Page 17 of The Dragon King's Curse
“You really have to be more quiet. The fae will hear you a mile away with that breathing and your heavy tread.” I didn’t mean to be insensitive. Our lives were on the line here.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “Not all of us have the grace and delicate step of an elf.”
It wasn’t his fault that he was so pitiful. It was a wonder that he was even upright and moving at this point. He hadn’t eaten recently. Something told me that he would soon become a liability.
Eventually, he needed to take a break. Although I could’ve kept going, a short break would help keep up my stamina. Wepaused, taking a seat on a fallen log. Maybe if he rested for a bit, his breathing would calm, and I could hear better.
“Are you really a princess?” he asked after several quiet moments passed.
I nodded. “Yes. My father is the king of the Earth Realm.”
“How did the fae get their hands on you then? Shouldn’t you be lounging around some massive castle somewhere?” He didn’t seem to mean it in an offensive way. More like genuine curiosity.
“That’s what some might assume. I’ve never really enjoyed lounging around the castle. I like to be out among my friends. Working to protect my homeland.” My throat felt dry. I would have to drink from the next pond or stream we encountered.
“That’s respectable. I wish I’d never come to this place. I wish I’d never stole that coin. I would give anything to be back in my own hometown.” He stared at a mossy patch at the base of a nearby tree.
I didn’t know what to say to that. There were no words of comfort I could offer. We both knew that he was screwed. Possibly we both were. Though I likely had a better chance of making it home one day than he did.
“They’re going to kill me,” he continued, his voice rising with each word. “They’re going to find me and kill me. There’s no hope left. I should just give up.”
Soon he was near shouting as panic gripped him. This was no good. I tried to be helpful. He was only going to endanger us both with this behavior.
“You need to calm down. You’re making a lot of noise. It’s going to draw them right to us.” The sound of a tree branch rustling several feet away got me up and ready to run. Something didn’t feel right.
“Calm down?” he repeated. “Easy for you to say. At least you have a fighting chance. I have nothing. I’m a sitting duck waiting to be picked off.”
Slowly, I began to back away from the log where he sat. He was making too much noise. Surely somebody had to have heard him. Without another word, I turned and cut a path erratically through the trees. The sound of his scream stopped me in my tracks.
Crouching down behind a thick tree, I listened carefully. The human screamed again, begging for mercy. A low voice responded to him. It almost sounded like the prince. I couldn’t imagine a worse person finding me.
There was a thud and a laugh before the human’s scream cut off. Covering my mouth with a hand, I slowed my breathing as I listened to him die. In some way, he’d brought this on himself. He’d given up hope and ceased fighting. There was nothing to be done for him now.
I waited for several long minutes before I rose and took a few tentative steps. With every placement of my feet, I made sure that I didn’t make a noise. Stealthy and silent, I slipped among the trees.
The fae were close now. I had no way of knowing how many were in the vicinity. Hearing the human’s death had shaken me. I would not end up like him. Not for a moment did I entertain such thoughts.
The sound of moving water gradually reached me. Thirsty and wary, I remained among the trees, studying the flat grass that stretched out alongside the stream. Someone had been here recently. Maybe it wasn’t worth the risk.
Before I could decide to make a move towards the water or to stay put, I felt someone come up behind me. I’d been found. Shit.
A hand tightly gripped my arm, spinning me around to face the fae who had found me. Tall and slender, a brown braid flung over one shoulder. Large orange wings like a butterfly. He looked me up and down as a broad grin lit up his face.
“Look what we have here. You’re almost too beautiful to kill. I might have to take my time with this.” He ran a hand along my cheek and down to tightly grip my throat.
I regretted giving my stick to the human. There was no way to use the bow and arrow now. Defenseless and afraid, I sought a way out of this, seeing none.
Spotting a dagger hanging from his belt, I made my move swiftly before he figured out my plan. I snatched the dagger, aiming for his side. He caught my wrist before the blow could land.
“You are a dangerous thing, aren’t you?” He seemed to be impressed with me rather than angry. “Maybe I won’t kill you after all. Maybe I’ll ask Atlas if I can have you for myself. I would love to take you home and break that wild spirit.”
The last thing I would ever do was beg or plead for mercy. The fae were not known for being merciful. Still, I found myself wanting to bargain. Anything to get out of this without becoming his slave. Surely death would be better than that.
Releasing the dagger, I did the only thing I could. I brought my knee up as hard as possible into his groin. The impact was substantial, making him double over in pain. He made a strangled sound, like a wretched dry heave.
His grip loosened and I pulled away. My only option was to run toward the stream. If I got in the water, the current would take me away. When I got far enough from him, I’d climb out on the other side and keep going.
Not a terrible plan. Unfortunately, I never made it to the stream. He tackled me down on the grass beside it, climbing ontop of me. With an angry snarl, he pulled on my tunic, trying to tear it off me.
