Chapter 48 Unwanted Assistance

Chapter 48 Unwanted Assistance
When Aizurah woke up again, Zeidan was gone. The realization filled her with relief--for the hope that the war would quickly be over--but also with dread. She feared for her husband’s life every time he went into battle.

It took her far too long to dress and, when she finally emerged from the tent, she found Sir Arden Stonewell standing guard just outside. He immediately offered her his arm, and they walked slowly through the camp. The princess noticed how few men remained behind.

“How are we doing in the field, Arden? Have you heard anything?” she asked.

“The remaining troops departed for Starstone just before dawn, princess. That is all I know. I was ordered to remain here with you.”

“So, now we wait?” she asked. 

“Now we wait,” he agreed. “Let’s get you fed, princess. You need to regain your strength.” Arden helped her take a seat in front of the fire and went to find her some food. The stillness in the camp unsettled her. The quiet. The somber air. She loathed the idea of waiting uselessly behind while others were risking their lives to defeat the pirate threat. 

“I don’t like this…” she said after she bit into a piece of bread and shoved a grape in her mouth. “I want to be out there, helping.” Arden laughed, to her astonishment. Aizurah wasn’t sure she had ever heard him truly laugh.

“Princess, you were mortally wounded only days ago. You must rest. The best help you can give is to remain abed.” She glared at him. The whole point of her joining the war was to keep an eye on Zeidan and show she could lead…

“What if—" Arden’s eyes narrowed at her.

“Princess, whatever you’re thinking, it’s likely a bad idea. My duty is to protect you, and your duty is to remain here.

“Arden, listen. I can sit; I can walk. I can fly…” The knight looked as though she had struck him, eyes wide with fear.

“Princess—" 

“You can come with me,” she added, the thought only solidified the idea in her head. “Starlyght is big enough; she can carry two. You can keep me safe, and I can help.” 

“Aizurah, no.” She scoffed at him.

“You can come with me and help protect me, or I will go myself, and you can remain behind. Which of those scenarios do you think will anger Zeidan more?” Arden blinked at her, clearly disturbed by both options. “I don’t intend to die out there, and I’m not going to sit here and take up food and space while other men continue to give their lives for the cause.” 

“That’s honorable, princess, but—"

“No ‘buts’, Arden. Come, help me put on my armor.” Her tone put a stop to the argument, and Arden had no choice but to comply with her demand. Aizurah noticed his visible hesitation as he clipped each piece of steel together, securing it in place.

“Princess, I must insist one last time—"

“Are you coming or are you staying?” she asked, her voice firm. He sighed heavily and nodded.

“I’m coming, princess…” Starlyght was lounging on the beach, her tail splashing in the waves. Aizurah approached first, and her dragon eyed her curiously. Arden watched in astonishment as the princess and her beast had some sort of silent exchange with one another. Starlyght could clearly sense that Aizurah was in pain; she didn’t want her to fly.

“It’s alright, my love,” Aizurah reassured Starlyght in the very language of her bonded. “I’m alright. We have to go to Varynx.” At the mention of her favorite flying partner, Starlyght lifted her head in interest. “Come, Sir Arden.” The knight approached, and Aizurah pressed his hand to Starlyght’s cheek, allowing them a moment to be properly acquainted. “I will need your help to mount her. Starlyght will do most of the work for me.”

Arden nodded and lifted Aizurah at her hips, assisting her as carefully as he could. She gritted her teeth and hissed in pain as she climbed up on the drake’s wing and settled herself comfortably in Starlyght’s saddle. Arden helped her shift without straining her core muscles and then adjusted himself behind her, a foreboding feeling gnawing at his stomach with every passing second. The princess explained to him how to work the ties of the saddle, securing each one around both of them. It was little more than a few leather ties that formed harnesses for their legs.

“Now relax. I’ve flown with Starlyght over a hundred times. Mostly we just hang on; she knows what she needs to do and responds to my commands.” 

“Princess—"

“Up!” she commanded in Drysyker. Arden slammed his eyes shut as the sand was tossed into a large cloud beneath the beating of the dragon’s wings. “To Varynx!” Aizurah shouted.

The flight was short, and they caught sight of Varynx and Astra before she took in the scene on the island below.

“They’ve resupplied,” Arden said in her ear. Aizurah could see that he was right. Starstone was a smoking, bloody mess, but there were hundreds of men and three ships anchored in the distance. She spotted Taevar and his brother, along with a group of men surrounded by pirates, and grinned. Those men would regret being a part of the war, at least for the painful minute that remained of their pitiful lives.

“Burn them!” she yelled as they swooped in, lighting the opposing soldiers up with streaks of silver lightning. Their own men whipped their heads up in surprise and let out a cheer as they gained the upper hand.

Aizurah smiled, despite the pain gnawing at her abdomen, and turned Starlyght in a circle, hunting for Zeidan. Across the island, the dragon spiraled about, avoiding a stream of arrows aimed at her husband. “Fuck,” she hissed, and Starlyght surged forward, locating the men and spewing another wave of scorching light from her maw. Surprise and horror mingled on her husband’s face as Zeidan comprehended what had just happened.

“He’s not pleased, princess,” Arden murmured.

“He will get over it,” she replied with a satisfied grin. Ignoring the prince’s glare, she began combing the island for more ways to help. Burning soldiers was too easy; it lacked the challenge she craved, despite her injury. They circled overhead, finding weak spots and groups of men that they could easily eradicate. Eventually, the fighting died out, and their men began to locate those who were wounded and kill the pirates who remained breathing. 

“Let’s get back to camp. My husband is going to want to yell at me,” she informed her knight with a wry smirk as they left Starstone.