Her King Of Shadows

Chapter XXII.

She managed to sleep for two hours and before she knew it, it was time to get up. But each time she tried she would crumble from pain. She had never felt anything like this before. They never hurt her like this in one year she had been in the desert. She heard other servants leaving for the fort. She was supposed to leave with them. If she stayed behind she would be late. And that would bring her another punishment she couldn’t handle. She gathered all her strength and managed to get up, holding to the wall. It didn’t matter to her that she was wearing the same clothes as yesterday, or that her hair was a mess. She didn’t eat or drink because all she wanted was to return to the fort and start her day. Slowly and carefully she came to the entrance. The main door was closed but she managed to open it. Her breathing was fast and shallow. When she opened the door her eyes shook in fear. Was she already late? Is this really happening?

Rishon was staring at her from the door. His blue eyes were watching her as if she was his prey. She wanted to pull away but she couldn’t. She was holding the wall with one hand and the other was covering her right side.

- I'm not late yet. I still have some time.-she was sure of it. At first, he didn’t understand what she was saying. He had spent most of the evening watching her fighting with pain. Telling himself that she would be fine by morning. It was just a couple of kicks. But now, seeing her like this, he knew he was wrong.

-So you're taking a day off, Lady Alexandra?-he asked in the same tone as usual. Shana leaned her back to the wall, aware that she couldn't stay on her feet. It hurt her so much.

-I think I'm going to take sick leave. I have had a rough night.-she whispered. He liked the way she always answered him. Never allow him to get to her. He stood over her looking at her pale face. There was a bruise on the left side of her jaw. He put his hand on her shoulder. She was really thin. All he could feel was bones.

-Lets get you to a healer.-he said not making jokes anymore. He didn’t want to waste more time.

-You go first. I will join you a little later. I just need to catch my breath.-she said, not accepting his help. She thought it was some kind of a trick. Why would he help her? He leaned over her and picked her up in his hands. Her head was resting against his shoulder.

-If we wait for you very soon you will not need a healer.-he concluded, taking her outside. She noticed Asher waiting for them outside.

-Do you want one of the warriors to carry her?-he asked, looking at them. Rishon just waived his head.

-Remind me to put her on a special diet after this. She is too heavy for a small girl she pretends to be.-he proceeded with his insults. Shana just closed her eyes, trying not to think where she was and who was touching her. He carried her back to the fort, not caring about the looks he was getting. They had never seen him carrying another person before. Much less a girl. And Asher was walking next to him with a smile on his face as if it was all a joke.

-Do you really want to help her?-he asked quietly while they were entering the fort. Rishon didn’t look at him.

-My men have hurt her. And you have been allowing this for too long.-he reminded him of his duties. Asher bowed his head.

-Forgive me. I did not know she was under your protection.-he answered. Rishon stopped in the middle of the hall. His hands were still carrying her like she was nothing. He could feel each bone in her body and how light she was in his arms. Maybe half of the girl she was before. And a part of him could not take it anymore. They have done this to her. And what had she done to them? She healed them. She helped them. She dedicated her time and effort to helping everyone. What did she get in return? Kicks, slaps and hunger.

-It has been enough!-he yelled. His second in command bowed his head in defeat. It was a long time ago since he heard this voice being used.

Everybody stopped what they were doing in fear of what was to come. There was power in those words. The power of a leader out of patience with his men. He felt Shana shaking in his arms. She covered her head with her hands, expecting a new blow to come. What have they done to her? Is this how she was treated all the time?

-We cant trust her.-Asher spoke after a long pause. -We don’t even know who she is.-he explained his suspicions. Rishon knew why he was doing this. His friend was trying to protect him. It seemed that the past was beginning to repeat itself.

-I know.-He turned his back to them and took her to one of the guest rooms.

She was clean, in fresh clothes, her wounds taken care of and on some strong pain medication. Not to mention she was sitting on a nice soft bed. Actually, the bed was too soft for her to be able to sleep in it. Not after she had spent the last year sleeping on the floor. Three days. That is how long the healer has given her time away from her duties. In three days her injuries should be tolerable enough for her to resume cleaning and scrubbing. But she took what was offered to her. She didn’t have a choice. It was already late in the night. Most of the fort was already sleeping. But she didn’t dare go to sleep. Thinking about her life. Thinking about her father and brother. Missing them so much that it almost broke her heart. Davon would never let anyone hurt her. He would never allow anyone to stand in his way. He was the best brother she could have.

The doors silently opened. But instead of Rishon she saw Ashers' dark eyes. He went inside as if he owned the place. She had to be more careful with him. He was a warrior that didn’t play. He would say whatever was in his mind.

-Lady Alexandra.-he looked at her coming closer to the bed. Instinctively she backed up in bed. Ready to move at any moment if needed to run away from him. He noticed that and a small smile came on his face. He loved causing fear to other people.

-For what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?-Shana tried to sound brave. Her eyes looked at him with some new strength. She wasn’t protected in this place, but she decided not to be a coward. The only thing they could do for her was to kill her. Asher now stepped to the window as if thinking about what he wanted to say. But the story was ready in his mind.

-You know about her.-he concluded. Shana observed his back. This was not a night to tell lies. She very well knew who he was talking about.

-I have heard only rumours.-she whispered. Asher nodded his head.

-That is why I don’t believe you. And I will never trust you. I think you were sent here to finish the job.-it was all clear to him.

-Would a leader like him send a child?-she avoided mentioning Araphels name.

- A leader like him would do anything to finish his job.-he knew better than her.

-I am not a spy and I wasn’t sent here. You have found me in the desert. I had run away from my escort.-she stuck to her story. He looked back at her.

-So why is nobody looking for you?-he wanted to know. There was silence after that question. She hated herself because her eyes filled with tears. Nobody ever calling for her. Not her brother. Not her father. Not even Araphel. This is now little she meant for all of them. She looked at her own hands. Tired and cold. Her own hair falling on her shoulders. She was not the proud girl that left her father's home. She had become a servant. A laborer. Fate never gave warnings to people.

-I don’t know.-she said the truth. -I had hoped that someone would come and take me away. But it didn’t happen. And now I know it will not happen. I am nothing to them. They have abandoned me.-it was her life and she needed to accept it.

-Tell us who you are and we will trust you.-he demanded. The black eyes were in so much pain. Asher knew that she was very close to telling him the truth. She was vulnerable and in pain. She will tell him.

-I cant. Because you will never trust nooone. You know it better than me. You know and remember what you did to her. You and Rishon. How have you hurt her. Even now, years later I can still hear the echos of her screams coming from the basement. Every time I am alone, I hear her begging in my ear. Pleading for mercy. Talking of love.-she stopped herself at the last breath. -She loved him. You know that as much as I do. You were there. You were one of the warriors who broke her. Killed her. Took her heart and presented it to your leader. And now you want to do the same for me. Because you are haunted by what you did to her. To such an extent that you can't stand other women near you. We all remind you of her. We are all full of deceit and lies. We all just want to destroy this place and burn it to the ground. Would you like me to beg for mercy as well? Maybe I will not betray you now, but it will happen. That is how you reason with yourself each night before you go to sleep. When your soul asks you why you did those things to her. When your conscience awakes and takes your heart in its grip. You can repeat over and over again that we are all just enemies that need to be destroyed. Burned. Disfiguored. And then our bodies sent to our families so they could die too.-she gave him her all. All the doubts and fears he carried in his heart. All the regret and sorrow of his life and his actions for which there was no forgiveness. And he listened with a mask of reservation on his face. But in his heart he was hurting. Now she waited for him to come and finish the job his warriors had started. Because they were under his orders and nothing happened in this place without him knowing about it. They both saw that in each others eyes. He got to the bed and already raised his hand to hit her. She closed her eyes just for a second, preparing herself for pain.

-Asher.-Rishon's voice interrupted them. It was perfectly calm and clear. Asher pulled back, breathing heavily. Looked at his leader and silently left the room. Rishon stood at the door. He listened to their entire conversation. But there were no feelings in him. It seemed to Shana like he was already dead.

-It wasn’t her heart that he brought to me Lady Alexandra. We have looked well but there was no heart in her.-he said to her, leaving her alone.