Impenetrable- Sequel to Arcanum

Chapter 11: Colt

I stirred to the feeling of something wet on my forehead, and I forced my eyes open to see my brother Spruce sitting on my bed beside me, putting a damp hot cloth on my head.
"Spruce?' I groaned, trying to remember how I ended up here.
"You're such a pervert brother." He smirked at me devilishly, and I tried to search through my mind to figure out why in the world he'd call me that.
My eyes widened, and a blush colored my cheeks when I remembered Kaliska..
"You saw, heard, or don't know anything." I snarled at Spruce, and he let out a laugh.
"I suppose I should go apologize to her." I said after I thought about it.
"You shouldn't get up, Colt. You hit your head, and I'm sure your head has gone through enough damage this week." Spruce warned and pushed me back down lightly when I tried to get up.
I glared at him, and curled my lip.
"Stop treating me like I'm a baby, Spruce." I growled. I hated it when he did this! It almost seems like he thinks I can't take care of myself.
He shook his head, and stood up.
"Please listen to me Colt and just stay in bed. You can go talk to Kaliska once you're healed." He said, and without another word, he left my room.
I waited for his footsteps to disappear down the hallway, and I got up and set the cloth on my desk.
"Like hell I'm waiting." I grumbled, and grabbed my bow and quiver, and put my cloak over my head and bow, so if anyone saw me, hopefully didn't ask any questions.
I pulled the hood over my head, and walked out into the hallway.
"Colt?" I heard my father, and I cursed to see him observing a painting nearby.
"What are you doing?" He asked a he walked over. With my cloak covering my body, he didn't notice my bow and quiver luckily.
I smile and thought fast for an excuse.
"I think I forgot to feed my horse!" I said, and he blinked in confusion.
"Don't the caretakers-"
"See you father!" I called as I was already racing down the hallway. I heard my father call after me, but I was too far ahead, and blood pounded in my ears.
I raced to the stable, and climbed on my horse, and quickly raced out of the kingdom, my father's yells getting more and more distant as I rode through the forest.
I finally got to the spring, but stopped short when I heard some footsteps, and immediately jumped from my horse, into a nearby tree.
When I saw a couple men dressed in black below, I quietly pulled my bow off my shoulder, and steadily grabbed an arrow and set it up as I heard the men talk.
"I could've sworn I heard something... Oh hey a horse!" One man hooted at the other, and I narrowed my eyes as I drew the arrow back to my ear, and watched them carefully.
"Let's kill it and sell the meat!" The other man said, and pulled out a knife.
My vision sharpened as I saw him approach my horse, and a second later, he had an arrow sticking out of his head.
The othe man quickly looked around, but his fate was sealed when I shot him in the head too.
I jumped down, and narrowed my gaze at the dead men, and decided to leave them for the catori.
I continued to walk, until I reached the water's edge, but gasped in horror when I saw Kaliska sitting there, bleeding from her stomach.
"Kaliska!" I cried as I raced over, and slid down beside her.
She weakly looked up, and smiled softly.
"Hey Colt." She croaked, and I shook my head.
"Shhh... I'm going to try something, okay?" I asked calmly, and she stared at me in puzzlement, but her gaze cleared when I pulled a blue glowing crystal from my pocket.
I stared at it, and narrowed my eyes.
I've always tried to use the magic in the crystal, but it never worked for me. I have no clue how my father perfectly does it everytime.
Everytime I try it, I burn my hands even through my gloves, and end up being exhausted afterwards.
I pushed the thoughts from my mind.
'Kaliska is dying yet I'm worrying about getting burnt." I scowled at myself, and held the crystal over her and closed my eyes. Almost instantly, I could feel the magic and I tried to reach out to it, but once I felt it, I dropped the crystal and cringed.
'Toughen up you good for nothing prince.' I though furiously, and tried again.
"C-Colt it's working!" I heard her say, and I could hear the strength returning in her voice.
"Th-that's good." I managed to peep out as I begun to shake from all the strength I was using.
"I think that's good Colt." She told me at last, and I fell immediately. I tried to grip onto consciousness, but the crystal sapped away all my strength.
"Colt? Colt?!" I heard Kaliska's voice growing distant as I closed my eyes, and gave into the darkness.