"Alexis, what have you been doing since you were, well...?" asked Kota as the group traveled up through a narrow path in the forest that led to Baris. "You know."
The light shone through the leaves of the trees, lighting up the path in front of them and the various plants that lay on the forest floor. In the momentary silence, Kota looked behind him, seeing Sonya walk further to the rear as she kept a short distance between her and the group. Sonya met his eyes as she fed her hawk before she kept her attention focused elsewhere. Lucinda walked close enough to Kota without being right next to him. She glanced around the forest and smiled, as the view was breathtaking, with the sunlight beaming through the spaces between the leaves.
Alexis took a deep breath and spoke in a calm tone. "I have been searching for you and the woman who used me and my desperation to get me banished. It is not a glamorous life being banished from my kingdom and living in hiding from another."
Her eyes stayed forward on the path ahead of them while she added, "Why do you think we are on a side trail hidden in the forest? It is not just for the scenic views, although they are nice when the flowers are abloom."
Kota glanced at Lucinda as she looked into the trees. She noticed Kota looking at her and turned to meet his gaze.
"Lucinda, I know you are not the innocent girl anymore, hiding out in a church on a stormy night," Kota said, keeping an eye on her face. "What were you before that day I met you? You can hold your own in a fight, and that is more than whatever training Alexis would have given you over the last year."
She smiled before looking through the trees and sunlight, glancing at the ever-growing forest to the right of them. "That is a tough question to answer. Well, to start, I used to be an acquirer of sorts."
"An acquirer? What does that mean?"
Lucinda gave out a small chuckle, turning to smile at him. "I will tell you more someday soon; however, there is a more pressing matter to take care of at this moment than my past."
She gestured her head toward his sister, keeping her distance to avoid conversation. Kota looked back at Lucinda and mouthed words of concern. Lucinda nodded as he moved close to Alexis.
"This last year has not been kind to you, has it? I am sorry for putting you through all of this, Alexis. If only I had listened to Lukas, then I would not have set the past year in motion. Maybe if I were stronger..."
Sonya looked up at his comment, observing that Alexis was still not ready to talk, before sending Arro off. Listening to the wings beat through the air, she picked up her pace, moving closer to the group while avoiding a bigger branch that had fallen into the path. Once she had approached, she asked Kota, "Do you remember anything about the last year? Any faces or names that your sister could recognize?"
Kota turned to see her and shook his head in response to her question. "Unfortunately, I do not. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. The last thing I remember is waking up from whatever calling they had me under, and there was a girl I thought to be Lucinda breaking me out." He avoided another branch, only to step on a smaller one with a crunch.
"As it was not I who broke you out of the cell, I have been wondering who this woman was, if she was the one who broke you out. From what Aria told Alexis, only a few people knew you were there in the prison," said Lucinda, moving her thumb along her cheek in thought.
Sonya thought a second before asking another question. "Alexis, do you have any idea who this woman would be? As you and Princess Aria created the plan to break Kota out, a woman with cherry hair who was not Lucinda could be someone you ran into through the planning."
"In all fairness, the red hair could have been a hallucination, as I saw you before this actual person, plus I believe she broke my chains with ease and with her bare hands. So, I am not sure if I can trust what I saw or thought I saw that day," said Kota, directing his comment to the group.
Lucinda moved around a fallen tree, glancing towards Kota. "But you got help from someone not here in front of you, so someone knew of our plans. Any ideas?"
Alexis shook her head in response as she moved around a tree herself. She turned toward Sonya and the others as she said, "These questions are all for Aria after we figure out our next step. She might have more insight, as she was the one watching over Kota in the prison."
Kota moved around a tree and spoke. "I cannot picture her face or anything about this Princess. I am wondering why she did this if she is under the king of Mara's reign."
"They needed to keep you alive without keeping you awake," said Sonya, moving her hand over her face in deep thought. "I am unfamiliar with a calling that would allow such a process to happen. Aria knew of the stone's powers, and we witnessed a dark calling I have never seen before, so we are moving toward strange lands here."
Lucinda moved closer to Sonya. "You haven't told us much about yourself either. You're a mystery too, you know."
"Lucinda, please do not question her. I trust her, and so should you," chided Kota, glancing backward and giving her a sour look.
Lucinda moved forward a step faster than usual and gave a small chuckle. "I trust her, but I am merely looking out for your safety. I do not form my trust through battle, like yours is."
Kota turned around, walking backward, and pointed at the spot on his neck where a necklace would have been. Then he looked at her with the ring around her own. "So your trust is made through gifts?"
Lucinda's face got a touch of red as Sonya gave a small chuckle under her breath, just loud enough for the group to hear.
"You know that is not true!" said Lucinda, keeping her eyes forward. "The look in your eyes made me trust you. You had genuine concerns for my safety in those eyes. I found it annoying at that moment, but trustworthy nonetheless."
Alexis turned her head over her shoulder as she stepped over a fallen log and told the group, "Keep it down, you three. People will recognize Kota and me the closer we get to the capital."
Kota and Lucinda shared a look as they quieted down while stepping over the fallen log. When Kota landed on the other side of the log, he stumbled backward as he gripped his wrist with his fist, tightening. He could feel the spread of the curse upon his arm. As he leaned up against a tree, Lucinda moved closer to him, placing her hands on the bandage that covered the curse. She felt an abnormal heat coming from his palm, where the mark spread.
"All right, that is enough travel for now. It is time for another session."
Alexis moved closer to Kota as she examined his hand within her own and noticed the heat coming from the mark. She looked closer at the bandage and saw that the black marks were moving further up his arm, past the bandage on his wrist. "So, this is the effect of the curse Aria mentioned. Are you in pain?" she asked, observing his face.
Moving his hand away from the two of them, he tightened his grip and sat down on the fallen log. "I am fine. We need to keep moving. There is something more important than me to worry about."
"We did this all for you. Father will be there tomorrow, so we still have time to rest," said Alexis, kneeling to meet his eyes.
Kota was about to speak again when Sonya walked up behind him, placing her left foot next to him. She leaned forward and said, "We are, in fact, closer than you realize. Let Lucinda work on mending the mark. Alexis and I will hunt for food, and we will rest for a few hours before we travel until the sun sets."
Kota took a deep breath before agreeing with them, moving to a more open area where he placed his quiver of arrows and bow next to a tree, then sat down and leaned against it.
Sonya walked up to Kota, grabbed his bow and arrows, and lifted them over her shoulder. She smiled at him before telling him softly, "I won't let anything happen to her. Do not worry."
Kota forced a fake smile as he watched the two of them leave soundlessly. He watched as Lucinda began unwrapping the bandage, starting at the wrist. The black vine-like marks moved from his palm, spreading out over his wrists and hands, and covering most of his skin underneath the bandages.
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Lucinda started her mending process by closing her eyes. Then her mouth moved without a sound escaping her lips.
Kota watched as the warm glow of her hands engulfed his palm. He closed his eyes as her mending had a calming effect on him. He took a deep breath, and he let a few minutes pass by in silence as he felt the warmth of her mending.
A low breeze came through the trees as he felt a chill move down his spine. Moving his left hand, he felt the warmth of her mending disappear. "Lucinda?"
He felt a stronger gust as the sound of the leaves moving above him caused him to open his eyes. The sunlight was gone, and the color had drained from the trees and grass around him, all of which now had a darker hue. He stood up, seeing that Lucinda was nowhere in sight. Taking a step forward, he looked up again and saw that the trees were empty of leaves, and it felt as if winter had come during the late spring.
"Lucinda?" asked Kota, glancing around. The entire area had changed and now looked to be a different part of the forest.
Kota looked around as he heard the dead leaves crackle under his feet with every step he took. Kneeling, he grabbed some leaves, feeling the cold ground as the leaves crumbled in his hands. Kota looked down at the mark on his hand as the leaves fell from his grip. "I must be dreaming," he said as he felt a piercing pain shoot through the middle of his forehead.
He fell to his knees before grabbing his head, hearing a ringing noise. Then suddenly, the high-pitched sound stopped.
"You are not dreaming, Prince. This is more than just a dream," said a familiar-sounding voice.
Kota breathed heavily, unclenching his hands. He looked up to see a black-robed figure standing a few feet in front of him. Rising to his feet, he observed that the figure was a touch taller than he was, and he could not see any facial features inside the hood.
"What is it with you guys and hoods?"
The figure gave a small chuckle at his question, then spoke in a more feminine voice. "You could say it keeps my face out of public sight. You should do the same. Shouldn't you be more careful to hide your face? They have people looking for you now wherever you are."
Kota looked at the figure and took a step closer, turning around to survey his surroundings. He turned his attention back to the figure, observing her body language. "I have heard recently I need to be more careful, but by the way you speak, I assume you know about this curse on my hand."
She nodded as she stayed focused on his hand while moving closer. The woman lifted her right hand and examined her palm, saying, "It is quite the little tactic that she chose for you, and she tried it on another before, as a test subject. I wonder where that person is now?"
"Wait, there is someone else out there with this curse? What does this curse mean?" asked Kota, taking a step forward without a thought and moving closer to the cloaked woman.
The woman turned her head, looking away from Kota, but she reluctantly said, "She removed the curse before it could spread, but at a substantial cost to her soul and physical form. She was only a tool to the woman who is hunting you."
Kota looked at the marks on his hand and clenched his fist, thinking about what she could mean. He released his fist, watching the red mark appear to swirl on his palm. Closing his eyes for a second, Kota focused on what was happening around him instead of the mark. "Maybe we should meet in person, and I should get to know this mysterious person who is in front of me," he suggested, focusing on the figure's empty hood.
Kota could hear the smile under the hood when she asked, "Where are you? I will come to you. Who knows? I could be close to this area."
"I think you might know the answer, so I will say no more."
Kota could hear another small chuckle as she stood still with her arms at her side. Lifting her right arm and pointing at him with a black glove underneath the sleeve, she answered his question. "Good. Keep things as general as possible. Whether I am friend or foe, you must be careful about what you tell those you meet from here on out. You never know who you can trust or who could be listening."
Kota felt something stir in his mind, and he turned around, looking up at the sky. He was stuck in deep thought when he gasped before turning around, pointing his finger. "Were you the one in Asana who set...? Wait, where did you go?"
Kota moved a few feet forward, to about the exact spot where she had been standing. Then he looked around the forest and saw no one around him. He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a slight pain in his head. Well, I am sure that was her, but why is she showing up now? Why am I having visions?
He heard a noise behind him. The robed woman stood a foot behind him, making him fall backward onto the ground.
"Why did you do that?" asked Kota, while looking up at her.
She moved her left finger over her mouth, and Kota could see that her lips were red. Then she moved her thumb over her chin in thought and glanced around. "Maybe I will tell you everything in time, but for now, stay on the path. You will see your fate unfold."
"On second thought, you may be the woman who put me in that hell, as you are just as cryptic as she. Why should I trust anything you say?" asked Kota. He positioned himself to stand up, but then she reached out her left hand for him.
"That woman is a lot of things, but your hidden savior is not one of them." She spoke as he grabbed her hand firmly, and before pulling him to his feet, she added, "Now, we are out of time, but I cannot wait to see how you will react to what is coming."
As she pulled him to his feet, his vision went white, and he felt the warmth of the normal air hit his face. For a split second, he felt calm, only to hit something with his head and fall forward, landing on something other than the ground.
"What the hell, Kota!" yelled Lucinda as Kota opened his eyes.
He found her lying on the ground beneath him, holding her nose. "What happened?" asked Kota while he looked around, seeing the sun through the leaves and the green of the grass.
"We were in the middle of our session, and you closed your eyes. I assumed you had fallen asleep. I was almost done when you jumped up suddenly and rammed your head into my face," said Lucinda. She looked up at him, his eyes glancing around the area before adding, "Could you please...?"
Kota looked down at her, realizing he was still lying on top of her, before pushing off the ground. He apologized before helping her to her feet, and the two stood in front of each other. "I do not know what came over me. I could have sworn..." Examining the bloody nose, he paused and stared blankly at her nose.
"What? Is it that bad?" asked Lucinda. She touched her nose, feeling no broken bones, before looking back at him. "Is everything okay?"
He shook his head, turning away, glancing at the green and sunlit forest. Kota took a deep breath and answered her question. "It looks fine. Just a little red. I am sorry."
Lucinda took a rag from a pouch she had placed on the ground earlier and cleaned her face of any blood. Wiping away the last of the blood, she looked at her armor and clothes, noticing no blood. "You did not answer my question, Kota."
He looked up at the sky as he started rubbing his eyes before focusing on her. Hearing footsteps approaching from behind, he sputtered. "Just a lot happening recently, that's all."
The two saw Sonya holding a deer over her shoulders and Alexis walking beside her, holding the bow and arrows.
"I heard some shouting," Sonya said. "Is everything alright? Are you bleeding, Princess? What did you do, Kota?"
Flustered, Kota responded but stumbled on his words, only for Lucinda to answer for him. "Everything is fine. He fell asleep during our session, and I startled him. When he stood up, my face was above his head, and, well..." She stopped, gesturing to the bloody rag and her face.
Alexis laughed as she helped Sonya place the deer on the ground, then pulled out a blade to skin the animal. Kota walked over to the two of them, and Alexis stopped, looking over at him.
"You have always been a little clumsy outside of battle, brother," she teased. "Try not to hurt the single person who can stop that curse from spreading. You should get it bandaged back up."
Sonya gave a small laugh as Kota shook his head, turning toward Lucinda, who was holding the bandage in her hands while smiling at him. Moving in front of Lucinda, he crossed his legs as he sat down. He held his hand out to her with his head down, not saying another word. She sat across from him and crossed her legs as well. Starting with his fingers, she began to wrap his hand in bandages. She whispered so the other two could not hear. "You get flustered easily by her. Have you always been like that?"
Kota smiled and leaned closer to her as he whispered, "My brothers were always harder on me because I was the outsider prince. Someone to fight over the throne with, and our father's love. I was dropped on the doorstep of the castle when I was a newborn. Alexis was just a small girl, but she made me feel at home as I grew up, and taught me to stand up for myself against my brothers... something she still holds over my head."
Lucinda stopped for a second and looked over at Alexis, who was working on the small deer, while Sonya worked on gathering wood for a fire. "She has always seemed so strict and cunning. I am assuming she was not always like this."
"Unfortunately, I am to blame for that. I ignored our rules by leaving the castle at a younger age, ten years or so ago, and I ran into a few unsavory characters while hunting. They roughed me up a bit after I got a few shots in. There was no hiding the injuries, and Mother made it Alexis's responsibility to teach me how to fight." Kota paused, smiling at his story. "She taught me that, as I was a non-caller, I needed to use my speed and surroundings to create advantages for myself."
Lucinda started working on wrapping his palm and moved to a better position, a little closer to Kota. "You held your own in Asana. Even though I am a caller, I am simply a mender. No combat advantages there. When we were not looking for you, she was training me as well, and she is a fierce yet kind teacher."
Kota agreed, smiling again as he looked back at his sister. "After that incident, I could not leave the castle without a guardian, which is where Lukas came in. We grew up together from then on, training, hunting, and getting into trouble."
"Alexis took it upon herself to keep you safe," said Lucinda, continuing to work on his wraps. "That is why she took your kidnapping so hard."
Unexpectedly, they heard a twig crack a few yards away from the makeshift camp. Alexis rose to her feet. Dropping the small knife, she grabbed her spear before holding it at the ready. Then the rest of the group reacted, only to see three soldiers from the Kingdom of Damira walking into view. The three soldiers wore light gray armor with the crest of Damira in the center of their chest plates. The symbol could be seen again on the helmets that covered their heads and most of their faces.
"See, I told you I heard something in these woods. It looks like a small group of..." the front soldier said, stopping as he eyed Kota and looked at Alexis. "What do we have here?"