Page 12 of Her Royal Blood

“I hadn’t thought of that, of course, yes, you must stay where you are. Train, inspire, keep the Royal Guards mentally well while I find Lex. You’re protecting and serving me by keeping our army motivated and in shape.” I offered her a reassuring smile. “And at the first chance you get, fight with all you have to get free.”

“I will take that as an order. So what are you going to do?” The worry was still etched across her face.

“I’m going to Navarrah City to get help from the Redvegins and their military to free Lex and fight Polonius.” I stood up taller, understanding how futile this mission might be.

“I know how I can help you. When you’re in Navarrah City search out my friend, Commander Derringer Motley. He’ll do anything you need. Just tell him who you are, reveal the truth, you can trust him. . Word has it that Navarrah City is under attack. I know they’ve been preparing, but without as many recruits this year, the Bevatas all being killed, and the drug use among our troops, there aren’t as many soldiers available to fight. We are a united army and a good one, but Polonius has been recruiting rogues, stealing prisoners, and forcing people to fight for him at the point of a gun. It’s dangerous out there so watch your back. When you find Derringer, tell him Banshee needs his help. He’ll do anything for you and I,” Bindi said with pride because she was still able to help even from a prison cell.

“Banshee?” I cocked my head with confusion.

“We don’t use our real names when we are on a mission, keeps more of us alive that way,” she threw me one of her signature smirks and for the first time in the last few days, I felt hopeful as if I actually had a plan that might work.

While in the back of my head I understood I was facing insurmountable odds, just having a path to tread gave me some relief.

“Okay. I will search him out,” I assured her.

“He and I are battle buddies, we’ve been friends for years and we will always have each other’s back until the day we die.”

“When I was disguised as the prince from Oxclaw trying to join the Navarrian Royal Guards, that was the kind of camaraderie I was hoping to find, a found family, you know the kind you pick and who never betrays you. I was just a servant,but I wanted that more than anything,” I lamented, as those days seemed so long ago.

And while I remembered them as being fraught with distress and worry, it was a much simpler time.

“And now you have it, Aria. You are a queen and you have the loyalty and protection of not only those who serve your crown, but of me and Lex, Halo and definitely Gabrielle, all of the people who are putting their lives on the line for you. Not only because what you’re doing is right and just, but because we are your family. Your chosen tribe.” The love in Bindi’s eyes punctuated the beauty of her words.

“You’re right,” I gave her a tender smile. “Thank you for reminding me. Well, I hate to say this, but I have to go. We have precious little time.” I had to get to Navarrah City as soon as possible and it was a two day’s journey from Onyx Rah.

“Yes. Don’t worry about me or the Onyx Rah troops. Under my command we will feign loyalty to Polonius until it is time to show our hand and murder him and every single person who supported his malicious reign. We will win, we will vanquish our enemy!” She raised a fist in the air and I mirrored her action.

“We will defeat our foe!” It was an old battle cry, one that soldiers yelled on the battlefield when heading off into war, but that’s what we were doing…going to war.

With that I cloaked myself in invisibility again and left the dungeon. After exiting the prison I made my way out of Polonius's castle. Outside of seeing Crypt Claw guards in the halls and stationed around the palace, I did not see Polonius or myself anywhere. As I was leaving, I sent a mental message to Gabrielle with my best wishes and hopes that she would survive the coming days with Polonius.

There would be no end to my gratitude and respect for the woman who I put on the front line of this war. Gabrielle alone was in the greatest amount of danger. I promised myself that themoment I saw her again, I would bestow upon her the highest place of honor. She would be my lady in waiting and I’d make it my mission to find her a great love. I’d search out a high born man to lavish her with an impressive title who could offer a life she deserved. I would knight her and give them lands and wealth enough to live in luxury. All Gabrielle had to do was survive.

All any of us had to do was live until we could defeat him and rebuild what Polonius was trying to destroy. Once on the road, I released my cloaking magic and disguised myself as a middle-aged woman. Though the magic was starting to zap my energy, adrenaline and the desire to liberate Lex fueled my actions.

I tried to find a car that might take me back to Nevarrah City. There were no guests at the wedding from Navarrah City and I doubted there would be any taxis that could take me that distance, but I had to look. Upon finding no means of transportation to Navarrah City other than the bus, which was too risky, I decided to shift into my wolf and run as far as my stamina would take me. I'd do the same the next day until I reached the castle and former home.

I ran for the remaining hours of daylight and through the night until I collapsed upon the wet earth in the hills above the Obsidian Valley. I shifted out of my wolf and laid upon the ground my breath heaving in and out sucking in precious air. With the invisibility spell and my long distance run in my wolf, I had used every ounce of strength I had available. I didn't feel the cold nor the hunger gnawing at my stomach, simply the fatigue that robbed my consciousness as I slept where I fell.

I awoke to the sound of crunching grass and leaves beside me. My wolf sensed that there were people nearby. I shifted immediately and listened for the sounds around me. As I crouched into an attack position, waiting for whoever was in the forest to show themselves, I saw two Crypt Claw soldiers. They weren’t wearing the official uniform of Brahman's Peak,but a haphazard array of armor and leather garments. They brandished swords and made their demands in the name of Polonius's army.

“We are Crypt Claw soldiers. What is your business in the forest?” The older of the two soldiers who were just boys, asked.

Since I was in my wolf, I merely growled at them as they poised their swords to strike.

“Under the authority vested by the Great Warlord Polonius you are under arrest for trespassing on his lands,” the second one said, as the hand holding his sword trembled ever so slightly.

My mind mulled over the words ‘great warlord’ and ‘his lands’. I was on the outskirts of the Obsidian Valley, these lands belonged to them. The Lupine Collision had jurisdiction over the forests surrounding their kingdom.

Just as I was about to lunge at them and finish the conversation with a fight, two more soldiers came through the trees. I had no idea this path was so well traveled but wearing a fine polished breastplate with the insignia of the Raven’s Blood Pack and the Crest of his father’s Royal reign, Cheyenne Redveign and and another soldier I didn’t know stepped out of from behind an outcropping of trees to confront the soldiers.

“Come at this wolf and I’ll separate your heads from your necks. You are no official Crypt Claw warriors, that's for damn sure. And I don’t care what the warlord commanded you to do, if you hurt this wolf you’re both dead.” Cheyenne wielded his sword high. “I’ve been training for this since I was in diapers, do you want to test your skill against mine?” At the mention of this the two youths backed away.

“Polonius will see your armies fall to their knees,” the first threatened.

“And I’ll see Polonius dead before that day comes. Now run, while you still have legs to flee.” Cheyenne leaped forward andsliced his blade across the first youth’s neck, barely nicking it, but blood beaded up across the gash and the two of them took off running.

Cheyenne laughed as he sheathed his blade and turned to me. “Please don’t tell me that the Queen of Onyx Rah is in her wolf just prowling through the forest above the Obsidian Valley when she just married a tyrant and the entire world is at war.” Ah Cheyenne was growing up, becoming worldly enough to make an ironic jest.

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