In This Life And The Next

Aurora woke when she heard something in the room. She didn’t open her eyes and the only thing that seemed to be tethering her to the conscious world was Alec’s hand in hers. She squeezed Alec’s hand, hard, just once.

Alec returned it.

He was awake too.

Alec snorted, turned on his side and threw himself half on top of Aurora.

Immediately, Aurora grew angry. Alec chose him over her own life and-

She felt the cool steel of a small knife pressed into her hand and Aurora’s anger dissipated. Alec was arming her. There was another soft step in the room and the unmistakable sound of a sword being pulled from its belt and Alec moved, finally. In his other hand, he had his sword, the one he kept close by, always. He swung with the marksmanship of a soldier born to war, aiming for the soft belly of whoever attacked him. He left his back and Aurora exposed to the second attacker, who was standing practically over Aurora.

But Aurora was faster than anyone gave her credit for and most of her strength was back. She took the knife that was in her hand and slammed it upwards into the soft palate of the man swinging for Alec’s back.

Alec turned at the last second and saw the man fall. Alec looked from Aurora to the body now at their feet and jumped to his feet. He jerked his pants up and threw Aurora her clothes from last night. He pulled the doors open and saw Victor and Sam were crumpled at his feet.

“To arms!” Alec bellowed and the sound traveled, the cry echoed from voice to voice. Aurora could hear the stamping of feet even as she knelt by Sam. He was-

“Asleep?” Aurora asked. Sam was not one to shirk his duties like this.

Then she saw the pitcher of water between the two of them and upended it on the floor. She reached into it and scraped the bottom, her fingers coming away with a white residue.

“Poisoned.” She told Alec, just as Liam, Jessica, Caspian, Hazel, and Laura rounded the corner, with a small group of soldiers behind them. She rubbed her fingers together, watched the powder disappear. “A sleeping draught. They will wake.” She assured and stood.

Liam and Caspian peered into the mess that was their quarters and looked to Alec.

“How did they get in? Get the water to them?” Hazel demanded.

There was the call of the horn from the courtyard and Alec was off in a flash, Liam and Caspian close behind them. Ben stayed with everyone else.

“Lady Jessica’s chambers.” Aurora murmured and looked to Ben. Ben nodded. It was easily the most defensible, with only one entrance and exit unlike the royal family’s rooms. “A moment.” Aurora said and went back into their room, unburied her forearm holsters and the blades. At the last possible second, she picked up her riding boots as well.

In the hall once more, Ben led the way, Laura just behind him. Aurora caught sight of a sword in her hand, one clearly meant for cutting and slicing, unlike the accolade sword Aurora had seen her with. Hazel had a crossbow slung over her back and she moved with its weight easily, telling Aurora she was experienced. Only Jessica remained unarmed. Aurora brought up the rear, glancing around dark corners, distrust clear on her face.

They made it to Lady Jessica’s chambers unharmed and Aurora caught sight of Tess, Hannah, Lisa and Anna ushering the children into Anna’s room.

“Barricade yourself.” Aurora ordered. “Unless it is someone of the royal family, do not let anyone in. And keep quiet.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Tessa called back.

Ben pulled her back into the room and shut the door. Aurora strapped the holster to one arm and then the other and saw that Jessica, Laura, and Hazel were at the window. She pulled her boots on after the holsters were strapped tightly to her arms, pulled her sleeves over them to hide them.

“What’s going on?” Aurora asked.

“Someone was trying to escape on horseback.” Laura whispered.

Aurora slid the blades into the braces and flexed her wrists and forearms against the soft leather, settling them comfortably against her skin. She fixed the wide sleeves once more.

“Did they get away?” Aurora asked.

“No.” Jessica said.

“Alec had Raven.” Hazel said.

There was an almighty crash from the hall followed by shouting voices. Another clash and something hit Jessica’s door. Ben backed off a step and raised his sword in the direction of the door.

“Liam!” Jessica screamed and the banging stopped.

“Keep your mouth shut.” Aurora snapped in the ringing silence. Then the banging returned and they watched as the door splintered.

“Would you rather they come here or Anna’s room?” Jessica hissed. “They are unarmed and they have children with them.”

Ben met Aurora’s glance at the door where it sounded as though there were at least three men trying to get in.

“Fuck.” Ben said. “Behind me.” He ordered Aurora. “The corner, the three of you.” He said to the women. He took a deep breath, straightened his shoulders and looked to Aurora. “Tell His Highness that it was an honor serving with him.”

“Tell him yourself.” Aurora replied. She stood in front of Laura and backed the three of them into a corner. “No one dies tonight.”

The door fell after only one more hit and Aurora was right, three men fell into the room. Laura stood over Jessica and Hazel who clutched each other in the corner. All three were only in their dressing gowns and Aurora wanted to pry the men’s eyes out of their heads for the way they looked at the women behind her.

“Only one to defend these four?” One man laughed and headed for Ben. The other two went around them as the first man engaged Ben in a fight.

“No- please-” Aurora started, straining her voice.

Her heart felt like a hummingbird in her chest and she spread her arms out in front of Laura, Hazel and Jessica.

“The king’s betrothed.” One man hissed to the other.

“We can take her back to Roman, let the man have their turn. Give Roman the Princess. Maybe get a turn with her for reward.” The other said mockingly.

“Take me- just leave-” Aurora started.

The man who spoke first reached out and grabbed Aurora by the throat, hauled her close. “We will not be gentle as your prince-”

The blade was in Aurora’s hand in a moment, the silver slicing through her own sleeve and upwards into the man’s rib cage, where Aurora pushed it up even further, aiming for lungs, heart, blood vessels. The blood sprayed the front of Aurora and she jerked it out, twisting as she went.

The man collapsed at her feet.

“Do not seek mercy from me.” Aurora said to the other man.

As most do, seeing Aurora’s slight form, he charged. Normally, Aurora would have stepped aside, let the man crash into whatever was behind her, but the women were behind her. Although she had no doubt of their abilities, Aurora knew that this was her duty.

In a moment of clarity, Aurora pulled a bench in front of her, into the man’s path. His momentum carried him forward and he fell over it. Aurora kicked him in the face, thankful for her foresight to put her boots on, and threw him to the floor. The man was barely conscious when Aurora pulled him up to a sitting position, yanked his hair back cruelly, and slit his throat.

As the man slumped over in his grasp, Alec, Liam, and some of the knights skidded into the room. Victor and Sam caught the man that was fighting with Ben still and threw him to the floor where ropes were produced and he was tied up cruelly.

Alec’s eyes were glued on Aurora, along with most of the room.

Alec approached Aurora slowly. She stood, her clothes heavier with the weight of blood they soaked up.

“Are you injured?” Alec asked.

Aurora shook her head and wiped at her brow. She was sweating. And also covered in blood, as she smeared it on her face. “This is not my blood.” She said. Her hands were trembling but she slid the blade back where it belonged, under her tattered sleeve. She flexed her fingers and her vision blurred. “Dear god .” She hissed and bent over, her hands on her knees.

“Come.” Alec said, his hand on Aurora’s back. He guided Aurora away from the bodies, helped his sister and mother and Lady Jessica away from them as well.

“Where?” Victor asked. “The rooms are compromised.”

“The war room.” Alec muttered.

“The children-” Aurora murmured. “They are in Anna’s room.”

“Liam.” Alec said. Liam disappeared and they were joined with the ladies and the children in their wake.

Alec led the way, sword in hand, and threw the doors open to the war room. The table that dominated the room was huge and scarred.

“Bring the villagers into the castle walls.” He ordered. Sam turned, left the room. “Children, the corner. Ladies, if you could stay with them. Mother, Hazel, I need you here.”

Ben spread a map out on the table and it was weighted down with hands or small daggers. Tess approached Aurora with a bowl of water and a rag, clean clothes in hand from a wardrobe in the corner. Aurora let her wipe the blood from her face and body.

“Send scouts immediately.” Alec ordered. “I want to know how close they are to us.” Ben turned and left. As he left the room, Chloe entered, two baskets in hand, bandages in hand. She approached Aurora first, but Tess told her that Aurora was uninjured.

Blake came in next, food and water in hand. Lights flared to life around them.

“Did they say anything?” Alec asked Aurora.

“Only to threaten the rape of the Princess and I.” Aurora whispered and Tess’ hands paused in her ministrations.

There was silence in the room.

“They are doing as I predicted. They will take Hazel and Aurora by force and rule by impregnating Hazel. Torture Alec by torturing Aurora.” Laura murmured.