The Courier’s Collection

Chapter 36

36

“Your Highness, you must take shelter in the bunker, you’re not safe here.” Several of the guards arrived to take him.

“No, wait, she’s one of the last surviving princesses,” Bashir said.

Lu reached up and gently ran a bloody finger along her cheek.

“I’m sorry, my love,” he whispered.

“No, no, don’t leave me.” Chiza’s tears were running down her face.

“I don’t want to.” Lu choked as blood filled his lungs. “You’re the love of my life.” He choked and looked at Rasha, an unspoken question in his eyes. His thoughts were with his family and she knew what she had to do.

“Of course I will, I’ll look out for all of them,” she promised.

Jak reached out and touched Lu’s shoulder.

“Rest, my friend. All will be well.”

Temi hadn’t moved, his head resting on Lu’s knees until his last breath. When Lu was gone, he howled with a cry of grief that was heart wrenching. Rasha wanted to scream with anger but she held on tight to it. She’d use it, as she always did.

“How many beasts are left?” she asked the guard.

“Maybe a dozen. They’re concentrated on the east gate.”

Rasha nodded to Jak, and he stood with her. They’d grieve for Lu later.

“Get her to safety,” Jak said to Bashir as he pulled Chiza up from the floor.

Prince Bashir took Chiza’s hand and led her away from Lu’s body, dragging her along after the guard, through a passageway hidden in the walls. Rasha and Jak went to the east gate. The guards had made some headway and there were fewer than a dozen when they arrived.

There were even more types of beasts here. One that looked like a polar bear already cut in several places that was mauling one of the guards became Rasha’s first target. She put her blades in the back of the beast and it let go of its victim. It tried to swing around to get her but couldn’t lay paws on her. Finally, the animal collapsed.

Rasha and Jak fought for another two hours, taking down more bull-men, wolves, and bird-men. The last of them, one bird-man and a wolf, retreated before they could get to them. The remaining guards yelled in triumph. Rasha didn’t feel triumphant. She dropped to her knees, even her anger spent.

Jak must have seen it because he sheathed his sword and went to her.

“Let’s get you some rest.”

It was only then that Rasha realized the hour. It had already been dark for some time. She followed Jak back to the castle, and when they entered the foyer Lu’s body was still there. Temi was standing over him, growling at the servants who were trying to move him. Rasha moved to catch Temi. He fussed and whined, but the servants were at last able to wrap Lu’s body and lift him up.

“Where will you take him?”

“The prince insists that he be given a proper sendoff. He’ll be cleaned up and placed on the front lawn with the rest of the guard who perished and burned at dawn.”

Rasha ran the bath and made the water as hot as she could stand. The entire floor was empty now. It had felt like walking through a tomb. There was no laughter, no talking, nothing. She’d gone straight to her room, with Temi following, and locked the door behind her. Temi lay whimpering under the bed.

When the bath water was ready, she climbed in. The water turned dark as she washed the blood from her skin and hair. She let the tears fall as she sat there, wishing she had been a little faster. Maybe there was something more she should have done to save Lu. Her mind wouldn’t rest until she’d gone over every possibility.

She emptied the bath and rinsed it. She couldn’t stand to look at the blood. Rasha wrapped herself up in a towel instead of looking for something to wear. She climbed into the bed and curled up in a ball, waiting for the grief to stop. She didn’t want to, but she’d have to go and tell Lu’s family. Temi came to her and rested his head on the edge of the bed. When had he gotten big enough to do that?

Temi sniffed at her and gave her the saddest eyes she’d ever seen, the poor beastie. She’d never imagined he’d outlive Lu. She rubbed a hand over his face and neck. He didn’t purr, but he did seem to settle. She closed her eyes and fell asleep with her hand on Temi’s face.

Rasha woke to arms around her and warm breath on the back of her neck. Jak was on top of the covers and had wrapped himself around her. He smelled of soap. Rasha just lay for a moment, soaking up his warmth. Taking comfort in having someone’s arms around her, protecting her.

She liked Jak, more than she wanted to admit. Maybe he’d consider being her new partner. He was no Lu, but he was good in a fight. She’d seen it firsthand. He’d slain as many beasts as she had and she’d seen how fast he moved with his sword. He’d been graceful and lethal at the same time.

She slipped out of the bed and wrapped herself in the towel again. She couldn’t bear to put on her bloodied clothes again, so she went to the closet and found a gown in a beautiful blue she could wear. She changed in the bathroom. When she came out, Jak lay on his back, awake and watching her.

“You look stunning,” he said.

She felt her face warm at the compliment. To avoid any more of that, she picked up a hairbrush and handed it to him. She settled herself on the edge of the bed and he sat up to brush her hair. After a while, she pulled it to one side and turned to face him.

“How did you get in here? I’m sure I locked the door.”

Jak shrugged. “Locked doors are just an invitation to try harder to get in, because there’s something of value inside.” He ran a finger down the side of her cheek.

“What are we going to do now?” she asked.

“I’ve been wondering the same thing. We need to make sure that Bashir and Chiza are secured and then find the council. They must know something about these attacks. Maybe the king and queen knew this was coming.”

Rasha nodded. That was sound. She should have thought of Chiza and Bashir. In the confusion, she didn’t have time to process what had happened to them. Rasha couldn’t imagine the grief Chiza must be feeling. Like it or not, everything they’d thought would happen had changed. Rasha had no idea how much things would change for her until she found the council.