As they ran onto the bridge, they heard people talking about what caused the accident—the wheel of a cart carrying supplies, probably to the Royal Palace, broke. Part of the supplies had fallen to the bridge while the rest was still in the cart. The racket that followed had spooked horses, making them run into a carriage and injuring the man inside.
Despite being in a hurry, Mina could not ignore someone who required help, as most people on the bridge were more interested in the cart’s contents and the carriage coachman was trying to calm the horses.
“We need to help,” Mina said as she and Hugo reached the injured man.
Hugo cast the man a look. “There’s no time. We need to get to the Royal Palace.”
Hugo was right. She decided not to insist as every second counted, but her legs stopped moving as her eyes locked with a cold blue gaze, forcing Hugo to stop as well, as his hand was gripping hers.
“What now?” Hugo huffed, annoyed.
Mina jerked her head to her left. “Commander Jayden.”
The Commander stopped his horse near the place of the accident and came to where Mina and Hugo stood. His wolf trotted alongside him, causing those gathered around the carriage and cart back away, for he was almost as big as a shadowbeast. Mina could swear he had been much smaller back at the mansion.
The injured man was lying on the bridge and breathing heavily while asking for help. At first glance, he appeared unharmed except for his left leg, where the bone beneath the knee stuck out through his ripped pants.
Commander Jayden squatted next to him. “Looks painful, but a Fire Mage will heal you in a few minutes. Do you need me to send a message to your family informing them of the accident?”
“Don’t touch me, you…you bastard,” the man hissed.
The great hero of the Kingdom, the one everyone was waiting for, was already in Athea, but no one recognized him. People were probably waiting for a great party to accompany him, singing and shouting his praises. Yet, all he received was being called a ‘bastard’ when he was trying to help.
It angered Mina. It had always angered her when someone was treated poorly for being born out of wedlock. Many bastards who lived in Athea worked jobs no one else wanted in exchange for a few copper coins that would do nothing but prolong their misery another day.
The black wolf growled, saliva dripping from his mouth.
“Aksel,” the Commander said, causing the wolf to fall silent.
“Bastard!?” Hugo asked. “Do you even–”
Commander Jayden raised his left palm and Hugo stopped talking. Then, he took out a small flask and offered it to the man. “Rum. For the pain.”
“I don’t want anything from your filthy hands,” hatred laced the man’s voice.
“You should not speak like that to someone trying to help you,” Mina snapped. Then, in a calmer voice, she asked, “Should I call a Fire Mage? Or perhaps help you get more comfortable?”
The man looked at Mina with disgust. “I don’t need the help of a bastard or a half-breed whore!”
It was not the first time someone had called her half-breed or *whore*. She’d heard worse as many in Athea compared gypsies to animals.
“Insult my cousin like that one more time, Earl Hornal, and I will break your other leg,” Hugo threatened the man.
An Earl. Mina did not recognize him, but the expensive clothes and many rings on his fingers let her know what type of person he was.
Commander Jayden looked at Mina, grabbed the man’s bone and twisted it, making him yell in pain. Mina held his gaze. She did not approve of his methods, but the Earl needed to be taught a lesson of etiquette. “You can say anything you like about me, but talk to her like that again and I will let my wolves eat you alive.” Did he just defend her? Apart from Hugo and Ivy, no one did that for her. He put the flask back in his jacket and stood. “Aksel, we’re leaving.”
Mina stepped in front of him. “Can we speak, please?”
“There’s nothing left to say. You told me to leave, and I will, as soon as I get what’s mine.”
The Commander went to his horse. Mina and Hugo followed after him.
“Leave the past in the past, Commander. Whatever happened between you and her, it’s over. Go home and think of my offer,” Hugo said.
Commander Jayden laughed bitterly. “I’m not a man that can be bought, Duke Castex. And things are over when I say they are.” He got on his horse.
“Think of what will happen if you go there while angry. Think of her child,” Mina tried to reason with the Commander.
“Did she think of me when she agreed to become someone else’s wife, knowing all too well she made a promise to me?”
Hugo grabbed the horse reins. “If a wife is what you want, I can recommend you to many wealthy families.”
“I don’t need your help to find a woman, I chose my bride long ago.” Commander Jayden jerked the reins free from Hugo. “Let’s go, Aksel. We’ve wasted enough time already,” he said before guiding the horse through the crowd on the bridge.
Mina would have gotten in front of the horse if not for Hugo stopping her. She stomped her foot on the stone bridge out of frustration. “What an insufferable man.”
“What now? He won’t listen to reason,” Hugo said.
“I won’t give up until he swears secrecy,” Mina had made up her mind.
She ran, tugging Hugo after her and they didn’t stop, not until they reached the Royal Palace.