Remember Me

Chapter 17

       Chapter 17

   ‘’Nothing,’’ a glass slams into the wall, ‘’absolutely nothing!’’ Andrew gasps, struggling to catch breath. The search brought nothing good, two men fell ill and there was no signs of Rosalie. To his relief, no blood stained the ground, but it wasn’t enough to settle his mind. Darius went outside, unable to watch his friend smashing things in anger and frustration. He’d been on that path once and swore to never cross it again.

   Andrew turned around just in time to see Darius leave. He didn’t blame him, he’d jump out of his own skin if he could. Life was unfair and he made it harder for himself by being mad at Rosalie for his own faults. Not that she was a saint, far from that. It took him a good amount of time to get used to her odd habits and short temper, along with the ever-present stubbornness. Among the villagers, the girls envied her braveness while young fellows wanted her attention.

   The moment Caleb stepped through their door demanding her hand, she shut herself down until the marriage. She used to be happy being an independent woman, cheerful and glad to help. Yet, no one helped her escape Caleb’s hold. Andrew wondered how she managed to keep herself from admitting he’d betrayed her. At that time, he went to Caleb’s house whenever he was around with her and kept an eye just out of curiosity. Knights were given a bad reputation, no girls wanted to be with them, at least not in the Vallor kingdom. It was for a reason, every single one of them cared for only his pleasure, staying loyal to the king instead of his woman. Rosalie caught him lurking in the shadows once, but she pretended she didn’t suspect why.

   Time flew by and Andrew adapted to the new way of living. He’d train every day and occasionally help his sister with cleaning and cooking. She always thanked him for the gesture, but otherwise remained silent, so he suspected Caleb treated her as she deserved. Alexander got interested in her as well, even though he was the one proposing the idea of marriage.

   She ignored it at first, but he didn’t give up, just the opposite. The king was smart enough to avoid talking to her when her husband was around, but his affection grew. Andrew knew better than to ask her about him, yet he tried to find a reason to accuse Alexander of enchanting her only to use her. But then, why seeing her with Alexander seemed more pleasant than with Caleb?

   It all came to an end when Alexander announced his new strategy. The knights agreed, but the servants were forced to agree. Their life was hard and fast-paced, they had no coins to afford a house or cattle. The king rarely gave them their share, afraid of what the others may think. Andrew and Rosalie were lucky to be raised with a tutor who taught them many things to help survive in the nature. While other children their age listened to fairy tales, Andrew learned how to light a fire and shape a plain piece of wood into a powerful weapon. Rosalie was more interested in healing, collecting various herbs and learning how to use them. She inherited it from their mother, Andrew once said.

   He didn’t want to let her go, but he escaped the kingdom to save his head. He had no chance of fighting besides trained knights, Alexander would place him into servitude. Andrew still remembered how badly his body shook with fear and anxiety when he stole the horse and went into the woods, praying no one would follow. He wasn’t too familiar with the grounds himself.

   Tired, Andrew slumped down into the soft bed. Just before leaving with Darius and Waverly to save Arthur, Rosalie promised him he could read the letter first and then burn it if he didn’t come along. She’d been angry with how he kept their past away from her, but she was scared he’d get hurt and gave up. He wished he hadn’t agreed to it now.

   He stretched his arm and dug below the mattress. Held by two vertical wood boards, a light brown e1nvelope remained untouched, begging to be opened. He snatched it and the mattress fell down, slightly curled up in the corners. Dust scattered around the room, glimmering under light. His eyes stayed glued on the envelope stamped with wax seal. With trembling fingers, he pulled on the wrinkled paper, swallowing hard.