Page 128 of The Stolen Kingdom

Gripping the reins tightly, she urged the horse forward, her mind already turning to Maris. She had to get to her, had to warn her. She pushed the horse harder, the desert stretching before her.

As she neared the site where the bombs had gone off, the sand was scorched black, littered with shredded clothing, splintered wood, and the broken remains of water barrels. Valda was about to press forward when movement caught her eye— someone was staggering in her direction.

Her breath caught as she reined the horse in sharply, leaping from the saddle to land near the man. His long blue hair was tousled, streaked with sand and ash. His shirt was scorched and charred; his back marred with burns. He stumbled, his legs giving out beneath him, but Valda was there in an instant.

“Isen!” Valda called, falling on her knees and catching him just as he was about to hit the ground.

“I’m fine,” Isen said between gulps of air. “I’m fine.”

Valda brushed his hair away from his face, her fingers trembling slightly. Isen was in bad shape and by the looks of it there was no Sealian water she could give him.

His eyes were unfocused and lost. She had never seen him like that. Pressing her palm to his cheek, he leaned into her touch. Valda swallowed hard, before she shifted, pulling his heavy arm over her shoulder and turned to her horse. “Come on. Let’s go.”

She got Isen onto the horse, settling him behind the saddle. Once he was secure, Valda climbed up, taking her place in front. Isen leaned forward, his sweaty forehead pressing against her shoulder than his arms hung limply at his sides. Valda nudged the horse’s flank with her heels and sped to Prospero.

28

Maris’s hands trembled as she patched another wound. Her tear-damp face turned just as another pained scream issued somewhere in Prospero’s main square. Wiping blood from her hands, she walked aimlessly, surrounded by broken cries. Taking a deep breath, Maris turned back to where the deceased had been laid.

Melvian’s body was on top of countless pieces of fur, covered with a thin sheet. Maris had removed the last arrow as soon as they were far away from the chaos. The babies were safe. Coral volunteered to take care of them. Being that she was still lactating, she was more than happy to feed them.

A soft hand touched hers, pulling her gaze away from the person who used to be her best friend. A Sealian woman showed her wounded leg. With forced smile, she kneeled to have a better look. Another hand touched her shoulder, and she looked up to find Eyphah.

“I got this. You need a break,” Eyphah said, squeezing her shoulder.

She couldn’t take a break; she needed to heal as many people as she could. She needed Asclepius’ blessing now more than ever… if she ever had it in the first place. “I can’t—”

“You must,” Eyphah snapped, her grip on Maris growing taut.

Maris’s jaw clenched tightly. She needed to keep her mind busy, or it would go back to Melvian. She couldn’t afford to be emotional, not now.

“I can help,” Eyphah whispered, giving her a rueful smile.

Maris nodded as she stood. Walking around, she tried to filter the screams, the cries of grief, and the physical pain. Maris walked amongst her people, failure pressing hard on her shoulders and chest. Failure. She had failed every single one of them yet again.

She swallowed the knot in her throat and took a deep breath. A soft welcoming rub pulled her from her thoughts. Looking down, Maris watched Cerberus, staring up at her with adoring eyes. Her black fur was disheveled, dirty, and slightly singed. But she’d survived, and she was here, giving Maris some much needed moral support.

“Where were you, girl?” Maris asked, lowering to touch her head and rub under her chin. Suddenly, her attention was caught by a young man leaning against a destroyed wagon’s wheel.

Cai sat with his legs bent, his forearms resting on each knee. Blood stained his hands crimson and his entire body quivered with every ragged breath. Maris scrambled to him, kneeling before the young boy and cupping his blood splattered face. His eyes were dark and dazed. He wasn’t there.

“Cai?” Maris tried to connect their gazes. “Cai, it’s me, Maris.”

The young boy turned to Maris the third time she said his name. Maris struggled to suppress the shocked gasp that threatened to escape her throat, but it was inevitable. Cai, the young happy Cai she knew, wasn’t there. Instead, a husk peered back at her.

“What happened?” she asked, holding his face steady. He tried to pull back, but she wouldn’t allow it. “Cai!”

“I — I pr- protected them,” he stuttered.

Maris frowned, trying to hide the fear creeping up at the back of her neck. “Who?”

“Coljar, Lia, and Kimmi,” Cai whispered, finally breaking away from Maris’s hold and shaking his head as if trying to clear the fog from his mind. “Skylians, they were going to hurt them and I k—” A sob quaked through him, his gaze falling to the ground.

Maris placed a gentle hand on his back and rubbed the guilt away. “You protected them,” she rectified. “You did well.”

“I’ve never…” Cai inhaled a sob and choked on his breath. He racked, his hands forming tight fists.

“This is your first time? Taking a life?” Maris asked.

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