The Truth Over The Wall

Chapter 20

How many Araaians are you willing to bleed? The words chilled Dominic's blood. But worse than that was what followed: the images that accompanied every whispered threat.

He took his head in his hands for a moment as he heard the accusation shouted at him:

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE THE PRINCE THAT STARTED IT ALL?

For your false pride, Dominic thought with a detached numbness. And your righteous arrogance...

Had he just brought war on Araaia? Was he ready for the blood and carnage of centuries to ravage his people? To bury their home under loss and violence so cruel, that they had yet to beat it out?

Had he really done that? And was his best friend the first causality? The innocent messenger, from Leopold's own story, that had taken a message to Tessa.

And had been found dead at the gates of Tafah the next morning.

Oh God, Eric! Dominic's hand shook as he ran it through his hair. What have I done?

"Your Highness?" Lord Arnold, their travelling physician and Amara's mentor, walked up to Dominic with a somber expression as he wiped at his forehead.

"How is he doing?" Dominic asked, practicing calm he did not feel.

Please tell me he's alright, Dominic kept repeating to himself. Please tell me I didn't just offer up my friend as a sacrifice to the witches!

"Not well, Your Highness," Lord Arnold sighed, "He has been cut up and bruised all over, some ritualistic practice I presume, but these don't concern us, as we can easily tend them.

"There is an obvious wound," Lord Arnold's voice grew a little hushed as he explained, "From a knife, perhaps, and the skin around the injury...well, it has started to color.

"It is turning a strange blue white," Lord Arnold shook his head. "You know what that means."

"Poison," Dominic said raising a hand to his forehead, "They poisoned him."

"Yes, Your Highness," Lord Arnold's eyes were tired, as he explained, "It is a poison neither I nor the young lady," Lord Arnold said indicating Amara, "Have ever encountered and our collective study in medicine spreads far I assure you. If we allow the wound to close-"

"You'll risk trapping the poison," Dominic realized, "And by the time you bleed out the poison from his system, he'll have died of his injuries."

Writhing in pain the entire time, Dominic thought but did not say out loud. This wasn't just death. This was punishment, this was torture.

This was their game, Dominic thought sickened.

Refusing to give in just yet, Dominic asked, he needed to be sure, "And there's nothing you can do?"

Lord Arnold was about to shake his head when someone cleared their throat. Very loudly, not willing to be ignored.

Lord Arnold sighed and gave Dominic a wry smile. "There is nothing I can think to do, Your Highness," Lord Arnold stated, "But the young lady has other ideas."

"Thank you, Lord Arnold," Amara told him, as she appeared at the tent. The old physician and Amara shared a look as the old man went back inside the tent. He shrugged as if to tell her, can't hurt to try.

Amara wore an apron like Lord Arnold's helpers. As she walked toward Dominic, she removed a rag from one of her pockets and began wiping the blood from her hands.

Eric's blood, Dominic thought as he looked up from her hands.

"I thought you said your mother is the healer," Dominic asked her, curious.