The Death Kingdom

Chapter Sixteen

I should've known Prince Auden would never let me get away with embarrassing him like that because the very next day he's in my tiny room down in the infirmary again.

"Get dressed," he says, curtly throwing a pile of clothes onto the bed next to me. "We're going for a little afternoon stroll through the gardens."

I raise an eyebrow at him. "In case you've forgotten, my leg is still healing. I'm not doing any walking for a least another week." A week had already passed since the creatures attacked the kingdom. I still don't know the extent of the damage, but maybe Prince Auden will be able to tell me. That is if he's willing to give me a straightforward answer.

Prince Auden holds up a finger to me and then disappears out the door before returning quickly with a moving chair. He wheels it into the room and stops it next to the bed. He swipes his hand over it with a flourish.

"Oh, will a servant push me? I'm not sure my shoulder—"

"I'll push you. Now get dressed. If you need help just call out and I'll go get Magee." And with that, he briskly walks out the door, closing it behind him.

I want to ignore his demand more than I want to leave this castle but I suck it up and start attempting to change. I'm able to do my shirt but putting on pants is a whole other battle. I call Magee in and he helps me dress. He's so professional about it I don't even feel the slightest bit self-conscious.

Once my clothes are secured Magee leaves the room and Prince Auden's frame towers over me. He doesn't even hesitate before swiping me up into his arms and placing me gently in the chair.

I sit there frozen, the whole interaction happening so fast my brain can barely process it happened.

"Thank you, Your—" I start to say, but he cuts me off.

"Let's get going it's a beautiful day out." He steers me out of the room and we quickly make it to a small set of doors that lead out into the gardens. We're slightly off to the side of the castle, on the opposite side of the servant's entrance.

My eyes squint against the bright sun shining high in the sky. Prince Auden is right, it is a beautiful day out. There isn't a cloud in the sky and I can hear the birds singing in the trees. The slight breeze ruffles the luscious green grass and blows my messy hair over my shoulder. I pull it out of my eyes and risk a glance up at the prince.

"Thank you for taking me out here," I tell him, biting my lip suddenly nervous to be alone with the prince.

"Is that appreciation?" he inquires, a humorous note in his voice.

"Indeed, it is, but I am much too tired to play our little games today." I don't dare look at him as I say this, too afraid of what he might think. I can't displease a prince, I've been too reckless with him. I must put the rebellion first and ensure the future of the people of this kingdom. I can't let the rebellion down because of an insufferable prince.

"That we agree on," he says much to my surprise. His voice is soft, almost hushed against the noises of the garden. I turn to look at him despite the discomfort of the angle and notice what I didn't in the infirmary. He has dark circles under his eyes as if he's been awake all night and a slight grimace on his face as well. He meets my eyes for a second before focusing them back on the ground ahead of us.

I turn back around and stare at my hands in my lap. "Are you well, Your Highness?"

He's quiet for a moment. "I assume you haven't been notified of the state of affairs since the attack. It's been rather grim as you can imagine. Forty-two civilians have been killed and another fifty-four injured. They are currently receiving treatment but there are numerous still on the verge of death. The city has been sacked, buildings destroyed, and businesses struggling to come back. People are terrified to walk the streets. My father has sent out more guards to pratol the city, but it isn't doing much to reassure the people.