.
"You should see the other guy," I quip. Now that I am away from the whole situation, I cannot help but be proud of how I performed.
Yes, it got a little touch and go at the end there…
and really if Sorin was not there I am not sure how much longer I could have held the man off, but I did hold him off.
A couple of weeks ago I would not have been able to, and I cannot help but smile at the accomplishment.
"Oh, I would like to," Sorin and Sam say simultaneously, their bodies full of tension.
"Well, hopefully we will not have to," I say. The adrenaline high is quickly turning into exhaustion. I blink sleepily at the two men, rubbing my eyes.
"Did he get away?" Sam asks, not noticing my shift in mood.
I nod. A couple seconds later, I hear a door slam.
There is a pause, and then I look up to notice that now only Sorin and Baldar remain. I sigh.
"Alaceandra is exhausted," Baldar states. "I assume she had to use her powers while she was defending herself against the enemy. As your connection is not fully complete this likely has drained her. She will need to rest."
"It has still not been completed?" Sorin asks, pursing his lips.
"No, it cannot be until the solstice but fear not it is quite strong. A short nap should fix her right up."
"You guys can hear each other?" I ask.
Sorin smiles. "Yes, a relatively new discovery," he supplies. "Come let's get you to bed."
A shiver runs through me. "I do not know if I should." I definitely do not want to run into whoever is haunting my dreams right now.
"Do not be afraid, Alaceandra. I will not leave your side. You will rest easy this morning."
"Okay," I say hesitantly. Sorin starts to pick me up, but I stop him. "I will walk."
He puts his hands up. "If you insist. Let's sleep in my quarters. I want to keep watch over you."
I smile at him. "Sounds good."