Two of the Same

Chapter Thirteen *Arul*

Arul had his chair leaned against the window ceil, the front legs propped up in the air. On the table next to him a candle burned the flame swimming in melted wax that pooled onto the wooden table like frozen waves. There was a bottle of rum sitting on the table, most of its contents had already been drained, yet Arul's eyes were still bright, unclouded by the stupor of the drink. He scanned the room quietly, the bounty hunter siblings were still unconscious in their bed, two of his men Remus and Arthan slept in the corner their bows in their laps. They had been friends ever since they were children, having joined the academy they both became archers, two of the best in the kingdom. Arul had fought with them at his side for years. In the chair on the other side of the table was Davian, his head on the table top his shoulders slumped in exhaustion. He was the youngest, at nineteen, to be part of the palace guard, though that didn't change the fact that he was the fastest swords men in the entire country, his name was known throughout every city in Fane and beyond, acquiring him the nick name Quick Silver for both the quickness of his blade and the silver streaks through his thick brown hair. In his cheek were three small scars just beneath his eye, Arul didn't know how he had earned the marks and every time he was asked Davian would find some way to stray off the topic, over time Arul learned just not ask. The origin of his wound wasn't going t affect the speed of his blade so Arul reasoned that there was no need to worry over it, and advised his men to think the same. Finally sitting beside the door was Gane, Arul's second in command. His head was leaned back against the door frame, his eyes closed but his fingers were moving with a mind of their own, they clutched at each individual bead on a necklace he always wore. He had had that ever since he was a child, given to him by his superstitious mother she had drilled it into him that if there was no respect for those that had parted then they would haunt you living steps. Each bead represented someone that was close to him who had died, or someone that he had taken their life from; there were many. Arul knew Gane was not conscious, this peculiar ritual his sleeping body did every night had become routine for Arul, he had usually watched Gane as he paid tribute to the dead until Arul himself finally fell to sleep. Tonight however there was no falling asleep, his mind was too crowded to give him a moment's peace for sleep. Arul pushed his hair out of his face, the sandy curls thick with dirt and sweat, and rubbed his face with both hands, his short beard scratching at his palms; his eyes once again went to the empty bed in the corner. The princess had still not returned and the Lucian was gone as well, this unsettled him but also aggravating him, he knew that the Lucian, Avian wouldn't harm the princess but that didn't cease his worry for her either. Arul hated the idea of Avian being near the princess, the familiar pin pricks of jealous stabbed at his heart once more. He scratched his beard as he felt his mind starting to calm, he didn't want to sleep but his body was rebelling against him; he drifted. It felt as though he were sinking to the bed of a river, settling slowly on the bottom, just out of the currents grasp, but still he was awake seeing the little inn room through tunnels in his vision, in and out almost dream like fragments of his memory intertwined with reality until finally he could tell the difference. He was a child once again, six or seven years old at the most and wandering lost through the woods; alone. The trees were over bearing and closely packed, denying any sunlight to stream through, leaving everything beneath their towering branches in cold darkness. This was, by far, more memory than dream; this had been Arul's childhood. Plagued with loneliness and pain; fear, fear laced its self through his heart making it race in his chest like a terrified bird, fluttering it wings frantically, trying o escape. There was no warning, no inclination that something was approaching from behind. One minute Arul was on his feet making his way down the trail and the next he is at the mercy of his invisible attack. Arul had been pushed from behind; landing in a pile of dead leaves on his back while something attacked him, something he couldn't see. Darkness was all around him, like a black cloud covering his eyes. He cried out, hitting and kicking in his defense but whatever it was that was attacking him wasn't fazed, it didn't stop as it tore apart his chest. Pain filled every part of Avian, his senses over run with it. he could feel the blood running down his torso, pooling all around him, the smell of copper hanging in the air like a thick smog and still he could not see his attacker; he couldn't see anything. Arul felt his strength begin to wane as his life bled out with each slowing beat of his heart; then it stopped, just like that, the attacks disappeared and the darkness was swallowed by a bright burning light. Arul laid there his body still broken and bleeding, he could feel his eye lids fluttering with fatigue and could only make out the silhouettes of two figures as they approached him.

"Arimus were we too late? Is he already dead?" a woman's voice reached Arul's ears, it sounded warm and soft, the voice he pictured a mother would have.

"No Terina, not yet, but he will be soon if we don't act fast." The deep voice of a man answered back, Arul drifted in and out of consciousness as the two figures bent over him. When he came to he saw a woman's face smiling at him with warm blue and gold eyes and wrinkles around her eyes from smiling.

"Stay with us little one, we're going to help you." She whispered, her hand rubbing his cheek gently. Suddenly there was a burning in his chest, searing like a fire; his back arched in pain and he screamed out in a mixture of pain and fear. 'Help me, please help me.' Were the only thoughts running through Arul's mind he wasn't sure if he were screaming the words or merely thinking them in his head. And just as quickly as the burning had over taken his body it disappeared and his mind faded away, reality melting around him; the last thing he remembered seeing was the smiling face of the woman, her warm hand rubbing his face gently as he faded away into the darkness. The chair legs fell to the ground, pitching Arul forward; he jolted his mind alert once again. He could feel his blood pounding hard through his veins, roaring in his ear; there was a painful burning in Arul's chest, right above his heart. It was the same burning feeling he got every time he thought about that day, an ever constant reminder of the life he had almost lost. He rubbed his chest hard, trying to chase the burning feeling away. Wincing slightly he looked around the room and froze when he saw a small figure wrapped tightly in the blanket as it slept in the bed quietly.

"Gwyn." He breathed and relief washed over him, she was sad and with that knowledge he could finally rest easy. He stood up quietly and made his way over to her side, careful to be sure he didn't wake anyone, especially Gwyn. She was laying on he side, her breathing slow and steady as she slept. Arul reached out and pulled the blanket over her shoulders, tucking it gently around her. She turned in her sleep so that she was facing him, her cheek lying on his hand. Arul couldn't help himself, his thumb ran itself gently across her cheek and his heart warmed when he saw her smile at his touch. After a moment he pulled his hand away leaving her to sleep in peace. Arul turned his back on her but didn't catch the hard glint from a pair of watching emerald eyes that peered out in the darkness from the corner of the room.