The Assassin Queen (Book Four)

Chapter 26- Ryia

Though I was often training for the on coming war I still found time every day to visit Simon who had been trapped in his room until the doctor said he was fully healed yesterday. So when I visited in the morning to pick him up for training as I had sworn to do the day before . He was smiling brightly at me in his dark blue loose cotton shirt, black loose training pants, and worn brown boots. He was freshly washed and looked rather handsome. "You ready to get your ass kicked shadow boy?" I asked with a devious smile on my face. Shadow boy had been my taunting nick name for him when he had visited my dreams when we were much younger. "You wish fey child" he said with a heart aching smile. We launched down stairs into the training room silent as shadows. "Now, do tell me Simey, which weapon do you wish to train with first" I said gesturing to the wall of hanging weapons. Simon's eyes glowed with excitement as he gazed at each well crafted weapon that dangled from the straps on the wall. He reached methodically toward the long sword, in my opinion the most graceful weapon made, but he pulled his hand away with a thoughtful smile on his face. "I think I'll choose hand to hand combat, Ry" he said pulling away from the wall. I smiled wickedly as removed my boots and walked toward the mat, "wrong choice Simey, you are truly going to regret it". "We will have to see, now won't we?" Simon asked in a mock sweet tone. With a laugh we got into starting position and crept along the edges of the mat for a few paces and then I lunged. I gave a neat right hook that would have collided smoothly with his jaw if he hadn't picked that moment to duck. Simon tried to throw an upper cut but I dashed back barely in time to avoid the hit. We ducked and curved around each other's attacks in a melodious and deadly dance one wrong move and I'd be knocked to the mat and black out. It was then that Simon did something I din't expect. Throwing his fist forward so that I leaned back and then without giving me even a moment to straighten out he hooked his foot around the back of my ankle and pulled it forward throwing me off balance and causing me to fall on my back. Simon was about to lunge at me and put me in a fatal position when I felt the a kick in my stomach. "Stop! I forfeit for now" I said cradling my stomach carefully as I stood up and walked of the mat. I was putting my shoes on when Simon walked over and plopped down next to me. "Is your stomach alright?" Simon asked looking at me worriedly. That's right he didn't know I was pregnant. I guess everything had been so crazy and hectic around here since Simon came and since we found out that Terrin had betrayed us that telling him hadn't crossed my mind. "Oh well you see, I guess telling you had completely slipped my mind". I kept rambling excuses for why I hadn't told him until he cut me off. "Tell me what?" Simon asked curiosity flooding his voice. "I-I'm pregnant" I stuttered. "You and Leo were going to have a kid?" he asked and I saw guilt cross his features. I wanted to comfort him remind him that it wasn't his fault but it was right then that the pain and sadness of loosing Leo hit me at full force, like being ran over by carriage. "I-I have to go" I said near silently. I stood up and dashed outside and ran toward Leo's tree. By the time I got there tears were streaming down my face so fast that I couldn't see. I scaled the tree climbing to a strong branch where I sat at the crook where the branch connected to the trunk. I hugged the trunk tightly and started balling. Sobs shook my very soul as I felt that soft presence that felt here it was Leo. My sobs tore through me like swords. "Why, why did you have to leave? Why are you gone? I need you". Clutching the tree with my eyes closed tightly I saw his smile and heard his laughter. My sobs quieted and a small sad smile tugged at my lips as I whispered "I miss you, so much". By the time I climbed down the sun was setting and when I reached the castle I saw Simon sitting at the edge of the gardens. I walked over and sat down wanting to tell him that I was alright and that my outburst had nothing to do with him but he spoke before I could even make a sound. "Did you know I was there when my mother died, men as large as trees had broken into the castle. My mother was holding them off giving everyone time to leave but I refused to leave her side, I was fourteen when it happened I saw one of them strangling her as the other men held me back they weren't affected by my shadows because they were wearing magic resistant armor. When I saw her go limp in their hands the women who had loved me and raised me and always told me to be strong dead in their hands. I had used my magic so powerfully it ripped through their armor. I killed them all and I still haven't forgiven them so I'm left to sit here thinking if after over half a decade I still haven't forgiven them, how on earth are you supposed to forgive me?" Simon sounded so broken it was then I realized how much that guilt had really gotten to him. "Its because its not your fault Simon your as much of a victim of the Demon Knight and Demon King that Leo was, and the world is sorely mistaken if it believes either of them are going to be left alive by the end of this war. I wont ever forgive either of them, but you have as much claim to their blood as I do, they stole away years of your life and made you hurt everyone around you. I'm sorry though because I am taking the Demon Knight's life I won't let the honor fall to you I am far too selfish" I said. "I wouldn't expect you to" Simon said smiling. "We have both suffered by that demons hands it time to return the favor" I said with a vicious smile and when I looked at Simon his face mirrored mine.