Chapter 171
"You bastards," Miriam muttered, gripping her makeshift spear.
I felt my pulse roar in my ears. I kissed my son's damp forehead. "You stay strong for me, little one, please."
Aldric took a step forward. "You don't have to do this. Queen Arin as already given up the throne. Her son is small and weak, let her live. Have you no sympathy for your queen?"
The tallest man snorted. "He doesn't want her gone. He wants her dead. He wants to make sure there's no heir left to challenge him."
I stepped out then, still holding my child. My knees were shaking, but I held my head high.
"Then he should've killed me himself, he's a coward for making promises and breaking them."
"Your Majesty!" Miriam hissed, grabbing at my arm.
But I kept walking until I stood before them, eyes blazing.
"You want to kill us?" I said. "Fine. This is the baby. Your Alpha King's heir. You know he's coming back in two days right?! Kill his son then! Let's see if you live to tell the tale. He's already aware that his son is born, what do you think will happen when he comes back and doesn't find his heir?"
They hesitated. The baby whimpered, then let out a sharp cry.
"She's bluffing, The Alpha King is never coming back," one of the men muttered.
"But he is! A letter arrived today from the battle field. Did you not hear about it? Or did Lucian not tell you that the alpha King is on his way back?"
But the leader squinted at me. "If he's really on his way back, why did you agree to leave then? You're lying! You're a lying abomination. You and your son."
"Any last words??"
"Go to hell," I snarled.
Before I could take another breath, Miriam lunged. She drove the stick straight into one of the men's legs. He screamed. Chaos erupted.
Aldric grabbed a flaming branch from the smothered fire and swung it, forcing the men back. I ran, clutching my son, ducking behind trees as the scuffle intensified.
"You'll regret this!" the leader howled.
Aldric grunted, shoving him away.
"Go, Arin!" Miriam shouted. "Run!"
"I'm not leaving you!"
"You have to get the baby away!"
I didn't want to, but the sound of steel clashing against wood and the cry of my son in my arms pushed me forward. I ran through the woods blindly, branches tearing at my dress, stones cutting into my bare feet.
I didn't stop until I couldn't hear the fighting anymore.
I dropped to my knees, panting, shielding my baby with my body.
His fevered little face peeked out at me, whimpering softly.
"I've got you," I whispered. "I've got you. No matter what, I'll keep you safe."
Behind me, I heard someone crash through the underbrush.
I turned, heart racing.
It was Miriam. Blood on her cheek, her dress torn, but alive. Her hand was on her tummy, and was bleeding, very badly.
"Miriam! You're hurt!"
"It's fine," she said, breathless. "Aldric told me to run, that he'll distract them. He should be behind me."
A moment later, Aldric stumbled into view, holding his side.
"You okay?" I asked, trying to stand.
"I've had better nights," he groaned. "But we're all alive. That counts."
Miriam knelt beside me and checked on the baby. "His fever's a little lower."
I held him tighter. "What about you? Let me see your wound, I can heal you."
I said but Miriam lightly swatted my hand away.
I could see her face getting paler and paler.
I passed the baby to Aldric.
"Hold him for me please."
I murmured.
I turned to Miriam and placed my hand on her belly, channeling as much healing energy as I could, it wasn't enough to completely heal her but it stopped the bleeding. The rest would heal on its own.
"Thank you your highness."
"You're welcome," I turned to Aldric.
"We have to keep moving. We can't stop here."
"Agreed," Aldric said, already packing up the herbs.
"But where to?" Miriam asked.
I looked toward the north. "To the border. There's an old outpost Rowan once told me about, a few wolves are always stationed there at least. Rowan's men. If we make it there, we might find someone to send Rowan a message."
"Then that's where we'll go," Miriam said.
.......................
When we finally reached the outpost Rowan had spoken of, my legs nearly gave out beneath me. The place looked abandoned, quiet, lifeless, and eerie beneath the pale morning light. The wind whispered through the empty buildings, shutters creaked, and there wasn't a single soul in sight.
"Where is everyone?" I asked, adjusting my son in my arms. His skin was still warm but not burning. He whimpered softly.
Aldric stepped ahead, his brows furrowed. "It's too quiet. There should be guards stationed here, it's war time."
Miriam looked around uneasily. "Maybe they pulled out. If the war is over or if something happened..."
"I need to know for sure," Aldric muttered.
"What are you saying?" I asked.
He turned to me. "Let me go. I'll go past the borders, try to find where the battlefield moved, or if it's really finished."
"No," I said instantly, shaking my head. "We just got here. You're tired, you're hurt, what if the place is crawling with Braamin soldiers? What if the war is still on?"
"I can handle myself," Aldric said gently. "If the war really is over, I'll bring back news. If it's not... you and Miriam stay hidden here until help comes."
I hesitated, tightening my hold on the baby. "You won't come back hurt?"
"I'll come back alive," he promised, giving a small smile. "You need answers, Your Majesty. Let me get them."
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