The Assasin's Princess

Who did it?

        Amar arrived quickly with the doctor and Mora moved back to give him room to work. He felt of Dorban’s chest and then felt of his ribs, “holy hell!” Dorban’s shout shook the whole room.

        “Easy now young man, you’ve got some cracked ribs.” The doctor pulled out a bottle and said, “this should help with the pain and help you rest. The more you move the longer it will take to heal your wounds.”

        Dorban looked over at Morakai, “have you got my back?”

        “Your Highness, you have my word. I have your back.”

        Dorban grimaced at the smell of the bottle’s contents. He slowly drank down the liquid and coughed so hard he almost choked on it. “Heaven’s that was awful.”

        “He should sleep fro the next day or two, you stay in bed.” The doctor instructed as he stood and gathered his equipment.

        “He will,” the Queen agreed.

        “Mora,” Dorban swallowed and yawned. “I want you to stay close to mother. I am getting one of your feelings.”

        “What about staying at your side?” She asked as she took his hand and caressed his cheek. His eyes were fighting to stay open already.

        “I will stay with him Amoran, no worries.” Morakai said as he came to her side of the bed standing over them.

        “I will stay until he falls asleep at least.” The Queen nodded her agreement and settled down into the lounge chair not far from the bed. Mora turned over her shoulder to Amar. “Amar, would you find us all something to drink please?”

        “Of course your Highness,” she left and not long after returned with a bottle of wine and several glasses. She served the Queen first who took a long drink. She brought a glass to Mora and Morakai. Their fingers brushed against each other as she handed Morakai his.

        “Thank you,” he saluted her slightly with it before taking a drink.

        “You are welcome your Highness.” Amar blushed a deep color as she backed away.

        “My sister was right, you are beautiful.”

        “Morakai, don’t dabble there unless you mean it.” Mora warned.

        “Oh, I do. She is a very pretty thing. She’d make a perfect wife some day.” He grinned as he took another drink, winking at Amar from behind his cup.

        “Always the ladies man,” Mora took another drink and looked down at Dorban’s face. “Are you feeling better yet my love?”

        He blinked several times and sighed, “I am getting drowsy. I can hardly stay awake.”

        “You need to sleep.” She insisted

        “Give me a kiss first?” She pressed her lips to his, “I love you.”

        “I love you Dorban.” And finally he was asleep.

        The Queen came to his side and kissed his forehead. Mora gathered his mother and Amar and ushered them to the door. She stopped at the door and glanced back at the two men one last time.

        “I will keep him safe Amoran.” Morakai put his hand on her shoudler and swore to her.

        “If you don’t, I will rip you apart by hand.” She warned, her brother shivered in response as she shut the door behind her.

        Morakai waited until the door was shut to go stand over Dorban’s still body. He had grappled with this man, wrestled like gladiators to the death. He was a trained, accomplished assassin and this man was not. Just an hour earlier he had tried his hardest to be one.

        “You have earned my trust and respect great prince. Call on me if you ever need help.” He sighed as he plopped down on the lounge chair. He noticed the dresses everywhere, he picked one up and looked at it. This man must love his sister, he had given her a brand new wardrobe the one joy his sister had. He tossed it back down with a laugh, this guy was whipped already.

        “Mora it will be all right, Dorban will mend.” The Queen was watching her pace back and forth. She had begun wearing a path in the floor since she had closed the door to the Queen’s chambers.

        “I know he will, that isn’t what has me so worried.” Mora finally stopped, “it is something Dorban said to me.”

        “I don’t understand?”

        “On my brother’s ship Dorban said that it may be good to have another assassin on his side. And then he said that he had one of MY feelings, that he wanted me to protect you. He knew something could happen to him, but now it could spill over onto you.”

        “What would make him think something like that?”    

        “He said that every time he’s sick or hurt someone tries to take his life. I think someone is trying to get rid of you and your family.”

        “Does that mean your brother is involved?” The Queen stood from her chair, she was now growing worried.

        “No, he was an accident that may have saved Dorban’s life. If I am right something will happen soon. That is why I left Morakai with Dorban while he sleeps”

        “You trust your brother with this?” The Queen asked, hoping Mora didn’t take it the wrong way.

        “Morakai knows that if he does not keep Dorban safe I will kill him myself.”

        “Well, I am worn to a frazzle. I am going to bed.” The Queen sighed as she went to open her closet door, the hairs on the back of Mora’s neck stood on end. She stopped her and motioned for her to be quiet.

        She eased the woman away from the door and pulled her knife as she reached for the doorknob. She jerked the door open, a large blade came arching down at her chest. She grabbed the hand that held it and side stepped the blade. Her own knife sunk into the base of the man’s neck and he fell to the floor dead.

“Are you all right?” The Queen exclaimed, pulled her back from the body oozing out onto the carpeting.

        “If they would try this against you, surely they have tried on Dorban too.”

        “Let’s go. I won’t be able to rest until I know Dorban is safe.” All three women rushed back down the dark hallways. Mora burst through their door, “Dorban!”

        Dorban stood, hung over Morakai’s shoulders, holding his side. They were on the far side of the bed, with a body lying face down over the bed that lay in shambles now. There was a gash on Morakai’s arm and his sword stuck in the bodies back.

        “I am all right,” he groaned as Mora helped ease him into the chair, “heavens I am exhausted.”

        “Are you sure?” Mora looked him over, he was unharmed.

        “It’s amazing how fast one wakes up when someone screams bloody murder.” He tried to laugh and only groaned at his efforts.

        “You are hurt.” Amar took Morakai’s arm in her hands, the forearm was heavily slashed.

        “It is nothing, I have had far worse.” He shrugged, but she wasn’t letting it go.

        “Sit and I will mend it before it becomes infected.” She gathered rags and brought the wash bowl close. With his arm resting off the end of his knee he let her wipe it clean and wrap it tight. “Does that feel all right?”

        “It is a good field dressing.” He flexed his hand, and moved his arm to test the wrap. “Where did you learn how to do that?”

        “My mother was a physician’s assistant before she died.” She gathered the unused supplies, shrugging, “I watched her when she worked.”

        “And your father?” He asked, watching her in curiosity.

        “He was a drunk.” Her short answer and tone surprised him.

        “Truly a pity. I am sure he missed out on watching his daughter grow into a fine woman.” His sister arguing with Dorban broke their gaze from each other.

        “Dorban, at least put your feet up.” Mora was scolding him as she stood over the lounge chair.

        “I don’t want to sleep in a chair. Let me up.”

        “No.” She pushed him back down, “you don’t have a choice.”

        He growled in frustration as he threw his feet up in the lounge chair. From this angle he see down the front of Mora’s dress. “Where is your knife?”

        “Morakai isn’t the only one to kill someone tonight. A man tried to kill your mother.” Mora stated simply as she lay a blanket over Dorban. “It was still in the man’s neck last I saw it.”

        “He could have killed you too.” Amar chimed in.

        “What did she say?” Dorban was half up out of the chair in a second.

        “I avoided the blade. I was perfectly safe.”

        “So I was right, they were after her too.” He asked as he eased back into the chair at Mora’s cross look.

        “It seems that way son.” His mother spoke up, shaking her head at the idea alone. “Dorban why did you not ever say anything to me about it?”

        “I didn’t want to get you involved, at the time I thought it was something that I could handle on my own.”

        “Well at least tell me who is behind it, so I know what to watch out for.”

        “I can’t. You wouldn’t believe me if I did.” And with those words he passed out again.

        “I’ll never find out now, he won’t tell me.” The Queen threw her hands up in frustration.

        “Let’s think about it, how many times has Dorban been ill or hurt?” Mora tried to calm the Queen who was now pacing.

        “Maybe half a dozen times since his father died, why?”

        “Were any of them mysterious in nature? Did he fall ill suddenly and without warning? Did he have an unexplained accident?” Mora questioned.

        The Queen went quiet, an odd look crossed her face and it went pale, “they all were. Why didn’t I see this before? He could have died.”

        “When did that General Bana come to be here?” Morakai asked.

        “A few years ago, after all of this started.”

        “No, it isn’t Bana.” Mora shook her head. “Dorban knows who it is and he is trying to protect them even though they want him dead. There is only one person that could have been there from the beginning who is still around now.”