The Sentinel of Cassendar: Resquarian

Roderick walked down the stairs of the palace with Lady Selene in his wake. He pulled on his gloves as he descended the last stair and stepped onto the floor of the entry hall. He looked around to see Galen standing with Lexine, dressed in his Elite uniform and thick, fur lined cloak. Lord Ethen was standing by himself, a dark cloak draped around him, his expression hard and grim. Close to Ethen stood King Leal dressed simply, looking tired and pale. They all looked at Roderick as he entered the entry hall, and he nodded at them as he walked to the door of the palace, a guard opening it for him.

Outside the palace were the four from the Sentinel upon black horses. Justin and Cian were looking down and speaking with Dracia’s brothers as Tomas and Cara stood further back, both whispering to one another. Valian sat on his own black horse, dressed in his old Elite Uniform, his form straight and tall in saddle as though he was still a young man.

Roderick turned and looked at Lady Selene as she smiled at him. “Do be careful, Roderick. I want you to return with your High Captain, but only if you are with her.”

“I will come back to you, my lady,” said Roderick as he looked at her. “My High Captain told me it does one good to know someone is waiting for them when they ride off to battle, and I can see now how very right she was. I look forward to rescuing Dracia, but I also long to be back here with you.”

He leaned down and kissed her as she held on to him tightly. He pulled back and then held her as she laid her head against him. “Please be safe,” she whispered.

The broke apart and Roderick nodded at her, kissing her one more time on her cheek. She stepped back as Dracia’s brothers came forward.

“Thank you for going to collect our sister, Roderick,” said Kellen with a small smile. “Let he know her brothers do not like it when she is lost. We do not know what to do if she is not ordering us around.”

Colm rolled his eyes and looked at Roderick. “You do have our gratitude, Roderick, whatever should happen. Safe journey, my lord.”

Roderick nodded as Colm clapped him on his shoulder, and Kellen smiled at him.

“I will not detain any of you long,” said the king loudly to all that had gathered. “But I wish you to know how much I appreciate what you are doing. I know you will each say it is your duty, and perhaps it is, but I know how treacherous this journey is. If you can bring my queen back to me, I will not forget any of your service. I pray to the king’s gods for each of your safety as well as hers.”

Roderick walked up to the king and kneeled before him. “I swear to you as an Elite of the Sentinel of Cassendar, I will bring our queen back to you safely. I will give everything to see her by your side even my own life.”

The king looked down at Roderick and put his hand on Roderick’s shoulder. “I do not doubt you, Roderick. As much as I wish I could go, I know if anyone can truly do this it is you. I only ask that you come back safe with the queen. She cannot do without you, and I find that I do not wish to do without you either. You are my friend, Roderick, whether you choose to believe it or not.”

“I do believe it, your majesty,” said Roderick as he stood. “You are my friend as well, but more than that you are my king. I serve you by choice, and not because the title was given to you. Once I return your queen to you, I know you will lead this kingdom to a time of peace and glory like we have never known.”

“I hope you are right, Roderick,” said the king. “May the king’s gods guide you on your journey.”

Roderick turned and walked to his horse. He had his leg in the stirrup when there was the sound of a horse galloping towards them. Roderick looked to see his mother upon her small mare. She jumped down before anyone could help her dismount and walked over to Roderick.

“I brought you this for the queen,” said his mother as she held out a small pack. “It has some herbs you can add to a drink or hot water that will help with any sickness she might feel due to certain circumstances. It also has some extra warm clothes in it I believe will fit her in case she needs them.”

Roderick took the pack and looked at his mother. “I am sure she will appreciate them, my lady.”

“Roderick, I wanted to say I understand why you are going. What I did, I did only to keep your safe, but I did not think of your own feelings on the matter. I know what being a member of the Sentinel has meant to you, and I know how important our queen is to you. Whatever you wish to do in the future is up to you. I will no longer stand in your way,” said Lady Glain as she took Roderick hand. “You have my full support and love always.”

Roderick kissed his mother’s hand and held it for a moment. “I appreciate it, mother. I do have plans for my future, but I don’t think you will be opposed to them. Once my High Captain is safe, and Lanoxan is free from the threat it faces, I think you will find me well settled in Low Hill.”

“I will keep your mother company while you are gone, Roderick,” said Lady Selene as she walked up to his side. “I believe Lady Glain and I need to become very well acquainted.”

“Thank you, my lady. I believe you are right,” said Roderick with a smile. “Now, we really must go. Every moment we stay here is another moment our queen is in danger.”

Roderick mounted his horse and looked down at his mother and Lady Selene. He smiled at them before he nodded to his king and turned his horse around to ride away from the palace to begin the long, cold ride to Navalia.

The rode hard with few stops, only resting at night when their horses could go no longer. There wasn’t much talk around their fire at night, and for Roderick there was practically none at all. He could think of nothing but getting to Dracia. Now that they were actually on the road, every minute seem to last forever. His horse seemed unusually slow, and his fellow companions took too long on their breaks.

He knew he was not good company, barking out orders at all, even Lord Ethen. He was short with his brother when he inquired after his well-being, but Galen seemed to understand and not take offense. The third night on the road, Valian sat down beside Roderick in front of the fire.

“I understand you haven’t been much for conversation on this trip, Roderick, but we do need to discuss what is going to happen once we actually get to Navalia,” said Valian as Lord Ethen and Galen both moved closer to listen. “Lord Ethen has already told the rest of us what is planned about going in through a side door, but I have something I would like to add.”

“What is it?” asked Roderick as he took a bite of some bread he held.

“You will need some sort of distraction if you truly want to move through the palace undetected. Let me take the two Elites here and enter from another way. We can create enough racket to bring some guards and maybe some disgraced Elites running. You could even watch and grab one of the guards to make them tell you where the High Captain is.”

“And what happens with these guards and former Sentinel members find you?” asked Roderick.

“We buy you some time, and then we retreat,” said Valian. “We can meet you outside of the palace where we leave our horses.”

Roderick looked over at Lord Ethen. “What do you think of the plan, my lord?” asked Roderick.

“If Valian and your fellow Elites agree, I think it is a good one. I would hate to split up and lose anyone, but we might have had to in the palace anyway. This might give us a better chance to find someone who can actually lead us to Dracia,” said Lord Ethen.

“Elites Justin and Cian have already agreed,” said Valian.

“How will you get into the palace?” asked Roderick.

“Do no worry about it, Roderick. This is not the first time I have been to Navalia or the winter palace,” said Valian. “I know my way around.”

By the end of the fourth day, they were well into the Navalian mountains, very close to the city of Port Venala. They could be there within five hours if they rode hard. They settled into the forest there for some needed rest for themselves and their horses. While Roderick would have liked to ridden on and enter the palace in the middle of the night, he knew it was not wise. He was tired and so were his fellow travelers. They settled in for a good rest, hoping to be able to stay put until well into the afternoon the next day.

“It is only one more day, Roderick,” said Lord Ethen as he sat down beside Roderick on the ground.

Roderick nodded. Now that he was this close, he had a mixture of emotions going through him. The first and strongest was the desire to ride as fast as he could to the winter palace and do whatever had to be done to save Dracia. The other emotion was one of dread and fear.

“It has been almost two weeks since she was taken,” said Roderick as he picked up a small rock and held it in his hands. “In what condition will we find her if she is still alive.”

“You cannot think of that at this moment,” said Lord Ethen. “She is still alive, I am sure. Belleth seem to want her alive, and she doesn’t seem the type that would kill Dracia in private. If she truly wished to kill Dracia, Belleth would make sure we were all watching. She would at least tell us she had.”

“Two weeks in the hands of our enemy,” said Roderick. “You realize what they could have done to her, don’t you?”

“Yes, and you don’t have to say it,” said Lord Ethen with an angry hiss. “I have imagined all sorts of nightmares for my cousin, and I am sure you have done the same. It will do no good to voice them out loud.” Lord Ethen closed his eyes and seemed to try to compose himself. “However, we will find her, we will rescue her, and we will help her to heal. The important thing is we get her back to Winsdell and her king. Once she is safe there, we can deal with whatever has happened.”

Roderick nodded and looked over at his brother who was talking with his friends. They all three looked so young in the light of the fire. They were young. Even though Roderick had gone out on missions at their age, it had been nothing like this, nothing so dangerous or important. Roderick realized he had barely said two words to any of them, even his brother. He hoped others had been more encouraging.

“You three should get some sleep,” said Roderick as he looked at them. “You all should find some rest. I will watch for a while.”

Everyone got up and moved around, finding a place on their own. Galen sat down next to Roderick and took off his gloves, putting his hands up to the fire.

“You do not wish to sleep?” asked Roderick.

“I am not tired, brother,” said Galen. “And I believe my two friends would like a bit of time alone.”

Roderick raised his eyebrow. “It is like that, is it?”

“I am not sure if it is exactly like that yet, but it is getting there as long as Tomas doesn’t do something to mess it up. He could be an exceedingly lucky man if he would just watch his mouth. Cara is a very interesting, strong woman and probably better than he deserves.”

“I’m beginning to think most woman are better than any of us deserve, Galen,” said Roderick with a small smile. “Just look at you and me.”

“And me as well,” said Ethen sleepily from a few feet away where he had laid down. “Maia is much better than I could have ever hoped to find. Your king is very fortunate as well if you ask me.”

“I won’t argue with you about it,” said Roderick as he looked over at Ethen. “But I don’t think I have ever thought anyone good enough for my High Captain. At least I know she is loved by her husband.”

“That is all any of us can do,” said Ethen as he stretched. “Love our women well, and let them carry us with their goodness and strength.”

“I will still work towards being worthy of my princess,” said Galen. “I know I will probably never achieve what I wish, but I can at least try.”

“I suppose you could do that as well, Roderick, though I am afraid your lady might keep moving the target. Selene will be an interesting woman to love, I think,” said Ethen with a laugh.

“She is interesting,” said Roderick. “Enough to hold my attention for a very long time, perhaps even my whole life. I hope to find out, anyway. She is also very good, no matter what you may say, Lord Ethen.”

“I know it is true, Roderick. I know of her good heart. I have seen it when she cares for her sister,” said Ethen. “I believe you are good for her. If you do have plans with my sister, you have my blessings. I will even help you with her father if it comes to it.”

Roderick smiled. “I will take you up on it, Ethen.”

“What of you, Galen?” asked Roderick as Ethen turned over to fall asleep. “Is your future decided?”

“As much as it can be,” said Galen. “Whatever I do, it will include Princess Lexine, I know that much. We are young, but I hope to not wait too long to make sure she is always by my side. I would be a fool to not do it as soon as it is proper.”

“I know what you mean,” said Roderick. “I have not known Selene overly long, but I believe my mind and heart are made up. When all is settled, I believe I will have to find a way to make her my wife.”

Galen’s eyebrows lifted as he gave his brother a smile. “You can recognize this is what you want that quickly?”

“In this instance, yes,” said Roderick. “I know what love feels like, Galen. I have had a run in with it before. At least this time, the other’s heart is free to love me so I could actually let it grow into something.”

They were both quiet for a moment as Roderick let the rock in his hand fall before spreading his fingers and making it to fly back into his hand. Galen watched him before moving his own hand, causing the rock to jump from Roderick’s palm into his own. All seemed quiet expect for a few snores coming from some of the sleeping men around them.

“Roderick, do you speak of the High Captain as the one who’s heart was not free?”

Roderick moved his hand and the rock in Galen’s hand split into two, half of it flying to Roderick. “Yes,” he said quietly as he looked at the split rock.

“Do you think you could have loved her as a man loves a woman had her heart been free?”

Roderick looked closer at the half of the rock in his hands, seeing the layers in the inside that seem to almost glitter in the light of the fire.

“I hardly know, Galen,” said Roderick as he let the half rock go and dusted off his hands. “She has always loved the king, and I knew it almost as soon as I knew her.”

Do you ever wonder if she could have loved you?” asked Galen softly. “If there was no king, I mean.”

“It doesn’t matter,” said Roderick. “There is a king, and he is her husband. I can think of no two people more in love. What matters is she is happy in love, and I believe I am well on my way to being happy too.”

“That is enough, then,” said Galen.

“You should go find a place to rest, Galen,” said Roderick. “I am truly not ready for rest. Go lay down, and when you wake, I will find a way to sleep. We are the High Captain’s seconds, and one of us needs to keep watch at all times.”

Roderick sat and watched the fire as everyone else slept. As he kept watch, his mind was full of a strange mixture of memories and thoughts. Much of the time he found himself reliving memories of Dracia, times when they were going through the Disciplines together, mornings when they rode through the hills, and battles where they fought side by side. For a few moments, he thought of Selene. He smiled thinking of kissing her and loving her. He envisioned what kind of future they could have together, and he hoped it would be agreeable to her.

As the sun rose, Roderick’s thoughts turned to what Dracia might be going through at this moment. Where was she being held in the palace? Was she hurt? Had something even more awful happened to her? By the time Galen woke so Roderick could rest, it took almost a full hour before Roderick was calm enough to find any sleep.

Around what they guessed was the second bell of the afternoon, they left to ride to the winter palace. It took them a little longer than normal as they had to circled around Port Venala to get to the far fight of the palace. By the time they found a place to safely put their horses close to the trees that ran just off of the shore of the sea, it was well past the eighth bell. Roderick hoped the kitchens would still be clear of most attendants.

Valian, Cian, and Justin bid them farewell, and went off together to find a way into the palace from the other side. Roderick walked with the others to find a large bush that Malven had described not far from the palace wall. They walked quietly, trying to leave enough room between them all so they could hide between trees and brush if they needed. Ethen was silent as he walked, concentrating on putting some sort of block around them, keeping them from being noticed by any guards who may pass by.

Roderick found the large bush, and looked through it just as Malven had said. There behind it was an old stone door in the ground with a rusty handle. Lord Ethen looked around and then nodded at Roderick. Roderick opened it and peered in. It was pitch black and smelled damp and moldy. He sparked a small fire in his hand and walked in, the others following behind him.

The tunnel was not as massive as they one they had traveled in on their way out of Navalia, but it was still large. The ground was stone as well as the walls. As they walked, their footsteps echoed through the tunnel no matter how softly they tried to tread. Roderick figured stealth was impossible now, so he broke out into a jog, hoping to find himself in the palace soon.

The tunnel ended in a stone door. They all gathered behind him as Roderick slowly opened it, finding himself in a storeroom where bags of oats, rice, and grains where kept. He turned and looked at his group, nodding his head before he stepped out into the room. Once they were all together and the door closed, Roderick moved to a wooden door and opened it, to find the kitchens.

He stepped out to see a young attendant cleaning some dishes to his right. The young woman’s back was to him, and she didn’t see him. To the front of him was a short staircase with a door at the top. Figuring that was the way into the palace, Roderick turned and put his finger to his lips and then waved at the others to follow him. As the quietly climbed the stairs, Roderick could hear people talking and laughing from a nearby room. He thought it must be the attendants still enjoying their dinner, so he paid them no mind.

They got to the top of the stairs, and Roderick opened the door to find himself in a very small hallway. He pressed on with the others behind him to another door that opened to the dark, empty banquet hall. They made their way through the large room to the back of it where there were two double doors Roderick knew lead to the front of the first floor.

He looked at the others and whispered, “Draw your swords and have them ready. Make sure your gloves are off as well. We may have to fight at some point.”

Roderick waited as they all drew their swords, Roderick stuffing his own gloves in his cloak pocket and pulling his sword from his belt. He opened the door slowly and walked into the empty hallway that had only half the torches on the walls lit. They were walking down the hall towards the entry when they heard a commotion up ahead. Roderick darted into a nearby parlor, everyone following behind him, except Cara and Galen. They moved to the room on the other side of hall as Roderick closed the door to the parlor.

He kept close to the door with his hand on the handle. He listened as it sounded like many people were running down the hallway. There was a very faint noise like a grunt and then the sound of metal on metal. Roderick looked at the others and then opened the door. Out in the hallway he found a palace guard pinned to the wall as Cara stood over him, her sword just touching his chest as Galen stood behind her.

“Where are they keeping her?” asked Cara calmly as she looked at the man.

“Who do you mean?” asked the guard as he looked down at Cara, his lips trembling.

“Who else could I mean except our High Captain?” said Cara with annoyance. “You may know her as the Queen of Lanoxan. Would you like a description because I can give you one. Though, the longer I talk, the more annoyed I become, and the more annoyed I become the more likely I am to be done with you.” She pressed her sword harder into his chest. “Now, where is she?”

“I don’t know,” said the man as he moved higher against the wall, trying to get away form Cara’s sword.

“You really expect us to believe it?” asked Roderick. “I have even less patience than the lady, so you will tell me now, or I will ask her to dispose of you.”

“I don’t know. I really don’t. She was staying on the fifth floor, but they moved her several days ago. I am not sure where,” said the man.

“You are sure?” asked Cara.

The man nodded as Cara looked at Roderick. “Make sure he can’t talk again for a while,” said Roderick.

Cara reached up and hit the man hard in his temple with the hilt of her sword. He slumped down to the floor, and Galen and Tomas dragged him into a nearby room and shut the door.

“What are you doing in the palace?” asked a voice from down the hall.

Roderick turned to see Fannar walking towards them. He seemed slimmer and paler than Roderick remembered, and his eyes looked tired and worn.

“What do you think we are doing here, Fannar?” asked Ethen as he walked forward to meet the king with his sword out. “We are looking for Dracia. Where are you keeping her?”

“I am keeping her nowhere,” said Fannar.

Roderick moved forward before Lord Ethen could stop him and pushed Fannar against the wall, his sword held up towards the king’s throat. “What did you do to her?” asked Roderick.

“Nothing, I did nothing to her. I wouldn’t hurt her, I wouldn’t,” said Fannar.

“You have before,” said Roderick. “What has changed?”

“I should never have touched her. I know it, but I would never do anything to hurt her now. I don’t even know why she is here. My sister says it is to answer for her crime, but I can’t even remember what Dracia’s crime is supposed to be,” said Fannar frantically. “I don’t even know what I am doing most of the time.”

Roderick took his hand off of Fannar as Fannar doubled over and took deep breaths. “I think there is something very wrong with me,” said Fannar.

“It is that woman, Lady Belleth,” said Lord Ethen. “She is controlling you, poisoning your mind, Fannar. You need to find a way to be strong and fight her. Now, tell us where she is keeping the High Captain.”

“She is in the cells under the palace,” said Fannar. “I have been trying to get her released, but no one will listen to me.”

“Where are the cells?” asked Roderick.

“I will show you,” said Fannar straightening up. “They are not far.”

Roderick wasn’t sure if they should trust him, but he didn’t have a better idea. He followed the King of Navalia down the hall and to the left through a door that led to a long hallway. At the end of the hallway was a heavy stone door. Fannar turned to look at them.

“The cells are through that door and down the stairs. I do not have a key to it, and it seems all the guards are away at the moment,” said Fannar.

Galen had already stepped forward and had his hand on the door. He closed his eyes and kept his hand on the door, and slowly, the door began to open, its old hinges groaning in the effort as the stone separated from them.

“Fannar what are you doing with these people?” asked Lilith as she walked up to them from the hallway to their right. She turned and yelled, “The intruders are this way. Come quickly.”

Roderick could see several soldiers making their way towards them.

“Roderick, go to Dracia,” said Lord Ethen as he readied his sword. “We will hold them off. Go get her and find a way to get out of this horrible place.”

Roderick hesitated, seeing the group they would have to face. “Go on, Roderick,” said Galen as he held out his hand towards the soldiers. “Go find our High Captain.”

Roderick nodded, pushing Fannar out of the way as he ran through the door and down the stairs. He came to another door that had one guard standing next to it. Roderick pushed out his hand before the guard could react, sending the man hard against the wall with a blast of wind. The guards head smacked against the stone before he fell down lifeless on the floor. Roderick kneeled down and found a set of keys on the man’s belt. He took them off and stood up, trying different keys for the lock of the door until he found the right one.

He opened the door to find a dark room that smelled of old bodily fluids and mold. He walked in and looked at all the cells at the front finding them empty. He kept walking down the row of cells, whispering Dracia’s name as he walked. He finally found her at the end, laying under her Sentinel Cloak on her side. He leaned on the bars and stared at her for a few seconds, finding it hard to breathe seeing her before him. He fumbled with the keys, trying to find the right one for the lock. He finally found it, and opened the cell door, walking in and falling down by Dracia’s side.

“Dracia,” he said quietly as he shook her gently.

He put his hand on her side, and could feel her breathing, making him feel some relief. He could see that her hands were bound, and he grabbed the keys, trying to see what might fit her shackles. She groaned, and he looked at her as she turned towards him, opening her eyes. She gasped and tried to push away from him as Roderick grabbed her bound hands.

“Dracia, it is me,” said Roderick quietly as he looked at her.

She stared at him for a moment. “Roderick,” she said in a rough whisper. “You are here?”

“Of course, I am here,” said Roderick as he reached out and caressed her cheek. “I would never leave you here.”

“This isn’t some cruel trick, is it?” she asked as she grabbed his hand. “You aren’t some hallucination sent by Belleth or a strange dream I am having?

“No, Dracia, I am here, and I am going to get you back home,” said Roderick feeling his heart break a little at the mistrust in her eyes. “You can trust me. We have always trusted each other.”

“But I sent you away from me. I treated you terribly,” said Dracia.

“You only did what you thought would keep me safe,” said Roderick. “Now let me find a way to get you out of here.”

She continued to look at him as he went back to trying to find a key for her shackles. He could find none on the ring. He looked back at Dracia as the door in the room opened. Roderick stood up and moved to the front of the cell with his hand on his sword.

“Come on, Princess, I don’t have all day,” said Lord Ethen as he dragged Princess Lilith into the room.

“Just let me go,” said Princess Lilith with a whine. “You are hurting me.”

Ethen gave a short laugh as he tightened his grip on her arm. “You don’t even know what pain is, your highness.” Lord Ethen walked to where Roderick was and looked down at Dracia.

“What is wrong?” he asked as he pulled the princess close to him.

“I don’t have a key to her shackles. I cannot set her free,” said Roderick.

“I do not have a key, so don’t think I can help you,” said Lilith angrily.

“I think I can, Roderick,” said Cara as she walked forward with a ring of keys. “I took these off of Darron’s belt as he was fighting with Lord Ethen.”

Lord Ethen looked at Cara with admiration. “Is that what you were doing when you ran by us? You were barely there a second.”

“One quick swipe with a sword and there we have it,” said Cara as she handed the keys to Roderick. “I tried to hit Darron, but he moved just as I had my chance.”

Roderick looked through the keys until he found one that looked like it would work. He bent down and took off Dracia’s shackles, throwing them to the side.

“Can you stand?” asked Roderick as placed his hand on her arm.

“I don’t know,” she said with pain as she tried to sit up. “I haven’t tried in a long while.”

Roderick didn’t wait for her to try, he put his arms under her and gently picked her up, concerned with how thin and frail she felt. He looked over to see Galen had his hand against the stone wall at the end of the hall.

“Is there a way out, Galen?” asked Roderick.

“Yes, this wall leads to the tunnel we came in, I believe. I think I can move enough stone for us to get through,” said Galen.

“What will you do with her?” asked Tomas as he looked at Princess Lilith.

Lord Ethen smiled. “Tomas, go pick up those shackles.”

As Lord Ethen secured Princess Lilith by putting her in the shackles and locking her in the cell, Galen concentrated and worked to create a hole in the stone wall at the end of the hall. Roderick adjusted Dracia in his arms as she groaned and closed her eyes, turning towards his chest.

“It will be alright, Dracia,” said Roderick soothingly. “I will get you out of here and back home.”

After they all walked through the hole, Lord Ethen turned to Galen.

“Can you cover that hole so they can’t follow us? The door upstairs won’t hold them forever.”

Galen nodded and took a deep breath. He raised his hand and the stone fell down in front of the hall, blocking the way. Cara and Tomas sparked fire in their hands, giving them all light as they started walking as quickly as they could down the tunnel towards the outside of the palace walls. Roderick tried not to jostle Dracia too much as he walked, noticing that every little movement seem to cause a flash of pain to show on her face. She did not reopen her eyes or speak to him, but she did make slight noises that showed she was at least somewhat aware of what was going on.

They came to the end of tunnel, and Ethen opened the old stone door, letting them out into the cold night. They walked in the direction of their horses, Roderick hoping that Valian and the two Elites were waiting for them so they could all leave. As they got close to their horses, Roderick knew something was very wrong. He could hear a large group coming towards them. Near the horses, waking in three straight lines was a group of Navalian soldiers led by Darron and several former members of the Sentinel.

“Roderick, how good to see you,” said Darron as he walked up. “Why are you taking our honored guest? I had an appearance before your queen scheduled, and I would not like to miss it. Not after how much I enjoyed our last time together.”

Darron laughed as Roderick glared at him, hoping Darron was lying, hoping the man had not put his hands on Dracia.

“Tomas, Galen,” said a young man close to Darron that Roderick recognized as a former Novice. “Things must be bad at the Sentinel if they have to send the two of you here to retrieve the High Captain.”

“No, they just know what a weak force awaited us here in Navalia,” said Tomas. “If they let you fight for them, Bax, they must let anyone represent them.”

“Roderick,” said Ethen quietly. “You will get to your horse and get Dracia to safety. We can take care of these fighters, but you have to see she is safe.”

“You want me to just leave you?” asked Roderick.

“I am telling you to get your High Captain, your queen, to safety. She is your only priority now,” said Ethen. “We will meet you where we stayed last night.”

Roderick hesitated as Ethen drew his sword. He watched as Darron smiled, pulling out his own sword. “What will you do, Roderick? How will you fight with such a burden in your arms? If you hand her over, we might even let a few of you go. I can let your brother and his friends go. They can deliver a message to the king that his queen will not be returning to him.”

“Go, Roderick,” whispered Ethen. “Go, and do not look back. You can trust me. I will see your brother is safe.”

Roderick looked down at Dracia in his arms, she had stopped moving for the moment and seem to be completely out. He could feel how cold she was under her cloak. He needed to get her somewhere safe she could warm up and be still. He started moving towards his horse, Ethen stepping in front of him to meet Darron and the others. Darron saw what Roderick was doing and sent a blast of fire in his direction. Before Roderick could react, Valian and the two Elites ran out of the nearby trees and blocked the line of fire.

“Go, Roderick,” said Ethen as he met a solider with his sword.

Roderick ran to his horse and as carefully and as swiftly as he could, placed Dracia up on the front of the saddle. He mounted behind her and pulled her against him as he grabbed the reins with his other hand. He gave one glance to those fighting and then leaned forward to whisper to his horse. Magni shot off into the night, weaving through trees and brush in the deep snow.

Roderick pushed his horse to run faster than he ever had, trying to get back into the mountains of Navalia and away from the city, deep into the forest. The cold wind whipped Roderick’s face, and his hands quickly turned to ice as he had not put on his gloves. Still, he rode on with Dracia against him, trying to keep a hold of her as he lost all feelings in his arms despite his thick cloak.

He couldn’t imagine how cold she was, though she was wrapped in her cloak. He saw that under it she wore a ragged Navalian gown that did little to give her any warmth or protection form the flying snow that his horse kicked up as they rode. The miles went by as the night wore own. Roderick finally had to stop after several hours, giving himself and his horse a breather. He didn’t think they could make it to their spot from the other night, at least not tonight. He needed to rest, and he needed to get Dracia and himself warm somehow.

He was deep in the forest, and over three hours from Port Venala. They would be hard to find if anyone came looking for them. Roderick found a place that was shielded by many evergreen trees. The trees were so thick that the ground was less covered in snow than the area around it. Roderick dismounted and carefully took Dracia’ off of his horse, cradling her in his arms. He carried her over to one of the large trees and laid her down carefully, making sure her cloak covered her body, so she had protection from the snowy ground.

He walked all over, finding as much dry wood as he could for a fire. He put it in the center of their area and sparked a fire, building it as high as he dared without giving up their location. He went back to his horse and pulled out the pack his mother had given him. He searched in it, finding a cloak she had packed in case Dracia required it. He took it over close to the fire and spread it on the ground before collecting Dracia and bringing her over to lay on the cloak close to the fire.

He looked over her as she lay still next to him. Her could see her arms were bruised, and he wondered if the rest of her looked the same. She had a couple of cuts on her face, but nothing that looked serious. He checked her head, but he could find no wounds there under her hair. He stared at her stomach for a few moments, but realized he could do nothing to see if she was with child and if that child was in peril.

He would have to wait until Galen found them so he could look over Dracia and make sure she and perhaps her child were truly well. Roderick hoped the others would find them eventually. He hoped they would be able to battle their way to safety. Perhaps he shouldn’t have left them, but he didn’t know what else to do. He had to do as Lord Ethen told him, and he had to get Dracia to safety.

As he looked at Dracia, he could tell she was shivering. As cold as he was, he took off his cloak and placed it over her. He sat next to her, close to the fire, and hunched forward, trying to keep warm.

“Roderick,” she whispered causing Roderick to look down at him. “Are you well?”

“Yes, I am well, Dracia,” said Roderick as he laid down on his side, propping his head on his hand so she could see him.

“There were others, weren’t there? I thought I heard Ethen and Galen. Where are they?” asked Dracia.

“They will be along soon. Do not worry, Dracia; all will be well. We will find them, and then we will go home.”

“Leal,” she said with a small jerk as though she might get up. “He was injured in the battle. He is alive, isn’t he?”

“The king is safe in the High Palace. He is recovering as we speak, and I am sure having you back will make him completely well. Now, do not worry, you should rest,” said Roderick.

She shook her head. “It feels like I have done nothing but sleep. I would have tried to get out, Roderick, but there is a reason I could not try to escape.”

“I know, Dracia,” said Roderick. “After you left for the battle, Selene figured out why you had been so sick.”

“I am such a fool,” she said sadly. “How could I not have known? I risked the life of my child, of Leal’s child.”

“It is alright, Dracia. You didn’t know. No one blames you for anything. I am sure your child is fine, and when Galen finds us, he can check for you.”

She was quiet for a few minutes as her eyes closed. Roderick thought perhaps she had gone to sleep, but she opened them and said, “I am sorry, Roderick. I did not want to send you away. I should not have done it, but I could not deny your mother her request. I wanted to keep you safe for her.”

“I am not angry, Dracia, not anymore. Please do not worry about any of this,” said Roderick. “You need to rest no matter how much sleep you have gotten.”

“I am cold,” she said pitifully. “I am so tired of being cold.”

Roderick reached for her and carefully brought her into his arms. He held her against him as she nestled into his side, moving his cloak so it covered both of them. He heard himself give a small content sigh, feeling the warm from the cloak and her body flood over him.

“Why, Roderick?” asked Dracia softly against him.

“Why, what?” asked Roderick as he looked down at her.

“Why did you come all the way here to get me? Especially after I pushed you away, and unnamed you. You could have stayed safe in Winsdell with your mother and Selene with no guilt. You owe me nothing. Your duty was complete. Why did you still come to save me?”

“There is nothing you could truly do to push me away permanently. You can try to unname me and throw me out of the Sentinel, or you could toss me from Lanoxan and forbid me from entering the kingdom, but I would still find you if I knew you needed me. We are bound by more than titles and oaths. After all this time and all we have been through, you must know how I feel about you.”

Roderick watched as Dracia looked at him with heavy eyes. It seemed she was having trouble keeping them open, and Roderick felt he could sleep as well. Their combined warmth as well as the relief of having her close to him, was making him feel all those nights of sleep he had lost. He knew he should stay awake and keep watch, but it seemed an impossible task at the moment, feeling a peace he had been missing for too long.

Even though he worried for his brother and the others, in that moment it was enough to just have her in his arms, this woman who was the first woman he had truly loved, and loved still. Love was an odd thing. It changed and stretched and moved in some ways, but his love for her would always be there, strong, and complete. He heard her take a shaky breath and say his name so quietly he almost missed it.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead as she placed her arms around him. She shifted slightly so her face was closer to his, her warm breath just brushing his chin. They lay there together for several minutes caught together in the world of half sleep, both aware of each other, and yet almost in a dream. In that strange place, that twilight of sleep, it seemed for a few moments as if the rest of the world disappeared. There was no war that threatened to ravage their kingdom and take all they held dear. There was no Leal that Dracia had loved her whole life. There was no Selene whom Roderick was quickly falling more and more in love with each day.

In that long moment that rested on the brink of sleep there was only him and her, and he did something he would never have done in world of the awake. He leaned towards her and kissed her lips, finding her as eager as him to take advantage of these few moments of a half dream to experience what could have been. As she parted her lips, Roderick found himself becoming lost in her and their kiss, catching a glimpse of what their love could have been had they both chosen differently. Had she not chosen to love her prince, and he had never met Selene, they could have been more. He could sense the love and passion they could have shared. It would have been a life of love worth living. Not more or less than either of them had now, but different. As he kissed her, he was glad he got that short moment of knowing this part of their love; just to have that one small glimpse was enough.

He pulled back slowly to find her eyes were closed. He kissed her lips gently one more time before she nestled into him, and he held her close, wondering if either of them would remember this moment when they woke up.