Twisted

VI

"Last year."

"What happened? How come nobody knows about it?" Helenia questioned, her mind boggling with questions that she was dying to ask. Aidan didn't seem in the mood to open up, but she didn't care. Helenia swore to get to the bottom of it.

"It failed. Not something the King wanted spread around. But forget it, it's in the past. And nothing from it can help us." Aidan's voice sounded monotone, even more so than usual. Judging by the way that he kept his gaze locked in front of him, and the strength of which he held Aries' reins, there was more to the story. Something must have happened; Helenia knew that she should not prod, but her curiosity empowered her empathy.

"How many of you went? This is the only question I want an answer to." For now.

"Three." Helenia was able to pick up a slight hesitation in his voice. A number doesn't usually take much mental power to say unless it held meaning.

"And only two returned. Or less." Helenia said, thinking out loud. In order to get to the answers she craved, she needed to push at the possible weak spots.

"We ought to stop for a while."

She was right. Someone went on that journey and never came back. Another million questions formed in her mind but she refrained from asking. There was a line that she didn't want to cross.

"You know that so you might as well know the whole story." Aidan said getting off Aries and fastening the reins to the nearest tree. Helenia did the same, in shock of the words that came out of his mouth.

"Who didn't survive?" Helenia cursed at herself for being so nosy. " I'm sorry."

"Wow, the girl can apologise." She shot him a dirty look. "Anyway, the commander of the second division didn't survive."

"Arya. I remember people talking about her. Highly respected, a great soldier she was."

"Rennowfield."

"What?"

"Her name was Arya Rennowfield." Aidan cast a look seldom seen. A face of grief replaced the intimidating one he wore a few moments ago.

"Your sister. I'm so sorry." Aidan didn't have to answer her, she already knew the truth. "Why did you come on this trip, after all that has happened? Won't it bring back painful memories?" Helenia just couldn't stop her mouth from spilling. She bit her tongue in case it involuntarily began to ask more questions.

"When we came back the King was furious. Arya had meant a lot to him, his reign. He said that it was a waste of a perfectly good soldier. Of course the King was determined not to let the news of her death spread so he created a cover story. It was that she left Aestelle and went to the neighbouring kingdom Orescio, not widely known, to raise her rank. For the next two weeks, strangers and acquaintances congratulated me for my sister's accomplishment. For my sister's death. And every time I had to return a thank you, that was the most unbearable. When I learnt about this mission, I volunteered. For my sister." Aidan retold what happened, Helenia's heart bled for him. Determination sped through her and she rose, ready to complete this mission, for Arya.

"People have said that she was one of the best commanders that ever lived and a kind and fair person. We'll do this, for her."

"This is a thank you I don't mind saying." Aidan signaled his gratitude.

"Who went with you? If you don't mind me asking."

"Reagan Lestowe, the Sergeant. Doesn't show himself in public much these days, focused on his work in the Kings army. We don't talk anymore, not after what happened." Aidan replied, commanding Aries to an energised walk.

"Did he love her?"

"No. Arya and I fell into a pool of quicksand. Reagan was determined to save us both. He rescued me, but it was too late, she drowned. The journey back to the castle was silent. Never spoke to me after that, except for a sorry after our meeting with his Royal Highness." He choked on some of the words, but kept his intimidating mask on.

"I didn't only lose a sister, I lost a friend too."