[BETA] To Break A Curse

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

~ AETHER ~

I HEARD a crack. It might have been from the heavy plank of wood we had lifted up the roof. 'Twas freshly sawed and wet still, so the weight required strength I seemed to have been lacking these days. Nevertheless, I shall fault the wood for the creaking. 'Twas surely not the bones in my back. Damon, however, shook his head and gave me a disdainful look.

"You should have stayed with your books," he said mockingly. I placed my hands on my hips to settle for air before rebutting, but the oaf grabbed a longer, thicker plank and threw it up like paper. The men up the roof smiled as they catch the wood.

"It seems my charms have no place here. Lord Damon's arms win the match. Again."

"Ah," the bearded man chimed in, smoke puffing from his breath. "I am sure his lordship meant no ill-will, Your Majesty. It is cold and early. These lowly tasks are for the hands of this ragged old man. Please. Tend to more important matters. This fool might be old, but my wife tells me I am still good with my hands."

We both laughed as Damon and the other person nailing the woods shook their heads in disbelief. More words were exchanged– perhaps questions about Damon's training secrets or comments about the snow miraculously stopping– but my mind was elsewhere. It wandered with the morning wind, howling with the distant voices and constant thud of logs being hammered. My thoughts were not even on the freezing tips of my fingers and toes, but on the other houses, whose roofs had collapsed, leaving the homes in shambles.

"Are you certain that every house had been checked?" I whispered after pulling the man aside.

The folly in his eyes disappeared. "I am certain, Your Majesty. No one was hurt badly. Those with shallow wounds... they have healed normally."

"Good. And Kanah?"

"Quick as usual. Gathered the women and children in the hall and dispensed the robes and blankets."

I nodded and heaved a breath that pricked my lungs cold. My chest might have been frozen, but 'twas the relief I cared to welcome.

"Listen to the old man. You should head back. Today is the day after all. Do you not need to practice your speech?"

"I would say the same thing to you."

"You think I would forget a few silly lines?"

I smiled weakly. "'Tis not silly. Only your voice makes it so."

We giggled, and he rebutted no more.

"Your Majesty! My lord! Pardon me, but you have to come quickly!" a man shouted before he could even reach us. We shared a brief glance with each other and quickly sprinted to follow the rushing soldier. The snow was thick and our robes were damp, making each step heavy and tedious.

By the time we had stopped, we were gasping for air from the run.

There was nothing visibly wrong with the house that stood before us. Its roof was handling the pile of snow well, and its brick walls showed no signs of damage or decay. But a familiar, monstrous growl haunted the air and pierced through our ears. We leapt to the door and burst in, revealing two men on a violent wrestle– one bloody and gashed, the other drooling at the mouth.

"Get Kanah! Now!" I exclaimed above the screams. Damon ran without question.

"Grab his arms, grab his arms." I flung my robe away and tightened my gloves as the soldier and I knelt down the slippery floor.

"Your Majesty..." the man underneath the convulsing body gurgled. "Please... he has not harmed anyone. He is fine. He is fine still. I am... fine."

"Hand me that rope."