Foresaken Lovers

Chapter Two

Moving as quickly as Bri was able, we moved past the guards. Making sure our steps were quiet was the hardest part because of Bri’s lack of energy. And I couldn’t carry her completely as it would make too much noise. Bri could only do so much for us right now. Usually, she’d be able to shield us all completely, masking any noise we made, though it still takes a toll on her energy. Now she could only shield us from sight.

Slow though it may have been, we managed to get past the guards without a problem. But we only got a few meters from the dungeon opening when she collapsed, unconscious. Her magic sputtered and winked out like a candle in the wind. I hear the guards turn to investigate the sound and someone starts yelling. Darien winced and Collins let out a string of obscenities under his breath.”Well,” I say. “So much for subtlety.” Hoisting Bri up in my arms I start running. Collins and Darien run in another direction, more than likely to hide in trees and pick off the guards. They sometimes remind me of vultures.

I purposely run slower than I usually would. Sure I didn’t want to get us captured again, but I had to do one last thing.

Bursting through the underbrush, a cliff comes into view, dropping off into a rushing river. Letting out a sigh as I look out on the horizon, I set Bri down on the edge of the cliff and turn halfway, finding a small force of soldiers behind me. A person who appeared to be their leader stepped up.

“I don’t know, nor do I care how you escaped, but all that matters is that we have you right where we want you,” he says, a smirk coming to his face. I smirk as well.

“So, you’ve caught me. What do you want with me now?” I ask.

“I don’t think that you should be concerned with that. Either way, you're going to die.” I close my eyes in deep thought.

“You know, I don’t really understand what laws I broke,” I say before opening my eyes again. “Enlighten me will ya?” The leaders’ expression turns sour.

“You were conspiring with the spawn of the devil!” he yells. I give an exasperated sigh.

“What makes people with magic ‘spawn of the devil’?”

“The Court-” I cut him off.

“Right, the sadists in the castle told you that. I forget that you guys are their lapdogs.”

“I would advise you to hold your tongue you barbarian.”

“If I’m going to die anyway I might as well say what I want,” I snap. “Face it, you follow the Court like chicks behind their mother. All you do is whatever the court wants you to, and you get nothing but phony respect in return. You're just pawns, disposable and replaceable.” The soldiers began to murmur amongst each other while the leader seethes in anger.

“I told you to shut your f*****g mouth!” the man bellows before coming at me with his sword. I smirk.

Nudging her with my foot, I knock Bri off the edge of the cliff, and as the man comes to strike at me, I tip over the edge. He stumbles as he stops just in time to keep him from tipping over after us.

Wrapping Bri in my arms, I hold her against my chest as we plummet into the river, its ice-cold water surrounding us. Usually, I’d be complaining about it, but honestly, I was too happy to be somewhat clean again.

We washed up on the bank of the southern part of the forest of Adag. The forest was out of the human territory, so we were finally safe. At least for now.

Coughing up a good chunk of the river, I go over and help Bri expel her share of it. She lets out a series of coughs as she comes to consciousness. She squints up at me, then at the river then back to me. “You nearly got us drowned, didn’t you?” she asks.

“We just went for a leisurely swim. I don't know what you're talking about.” I say, smiling. Bri smiles too and weakly hits my arm. I laugh at her antics and get off of her. “Come on, we gotta get back to camp before Collins and Darien think I got us captured again.” Sticking an arm out to help her, she grabs it and uses it to pull herself up.

I continue to support her as we make our way through the forest. The familiar sights and sounds around us bring an unexpected sigh of content to my lips. Bri squeezes my hand.

”It’s good to be back, huh?” she teases. I scrunch my face up at her.

”Yeah, but I would enjoy it while you can. Once Aeson finds out, he’ll kill you. ” Bri just swats my arm.

”Yeah, well you're gonna get an earful from Collins, he’s pissed at you.” I shrug.

”Wouldn’t be the first time.”