Bound by blood & Ink

In the eye of the council

The horse galloped through the crowded city streets, its hooves striking the cobblestones with urgency. Alex could feel the rush of air against her face as the female knight held her firmly in place. Though her head felt heavy and her vision blurred, she caught glimpses of the other knights riding ahead, shouting for the people to clear the way. Crowds parted as the knights carved a path through the bustling city, their weapons raised to ensure no one dared to obstruct their passage.

The world tilted as the horse turned sharply toward a massive palace at the city's heart. Alex's body jolted with the movement, and she found herself slipping into unconsciousness again, only to be wrenched awake by the jarring stop of the horse at the palace gates.

"Move quickly!" barked the female knight as she dismounted, still clutching Alex. The young man from before appeared at her side and helped her lower Alex from the saddle. Together, they carried her through the grand gates, past the towering stone walls adorned with banners of gold and crimson.

Alex caught brief flashes of the place as they hurried through: sprawling courtyards filled with marble statues, women in elegant robes gasping as they passed, and intricately carved archways that led to the palace interior. Her head lolled to the side, and she drifted in and out of awareness as voices grew louder.

"Get the medics and bring them to the courtroom!" the female knight commanded, her voice sharp as steel.

Alex felt herself being carried again. Moments later, they burst through the grand doors of the courtroom. Inside, the chamber was circular, designed like an ancient amphitheater. A raised podium wrapped around the walls, where wealthy council members sat in heated discussion. The centerpiece of the room was a large table with a detailed map sprawled across it, marking the surrounding territories.

The knights' entrance caused the chamber to fall silent. Heads turned as the female knight strode to the table and laid Alex down unceremoniously on the map.

"Stop whatever you're doing," the knight said, her voice reverberating through the chamber. "She's is still alive."

Gasps rippled through the room. A man in armor with a dark beard stepped forward, his expression hard to read. His words sounded concerned, but the knight sensed an undercurrent of insincerity.

"Oh, you found her..." He raised a brow. "But I must say, it doesn't look like she's holding on for long."

An older man with a long, flowing gray beard stood from his seat. His voice carried the authority of decades. "As long as she breathes, we have a countess. She is the heir." He pointed firmly at Alex's prone form.

He turned to the armored man. "Your duties, General Tyrel, are no longer needed."

Tyrel's jaw tightened. "What do you mean? She can hardly rule this city in her condition. I suggest we vote on this matter." He looked around at the council members, appealing to their uncertainty. "She's just a girl. How can she rule when she may not even last the night?"

The doors burst open behind him, and three doctors rushed in carrying medical kits and cloths. Alex barely registered their presence as she felt hands pressing against her arms, her chest, her neck.

"She's burning up," one of the doctors muttered. "Pulse is faint. We need to stabilize her immediately."

The lead doctor, a woman with sharp eyes and steady hands, began barking orders. "Fetch clean water and linens—quickly. I need a solution for disinfecting these wounds!"

Another doctor carefully cut away the blood-soaked fabric from Alex's side, revealing the deep gash beneath. "The bleeding's slowed, but the edges are jagged. It'll need stitching."

The female knight stepped forward, her brow furrowed. "Will she live?"

The lead doctor didn't look up as she worked. "That depends. She's lost a lot of blood. If we don't act now, she won't make it."

The room descended into a tense silence as the doctors worked. One began threading a curved needle, sterilizing it over a small flame, while another poured cool water over the wound to clear away the blood. Alex flinched, her body weak but still responsive to the pain.

"We need to keep her conscious," the lead doctor said. "If she slips too far under, we'll lose her."

The knight knelt beside Alex, her usually stoic face softening. "Stay with us," she said, her voice low but firm. "You're stronger than this. Fight."

Alex's eyes fluttered open briefly, squinting against the light streaming through the courtroom windows. The young man appeared in her vision again, his face tight with worry.

"You're safe now," he said quietly.

Her gaze shifted to the female knight, who stood over her protectively. The knight nodded once, as if to reassure her that everything would be fine.

"Start stitching," the lead doctor ordered. The curved needle pierced Alex's skin, and she bit back a whimper.

The procedure continued with precision, the doctors working in unison to clean, stitch, and bandage the wound. Someone brought a small vial of a strange, liquid, which the lead doctor administered drop by drop into Alex's mouth.

"This will help with the pain and strengthen her," she explained.

Minutes passed, feeling like hours, but finally, the lead doctor straightened, wiping her hands on a clean cloth. "She's stable — for now."

The older councilman sighed in relief. "Good. The city's future depends on her survival."

Tyrel, standing at the edge of the room, crossed his arms. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Alex.