Heart desired

//Chapter 20//

I jumped towards the attacker, without thinking twice.

I hit the floor with him. His whole face was covered, but his eyes were wide with surprise for a moment. I seized that elementof surprise kicked him in his special place. He groaned, falling to the side.

Daniel was trying to stop the bleeding, stuffing some cotton bandages to the wound. My father was now awake, staring at everybody, taking in the situation. He didn't seem to feel the pain yet. All that happened in mere seconds.

And Resh, he stood by the door, not moving a hand. I saw the shine in his eyes, the satisfaction. I shuddered at the poor sadistic pleasure in his eyes.

Assassin did not stayed in the ground for long. He was back in his feet in several seconds. "Get him out of here!" I shouted to Daniel, blocking the dagger aimed for my throat. He was fast and strong. His fighting style was not familiar to me, so it was hard to concentrate on anywhere else.

I risked a second to look at Daniel. His face said he wanted to stay with me and fight. He grabbed my bleeding father and took him to a shoulder. I could afford to be distracted any more because taking advantage of my distraction, the attacker went for my legs.

I leapt back, almost hitting the table behind me. Daniel was shouting something at Resh. My father also said something. I could not hear them clearly over the sound of metal against metal.

The room was too cramped. I was at a disadvantage, and so was he. I met his strength with fast, quick moments. Even though he was fast, he could not catch up to my moments. I guess he didn't have a teacher like Cecily.

My leg hit the bed making me bend over on back. In an instant, he was upon me, pulling me to the bed and going for the throat. Again.

I rolled with him, pinning him underneath me. He paused for a moment, going completely still. I looked at him in confusion. Who goes completely still when they are fighting? Is he shy?

My doubts were answered in a moment when something flew from a window an embedded itself in to my arm. Pain flooded from the wound. I didn't lose my grip as I looked at my arm. I could see a arrow coming out of my arm.

He had a companion.

Of course he had. I was naive to focus on him only. If someone wanted to assassinate the king, any sensible person would not come alone.

My vision blurred. There was poison on the arrow. I could feel my body going numb, my grip weakening. The next second, I was on his chest. Warmth enveloped me, lulling me to a sleep. I remembered Daniel, Resh and my father. I wished for them to get out safely before losing my conscience.

_

When I woke up, I was lying on the ground. All around me was stone walls. There was a plate with some fruits and a mug of payasam and a cup of water. I sat up slowly. My left arm was heavily bandaged. Every joint of my body was aching, like somebody had beat me up while I was unconscious.

There was no sound. I reached out with my power, searching for a mind to mess up with illusions. As I expected, it didn't go beyond the walls. The walls were fused with insfi stones.

Well. I lied back down. How long had it been since the attack? What happened to my father? Who ever kidnapped me was f*****g up every one of my plans. I was supposed to stop attacks on Elkelyn. I was supposed to deliver the peace treaty to them. I was supposed to meet Savin and tell him about my dreams. Daniel was supposed to meet with his parents and tell him about his new status. I was supposed to spend time with Resh, so he could let go of his grudge and become more normal.

I closed my eyes. Judging from the fact that I was awake, the poison must be worn off now. I did not know what that poison was or how deep my wound was. From the bandage, it looked like I received some proper treatment.

I was terrified for Daniel, Resh and my father. I hoped that they got out safely. Even if they got out, the force against them was too big. I felt terrible. I was the one who declared war against ministers, so it was okay for me to be faced with their hatred. But now people I cared about were in danger because of me.

The feeling clawed on my throat was my disappointment about myself, alongside with guilt and fear. I always rushed to things without a proper plan. I was easily manipulated by others. I was always in the wrong end, even though all I did was following my hear. It seems like doing what my heart desired was the way to get everyone killed.

I laid on the floor, just like that, without moving. Right now, there was nobody was with me, and I couldn't do anything. Which meant I had enough time to think.

I didn't know how much time passed. Usually, I could tell the time by the angle of my shadows, but the light came out of the window only illuminated the upper half of my cell. The rest of the place was illuminated by the afterglow of that light.

I watched as the light slowly fade. I marked the positions of sunlight to make a mental clock. At first, I didn't touch the food or drink, afraid of poison. But, as the hours passed and the light went out completely, I began to wonder about my situation. I expected torturing or starving or any form of prisoner treatment, but there was nothing. It was like I was trapped here, and the world had forgotten me.

Finally, after debating for a long time, I ate my food. For a while , I wanted to relieve myself, but I didn't want to do it right here. If the waste build up, diseases would follow. I did not want to take any risks.

But I did not have a choice, did I? That water and the meal I just ahad could be my last meal. I decided to bear it down as long as I can.

I laid back down, closing my eyes. If nothing was going to happen, I have to at least get some sleep.

The next morning was not good either.

I woke up with a need to use the washroom more than ever. Somebody had brought me food again. And this time, there was a note.

push the brown stone for showers.

I looked around. All around me was gray stones. Where the hell-

Indeed, there was one little brown square in one corner. I poked it. It really was a button. After a moment, a section on the wall slid away, revealing a shower and a washroom.

Now I knew where I was.

There was a punishment for criminals came from noble families under the palace. They would be provided a meal, exposed to sunlight and provided bathroom facilities. But they would spend the eternity in the cell, till theu were forgotten by the world and finally rot to death.

I was in one of those cells, under the palace.