Chapter 63

We were up all night. He was the hot tea that filled my clipped cup. He was a hot vanilla bath. A growing flame that could not be put out.

We laid together after, naked under the layers of blankets. Our hands twisted together, his thumb stroked mine.

The wind was loud as it violently whipped our tent, reminding us of the brutal land we were in.

"I'm glad we found one way to stay warm." Orion smiled.

"Me too." My smile reflected back at his. The lantern light created a soft glow around Orion's beautiful body.

"What happens now? I mean, with us?" I asked, stroking his thumb in return.

"Well, I guess we survive tomorrow. Then, we find out. Give us time to find out what we can be. How does that sound?" Orion asked.

"I like that idea. I like it a lot." I said. Orion reached over and kissed my lips. He wrapped his arm around me and squeezed in an embrace.

"How am I supposed to sleep after that?" I said, my smile hadn't faded.

"We can go again. If you think you can handle me." He said.

"It's more so if you can handle me."

I crawled on top of Orion, we kissed again. Orion was so gentle, yet firm. I loved the way he made me feel.

After the second round, I laid on my stomach. Orion laid next to me, his fingers lightly grazing my back. It sent a shiver down my spine.

"Your back is tense." He said, beginning to massage my shoulders. He squeezed my muscles tightly, shifting his way down my bare back. I let out a gentle moan as he hammered down on my painfully tense back. It did not compare to the moans that previously escaped my breath.

I laid there in bliss, not only from his massage, but from his words, his body. The pleasure he brought out in me. It felt like a dream I was scared to wake up from.

"Thank you." I said, releasing his hands from my back.

"I can do you next." I offered.

Orion turned towards me for a moment.

"It's going to be dawn in a few hours. You should sleep." He said, pulling the thick blankets off himself.

"Where are you going?" I asked, sitting up.

"To my tent. If the others see me leave in the morning, they'll know." He said, lifting up his slacks from the pile.

I grabbed his vacant hand and pulled him towards the makeshift bed.

"I don't care if they know." I said.

"I appreciate it, Zander. But having a relationship with the enemies son could cause instability from the inside, and that's the last thing we need." He removed himself from my grasp and began buckling his pants.

I knew he was right, but I didn't care. The problem with being royal was there was always someone to tell you who to be with. I didn't want to be with anyone else; I just wanted Orion.

"I am the king of Lafayette, and I would like to command you to stay." I said.

"Playing that card, huh?" He said.

"Is it working?" I asked.

He dropped his pants and collapsed next to me.

"If you insist, your highness. If you insist." His smile returned.

He wrapped his strong arms around me and held me as I fell asleep in his warmth and comfort.

I was woken by him in what felt like moments.

"Zander, we should go. The sun will be up soon, I think it stopped snowing." Orion said.

As much as I craved to linger in his arms, he was right once again. It was time for the battle to begin.

We stood up together, siphoning through our heavy garments. Our clothes were twisted together, and tossed inside out. Orion started with his pants and boots, working his way up.

He stopped in the middle of dressing himself and looked at me.

Orion's thumb grazed my neck. He was still shirtless.

"Apologies, Zander. I didn't mean to mark you." He peered at my neck.

"Mark me?" I asked him.

"Love bites. On your neck." He stroked a small sore spot on my neck.

"How big is it? Will they see it?" I asked.

"I hope not." He said.

"I'll just pull my collar up high. Good thing I asked you to stay, they would have known either way. At least I got to spend extra time with you." I told him.

We finished getting dressed. At the bottom of the pile rested my crown that Lapis insisted I wear into battle. I picked it up off the tent floor.

"Lapis insisted on this, but it really does get in the way." I said, holding the golden crown in my hand.

"Perhaps it's because you look fantastic with it on." He said, clasping the final buttons on his shirt.

I gripped the crown and raised it up, attempting to place it on his head.

"I shouldn't." He stepped back.

"Just for a moment."

"Still. I don't think it's allowed." I said.

"I just want to see it on you, do I have to command you again?" I smiled, he returned a smile.

He lowered his head, allowing me to set the golden crown onto his dark hair. The lantern glowed, as did his eyes.

"You look amazing in a crown." I said.

He let out a huff.

"I will never be wearing one again. I swore that after leaving my father's."

"You never know, perhaps you will wear one again." I smiled, sliding my hand into his.

The image of Orion wearing a crown alongside me made my stomach glow. I pictured our hands being held, like in that moment, with gold bands on both of our fingers and crowns on our heads.

I cut off the thought, reminding myself the early stage of our relationship. Still, the thought trickled though.

Orion lowered his head once more, indicating me to take it back. I did as he requested, and set it on my head.

"I forget how heavy it is, until I put it back on." I said, adjusting it.

"They are heavy. I guess that's why it's important to remove it from time to time."

We finished getting dressed, crown and all. We clipped our cloaks and slipped our gloves on. We put on our belts, lining them with weapons. My sword was secured to my side.

We last minute examined the tent, wondering if there was anything we were forgetting. Orion took me by the hand.

"Are you ready?" He asked.

"Let's do this. Let's win this battle."

I accepted his last moments of comfort before plunging into the snow. Our feet sank deep down. Daniel appeared to be awake. He began waking up the soldiers and folding up tents.

We joined him as the rest of the soldiers got up. The sun cracked through the clouds, greeting us with an orange gaze over the shimmering snow. It was quiet, the wind had tamed itself. The fresh snow sparkled on the typically green and grey mountains.

The view would have been picturesque, if only it wasn't trying to kill us.

Everyone quickly prepared themselves. The tents were successfully packed up.

"We must continue on," Johnny told me. I nodded and made an announcement to my soldiers.

"Today we will battle Salkon, an enemy. Salkon has stood by Vendov for far too long, committing unimaginable crimes. We will win this battle, weaken Vendov's ally, and take back our kingdom, one step at a time." They cheered in agreement.

"Let's go." I said.

Together, we marched. The sun rose, painting the sky pink. The heavy load of snow made us slow. We trudged through its thick wetness. My toes stung with cold. I could hear many of the soldier's heavy breaths as the harsh landscape punishes us.

I kept the grip tight on my horse.

"We're getting closer to Salkon, we need to be careful." Johnny said as we made it to the other side of the mountains.

We began to make our way down.

Orion, Johnny and I led the front. Galen and Daniel were behind us, then the army of soldiers marched behind them.

There was a moment of quiet. The wind was quiet. The only sound was the crunching of our feet. The silence shot an unsettling feeling to my stomach.

Suddenly, there was a loud THUMP.

I whipped my head around.

Orion fell sideways into the snow. His horse whined and ran uphill.

A man in a dark cape pinned Orion into the snow, slashing his dagger at him.

"Orion!" I cried, releasing my horse. I ran towards him. Orion fought, attempting to push the man off him. I reached him, forcefully grabbing the man and tossing him into the snow. There was blood on Orion's face. I pulled him forward.

"Orion! Are you alright! Did he hurt you?" My hand touched his face as he sat in the snow.

"I'm alright, just a slash to the face. What's one more scar?" He said, I helped him stand up. He brushed the wet clumps of snow off him.

A clean cut lined on his upper cheek.

He wasn't the only one. The mountain erupted with men in black and emerald cloaks. They came out of their hiding places and charged.

"Attack!" One of them let out a breathy scream.

"Soldiers, now! For Lafayette! For Belmonte! For Naporia!" Daniel yelled, raising his sword.

The soldiers ran with him. Combat broke out. Swords collided as the battle began. Our numbers were close, Salkon slightly leading.

I ran into the battle with Orion, swinging my sword, pushing my way down the hill. Salkon men charged me, taking every attempt to knock me down. My crown flew across the snow bank. I took an elbow to the gut, followed by a sword swing. My sword caught his, I pushed him down into the snow. He landed with a harsh thud. He grunted, trying to pick himself up. I hoovered my sword over him. A twinge of fear flickered in his eyes.

Johnny came, stabbing him in the chest without hesitation. He grunted as blood pooled from his chest.

"We must keep going." Johnny insisted. I followed her down the hill. Her sword met the neck of another soldier who stood in our way.

A pang of fear striked my stomach; I couldn't find Daniel. I twisted my head around, searching at the bodies that had already fallen. My view was a blurred mess of blood and snow. He was probably further down, I thought. I reminded myself I needed to keep trudging. I needed to make it down to the town. We needed to capture Salkon.

The battle quickly exhausted my body. The sword felt heavier, swinging it was more difficult. I was attacked by both sides, as was Johnny. They pushed her down to the snow, aiming for her heart. I kicked their chin with my boot, swinging my sword through them.

"Thanks." Johnny said quickly.

"The least I could do." We resumed our positions. They did not stop coming at us. Like a swarm of flies swarming an old carcass.

A soldier in a decorated cape swung at me. I ducked down to avoid his attack and went to hit his legs. He jolted back and aimed for my head. It was like a dance with him, his skills were beyond the others.

The dragon would be nice right now, I thought.

Change.

Change.

Even if I can't fully control it, I needed to change. I pleaded with my body to transform.

I needed to be a dragon.

My body did not obey my request. I remained the same. The decorated soldier jabbed his sword towards my stomach. I jumped back. I shielded myself.

Change.

Change.

Change.

I commanded my body.

I shoved the large man down to the ground, I sliced his legs, immobilizing him.

There were no signs of Samuel, or his dragon. Nor were there signs of mine. A wave of panic flooded me as I trudged on through. What if there was no dragon to protect everyone? Everyone would die.

The fear of no dragon support fueled me. We made it down the mountain, with a bloody trail behind us. Dead Salkon soldiers spread out through the hill, as well as several of ours. The weapons were spread out. We stood together, I could not believe we defeated the soldiers on the mountain.

Galen began rushing back uphill.

"Where are you going?" I asked them.

"I'm going to see if I can heal any of our people." Galen said, leaning  down by an injured  Belmonte soldier.

"You can't stay here! What if there's more soldiers!" I said.

"I'll stay with them. I'll set up my tent and protect them. My toes need to get inside, immediately!" Charles said, marching up the snow with his pack on.

I nodded my head, hoping Charles' defense would be strong enough if they were attacked.

We looked out to Salkon. The daylight was full. The snow was bright as it stung my eyes.

The wall surrounding Salkon was visible. I remembered coming there with Samuel under a fake name, this time we were taking the back entrance.

"Hurry! We must go over the wall. Demand the king to surrender." Johnny said.

"And if he doesn't?"

"We begin taking out the townspeople, but let's hope it doesn't come to that." Johnny said.

"Take out the innocents?" I asked.

"War is costly, Zander." She said,

"We can't kill innocent people. We'd be just as bad as Vendov."

"BEGIN CLIMBING THE WALL, SOLDIERS, BE READY FOR ANYTHING ON THE OTHER SIDE!" Daniel shouted.

Everyone lined up and began gripping the tall wall. Several began to slide down. They devised a plan to boost soldiers up, and heave others over. Orion joined my side, climbing up with little help. His cheek was still bloody from the cut.

I crawled to the top and jumped over, landing on my feet. A harsh pain shot up my foot and through my leg as we landed. I stood up straight, sword drawn.

The townspeople began screaming upon our presence. They began to run in every direction to get away from intruders.

A wall of men appeared, holding up shields with the Salkon crest. They attempted to separate us from the panicked townsfolk. They drew their swords.

"Surrender now to Salkon as prisoners. Or you all shall die." One guard commanded through his black helmet.

"Tell your king to surrender his position as a Vendov ally. Or Salkon will be destroyed." I commanded.

They charged at us, swinging their swords, taking out anyone they could. Another wall of soldiers joined them, pinning us against the wall.

"We're surrounded. What do we do?" I asked Orion.

"We need to disperse." He said.

Orion ducked down and ran towards the guards, pushing past their legs, and slicing them in the process. He ran into the village.

"After him!" The black helmet guard commanded. We followed Orion's lead, allowing several of us out of the wall trap. I made it to the other side, immobilizing a guard on my way through.

We all ran when given the window, splitting off into separate fights. I could see the Salkon castle east of my view.

Towns people could still be heard screaming in fear. Soldiers of both sides landed on the stone paths. The paths became stained with enemy blood in their homeland.

My focus remained on the castle. If we took the castle, Salkon would be ours.

As we fought our way though, I begged my body once more of the ability it was depriving me of. I tried to make myself angrier to summon it. I remained the same. Did I lose my abilities? Was all hope lost?

Daniel and Johnny fought their way though many soldiers. Bodies of both sides continued to pave the town. My stomach dropped at the sight of all the blood, all of the blank, empty faces.

I remained myself war came with a cost, but all I wanted was for it to end. The thought of giving up scurried across my brain. I would die, there was no doubt. I would trade my life several times over if it meant everyone could live in peace.

Daniel drilled his toward through a soldier, creating a gushing sound as he withdrew his blade. The guard coughed and pleaded as Daniel dropped him to the ground.

We stood around each other, bodies lined the ground. Our numbers were reduced to about half from what I could see.

"Their soldiers are dead. I think we should turn our sights on the town." Johnny said

"No, I'm going to the castle. I will speak with the king."

"Zander, he will kill you." Daniel said.

"I will be alright, but if something does happen to me, get everyone out of here. Search for Orion and remainder of the surviving soldiers and meet me back in the mountains. If I'm not there by midnight, head back home."

"Zander, it's suicide!" Johnny said.

"He has little to no guards. I can handle it. Make sure to get back safe." I said firmly.

They gave a small nod, dispute their disapproval.

"I'll go left, you go right. Let's get everyone out of here." Johnny said.

I went towards the castle, stepping over several bodies. The castle itself was beautiful. Vines grew up the dark stone, and the grounds were lined with snow covered greenery. The tall wall was a smaller version of the one that protected Salkon.

The sky was no longer blue. The clouds returned, likely to spit out more snow.

I climbed over the wall, hoping to not meet any guards on the other side.

I wasn't so lucky. I landed hard once again, sending another pain up my legs. Two guards attacked me. They were fully armored. I threw my elbow back into one of their faces, knocking them down. The other tackled me, shoving me into the snow. I tried to slide away, but he gripped the back of my kneck and smashed my face into the ground. The grip on my sword weakened. The other guard got up behind me and tore my sword from my hands.

I kicked and fought to be freed. Their grip was tight. They dragged me across the paved path inside. They looted me of all my weapons.

Change, please!

Change!

I would not escape the grasp of the Salkon king without the dragon.

They tossed me down into the ground, one guard pressing his heavy boot onto my back.

I tried to look up, but it was met with another boot to the back of my head, smashing my face into the hard ground.

"Lift him." A deep voice said.

The guards pulled me up from the cold, damp floor. My eyes met with a man in a green and black cape, decorated with silver pins. He was sitting on a throne chair, his crown silver, studded with emerald gems. His beard was short, his eyes were small. He reminded me of my father.

"Zander Bray of Lafayette, I believe?"

"Who's asking?"

"You know very well who. How are you attack Salkon, kill off ALL my soldiers, and for what? Did you truly think I was going to surrender?"

"Yes. You still should." I said.

He cackled, standing up from his black throne.

"Why should I do that?"

"Because my soldiers are still in the village. They will start killing your townspeople." I bluffed, hoping the king wouldn't see through me.

"You're lying." He said.

"Once they kill off the village folk, they will come to the castle next. Once we're done with the townspeople, we will kill everyone in this castle, same as we did your guards. We know there's only a few people left here to protect you. Salkon will surrender, either way." I said.

"No. Salkon will never surrender to you. You may do your worst." He said.

"You really want to die? You really want your family to die?" I asked him.

On my words, a little girl ran from the halls. The king jumped out of his seat upon her arrival.

Her hair was short, her face was round. A look of petrified fear masked her.

"Are we going to die? Are they gonna kill us?" She asked the king.

"Pagga, I told you to stay in your room with the servants!" He shouted.

Another girl ran behind her. She was taller, and a bit older than the child.

"Raylee, you were supposed to be watching your sister!" He yelled.

"I'm sorry, she ran. I tried to catch her. Pagga, we need to go back. We need to hide." The sister insisted.

Pagga, I thought. The names of the child sounded familiar. I studied their faces.

"You two.. I know you." I said. The guards tightened my grips on my shoulders.

Pagga turned her head at me, studying me. The oldest sister squeezed her eyebrows together.

"Months ago, I was traveling through Vendov. There were two girls being attacked by three men. The girls were alone."

"Silence! Stop talking to them!" The king roared, signaling to the guards to quiet me.

"No, wait! Did you.. Did you save us?" Pagga asked, stepping farther from her sister.

"Yes. I did."

"He is lying! The reward posters for their rescue were everywhere! Do not trust this man! He is our enemy!" The king roared.

Pagga lowered her head.

"Why did the man rescuing us cover his face? What did he tell us?" The oldest sister peered her eyes at me.

"I said my face was burned badly, that I worked in the blacksmith shop. Your sister asked about it, you told her not to ask, that it was rude." I stated.

Her mouth opened.

"Uncle, he did save us. We never told anybody that." The oldest girl said.

"If you saved us then, why are you trying to kill us now?" The youngest sister asked.

"ENOUGH! GUARDS, take these girls to their rooms and watch them. Leave the prisoner to me." He said.

"Are you sure, your majesty?" They asked.

"Protect the girls at all cost." He said firmly.

They released me, pushing me to the ground one final time. I heard a crack from my nose, and a shooting pain to go along with it.

The men hurried the girls away, the youngest girl looked back at me.

"You saved them? Why! Why were you in Vendov? Why were you near my nieces? Were you there to take them for ransom? An easy score for your corrupt rebellion?"

"No! Not at all. I was traveling through, and I saw they were attacked. That's all. I didn't want them to get hurt."

"Yet, you'll kill them now?"

"I didn't know who they were."

"So you would have killed them if you knew?"

"No. I just." I was lost for words.

"I want the empire to end. I want to restore my kingdom, to bring peace."

He scoffed.

"You come in to kill children, and you call that peace?"

"I won't hurt them. I promise. I'll even protect them. If you break apart from the Vendov empire."

"You act as if betraying the empire is easy. The Vendov king and I have been allies for a long time."

"I won't try to take your kingdom, or force you to follow me like he has. I just want everyone's kingdom restored."

"What happens to Vendov, then?"

"He has a son. I think he would rule well."

"The scar boy? Yeah, I've seen him. Once." He stroked his beard as he talked.

"The king only talked ruthlessly about him, even as a child. Felt bad for him, but couldn't do much for him."

"So you don't agree with his ways?"

"It's not about agreement, it's about ensuring my family and my people stay alive. I would say you know something about that, but you clearly don't. Lafayette doesn't exist anymore. It's a wasteland of a kingdom. Give up. Hide. While you still can."

"I did that for a long time. Hiding wasn't really for me. The Lafayette people hated what he did. He captured or killed them."

"And what you threaten is no different?" He said once again.

"I promise. No harm will come to your people, or your family. Surrender this battle. Say you didn't have enough soldiers. You don't have to tell him any of this."

He was quiet for a moment, I had hoped my words were enough, thinking about how I was bluffing the entire time.

"I knew Vendov's plan to blow up the orphans. I did nothing. It sickens me to see children hurt."

"I think it sickens everyone. Except Vendov."

There was another pause.

"My nieces. Their mother was living in Vendov. She was engaged to a Vendov advisor. She got sick, really sick. She died only a few days later. Her fiance didn't want her kids around, so I had them sent back to me. They had a guard with them, but the thieves killed him. My nieces would not have survived the journey if it weren't for you. That is something that cannot go unrewarded.."

"I will tell Vendov we had to surrender, that your army was too great. He will feel threatened. He will come for you. You mustn't hurt my family, or anymore innocent Salkon people."

"You have my word, your highness. I will tell my troops to stand down."

"Now, leave. I would like to tell my niece's its safe to come out. Pagga gets restless."

"Of course, your highness. Thank you, you won't regret it."

I was allowed to walk out of the castle. I waited for an ambush, but there was none. My heart beat heavily in my chest. I couldn't believe I made it out of there without the dragon.

I watched my back carefully to ensure I wasn't followed, but it wasn't like they had a lot of guards on site to do so. They were scattered throughout the ground. Trails of blood spewed through the snow. The smell of metal passed through the winter wind. It fell quiet once again. There was no shouting, no screams. The people in town seemed to have calmed down.

I headed towards the barrier that separated the mountains and the town. I imagined Orion, Daniel, and Johnny were safe in the mountains, waiting for my return.

I was weaponless from the guard's removal of my belt. I had to attempt to climb up without any tools.

Upon turning my focus to the wall, my eye caught a flash of blue and tan.

I turned my head back. There was a dead woman. She wasn't decorated in green and black like the soldiers. She wore a blue dress, and a tan apron over it. Her chest full of blood, her eyes glazed over. Who was she? What happened?

I began searching the area further. She wasn't the only one that wore commoner clothes. I scanned the area, finding several others.

I abandoned the wall and went into the village. The streets filled with quaint homes, and dead villagers. I began searching for an explanation, a reason.

In between two of the homes I saw Johnny, pulling a sword out of a young villager's body.

"Johnny! What the fuck happened!" I screamed towards her.

She pulled her sword out of a young boy, he couldn't have even been fifteen. He coughed and choked as the light left his eyes.

I repeated myself, full of confusion and anger.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"Your majesty. The villagers attacked us. There was no other option."

"You're telling me you couldn't figure out a way to get away from A CHILD? WITHOUT KILLING THEM?"

"It wasn't just a child, your majesty."

"I know, I saw the blood trail you left. I had just promised the king I would leave his people alone if he surrendered the battle. I TOLD YOU TO RETREAT!"

"There was no choice. The other's fled while I held them off. I did it for us. For Lafayette."

Snow began to fall once more, dusting the dead bodies with a fresh layer of cold.

"We need to get out of here, now. If the Salkon king sees this, we're all dead."

Johnny returned her bloody sword to her sheath. I was stewing in her disobedience. Surely Johnny and Daniel could have fought off a group of townspeople. Johnny's previous statement skittered through my brain like a panicked rat. Did she want to kill them? Could her actions go unpunished?

We crossed over the wall, words not spoken between us.

I thought of the boy dying from her blade. I saw the light leave his eyes, he was innocent. If he had attacked her, he was trying to defend his home. The Salkon king was going to come for us. We needed to get out of the mountains and retreat to Belmonte as fast as possible.

We trudged up the mountain, my legs ached with pain, feeling like they could fall off with every next step.

An armed figure ran down the hill towards us. It was Daniel, still armed from the battle. He looked well, a wave of relief washed over me. He was alright, my promise to Mavis did not go unfulfilled. His eyebrows were raised, his eyes were wide. He breathed heavily as he met us.

"Daniel, did the villagers attack you?" I asked him upon seeing him, questioning Johnny's story.

"Your highness, we can discuss that later. I need you to come with me, hurry!" He said.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"It's Orion."