Forty six

It’s been close to two hours after we left that I started to feel relaxed and not vigilant about our environment even those Orel had informed me more than a couple of times that our guards were further down the pathway and for anybody to reach us on the small cave where we lay.

“Are you sure that I am well protected?” Orel jokes as I laid down beside him when my fears were laid to rest and I could actually relax.

“Shut up.” I mumbled as Orel laughs at my grudging accepting voice. “You know that I was always protect you.”

“I know.” my whispered answer was a breathe barely heard, I wasn’t expecting Orel to switch the intensity in his tone that way but he did.

“Good, now rest.” He ordered, I would have argued but he was right, I needed to rest, I was feeling more tired recently and although I should be worried but I wasn’t, it wasn’t enough to go to Dyane yet and even if it was something serious, Dyane could cure it.

“Wake me if we need to go.” I yawn my reply.

“Of course, I cannot break my back with your weight.” Orel said with his eyes dancing but the lure of sleep was too thick for me to give him a sassy reply.
* * * *

“Themis run.” The urgency behind Orel voice and my skin prickling with danger was what made my eyes to open.

The scene before me was a dreaded one, Orel was bleeding for one shoulder while fighting sluggishly as if he was poisoned. A couple of warriors whose clothing and armory were not ours were attacking Orel, I took the scene before me within a second as I grabbed my sword and rolled away from my sleeping position.

Not a second too late it appeared as a couple of arrows pierced the ground where I was moments earlier. I traced the direction the arrows were come from and when I saw another warrior drawing back his bow, I sent my dagger flying to him as I got up from the ground and raced to my husband.

“Run.” Orel ordered me as he blocked a hit from reaching me.

“I will not leave you.” I tell him just as I slice through the neck of one of the warriors who was close to bringing a sword down Orel back.

In protecting Orel from that hit, I left myself opened as I was back handed from another warrior, I fell at the force dazed, when my vision cleared, I saw that I was not attacked even though I was down. I would have been easily killed but I was left alone. Their major focus was in bringing Orel down.

That was when I realized that with Orel down, I was easy picking. I would be killed easily by any of them. If some of them are here, someone needed to warn the army, the army will be expected a battle. What it will not expect is poisoned water or subtle attack. The army could be killed at their vulnerable, they needed to be warned.

“I cannot hold them much longer Themis, run.” Orel roared at me as his words jerked my body into action.

I ran past Orel who was busy fighting as I strike one of the warriors down and when another turned to face me leaving the group that was fighting Orel, I ran without looking back and with tears in my eyes as I left my husband. He told me to choose Dar if a decision ever needed to be made between the two. I choose Dar right now because at my core, I was praying that the warriors will not kill Orel, they would keep him alive because he is too valuable as a bargaining chip to be wasted. I was not a bargaining chip but I would live so that Orel will be returned, I turned for the last time to see Orel as an arrow whistled through the air and hit my arm. I released a cry at the blinding pain in my hand but that didn’t stop me from watching Orel strike down the archer and at the same time, he was stabbed from behind. I turned and continued running, not pulling out the arrow, I could not bear the pain and I would not be able to treat myself. The arrow could also be poisoned so Dyane would need a sample of the poison to work with.

When my eyes started to grow heavy, that was when I knew that the arrows were indeed poisoned, I needed to reach the camp as soon as possible, I reached the edge of the trail and saw the dead bodies scattered around, bodies from both sides, signs of a fight was present but I didn’t stay to examine it. I pushed on even though my body wanted nothing more than to stop exerting itself, curl up on the ground and just sleep but my mind knew the importance of being awake and thus I continued the race. I fell so many times and struggled to pick myself up because I was so weak, I was bleeding, not just from my arm that was shot but from between my legs, or so I thought. I really could not stop and examine myself.

I fell over an elevated root from the ground, as much as I tried, I could not raise myself off the ground. Tears wetting my cheeks as I cried silently. I tried my best to keep conscious but the pain throbbing on my arm and the poison was too much. I faded in and out of consciousness, I lost all sense of time. The sky was growing dim and that was how I found Boan face peering into mine.

“Lady Themis…” he called, his voice wobbling or was it my hearing… I had no idea.

I wanted to say thank goodness or tell him about Orel but my mouth wasn’t cooperating. The pain… too much. This time when the blackout came, I welcomed it knowing that I was safe.

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The next time I faded into consciousness was to hear the raised voice of Elison and to feel the touch of Dyane.

“You have to heal her.”

“I know Elison, I know. I am trying my best.” Dyane replies. The sleep was still too heavy for me so I gave into the lure.

*********************************************************************

I became aware of the sounds around me even though I could not raise my body. The voices… they were achingly familiar… they were arguing. The noise was too much.

“It was just an arrow, I done see why she is not yet awake even a week after the incident.”

“Should I shoot you with a poisoned arrow so that we will see how you fare?” Elison asked.

“Besides she is pregnant, she almost lost the child. That would have strained any woman more than anything.” Dyane voice sounded next.

“Still, I don’t think that she should still be asleep. We need to know what is going on, we can force her to wake up to learn if she was in collaboration with those people that took the warlord and what are their plans.”

“Leave commander, before I decide to run a sword through you to save myself the stress of hearing your disgusting words.” Elison ordered.

I smiled at his words… well I tried to pull my lips into a smile but they felt too heavy. The Darkness is welcoming me again, I succumbed to it before I could hear the reply of the commander.

****************************************************
The next time I was conscious, I was stronger. Still weak but strong.
“It’s been two weeks. I am worried.” Dyane hushed voice replied.

“Are you certain that the poison left her body entirely?” Elison asked.

“Yes, I am sure.” Dyane said worried.

“Then all we can do is hope.” Elison said.

I was stronger, maybe that meant that my body will obey my command. Using my strength I forced my eyelids open, it took multiple tries, sweat gathered on my brows as I tried but I finally forced my eyes opened.

“Look Elison. Her eyes are opened.” Dyane cried in happiness and as she and Elison crowded my place of rest. I wish I could tell them that I was okay. I wish that at least smile at them but the strength I felt was no more. I needed to sleep and so my eyes closed as I went back to sleep.

****************************************

When I woke up this time, it was to no disturbance, I knew I have been fed as much as I could have been but my limbs were weak, I could do nothing. I tried to call out but my throat was scratchy from the lack of use. When a voice humming came close, I managed to call out as strongly as I could in my weakened state.

“H-hell-pp” the humming stopped as the person came closer so I tried again despite the protests of my throat. “Hel-p, m- me-e.” The person shrieked and ran away from the tent. I sighed as I waited in silence for the people she will report to come and look at me.

It wasn’t long before the tent flap was pulled back and Elison stepped into the tent with Dyane. Dyane rushed to get me water but I held Elison gaze even as his turned misty with tears.

“Welcome to the land of the living Warlady.” He said.