Chapter 40 Back on land
River
The water rushes around us, the current fierce and alive, but all I can focus on is Aloria in my arms. Her warmth seeps into me, grounding me against the chaos of the world we just fled. I feel her heartbeat against my chest, a wild rhythm echoing the frantic pace of our escape. As we drift downstream, I can hardly believe I have her back, safe and sound, despite the danger looming just beyond the tree line.
I can’t say how happy I am that I arrived just at the right moment to see the wolf Leap from the window and turn i to Aloria. “So you got your wolf I see.” I whisper to her.
“Yeah, I guess,” She mumbles, snuggling closer. “It was the first time, and I could not keep it i. The fall, but yeah I feel it i side me.”
After what feels like an eternity, we reach a rocky bank. I pull us out of the water and onto solid ground, my heart still racing, but now with a mix of relief and determination. I lay her down gently on the warm stones, brushing the damp hair from her face. She shivers slightly, the coolness of the water still clinging to her skin.
“Kellan!” I call, my voice ringing out over the sound of the river. “Get a fire going! We need to warm her up… and the rest of us too really.”
Kellan nods, his expression serious as he moves quickly with a couple of warriors to gather sticks and dry leaves. I turn my attention back to Aloria. She wraps her arms around her knees, her gaze distant, lost in her own thoughts. I can see the flicker of fear in her eyes, mirrored by the flickering shadows of the trees around us.
“Aloria,” I say gently, kneeling beside her. “You’re safe now. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
She looks up, her blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “The King and Queen… they wanted me to marry him,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “I thought… I thought they were my parents, and when I thought you were dead, I wanted to help my country… but then I realised...”
My heart aches at her words, the reality of what she faced crashing down on me like a tidal wave. “What did you realise?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
She swallows hard, her gaze locked on mine. “The Prince… he’s evil… he Was raping a maid and no one cared, River. I realized the wedding wasn’t just a political move; it involved me getting raped. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t let that happen.”
A surge of anger wells up inside me, hot and fierce. I should have killed the Prince when I had the chance. That monster doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as Aloria. “You should have never been in that position,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “I should have killed the Prince.”
She shakes her head, her fingers brushing against my arm. “No, it wasn’t your fault. I was so naïve, so desperate to please what I thought were my parents. I didn’t know the truth.”
I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. “Your aunt and uncle took the throne eight years ago,” I tell her, the words bitter on my tongue. “Your parents… the old King and Queen? They disappeared without a trace. I’ve heard whispers, dark rumors, but nothing concrete.”
Her expression hardens, determination igniting behind her eyes. “We have to find them, River. They’re still out there, I know it.”
Kellan returns with a small pile of twigs and dry leaves, arranging them carefully into a makeshift fire pit. I watch as he strikes a flint against a rock, sparks flying as they catch onto the dry kindling. Flames lick up, casting a warm glow over us, and I quickly pull Aloria closer to me, wrapping her in my arms as we sit beside the fire.
“I promise you, Aloria, we will find them,” I vow, my voice steady. “But we need to be careful. Your aunt and uncle… they won’t stop until they have you back.”
She nods, her expression resolute. “I won’t go back to them. I won’t let them dictate my life any longer… the short time I spend in the castle Was more than enough.”
The fire crackles, and I can feel the warmth seeping into my skin, but I can’t shake the chill that lingers in my bones. I hold Aloria tightly, feeling the strength of our bond deepening with every passing moment.
“What if they know were we are?” she asks, her voice laced with concern.
“They might suspect our direction,” I admit, my eyes scanning the shadows around us. “But they won’t know for sure. They will not find us easily.”
She leans into me, her head resting against my shoulder. “Thank you for coming for me, River. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there to catch me.”
“Always,” I reply, my voice fierce with conviction. “I’ll always come for you.”
The silence stretches between us, filled only by the crackling of the fire and the rush of the river. I can’t help but wonder what awaits us in the days to come. The road ahead is fraught with danger, but as long as I have Aloria by my side, I know we can face anything.
“Once we find your parents, we’ll figure out a plan,” I say, determination fueling my words. “We’ll expose your aunt and uncle for what they are. No one deserves to be a pawn in their game… from what I have found, and heard on the way here, your parents are missed by your people.”
Aloria looks up at me, a spark of hope igniting in her eyes. “I hope you are right, and they are good people,” she whispers, a soft smile breaking through her fear.
“They made you, they have to be,” I echo, and in that moment, I feel the unbreakable bond that has formed between us, knowing she feels it too.