Reckless Abandon - The Secrets of Avelina Chronicles 2

12: Aubrey

For the days that Damian pondered with the council over the multiple deaths and wondered what was happening to the perfect order of the three clans, the unknown soldier was continuing his recovery on the Island. He had no idea who he was and was confused by the constant switch of nurse watching over him. At one time, Aubrey sat by his bed, cleaning his wounds and changing his bandages. And though they talked often about her life so far, he longed for the singing voice inside his head.

Aubrey was sweet, gentle and thoughtful, as well as beautiful in her own right. But there was the constant reminder of the woman who had cared for him every time he closed his eyes and heard her singing. Each and every time it sent a longing to his heart. Celia visited him just as often and when he asked her to sing to him, as she used to when he was unable to wake, the voice he heard wasn't the voice he remembered. The simple request made her nervous and even if he didn't know his own name, he knew that something was very wrong.

For Aubrey, the days that passed were unbearable. Each day she saw the Queen visiting the soldier and the way he looked at her as if she were the woman of his dreams. He gave all his attention to the Queen and gave none to Aubrey, who was desperate for just a moment of his time. He talked with the King daily, trying to remember anything he could, trying to remember who he was or why he had been injured.

It had been six days since he arrived at the village and despite all their conversations, he barely gave her any time at all. He was able to walk around, uneasily, by day five, but for Aubrey it was only another symbol of the distance between them and the lack of care he had for her. Instead of walking by her side and talking together, he walked through the grounds with the Queen. It broke her heart.

Yet, the soldier felt a pull towards Aubrey he couldn't explain. If the little he knew was correct and the Queen was the voice he had heard singing to him, he saw no reason why the young girl should mean anything to him, other than another tenderhearted nurse. On that sixth day, there was nothing more he wanted than to be away from both women. He would take a leisurely walk in the gardens, hoping that it could clear his head. He had so much to think about that only the fresh air would help.

Of course, nothing went according to plan.

Once outside, managing to walk with no more than a slight limp, he found that he wasn't alone. Captain Randall Dawson, apparently only acting King, was walking the garden with another soldier, talking quietly with him. He did his best to avoid them. Barely a few moments later, he saw Queen Celia waving and heading his way. It was too late to avoid her and he was unable to run from her. So for a few minutes, he was forced to endure her company yet again.

"My Lord your recovery is a miracle. I shall imagine that you would be fully capable of returning to your wicked ways by the next new moon." Celia flirted with him, though he couldn't truly understand the meaning of her words. All he knew was that she betrayed her husband every time she got so close to him. The young girl Aubrey had told him enough of the King and Queen for him to know that Celia was married. But that didn't help his confused mind any.

The soldier faked a smile at Celia and turned to walk over, only to see Aubrey walking into the gardens. She stopped the moment she saw him, standing next to the Queen. The look on her face was gut-wrenching for him to witness, but what made it worse was the fact that she had obviously heard Celia's words. The only effect it had on her was to make her cry.

Aubrey couldn't bear to see the soldier with any but her, even if she knew her feelings were irrational and sudden. The moment she heard the clear implication of the Queen's words, she covered her eyes as she started to cry. She wouldn't let him see her crumble. She raced past the soldier and King Randall, through an archway of trees and out of sight.