The Soldier and the Thief

Chapter 31

Princess Sage walked ahead of Nik and Robin. Nik was frowning at her back, unable to make up his mind. He didn't know why he was suddenly faced with this barrage of emotions. The old part of his mind, the soldier's mind conditioned to obey and be loyal, the one who had fallen in love with Princess Sage years ago was at war with the newer side of him. The side that asked if King Kristian really was right about everything, about what Robin had said. Was she lying? She was a thief, after all. But how many times had she saved his life? When she'd said those things about the Military taking their harvest and giving them nothing in return, she'd sounded so honest. Just how good of a liar was she? Robin seemed to be struggling to keep up with them. Every now and again she'd fall behind and have to trot to catch up again. Her face was flushed.

They reached the main room and the twins broke off to join their parents at the thrones. Nik limped into the centre of the room, and Robin followed him. King Kristian and Queen Melodie sat quietly, waiting expectantly. The High Mage stood concealed by shadows behind them. Nik saw Dusty standing in the corner, next to General Glennis and Peanut. Slick and Dino stood on either side of the doors. Dusty avoided his eye, his head downcast. Nik wondered if he should say something about what had happened in Norwich.

"Nikolas Ciardi, you have done your realm a great service in retrieving this vital antidote." King Kristian held out a swollen hand. "Hand it over my boy, and we shall distribute it to the citizens of Obaroth at once, as was originally intended before the Duke of Gomulyn stole it from us." Nik looked down at the vial in his hand, and felt Robin's eyes on him. He glanced to the side, and hazel met artic blue. There was a question in her eyes. Nik wrapped his hand around the vial and limped forward, taking the three steps to reach King Kristian. He heaved himself up each step to reach his King. He hesitated, before reaching out and placing the vial in the King's hand. Princess Sage smiled at him proudly, but he couldn't bring himself to look at her. Nik returned to stand beside Robin.

"I did what you wanted." Robin said. Her voice was tired and slow. "I held up my end of the bargain, now it's your turn. I want my heart back, and I want to go home." Nik fought the urge to look down when King Kristian suddenly chuckled, breaking into full-blown laughter as if she'd just said a really funny joke. Robin looked around the room, waiting for someone to step forward and say, "Just kidding! Here's your heart." No one moved. The King stopped laughing, wiping a tear from his eye.

"High Mage, please step forward." He said, and the High Mage materialised from the shadows, carrying a glass dome in his hands. The black adder curled around his neck like a scarf. There were spiderwebbed cracks around the base and top of the dome. Inside was Robin's beating heart. Robin gasped and stepped forward, but Nik put a hand on her arm, pulling her back. When she looked at him in question, he just returned his gaze to the front of the room. His own heart was beating wildly. He knew what was going to happen, and his mind told him it was the right thing to do, but his heart screamed a very different opinion. The High Mage glided closer. "You see, Miss Castilloe, you did fill your end of the bargain." King Kristian said slyly. "However, spies have reported that you have endangered my soldier on multiple occasions, or have been content to sit by and watch when his life was in peril. Even now he stands here on crutches, his tendons slashed."

"That's bullshit!" Robin cried, suddenly reinvigorated, and Nik grabbed her as she stepped forward, ready to attack. She struggled against him, and he fought the tears welling in his eyes. His leg burned. "I've saved his life more times than I can count! Nik, tell them!" Nik said nothing, and King Kristian chuckled.

"We told you we would be watching, thief. And I can't let anyone who might potentially endanger my integrity run free."

"What is he talking about?" Nik asked, shocking even himself. He never would have dared to speak out against his king.