Beyond Immortality

CHAPTER FORTY

Creena watched us leave. Within I felt bad for leaving her behind but my suffering in their hands made it clear to me, that this was not the time for mercy. My mother's life was at stake here. She was my priority. We made sure to cover more ground before it got pitch dark. For my mother's sake. Every second I went on to check on her worried that she might pass on. My night was unsatisfactory. I couldn't sleep no matter how much I tried it was impossible.

My mind raced on what was going to happen to mother if we delayed. I sat by the fire, deep in thought. The knights on guard changed shifts. The early chirping of birds got me still seated my head buried in my hands. I took it upon myself to wake everyone. Yes, I was desperate. Mithian had tried feeding her to no avail. We kicked off our journey back. I was quiet almost the entire journey. Mithian and Mason tried to enlighten the mood, General Leonius even tried to crack jokes but none of them worked. I would give a half grin so they would not feel disappointed.

I just need to have my mother back once again. That wasn't too much of asking now, was it? Leonius took extra care for mother he would take it upon himself to try and feed her soup cook as we camped. He had his own horse designed properly such that my mother saddled comfortably behind him having used a cloth to secure her on his back properly.

"Shh!" he says. We halt in our tracks each of us surveying our surroundings. "It's too quiet," he says

"Indeed," Mason adds. From behind the bush, there's screaming of bandits as they charge at us. I quickly hop off my horse withdraw my sword and start defending mother, Leonius and Mithian as everyone else swings into action handling the forest peace snatchers. One of the bandits charges at me, I result in using a stunning spell to send him flying back in the direction he came. Poor guy's body levitated and ended up hanging on a tree as one branch pierced his flesh protruding from his chest killing him on the spot. Another makes for Mithian but I pull him back with magic making him fall on my blade. I watch him retch on the ground after withdrawing my sword.

"Why did you attack us?" I ask pressing on his wound. The man lets out a shriek, I let go repeating my question.

"We..we were..." he coughs. "We were paid to attack you on your return to Oriondoth," he says.

"Who paid you?" I ask, he is reluctant to answer altering me to exact more pressure on his wound more.

"I don't know...I don't know, that was the only information we got from our leader." He says.

"Where is this leader?" I ask. I follow his gaze to the man hanging on the tree. That explains why he came for me first headstrong. He was useless to me, dead men don't talk. The injured bandit succumbs to his wounds. One thing was sure someone wanted me dead. This was an ambush, I had to get to the bottom of this, whoever it was they had to pay for it. I get up just as the others are done with their opponents. I kept the information I gathered a secret from the others, wanting to work alone to find the truth, also, I was not going to let bad things trash my wedding week.

It was night when we got back to the kingdom. As soon as we alighted the horse Leonius carried my mother to my room. Mithian went ahead to call Gerald, the royal physician, as Mason offered to inform the king of our arrival. Gerald arrived straight away.

"Have some servants prepare a good bath for my mother and fresh clean clothes. I'm relaxing your duties for the night and tomorrow so you can rest" I commanded Mithian, getting back to my mother.

"But my Lady-" I knew she was going to protest. She loved working for me, however, we had just traveled she needed her rest as much as I did.

"It is settled," I insist moving towards Gerald. I watched him examine my mother delicately. General Leonius had left us alone to attend to his duties.