Prince of Time

Chapter Thirty-Four - The First Few Deaths

Ane was not enjoying herself. The cart carrying the ten junior healers rumbled and bounced down the pitted road for days on end, jolting every bone in her body. The real healers rode unicorns, away from discomfort.

 Though Ane had nothing against her companions, two of which she already knew, the conversation seemed painfully uninspiring. They were reserved and dignified, full of respect and quiet thought. Ane had never noticed how dull this was until she had travelled with people so very different.

  She smiled faintly to herself as she pictured them trapped in the cart with her. Nicanor and Pepper would be arguing about something. Maple would be rolling her eyes. Zeno would be laughing. Tobiah would be sulking in a corner.

  It was odd how much she found she missed them.

“We’re nearly there,” a girl named Acacia announced. “We should be at the base of the mountains within a day.”

Ane closed her eyes and let it wash over her. The mountains seemed even less inviting now. The army had swelled as it passed through Harian and now it was desperate for some blood. Ane shuddered inwardly, thinking of the people there who had never even seen a dead body before.

“It’s going to be a massacre,” a boy named Otto said, gloomily.

“That’s what we’re here for,” Acacia sat primly, hands folded in her lap. “We’re here to save lives.”

“It’ll be terrible,” Otto ran a hand through his hair. “It’ll be bloodthirsty. Acacia, have you ever even seen war?”

Acacia sniffed. “No. And I’m glad of it. I shan’t welcome the sight of the dead and dying.”

Otto rolled his eyes and quirked an exasperated eyebrow at Ane. She gave him the ghost of a smile in return.

“What’s that?” Acacia stiffened suddenly.

Ane sat bolt upright, listening to the sounds of screams.

“No!” Acacia cried, as Ane dragged back the cloth curtains. “Don’t look out!”

Three riders charged past, yelling at the tops of their lungs.

“Ambush! Ambush! Ambush!”

“Get us out of here!” one of the healers wailed. “Get the cart off the road!”

Otto jumped onto the seat and wriggled out through the flap onto the ledge. His raised voice argued furiously with the driver and the cart suddenly lurched as the horses were pushed into a canter.

“Get away from the window!” Acacia pulled Ane back, roughly. “Get away!”

Before the cloth fell back, Ane caught a glimpse of dark-clad soldiers rushing into the lines, swords sweeping. The screams chased them as the cart bounced wildly away, careering down a side road and away from the army.

 Ane gripped her seat, teeth clenched. Two healer girls – Clematis and Camellia – clutched one another and wept piteously. Acacia clenched her hands together, knuckles white, eyes staring in horror.

 The screams grew distant and the cart rumbled to a stop. Otto ducked his head back through the flap and fell through, dropping onto the seat.

“Have we lost them?” Acacia whispered. “Are they gone?”

Otto swallowed hard. “I…don’t think so…”

The curtain was drawn back and a man’s face leered through the gap, studying them all.

“Hello, hello,” he drawled. “A contingent of young healers, is it?”

His eyes fell on Ane and his expression brightened.