The Death Kingdom

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Fynn has to lift me onto his horse since I'm far too weak to do it on my own. My body aches, and my leg is throbbing in time with my heartbeat. Fynn quickly treated what he could while I was on the ground, trying to stop the worst of the bleeding.

When he finally gets me up onto the horse I slump forward, unable to hold my weight. He takes hold of the reins and starts leading the horse in the direction he came from.

"Is Akita here too?" I ask, trying and failing to turn my head to look at him.

"Yes, we had to deal with the female Guardian together before I could come to get you. I'm sorry it took me so long to get to you." He frowns and turns his head, his eyes scanning over my body, pausing on each injury. "I should've come faster."

I reach a hand out and his hand entwines with mine. "You saved me and did everything you could. I know you did. All that matters is you were there."

He squeezes my hand once and then lets it go. "We passed by two people in the woods on the way here," he says casually. "Should I assume that is because of you?"

I breathe out a long-relieved breath. "So, the princes are safe then?"

"They should be waiting a little ways into the woods for us to return. They're a little beat up, but looked to be alright."

"Good. That's good." I nod slightly, the last of my adrenaline dissipating from my body at the knowledge that they're okay. I managed to keep the princes safe, and shortly with the help of Akita and Fynn, we'll be back at the rebellion where we can reevaluate and plan our next move.

I take a second to look at Fynn, studying his profile. I notice the tight line of his mouth, and how hollow his eyes look. There are dark circles underneath his normally vibrant green eyes.

"Fynn," I whisper, trepidation coating my words. "What happened?" My heart stills as I wait for him to respond.

His gaze falls skyward, blowing out a long breath, and then tears well in his eyes. "Saige, I—I don't know how to tell you this—"

"Dad," I croak out, my heart falling into my stomach.

"No, Gods, no. Sorry, I should've led with that, but it's bad Saige. It's horrible, the rebellion..."

"No." I push myself to sit up in the saddle, strength somehow managing to find its way through me. "No, Fynn. Don't tell me the king found it, don't tell me it's over. That all of this was for nothing." My voice takes on a high-pitched, frantic note, dread and fear the only emotions coiling through me.

He chokes on his next words. "I'm—I'm sorry, Saige." He takes a shaky breath. "They came last night tearing through camp. One of the scouts was able to make it back to warn us, but we hardly had any time to flee. There was so much carnage, so many innocent lives lost." He hiccups and a tear trickles down his face. "Atwood led a good portion to safety, and sent Akita, Kana, and I to get you from the castle, only for us to run into you here already fleeing."

"How—how many Fynn?" I ask, not even wanting to know the answer.

His gaze falls to the ground in front of him, his grip on the reins turning his fist white. "Too many, I don't even know the numbers. Atwood didn't hesitate to flee and send us after you. He made us go, so we don't even know the worst of it. I know not all is lost, those precious minutes from the scout saved countless lives, but the rebellion is no more."

My heart clenches, and tears start streaming down my face. I almost can't believe it, can't believe the ruthlessness of the king. Had he known the position of camp this whole time? Was it us escaping that sent this entire thing into motion? How did the king even manage this? He must've sent the entirety of the Guardian regiment to take out the rebellion.