Page 59 of Warrior Princess
Without taking time to see if Ronan and Shiro were following, I ran after her. For an older woman, she was quite agile as she swerved through the crowd, running at a speed I never would’ve imagined she could run. The cool night air sliced against my skin as we wove through Eldwain’s bustling streets. The cobblestones were slick from an earlier rain, making the pursuit even more perilous. We dodged between market stalls and startled onlookers, causing a scene I knew would cost me later.
Ronan and Shiro were right behind me, their heavier footsteps thudding on the stone pavement. “Leila, be careful!” Ronan called out, concern lacing his voice as we navigated through a particularly crowded square.
When Abigail made a sharp turn down a narrow alleyway, I pressed forward, my heart pounding. The alley was dimly lit, lined with overflowing bins and the back entrances of shops. As Irounded the corner, I saw her figure silhouetted against the faint light emanating from a gas lamp at the end of the alley.
She was trapped; the alley was a dead end.
I slowed my pace as I approached, catching my breath, while Ronan and Shiro quickly caught up. “Abigail, please, we just want to talk.” I extended my hand in a gesture of peace.
Abigail, cornered and visibly shaken, pressed herself against the wall. “Why? Why now?” Her voice trembled. “After all these years?”
“Because after all these years, these secrets are finally catching up to us and I want to be prepared,” I explained gently, hoping to coax the fear out of her. “You're the only one who can help us.”
Ronan stepped forward, his stalwart presence reassuring. “We're not here to harm you. We're here to uncover the truth, that’s all. We believe it might help with current events in Valoria.”
Shiro remained silent, his keen eyes watching for any sudden moves, though it was clear Abigail was no threat physically.
Seeing that she was calming down, I took another step closer. “Please, Abigail. Help us understand what happened.”
Her resistance slowly melted as she looked into my earnest, pleading eyes. Finally, she nodded, her shoulders slumping as the fight left her. “Alright,” she sighed. "I’ll tell you everything I know.”
As we stood there in the alley, with the walls of Eldwain around us and the stars above, Abigail began to unravel the threads of a tale that would shake the foundations of our understanding of Valoria’s royal family.
“Queen Derinda’s water broke in the middle of the night. As the palace midwife, I was awakened to assist the birth of Queen Derinda’s first child,” she started. She wrung her fingers nervously. “It was a difficult birth. Everything and anythingthat could go wrong, did. We thought we’d lose both baby and mother. We left the choice for King Malik to make.”
“My father was around?” I asked with furrowed brows.
Abigail nodded. “Yes and no. He was there at the beginning, but was called away to the throne room when King Alwyn made a surprise appearance. King Malik didn’t have long to decide, but he chose to save the baby andnotthe queen,” she said with a wince. “You have to remember that at that time, King Malik was desperate for an heir and Queen Derinda was having a hard time getting pregnant. It was a hard decision, but one he needed to make for Valoria’s future.”
“King Alwyn was there?” Ronan questioned. “Why?”
Abigail shook her head. “Honestly, I never learned why. And then, after the birth, it was a complete massacre. One I barely managed to escape.” Her bottom lip trembled as the memories consumed her.
“So what happened?” I asked, pushing her to continue.
“When Queen Derinda heard His Majesty’s choice, she begged and pleaded for us to save them both. She offered everything from land to titles to gold. She was… desperate,” Abigail said with a furrow of her brows. “She was in labor twelve long hours. Finally, the baby began to crown. Andthat’swhen the trouble began.” She gulped and clutched her chest.
“Why? Because it was a stillbirth?” I asked.
Abigail shook her head. “No, because… No, I can’t say it!” she cried. “If I do, they’ll kill me!”
“Who?” Shiro asked, breaking his silence.
“You don’t know what you’re dealing with!” she said as she took a step toward me. “There are evil forces at play. If the truth ever comes to light… it would destroy the very foundation of Valoria… and maybe of all Asteria.”
I grabbed her wrist. “Please, Abigail. I must know. What happened?”
With a grimace, she looked down at the hand that gripped her wrist. I could see the conflict in her gaze as she debated whether to rip herself free or continue.
“The baby… he was born… with silver hair,” she whispered, barely getting the words out.
I frowned before realization dawned on me and I released her as if stung by acid. Luckily Ronan caught me when I stumbled backward. My heart hammered and I was short of breath. I felt the edges of a panic attack closing in.
“Breathe,” Ronan whispered in my ear. “Just breathe, Leila.”
Shiro stepped forward, crossing his arms over his chest. “So… was the baby from Ellyndor or Eldwain?” Shiro asked stoically, as if the midwife hadn’t just dropped the biggest bombshell of the century.
She swallowed thickly and her gaze dropped to her feet. “Eldwain. He didn’t have pointed ears.”
