A Touch of Magic

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Evergreen

Once again, he was gone. Why had he left me again? Where had he gone this time? My thoughts never shifted from him even as we approached the castle.
Then, an ambush! Orcs came at us on horseback from every angle! We were outnumbered! We jumped into battle instinctively, but the orcs were considerably stronger than the vepo.
All of a sudden, pain. A sense of unbearable pain. An orc had slashed open my arm, leaving a gaping would. Blood streamed out from the opening in my skin, and I screamed as I collapsed onto the ground.
My vision was blurry, but I managed to make out Demetry chopping the head off the orc that was leaning over me. I felt Demetry pick me up and place me somewhere. I didn't know where.
Before I could pass out, I felt someone shaking me back to consisnes. I forced my eyes open to see Brikwood tearing a piece of his leather clothes off and tightly wrapping it around my arm. I winced and bit back about her scream of pain. My vision was still blurry, but I heard him say,
"I'm sorry, Evergreen! I've made a terrible mistake! I-"
He didn't finish as he noticed my horrified face, and he looked behind him. There, she stood with her hand on his shoulder. The queen of the clan that murdered my mother.
Recognition flew across her face as soon as she laid eyes on me. She turned to Brikwood.
"My dear, I see you've found your old friend. I assume you left out the details about who you really are?"
I forced out the words. I had to know.
"What...do...you...mean..."
The queen smiled at Brikwood, but it wasn't a loving smile. It was the smile of a monster.
"Go on, dear. Tell your old friend who really killed her beloved mother."
All the color drained from his face in that instant. He turned a shade of green, then purple.
"No... No!"
He dropped to the ground, his legs no longer supporting his body weight. I understood everything. It was too much. He would deny it! It wasn't Brikwood!
I vomited onto the grass before passing out completely. I couldn't do it! I couldn't admit the man I'd almost given my heart away to was the man who shattered it to begin with. It was all wrong! It couldn't! It shouldn't! But it was! Now I would die truly, truly alone.