Chapter 142 - Where Is He?

After a tough fight, Nathaniel was victorious over the darkness. The snippets of dark power coursing through his body had collected in his left arm. For as short a s a few seconds, he gave in to the dizziness, and closed his eyes.

"Nathan, don't fall asleep!"

His eyes snapped open to focus at Aston, who'd reached his side. He was covered in mud from head to feet, leaving only his two eyes, that were dark with worry.

"Don't look like this, I don't plan to die", Nathaniel grumbled. It irritated him when his brother looked like an abandoned puppy. Where was the pride he always pretended to have? Whenever it was just the two of them, Nathaniel felt like he was talking to a little kid.

With a groan, Nathaniel sat up from the lying position and noticed that he didn't know when he had fallen. Wasn't he standing when the Prince attacked? His leg was bandaged but the blood was already seeping through the inexpertly bound fabric. Why did Sam fail on such a simple task?

Then Nathaniel paused. "Aston, where is Sam?"

Behind the mud, it was hard to see Aston's expression, but the silence as he pulled back his hands couldn't signify anything good.

"Where is he?", Nathaniel pressed.

Aston averted his gaze. "The last time I saw him, he was over there, fighting one of those thugs. Then he got hit, and I... didn't see him since then."

Nathaniel's innards seemed to roll up into a ball. Not Sam, not the friendly, ever-worried Sam, he prayed, and, both hands pressed onto the ground, tried to stand up.

"Let me help you", Aston offered, and slipped under his armpit. Reluctantly, Nathaniel accepted his help, then he put on new gloves before he limped over to the place Aston designated.

Everywhere were bodies on the ground, Icelanders and Falumors alike. However, where Nathaniel had been, there was only a big patch of empty earth and skeletons. Here and there, a sword or a metallic belt buckle reflected the moon light. Not all skeletons were the small size of the Falumors.

Without a word, Nathaniel averted his gaze. Instead it landed on a patch of land that was still overgrown by grass. Footsteps had tramped it flat and blood let the earth swell up, but he could hear the heavy rattling of a breath.

"A Falumor", Aston hissed, and tried to break free, his hand already on the hilt of his sword. Nathaniel also saw the c.h.e.s.t in colorful uniform move up and down slowly, but his grip around Aston's shoulders tightened.

"Don't."

"But -", Aston tried to protest, but Nathaniel broke him off.

"He'll die soon enough. Look at his stomach." And right, below the ribcage of the soldier, the hilt of a dagger stood out. The blade was deeply buried into his flesh. Inlaid in the hilt was a white token with three stars.

"Sam was faster than me", Aston recognized. Relieve was evident on his face as he let go of his sword. "But where is this old geezer?"

While he asked, Nathaniel had gotten on his knees. Next to the Falumor soldier laid another two bodies, one buried under the other. A blade stood out of the back of the upper one like the lower one had killed him in the fall.

"Lend me a hand", Nathaniel commanded, and started to pull the dead body up.

Hurried, Aston heaved the corpse to the side and let it fall to the ground with a groan. "Damn, they are heavy for their small size."

Then he realized who had been beneath this body, and anxiously kneeled. "Is he still alive?"

Beneath the soldier laid Sam, his clothes soaked through with blood and unconsciousness. Nathaniel had already felt the pulse and now searched the body for wounds. Finally, he gave an envious sigh. "Lucky old bastard. He has a few broken ribs but is fine otherwise. You go look for other survivors, I'll take care of him."

Aston nodded, and started the more tenacious task. The danger for his life had temporarily let him forget his exhaustion. He knew that the only reason he was likely still alive was that he was the bastard of the King, a being that the Queen most likely wanted to torture herself - or at least wouldn't allow an easy death for.

.

This was why when Jack's group met the King's, Nathaniel wasn't there yet. Their hiding place was a cave on Waywarden's High, the hill that was made their meeting point. The hill was half overgrown by the forest, so it was naturally easy to hide there.

To protect her from possible traps, Jack didn't ride with Katherine in the front. Instead, he was at the middle of the group, embracing her with one strong arm, while holding the reigns with the other.

"If you dare do anything improper to her, I'll cut your hands off", Jack warned gruffly. "Don't forget that she is your Lady."

The slightly younger soldier nodded while trying hard to suppress his grin. All soldiers were amused the whole way because of Jack's strange behavior. They weren't used to their commander caring for a girl until he was all gentle and silly.

The King's two most loyal guards stopped Jack and his companions until Lady Orchid, who had brought the King out of the palace, confirmed their identity. Knowing Nathaniel, she of course had contact with his best soldiers once or twice.

"Did you find her?", she asked anxiously. "Where is she?"

Grimly, Jack nodded. "We found her. But -"

"Thank the goddess!", Lady Orchid exclaimed before he could end his sentence. "Bring her in! Fast!"

As she swirled around to enter the cave again, Jack gripped her wrist. The King's two guards instantly drew their swords, but Jack ignored them. "She can't heal him."

"What? Why?" Lady Orchid looked like she would break into tears every second. "He is dying while we talk. She must do something!"

Jack tried to sound as gentle as possible. He hated it to make women cry, especially beautiful ones, but there was no way around the truth. "She was gravely injured. She can't heal anyone right now."

Jack didn't know what to do. He just let go of her and scratched his neck awkwardly. That was when a maid ran out of the cave. "Milady! Milady, the King! You - you need to come back!"

Helplessly, Jack looked on as Lady Orchid returned into the cave. However, when the mistress of the King was at the entrance, she turned around once more. Her voice was feeble. "You might bring her in. She can - can rest better inside."