Aleneo leaned over the side of the horse and hurled. Teryn held his canteen up to Aleneo from where he was standing to the side of the puke splashing onto the dirt path.
Aleneo shook his head and attempted to push the bag of water away.
Teryn wasn't deterred. "Drink. You're weak as it is."
"Fuck you," Aleneo barely got out before he slumped forward in the saddle. Teryn pushed the opening of the bag to Aleneo's mouth and forced some water in.
Aleneo didn't fight it. When the droplets touched his lips and soothed his dry tongue, he turned into a calf latching onto its mother's utter. He drank like it was his first time. He had to stop himself before he drank it all.
Teryn didn't seem like he cared. He capped the bag and tied it back onto his horse.
"My men will meet me at Shallow's Rock. Do your men know what happened to you?"
Aleneo stared down at his now free hands. There were bright red lines where the rope had burned his wrists. "No. I went ahead of them."
It had been a foolish mistake. Teryn didn't have to say anything for Aleneo to know he'd been an idiot for splitting up his men. It was his fault he'd gotten his men killed and Yazif was left to starve until he died too.
He had no idea where his other men were. They didn't know the dangers of the humans, with their strange weapons, and Cephus was among the soldiers even though he didn't have much training.
Aleneo should have freed him or at least sent him back home. He hadn't been needed in the field. Aleneo had been an idiot then when he thought about only of bringing what was his to battle. As if a king needed to show off his possessions to win a war.
Aleneo slammed his fist against his bad leg in rage.
"What are you doing? Stop."
Teryn grabbed his hand and held it down to his side. Aleneo glared into his eyes.
"This is all my fault! I should have listened to you when I had the chance. The Dark Prince has nearly won. He's killed my men, taken my Angel, and left me with a limp I might not heal completely from!"
Teryn's expression didn't change after Aleneo's outburst. He was calm as he ever was when Aleneo threw a fit. That only made Aleneo wanted to keep screaming to only get out all the anguish he felt.
When his yells trailed off, he did feel better. He doubted the feeling would last long.
"What has happened can't be changed. All we can do is move forward." Teryn's calm voice made Aleneo feel like he'd overreacted.
But the ache in his chest for Angel could not be overlooked. Hours had passed and still the image of her corpse was ever present in his mind. He did not believe there would come a day when he wouldn't think about her.
A moment could not pass without him thinking of her.
Teryn took both of Aleneo's hands into his. The gesture was so foreign that it felt wrong. Aleneo resisted the urge to pull his hands away. The warmth and comfort was so unlike anything he'd ever expected from Teryn that it almost brought a whole different set of tears to his eyes.
"I promise he won't have the kingdom."
Aleneo looked up from his cousin's hands. Matching Teryn's calmness, he spoke a truth that he truly believed since they were children. "Because you'll have it."
Teryn didn't say anything. He was good at saying nothing and everything at once. This was why they'd never gotten along as children. Teryn was always scheming, always thinking of his move two steps ahead, and Aleneo was always playing catch-up even when he was in the lead.
Aleneo shoved Teryn's hands away. "I'm done resting."
Teryn looked down at Aleneo's leg. "How is the pain?"
"Manageable. It'd be better if I was laying in my bed."
Teryn fell silent as he took the reigns and lead his horse toward the kingdom. It would take them twice as long to get there with this pace. Shallow's Rock was a day away as well, not much closer. Aleneo prayed that Teryn's men were already there and that Aleneo's men would somehow finds them.
Aleneo fell asleep. He woke draped over Wolf's back—Teryn's gray horse that did eerily look similar to a wolf. The animal was quiet and angry looking, qualities he shared with his owner. Aleneo somehow felt safe on top of the beast who was much larger than Angel. She'd been trained for agility and while she was great in battle and tournament fights, Wolf was massive and built to withstand actual beatings from men and other horses.
When Aleneo woke, there was a sharp pain in his neck from sleeping in a bad position. The pain in his leg wasn't as bad before, however, there was a throbbing around the bullet wound and he was still feverish. He sat up, his face washed with daybreak light, and pulled the fabric of his pants out of the way.
His heart dropped when he saw green pus. It had gotten infected.
Teryn glanced over his shoulder from where he was leading Wolf up a hill. "We're almost there."
Aleneo knew Teryn was talking about Shallow's Rock, but he still had hoped to see the castle in the near distance. Of course, all there was was a giant mountain in the shape of a dragon's head with its mouth open to show its sharp teeth.
The name of the mountain had nothing to do with the naturally formed shape. It got its name from the creek that flowed through the "dragon"'s mouth and around a huge boulder further down the hill. Shallow creek plus boulder equaled Shallow's Rock.
Aleneo saved his bad news for when they reached the hill that would lead them into the dragon's mouth. He held onto the saddle as Wolf went up the sharp incline. He pressed his hot face to Wolf's neck, finding some relief in the coldness of Wolf's coat. The morning was much cooler than the coming noon when the sun would directly beat onto them. He wished this weather would stay and he wouldn't have to suffer through the upcoming heat.
When they came over the hill, Aleneo had expected to see dozens of men in red coats. Or even a hundred men wearing his own color of blue.
However, the disappointment of seeing a sporadic number of just twenty men in red gutted Aleneo.
He should have know the human men with their special weapons would have the upper-hand even in a surprise attack, but he didn't think it would be this bad. And his own men were still out there, not expecting a thing.
Aleneo slumped in the saddle and tried to hide how he was feeling from his face.
The battered men started to rise from where they were sitting on rocks under the shade. Aleneo raised his hand and shook his head.
"Sit," Teryn answered for him. He was thankful because he didn't think he could find the words to speak.
The heavy silence in the air didn't need any explanation. Every man there understood gravely as to what they lost. All of them were effected in some way, more so than Aleneo in any shape. They'd lost men that had probably been a part of their lives since they were boys. Friends, brothers...things would never be the same for them.
Teryn helped Aleneo down from the horse. More men came to help, hoisting Aleneo up and then down to rest on a patch of grass that was damp with morning dew. He sighed as he was able to lay down on his back completely. His legs were sore from being in a straddling position.
Teryn immediately noticed the infection. "Christ. Why didn't you say something?"
It wasn't the first time Aleneo had seen his cousin angry, but it was the first time he was angry for Aleneo getting hurt. Teryn's anger usually meant he was the one who was going to hurt Aleneo.
It took a lot more energy to get Aleneo's next few words out. "I'll be fine. Just splash some water on it."
Teryn didn't look impressed. "Your pretend manchoness is not going to help."
But Teryn ordered one of his men to fetch clean water from the creek. Aleneo tried to refuse Teryn's help when he began to take of the tourniquet, but Teryn was as stubborn as a parasite. Aleneo was forced to lay there as Teryn did splash cold water onto the wound and dab away the pus with a somewhat clean cloth from the satchel on Wolf's saddle.
Aleneo was glad Teryn didn't share his worry if he had any. Aleneo was optimistic because he had to be. However, it was that same optimism that he suspected ended with him separated from his men and injured.
He was alone with his thoughts as Teryn gathered his men and spoke with them. Aleneo didn't demand to know what they were talking about. He was weakened and he had no loyalty from these men when Teryn was around. There might have been a sliver of respect since he was still the prince, but though no one would dare speak it, these men were with Teryn because they wanted him to become King one day.
Aleneo tried to not feel bad about it. He had more than half the kingdom on his side. Whatever was left was split amongst a dozen other men who had royal blood in them and could technically rule if they won the tournament. But that wasn't going to happen.
Even if the Dark Prince came back to the castle—which wasn't going to happen—the Dark Prince would still have to compete in the tournament. And with Aleneo still alive, he still wouldn't have the backing of the kingdom. They didn't know this prince. They only knew of Aleneo, the Golden Prince.
Aleneo was startled awake. He didn't have time to be embarrassed that he'd dozed off and had drool running down one corner of his mouth. He was awoken by the scurrying of men as they jumped on their horses, their swords at the ready. Aleneo got up to his good leg and limped toward the opening of the dragon's mouth. Rain pelted down, making the mountain slopes muddy. As the men raced out with their horses, the mud was kicked up, covering the once green grass in brown.
Wolf came up beside him and on top was Teryn. He was soaked from head to toe, his inky hair plastered to his neck and forehead. His dark grey eyes were full of restrained fury.
He held out his hand. Aleneo grabbed it and hoisted himself up. He sat in the saddle behind Teryn and wrapped his arms around his cousin's waist. There was only a split second chance for him to get his balance before Wolf leapt out into the rain.
Aleneo was soaked in a matter of seconds as Wolf took off toward the muddy clear fields. Men dotted the area like ants. Aleneo could just barely see through the rain to see his royal blue color worn by the men he thought he'd lost. Excitement, a thrill he thought would never come back to him, filled his body. He sat up straighter and yelled out a nonsensical yell. The men that could hear him yelled back, jutting their swords in the air for a second before they went back to fighting.
Teryn's men rode out on their horses and fought until they were forced to leave their beasts. The human men struggled to aim their magic machines before the fairies got to them. They were cut down before they could do their evil magic.
The loud bangs in the air were evidence that some were taking their chances. Aleneo whispered a prayer for the fallen faries.
Teryn ran upon two men in the grass attempting to shoot them down. He stabbed them both, one in the back and the other in the face with the edge of his sword in quick succession.
Aleneo saw a running figure from the corner of his eye. He didn't have his sword.
"Teryn!"
Aleneo grabbled for the reigns. He kicked his heels on Wolf's sides, catapulting them forward, missing the man running toward them by a hair's breath.
Teryn snatched the reigns away. "Don't ever do that!"
Aleneo reeled back from the snarl. "Then pay attention!"
They dashed further onto the field, passing by dead men left and right. Aleneo leaned over and plucked a sword from the mayhem. He almost lost it on the way up and his grip on Teryn's waist, but Teryn grabbed his hand and held Aleneo's to his stomach.
Aleneo tested the weight of the blade, thanking the dead soldier, and took his first shot at a man getting up. He sliced the man's throat with precision. The cut squirted blood and mixed with the water puddling on the ground.
The human men were forced to back up. The ones without weapons fell first, outmatched by the converging of Teryn and Aleneo's men.
As much as Teryn and Aleneo didn't get along, they knew exactly what the other was thinking and where they were going. Aleneo felt like Teryn was an extension of himself, another limb that was listening to his mind. They worked in tandem, fighting and riding through the crowd as one intensity. Aleneo saw the fear in the human's eyes when they came through. He imagined in his mind that they were like a God—a creature born from guts and mayhem that was wreaking havoc with no seeable end.
The high went to his head. He grinned as he killed another man without batting an eye. The blood splashed on his face, but it was quickly washed away with the rain.
But as the adrenaline surged through him, it was met with the harsh brick wall of reality.
Neither of them saw the blow coming. One moment, Teryn fought off a man trying to cut Wolf's legs from under him and the next Teryn was slumped in the saddle.
"Teryn!"
Aleneo had never screamed so loud in his life. His own sword dropped from his hand and landed in the wet sloppy dirt. He hoisted Teryn up. His hands had gone numb with the cold rain, but he could still feel how clammy Teryn's skin was. His fingers were shaking as he touched Teryn's face. He held Teryn's face in his palm and shook him.
Warmth spread from Teryn's abdomen. Aleneo couldn't bring himself to look. He already knew what he'd see. His mind flashed back to Angel. Her lifeless body, her empty eyes, and then the image changed to Teryn's lifeless body.
Aleneo grabbed the reigns. He held tightly to Teryn's body as he and Wolf away from the battle. He forced Wolf to run until the poor horse couldn't run anymore. But it wasn't far enough.
Wolf dropped to his belly. Aleneo limped off and left Teryn there with his horse.
The sob that came out took him by surprise. He swallowed the rest and grabbed Teryn's sword.
He turned. The death painted across the hills like a splattering of red pain on a canvas. It seemed fitting. It seemed poetic. Beautiful in a way that made Aleneo wanted to destroy it all.
He limped back. Wolf had been too exhausted to go far. Aleneo wouldn't have been able to flee. He wouldn't have been able to do it without his conscious eating him alive.
And there, waiting in the chaos as if he'd known Aleneo was looking for him, Olsen stood between the fighting men.
Aleneo stuttered to a stop. Confusion twisted his features. He clutched his side as the pain from his leg had traveled further from working his muscles. The sword felt heavier. His grip slacked as his eyes met Olsen's.
The bullet weapon that had been strapped to his back was gone. He was holding a sword that was from one of the fallen fairies. Aleneo glared at that sword, knowing exactly what Olsen had done to get it.
Bad leg be-damned, he was going to kill Olsen no matter what.
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