The Princess's Servant

26. The Bear

Holden leapt out of the way of the charging animal. He felt his cheek graze thick hair. The prince tumbled to the ground, exasperated but alive. The huge animal skidded to a stop and turned to face him again. Holden picked himself up and ran for a tree.

He had barely launched himself onto the bark when the beast charged again. Holden shimmed up the oak a little more, noting that his childhood tree-climbing skills had saved his life twice that day. But perhaps he'd called it too soon— the bear wrapped its arms around the trunk and started climbing faster than Holden knew possible.

Holden clammored for one branch, and then another. Each branch was thinner than the last, flimsier; more brittle. He looked behind him and saw the glowing eyes and gnashing teeth and knew he was running out of tree. The bear swung a paw and grazed the sole of Holden's shoe. It swung again and claw dug deep across cold flesh and the prince cried out in agony. He yanked up his foot, but every movement stung. He felt warm liquid trickle down his thigh and watched the bear sniff out the scent of his blood.

Holden sat himself on tiny twigs. They sagged deeply under his weight, but still he tried to climb. It was only when he reached for branches and grasped at sky that he realized there was nowhere left to go.

The bear drooled and huffed its breath. It climbed closer still. The heart in Holden's chest beat for death as he feared he'd reached his end. But just as great paw was about to meet skin for the final time—

Tthhhuck.

The bears eyes went wide and it released a horrible moan.

Tthhuck. Tthhuck.

The great beast's paw relaxed. And Holden watched as the huge thing fell down down upon the ground, landing with a thud. The young prince clung as the pine tree rung with shudders from release. When it stopped, he leaned over to see what had occurred.

Serval arrows stuck out from the beast's back. Holden needed to leave and he needed to leave right then, he thought. He tried to move silently, but the branches betrayed his every maneuver. He watched from the corner of his eye as a brown-cloaked woman approached the scene. Holden froze in place. He didn't dare breathe.

The woman knelt down and yanked the arrows out in one quick motion. Holden moved his head ever so slightly to get a better look. Blonde hair. Tapered chin. Shit.

"Oi," she yelled. "It's safe to come down! Threat's dead," she said, but Holden wasn't too sure of that.

He could tell from her voice that this was not the princess. But she could be Lailoyan, or a palace insider, or someone sent to find him. Holden didn't budge.

"Fine," she shrugged. "Sleep in a tree. Die of your injuries, see if I care," she replied as she laid out a leathery sled.

Holden watched as his blood dripped to the ground like rain. He squeezed his eyes shut and prayed to the stars that he wouldn't regret this. Holden scaled the tree down one branch at a time, his leg stinging with the movement.

The woman waited for him as he landed on his feet. He winced as his injury tore just a little, but was otherwise grateful to be back on the ground.

The woman watched him, and poorly hid her surprise when she noticed the ring of silver locked around his neck.

"An escaped prisoner," she correctly deduced.

"An escaped slave," he responded. Using that word made him shiver, but he could think of no gentler way to put it.

"Hm," she frowned. "What's your name?"

"Holden," he replied. "And you are?"

"They call me 'Nara,'" she said. "And I'm glad you are a slave. My old servant died the other day in a hunting accident, and I'm in dire need of a new one. Looks like I'm in luck."

Holden's eyebrows raised and he balanced the risk of running with his shredded leg with obeying the stranger.

The woman broke into laughter. "Ahaha that was a joke! But I had you for a moment, didn't I?"

Holden's eyelids lowered into a glare and he turned from 'Nara' and headed in the general direction of Ward. He tried to use his leg and nearly cried out as his very first step caused him searing pain.

"Oi," she said again, still recovering from her giggling. "You're going to get yourself killed limping around like that," she said. "Let me help you."

"Help me? Why?" He asked, extremely skeptical. "So you can sell me back to my captors for a profit? Or keep me for your own like you so hilariously suggested?"

"Relax, relax."

Holden did not relax.

"I don't need money," Nara said.

That couldn't be true, Holden thought.

"And I don't want a slave. I can barely feed myself, let alone another person."

That reason seemed incompatible with the first, he noted.

"The truth is, I have no choice but to help you," Nara said. "I'm cursed."

"Cursed?" Holden echoed with full disbelief.

Nara nodded. "It was set upon me from birth. A curse that forces me to help others in need, no matter the personal cost. I'll help you because I can't not help you, no matter how much I suggest to the contrary."

Holden felt himself ease up a little. "How do I know you're not lying?" He asked. "Did you get a curse for that too?"

The huntress laughed. "Thankfully no," she smiled. "But why lie? You're injured and weaponless. I don't need to trick you to get what I want."

That was a good — if concerning — point. "If you do wish to help me—"

"Am cursed to help you," she corrected.

"Then I'll take it." Blood was filling up his shoe. "I could use a resting place for the night."

"Then it's settled!" Nara beamed. "You help me with this bear, and I help you save your life."

And Holden helped roll the beast onto the sled.

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