Broken Hero

Chapter 6

Elsa's POV

Raul was back again that evening.  By then the army was starting to filter back into camp.  I was terrified to guess what that meant.  Were they giving up?  Were the defenders dead?  Were they just resting for the night?

Raul laid a pile of arrows at his feet while I ate.  I was feeling stronger than I had in a while and debated running for it.  I could probably make it away.  As I debated I watched Raul's arrows.  He had picked two and were carving something onto their shafts with his throwing knife.

"Raul!" a voice shouted.  Raul glanced up as an officer marched towards us.  His eyes were furious.

"Playing with your prisoner?" he demanded.

"Working," Raul responded.

"Work yourself into the East Tent.  They're holding your trial."

"My trial?  What did I do?"

"Get yourself there in time and you might hear."

Raul stuffed the arrows he'd laid out into his quiver and tied me back to the tree.  Then he and the officer were marching back to camp.  I'd missed my chance.

Or maybe not, I realized, glancing down at the dirt where Raul had been sitting.  There resting in the dust was an arrowhead which had snapped off.

---

Some time later I had managed to maneuver myself over to the arrowhead and put it in my palm.  I hadn't started sawing at the cords yet for fear that Raul would return and find out what I was doing.  Instead I waited until the sun had been set for a good while.  The camp seemed calm and still.  I began working away at the cords.  It was slow going.  The arrowhead was almost too dull to cut.

When the cords finally fell to the ground I stood, massaging my sore wrists.  The arrowhead wasn't much in the way of weapons, but it would have to do.  I began creeping away from the camp.  I would have to pass several tents on the way out, but if I was careful I should be fine.  Only one of the tents was lit, and it was the last one I would have to pass.

I could hear raised voices as I approached the final tent.  I slowed down, taking greater care in my footsteps.  The last thing I needed was to get caught.

"I'LL PROVE IT TO YOU!" Raul's voice shouted.  The front of the tent was thrown open as he and several officers stepped into the night air.  The froze when our eyes met.

"Stop her!" one of the officers ordered.  I ran.  I could hear the soldiers behind me.

Just to the wall, I ordered myself.  Just make it to the wall and the others will be able to help you.

I was in the trees, darting around bushes and leaping over fallen trees.  They sounded too close.

One of the officers tackled me to the ground.  I blindly stabbed with the arrowhead and felt him release me.  I was back on my feet and running, now weaponless.  How long could I keep this up?

"Take another step and Jack Frost dies!" Raul shouted.  I stopped running and slowly turned.  Raul stood a short distance behind me, holding up an arrow.

"I made it this myself," he continued.  "Marked Arrow.  You know all about those, don't you, Elsa Snow?"

"How do you know those names?" I asked.

"Female warrior?  Silver laurel?  Come now, I'm no fool.  You're fame proceeds you, Miss Snow.  As do your wedding plans.  I'm certain you wouldn't want anything to happen to Commander Frost."

"We're soldiers.  We give up our lives in defense of our country."

"Yes, but would you really let Jack die knowing you could have prevented it?"

"I'd die first."

"Leave, and we won't follow.  But I swear this arrow will find Jack's heart and I will be the one firing it."

I didn't move.  Raul smiled.

"Smart choice.  This is why our people don't allow girls to go to war.  You always let your hearts get in the way."

Someone grabbed me from behind and everything went dark.