Princess of Roses

Chapter 12: Saved

Astri

Well, this day is not going as well as I had hoped. My eyes roam over the city, ears ringing from the rising volume of screams. As they focus on the monsters closing in on a child at the foot of the castle gates, my body moves before my mind can catch up.

I toss the heavy cloak I'd been made to wear for the meeting backwards, not looking to see where it lands before hoisting myself over the railing. I can vaguely make out Cylen saying something behind me before I begin to fall. Immediately, I brace for impact by allowing my magic to envelop me, slowing my descent enough that I can throw a fireball at the tentacles under its hood.

My feet the ground with a thump, and I register a muffled curse from up above. I don't have long to dwell on it before a small body is hitting me in the chest, little hands grasping my shirt as he muffles a sob. Automatically, a hand reaches out to smooth his hair back in comfort as my eyes flicker briefly to the charred remains behind him.

We don't have long. If these monsters are anything like the ones we encountered...

"Help!" My eyes snap down to meet teary hazel. "Please!Hiccup.My mum...I don't...I can't find her...Help me! Please.

"Of course," I shoot him a comforting smile, "But first we need to get you to safety." And right on time the doors swing open, a group of wide-eyes guards staring back at me. "Get him inside. And keep a look out for more civilians."

Waiting only as long as it takes for them to get the kid inside, I turn my attention to the charred remains, drawing my sword to poke at it. I didn't get to do the same before due to Theo's fussing. The cloak feels and looks more leathery.

I draw it back immediately when it starts to dissolve, leaving black goo on my sword. What is this...My brows furrow. That's new.

"What were you thinking!?" Gem huffs as she comes to a stop beside me, out of breath and eyes narrowed.

"It was the quickest way, Mira." I don't take my gaze of Storm Cleaver, willing my light magic to envelop. I don't think they can respawn from the goo, but I'm not taking any chances.

"By jumping of the balcony?" She gives me a disbelieving look, "Surely, there were better ways."

"None that would have been fast enough to save that boy. Don't give me that look, it's true and you know it." That only makes her scowl grow."Look, I know it might not have been the best thing to do, but it was important. Besides don't we have a more urgent situation at hand?"

I really don't want to add my cousin's reprimanding to this day as well. I've hit the limit of terrible things I can manage for the day with this attack. Although, I suppose it did manage to get us out of that awkward situation Theo put us in. A scowl flickers over my face at the reminder.

Not now. I smooth it out immediately, releasing a breath and finally looking upwards to meet her eyes. By now Cylen has caught up as well, but I barely have a moment to register him as a puff of smoke blocks my vision. Suddenly my face is being held between large hands, blue eyes peering down as he turns my head to the side.

"Are you hurt?" His eyes don't stop their assessment, hands moving down to uncurl mine.

I blink, mouth opening and shutting as he clasps my hands in his and inspects the back of them as well. "I'm fine."

"Why would you jump of the balcony?" He doesn't seem to have heard me, moving my sleeve up. "That was a fifteen-foot drop. Of all the..."

"I've jumped from taller," I mutter in reply, still bewildered. He glances up at me but then immediately goes back to inspecting my arms, fingers brushing over them as if he expects to see bruises. They rest over my wrist.