Queen Bee

Pay Back

    Before I can react, one of the people in a black mask attacks the guard next to me. He tried to flee, but it caught short with a knife to his neck. I try to back away slowly, hoping nobody notices me, but I run into a thick body behind me. I laugh nervously, shooting the brute of a man a half smile before darting around him. He catches my arm and I feel a pop as he swings me back around. My butt lands on the dirt, the coldness of the dirt acting as a rock against me. I wince just in time for him to pull be back up again and shove a bag over my head. 

    "What do you want? I can pay you!" I plead with them as strong arms drag me away. 

    "We want you to get what you deserve, Princess." They're Astarian, but not from around here. They have an accent that I can't seem to pin a location to. 

    "What did I ever do to you!? I can give you money!" I repeat the money part, hoping that changes their minds. 

    "You killed a comrade, so now you'll die." My mind goes blank, then memories flood me. After everything that happened, my thoughts go back to that town Sawney, Olivier, and I stopped in on our way here. Those people that kidn*pped up and...and the boy I killed with my knife. I shudder at the memory as I'm lifted up onto something. Lots of grumbling and bouncing ensue before we begin moving. I feel the now cold wind in my hair and assume were on a wagon of some sort. 

    "I didn't kill him." I lie, gritting my teeth.

    "How'd you know it was a 'him'?" I don't say anything. 

    "Half of us were there before we left you in his care. We checked the other two you were travelling with for weapons, but they were clean. We didn't check you." A gruff voice chimes in, snickering. 

    "I..." Think, Adela, think! 

    "We also know Sawney would have better aim." Sawney? A small wave of laughter echoes through the group and I know longer feel the coldness of the wind, just an unsettling feeling in my chest as I realize these men are going to kill me. 

    "How do you know Sawney?" Silence, for once. 

    "I asked you a question-"

    "Quiet."

    "Why, if you're going to take me prisoner and kill me at least-"

    "I said shut it!" A large hand cuffs around my mouth, killing any airflow to my nose as well. My hand flies up to try to pry it off, but I'm not strong enough. 

    "They're after us." I hear as the men stand in unison and the wagon lurches to a stop. 

    "Get her out and meet us back at camp, alright?" A voice says, and the one belonging to my strangler replies accordingly. I gasp when he removes his hand, then feel as he picks me up and jumps down. 

    "I'd like to take the bag off my head." 

    "If you keep talking I'm going to kill you before the others can." I shut up, hoping to live through this. I chucked to the ground and feel my butt get bruised again. There's a lapse of eerie silence before the man says anything again. 

    "Alright, we're gonna-" before he can finish, the whir of an arrow buzzes past my ears and a gargling sound takes over his mouth. I quickly take the sack off my head and stand, startled at the sight of the dead body in front of me. An arrow is lodged in his throat, blood seeping out like a waterfall. I look around to see where it came from, the sound of my heart drumming in my ears. 

    "Sawney?" I call out as his figure emerges from the shadows with a bow. He smiles arrogantly, back in his usual uniform. 

    "Now I think it's time you start telling me whats going on." He raises his eye brows, slinging the bow over his shoulders. I open my mouth in response, but another attack flies past. This time its a small knife, barely nicking Sawney's ear. Hes quick to the ground, rolling back up in a more defensive position with the bow notched with an arrow. 

    "Who is it!? Come out and fight me like a man!" His words are bold, but I sense the slight falter in them as he circles around me. 

    "I can't." Replies a...feminine voice?

    "And why is that, scared you'll lose?" 

    "No, because I don't fight like a man." The woman from Frense castle steps out with a knife in hand. She's the one who was having the conversation with Jules and looks strangely Astarian. Sawney stands in surprise. 

    "You're a girl." He says, ever-so-perceptively. 

    "And? The name's Dar"

    "I don't fight girls." He begins putting his bow away when she lunges, tackling him to the ground in front of me. Too stunned to do anything, I watch as she brings the knife up to his neck. 

    "Why? Scared you'll lose?" Sawney lets out a huff before pushing her off. He barely has time to stand back up before shes at him again, slinging her knife at his stomach. He fumbles his sword out from its sheath, parrying her attacks as fast as he can. She stays clsoe, making it hard for him to get a good hit in. I snap back, my muscles allowing me to move again. I look around for anything I can use to help, spotting his bow. I pick it up and though its heavy, I manage to place an arrow in the string. I've never actually down this before, but I've seen people do it plenty of time. That should be enough, right? I point it at her and draw back, but they keep moving and I'm afraid to shoot and hit Sawney. 

    "Move out of the way!" He spares a glance at me, ducking from another blow and lets out a yelp. 

    "Put that down, Adela! You're gonna kill us both!" I huff, allowing myself to be slightly annoyed even in a moment like this. 

    "Adela?" I deep voice whispers behind me, distracting me from the fight. My eyes go wide at the side of my father's war general, Doxam, crouching in the bushes. 

    "Doxam?" I reply in surprise, and he puts a finger to his lips. I look back the the two fighting, then quietly join him in the bushes. 

    "You're okay? Where have you been?" I want to ask him where he was when my parents were killed, but stop myself. I'm grateful just to have him here. 

    "I'm fine. I came to get you out of here, but it seems I'm a little late." He casts a glance at Dar and Sawney. 

    "You're never too late."

    "I guess I should stop them." He stands in huff, but I stop him. 

    "No, I think I can." I step over the bushes and push myself in between the two fighters. 

    "Stop it! You both just want me safe, right?"

    "No, but His Majesty does." Dar remarks, blowing a stray piece of her bangs away. 

    "Okay, well you both are here to keep me safe, so why are you fighting?" They look at each other for a moment before Sawney replies "She attacked me first!" 

      "Your done fighting now, understand?" Doxam comes up from behind me. Sawney fumbles once again as he puts the sword away, saluting the general. 

    "Yes, Sir." He takes his place beside me, glaring at Dar. 

    "So what do we do about her?" I step foward. 

    "Look, I don't want anyone to get hurt. So, Dar, as your Queen," she doesn't hide her displeasure as I say it, "I order you to accompany me and my two friends back to the castle." Her sneer makes it look like she wants to kill me, but even so she nods her head and puts her weapon away. 

    "But don't try anything! I'll be watching." She points her finger at me, then the guys before turning around and exiting into the forest. 

    "So what's the plan?" Doxam asks as we begin following behind her. 

    "What plan?" I ask, focusing on not tripping over the tree roots and uneven ground. The leaves cover in the ground in heaps of reds and yellows, making it even harder to not fall. 

    "The plan to, you know, kick out the Frense and take control of the castle again." He responds in a low voice, making sure Dar can't overhear. 

    "I already have control of the castle." His face is blank, but he doesn't say anything. I'm not sure what more there is to say so I move forward. I hear them whisper behind me and pretty soon Doxam runs up to be next to Dar and Sawney takes his place next to me. 

    "So...you're married, huh?" He whistles, awkwardly pushing his hands in his pockets. 

    "Yep."

    "And a queen, huh?"

    "Yes, Sawney." I let annoyance fill my voice. 

    "So you must love him?"

    "Huh?"

    "Love the king, right?" My cheeks flush red and I suddenly find myself hyper focusing on the ground. 

    "I don't know, Sawney."

    "I think you would know if you loved a scum bag or not." His nonchalant tone now turns angry, making me feel the same. 

    "How would you know? And that 'scumbag' your talking about his my husband and your king."

    "I would know because I would never love someone who killed my parents." 

    "He didn't kill my parents!" My voice echoes and the two in front stop to look back at us before continuing on. 

    "How can you say that, Adela? Has he brainwashed you so much that-"

    "Olivier did it."

    "Yeah, right, you're really going to say that?" Its our turn to stop and look at each other in disbelief. 

    "He told me he did. And I believe him." I cast my eyes to the ground, unsure of how Sawney will react. 

    "Then he must have had a good reason." I snap my eyes back to him. 

    "What is wrong with you?"

    "Have you seen the way he looks at you? You would have to be a complete i***t to not see that he loves you." I don't say anything. Partly because I want to believe that its true. We continue on in silence as I focus on not freezing to death. The winds sure can change quickly. 

    "You don't want to loose him, Adela, that's all I'm saying." I remain silent, slightly amazed by Sawney's sudden seriousness. 

    "He's also kind of hot." My mouth opens in shock and Sawney lets out a laugh. 

    "Why would you say that!?" 

    "Just another reason for you not to hate him." His eyes glimmer at my embarrassment. Silently I agree, he is kind of hot.