The Song of Blood and Bone

Chapter Three

It had been a week since her injury and Aliyah was ready for her work again. So she stood in the tavern over looking all the men drinking themselves into the ground and women hanging off their arms kissing their neck.

“Lady! Do us a favor and another round of ale!” Aliyah sighed an looked at the table. Her eyes stopped when she saw him. The man in her dreams. He blended in with the crowd but when she looked more closely she could tell that he was pretending to be drunk. He’d laugh and slam his cup on the table and spill most of it, none of which made is mouth.

Aliyah snapped out of her trance and got 6 more. She brought them to the table, she turned on her heel to walk away but paused. She couldn’t stop thinking about that man. Aliyah knew she couldn’t blow his cover though. So she turned back around with a plan.

Aliyah took a step towards him and put her hand on his thigh. He looked at her with shock. Leaning over really slow with her breasts showing she kissed his neck. “You look real drunk sir, you want to get a room upstairs.” Thats when she felt him harden, she felt herself blush because that wasn’t her intention, but she needed to talk to him about everything.

Stammering for words he got up and let Aliyah lead him to a room upstairs. Once they were inside she sat down on the bed. Her wound wasn’t completely healed and she knew it was bleeding. So she pulled up her shirt and saw blood dripping from the bandage. It had yet to soak her shirt, which was good, if Blaine knew she ripped her stitches he’d send her home.

“Can you give me a hand?” Aliyah asked.

“I’m to drunk to be of any use.”

Aliyah gave him a look. “You’ve been faking it all night. Not a single drop went to your mouth.”

The man went to open his mouth than decided against it. Instead he got up and helped her. Only one of the stitches was stretched so it didn’t cause to much damage, but it still hurt. Once the healing salve is on and gets a clean bandage on the cut she lays back.

“So, what exactly do you want me to do? Supposedly I am Aliyah Borne, how do I know you weren’t lying to me? I was told my whole life that my parents were my actual parents until a week ago I had believed that I had no other origin. However, now I know that there’s more going on than I ever imagined. So please explain to me I want to know what’s going on, I’m tired of the lies.”

The assassin nodded. “When you were born the whole kingdom was excited. They didn’t care that you weren’t a male heir your parents they were different than all the kingdoms, they ruled with love. But every family has the sour apple. For you that was your uncle Lynce. He was jealous of his brothers rule and that he wasn’t the king, he worked side-by-side as your father’s advisor for years, decades even, he turned on him. After you were born he saw it as a sign of weakness because you weren’t a male heir. So late one night about two weeks after your birthday he gathered an army that he had been gathering and growing for years.

“His intention was to not only kill you but to kill your parents as well, the king and queen. But the queen escaped that night through the tunnels and she took you here. She took you here and left you on the doorstep at the farm hoping that somebody would find you and take you in. Your father to distract your uncle went to the throne room and faced him in a long battle. After i had seen you and your mother safely to the farm I went to aide him. However I was too late. When I got there your uncle plunged your father own sword into his stomach. I rushed to him but he wouldn’t let me try to save him, he wouldn’t let me heal him. All he did was whisper that I needed to protect you. So I came back to Albai and watched over you in silence for years. It wasn’t until your 12th year that I went on my own journey. Its time though. It’s time for you to claim your throne, to take back your kingdom for your parents.”

There is still a seed of doubt in Aliyah’s mind, it seemed like an elaborate trick. Perhaps it is, if it isn’t though many are suffering and she has the ability to fix it. She was only sure of one thing she can’t leave Rowyn.

“I cant leave here. Besides I don’t even know you name. I have a..” her words trailed off because Hazel and Rynn weren’t really her family were they. “I can’t leave Rowyn.”

“My name is Hayden and I will stay here until you agree to leave with me. You may not care about you kingdom but I do and you’re mother is suffering at the hands of your uncle.”

“I thought you said she escaped?”

“She did, but went back for the king same as I. Your uncle is using her as a slave.”

Aliyah looked at the floor, she didn’t know this woman, but she’s suffering. Still it didn’t change that she couldn’t leave. Her whole life is here, and if he’s telling the truth she wouldn’t know how to be a queen.

There was a knock on the door. “Aliyah?” Rowyn called. Quickly Aliyah lifted up her shirt and tore off the bandage. Grabbing the cleaning supplies she ushered Hayden to help her.

Rowyn opened the door and peeked in. Once he saw what was going on he threw the door open and walked to her side. He surveyed the wound and gave her “the look”.

“Rowyn, I didn’t want you to worry so I asked him to help.”

“Who is he?” He asked as if just noticing him.

“This is Hayden, when I went To spring field last year I met him, he’s a healer.”

Rowyn nodded and sighed. “I have to tell my dad Aliyah, I know you need the money but we shouldn’t have let you back until your stitched were out.”

“Please Rowyn. My family is struggling.”

“How much do you think they would struggle if you were to get an infection and a fever and possibly die? Do you not think about these things?” He turned towards Hayden and he nodded than left. “I can’t believe you’re being so selfish. You need to understand that it’s not just about you! What do you think we would do if you were to die? You don’t think your family would be upset, because I know they would.”

“Why are you so mad?” Aliyah whispered.

“Because I love you damn it. I love you and you don’t seem to care that I do. I’m getting tired of this Aliyah.”

“Getting tired of what? Me?”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it. I’m getting tired of hiding a relationship. Your parents not knowing that I love you. I want to marry you!”

“They aren’t my parents! They are at my parents and it kills me to tell you that. It kills me that I’ve hid it from you for this past week but I just wanted things to go back to the way they were. But they can’t ever go back to the way they were because somewhere out there I have parents that didn’t want me. Parents that abandoned me.” She couldn’t tell him the truth.

“ I’m sorry about this Aliyah. However did you not just hear what I said?”

“No I’m sorry.”

“I want to marry you Aliyah. I love you more than I could have ever imagined and I want to marry you. We’ve been together for 6 years now and I can’t imagine life without you. Marry me Aliyah.” Rowyn pulled out a simple silver ring. But Aliyah sits there shell shocked. In her mind there is no possible way this is happening but she wants it so bad.

“Yes. I will, yes!” Joy filled the room as he slipped the band on her finger. “Hazel and Rynn will be furious you didn’t ask for permission..”

“I already did. When you were here I told them everything and they agreed Rynn gave me his blessings.”