Love War

Chapter 7

    Cael woke to Rahnya shaking him desperately awake. Beyond a fog of dizziness he heard her whispering desperately,

   "Cael? Cael?!"

    He gasped, shot upright, and bumped his head on the rotten tree they were sleeping under. An unwelcome shower of dirt rained down. His head felt light and a cloud of sparkling bursts blurred his vision.

    "People coming!" Rahnya whispered. "I think it's the soldiers!"

    Cael drew his sword and tried to clear his head. "How close?"

    "If we run they'll see us."

    "Drat." He unsheathed his dagger and held it out to her. "Only if you have to. They might move on."

    "Captain," they heard someone say in the distance. "The blood trail has stopped. What are your orders?"

    "Blood?" Cael hissed. He looked down and found the cloth binding his leg was soaked and dripping. The ground beneath him was stained red.

"Fan out. Whoever it is needs medical attention soon, whatever his reason for hiding."

"Aye, sir!"

    Cael pressed himself deeper into to the tree. The look in Rahnya's eyes showed deep concern for him but she remained silent, sliding close to him and clutching the dagger. Footsteps thudded through the grass closer and closer until a pair of boots came into view.

    Bending down a man peered into the rotted trunk and gasped. "What in Dor?!"

    Cael shout out of the hole and tackled him, rolled to his feet brandishing his sword. "Run, Rahnya!" He shouted. She ran to his side.

'Not what I meant,' he thought frustratedly.

    "Captain!" The man yelled, backpedaling and reaching for his sword.

    "Don't move a muscle!" Cael snapped.

    The man's eyes widened. "Prince Cael?"

    "Prince?!" Rahnya exclaimed, her face twisting in confusion.

    The entire group of soldiers converged, encircling them. All exclaimed either, "the Prince!" or "a Fera!"

    Cael put his arm out protectively. "Don't touch her!" He shouted. "I'll...I'll..." he wavered, his head spinning.

    One soldier broke away from the rest, a commander from the emblem on his chest plate. "Prince Cael? You're wounded! Did that Fera do this?"

    "You're the prince?" Rahnya gasped, almost a whimper. She looked betrayed.

    His heart broke. He had concealed it from her willingly, he knew. She had every right to feel lied to. But...

    "I wanted you to know me for who I am," he said under his breath so only she could hear. "I'm sorry."

    "I am Commander Alrik of the Border Forces." The Commander said.

    "I don't care who you are!" Cael snapped. "Just let us go!"

    "But, my Prince—!"

    "N-no!" He snarled, panting. "I won't...marry...that...twit of a—"

    "Cael?!" Rahnya cried as he buckled and fainted in her arms.

⚜️

    Cael stirred and held his aching head. He opened his eyes and found he was in a real bed. Light filtered through a canopy and he realized he was in a military tent. The events of the day prior flooded in and he sat up quickly.

    "Where am I? Rahnya?!"

    He shot to his feet, stumbling out of the tent with his head spinning like a typhoon. "Rahnya! Rahnya!" He cried.

    "Highness! Please lay down!" A soldier said, catching him.

    Cael flung him off and ran, calling Rahnya's name. The whole camp was soon in a tizzy trying to catch their crazed prince. At length when Cael turned a corner he collided into the Captain who caught his shoulders, halting him.

    "Prince Cael, please! You're not well."

    "Where is she? What have you done with her?!" He yelled, struggling against the man's grip.

    "She's being held in a prison wagon."

    Cael rammed his foot in the Captain Alrik's shin and pushed him backwards. The man stumbled as Cael burst off, looking for the wagons. He spotted them quickly on the fringes of the camp. With anger consuming him, he tore the key from one of the guards and shoved him to the ground.

    "Prince, please calm down!" Captain Alrik begged.

    Cael ignored him and flung the wagon door opened. He scrambled inside and sank down beside Rahnya, drawing her into his arms.

    "Cael?" She gasped.

    "I'm so sorry, Rahnya," he said. "I can't believe they did this to you!"

    The Captain's shadow fell over them. "Prince Cael, I must speak with you," he said, standing cautiously outside.

    Cael helped Rahnya to her feet, held her hand tightly and exited. He walked determinedly for the woods, Rahnya in tow.

    "Where are you going?!" Alrik shouted after him.

    "I left for a reason, Captain."

    "Cael, please stop!" The man said, catching his arm. "I have to speak with you!"

    Cael shied away. "I won't go back!"

    "It's your father," the Captain blurted, his face full of worry.

    Cael hesitated. "What do you mean?"

    "He's fallen ill. He'll live but without a ruler it is certain that neighboring kingdoms will turn their eye on the throne. Or those already on the inside. The throne needs you. It always has."

    Cael cleanched his teeth. "I know."

    "But you are my prince," the captain said under his breath. "I will abide by your decision. So if you wish to go...I won't stop you."

    Cael felt his hand slip from Rahnya's. The world around him faded. All he could do was wonder what this meant. He couldn't leave the kingdom to fall to ruin. But he couldn't leave Rahnya either. She would be lost without a soul to turn to. And unprotected should Baldur pounce.  

    He stepped away and looked into Rahnya's eyes for some form of guidance. He could feel her fear. But she reached out her hand and slipped it into his once more.

    "It's alright, Cael," she soothed.

    He shook his head. "I-it's not! What am I supposed to do?!"

    His knees buckled and Rahnya and the Captain caught him. "Easy now," the Captain said. "You've lost far too much blood. You need rest."

    Cael swam through the fog in his mind and clenched Captain Alrik's arm. "Put Rahnya back in that wagon and I'll see you all deposed," he snarled under his breath. "Consider her under the crown's protection."

Captain Alrik gulped, nodded. "Aye, my Prince."