In This Life And The Next

“They should be back by now.” Alec said to Corbett.

Corbett didn’t answer. He merely wiped at the blood on his arms and neck in slow sweeping motions until the rag was a lost cause and picked up another, the third rag he had gone through already.

Neil had seen that Brad’s death was not easy.

Alec’s initial cause for concern proved to be true. Their messengers and scouts, usually protected by the rules of war, had been returned to them on spikes.

Liam was out, readying the troops, supervising the soldiers, working on keeping his mind clear.

“I don’t mean to be out of line, Your Majesty,” Neil spoke up from the corner. He had already visited a nearby stream and washed the blood from himself.

“When has that ever stopped you?” Alec replied.

Neil seemed to think about it before forging ahead, “But would it be remiss to find what is keeping Victor and the others yourself before heading south?”

Alec blinked and looked at Neil for a long time, his sprawl, his arrogance. They had a complicated relationship, built on antagonizing one another and a strange amount of respect.

“You are suggesting splitting forces, the Crown Prince leaving his soldiers, probably taking the Prince, and what?” Corbett sputtered. “Hoping the rest of the army catches up?”

Neil lifted a shoulder and kept his eyes on Alec. “It took us three days to get here. A day to figure out that our heads are up our asses. It’s a six day ride to Luke’s keep from here. If they left, split their forces and avoided our troops, they could be as close as a day away from the rest of the royal family. Or already there if their groups are small enough to travel quickly.”

Alec could see the reason of the plan. Should he take his brothers, Victor, Ash, Sam, Will maybe-

Alec turned to the map on his table, wondered if he could cut the ride down any-

The leather flap of his tent was practically torn off its pole when Caspian stumbled in, half carrying a soldier on his shoulder, his armor torn, Victor close behind, another soldier with his head rolling on Victor’s shoulder sickeningly.

Alec went to Caspian, took the soldier from him and turned to snap at Corbett to get the physician but saw that he was already bent over the other soldier, pressing a bandage to his neck.

“Neil-”

“Yes, sire.” Neil said and stood. He left the tent quickly.

“Victor, fetch Liam.” Alec ordered.

Victor stood and hurried out. He was pale and probably needed the physician himself, but there was only so many of them.

“Your Highness-” The soldier below him choked. He reached up and Alec clasped his hand and brought it to his own chest. “I am sorry.”

“Nonsense.” Alec murmured sternly. “You fought bravely, kept the prince safe. There is none braver.” Alec checked him for wounds and felt the broken off bolts in the man’s torso. Alec encountered three before he pulled his hand away and held the soldier’s hands grasped between his own. There was nothing to be done for him and everyone in the tent knew it.

“My name-” The man tried but the blood was bubbling out of his mouth.

“Save your strength, I know your name.” Alec lied. “Rest, now. I have need of you soon.”

The man’s hand tightened and he reached with his other to clasp at Alec’s shoulder. There was a panic there and Alec reached down, curled an arm under the man’s shoulders and pulled him up. The man grasped at him, clutched at him.

“Shh.” Alec whispered. “Brave soldier, none shall be honored like you, none shall be remembered like you.”

The man gasped in his arms and was still.

After a moment, Alec laid him down, closed his eyes.

“What was his name?” Alec asked.

“Aaron.” Caspian whispered.

“Sam?” Alec asked.

“He had another on his horse. He took him for bandages.”

“How bad was it?” Alec turned to look at his brother. Caspian’s hands were shaking, but he was wrapping a bandage around the other soldier’s neck.

“I would have died were it not for Victor and Sam. They had another small force, attacked in the early morning hours and would have been successful. Almost were. I was trussed up like a prized pig when Sam found me being slung over a horse. It was chaos.”

Alec put a hand on his shoulder and was sure that Caspian didn’t realize there were tears cutting through the blood on his face.

“My men stayed behind to get us out. Aaron and Aiden rode out with us and we ran into another group. They took the worst of it.”

“How many?” Alec asked.

How many did you have to kill?

“I stopped counting after seventeen.” Caspian whispered.

Alec nodded and stood. “Our job is not yet through.”

Caspian nodded but didn’t look up. “What is our next step?”

“We take a small group and ride south. Roman has split his forces and rides for the rest of the family, possibly to take them hostage, possibly to force Hazel into marriage-”

“And to be killed a slow and bloody way.” Caspian muttered.

“Or possibly to just burn it all to the ground.” Alec finished.

“Who will you leave in charge?” Caspian asked.

“Jody and Don.” Alec said, deciding quickly. “They will march our forces south, after us.”

“His smaller forces will move faster.” Caspian said.

“Wash. We leave within the hour.” Alec ordered when the physician rushed in.