Maybe (COMPLETED)

Chapter Forty Eight

I wiped the sticky liquid from my lips, spitting the contents of my mouth onto the ground.

Colm's words that I had not yet responded to echoed in my head: 'Give me your sword, and never touch nor summon it again.'

If I did that, I would be weak. I would be useless. It was the only thing that made me strong, and the only thing that I have left from my mother, whom I have never met. 

I had no choice.

I stood on shaky legs, which buckled underneath me with every step, though I managed barely to continue standing. I exited the square warily. Ash greeted me instantly, his arms wrapping around my body to hold me up.

"Isaak..." he murmured, his voice choked, "are you... are you okay?" He stepped away, his eyes were watery now, his face strained from fear. I nodded, but he took no heed to my response, shaking his head at me. "I can't believe that you..." he stopped his words, his throat no longer allowing him to speak. My heart ached more than my body now, I hated seeing him like this. I reached my sword, feeling its power as I lifted it up.

"Ash..."

He brought me into a hug, gingerly holding me against him. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault... I... I just..."

"Ash." I murmured again, gently pushing him away. The bond of the deal with Colm was a nagging pressure in my mind. I didn't say any more as I returned to the King and offered the handle of my sword to him. He took it, gratefully, and slid it into his own sheath.

He nodded at me. "Thank you for upholding you end of the deal."

A silence filled the room as Colm and I stood, face to face.

What happens now? Does he kill us? Is there any way around this? Do I find his sword and fight with that instead?

I recalled that Ash is still tied to Colm. His ring! Mekhi...

"Colm. Your ring..."

Colm's eyes narrowed instantly, his suspicious evident without a moment's hesitation. "Yes." He slowly responded, subconsciously gripping the metal band and twisting it around his finger.

"It's Aridian, right?" I had to let Mekhi know, somehow. Had to give him a clue. "Infused with a chorren that binds deals, I assume, just like my sword is infused with the ability to defend me even though I have no sword fighting skills."

Colm nodded, circling me again, studying me warily. I could tell he was trying to guess my intent. "Yes. I took it from my father. It was never his anyway; he couldn't use it. It was my mother's."

I couldn't ask him about the inheritance yet, I couldn't let him know what I was planning. "How is the bond broken?" I asked him, deciding to try put him off slightly.

He raised his eyebrows at me. "Why do you think I would tell you that?"

I shrugged, "thought I may as well try." His constant stride was beginning to make me nervous. To counter his intimidation, I began walking as well, so we were circling each other like some sort of scene from a movie.

"What are you trying to do?" Colm asked me, curiously. "Distract me?"

I shrugged, studying my nails to hide my guilt. "No. Just want to pass the time. Maybe find some common ground between us." I glanced into his eyes. "We're both part Aridian. We both have an interesting past when it comes to parents."

Colm scowled. "Your story is nothing like mine."

Okay. Hit a nerve. Bad idea. I cleared my throat, my nerves coming back to me. Shit. I need to act quicker, or he's going to get bored of this.

"So... that ring..." I turned our topic back around, "if it was your mother's, how come you can use it?"

He just tilted his head at me. "How come you can use this sword?"

"... it's inherited!" I pretended like it had just occurred to me. "I have the same family blood as the original Aridian owner... so it responds to me... right?"

No response.

I continued, begging to whoever may be listening that he hadn't yet caught on to what I was trying to do. "So, it's like a family heirloom. Anyone with the same blood can use it." I was across the room from Mekhi now. I met his eyes, and my heart rose fifty miles when I realised he was listening and watching. His dark eyes flickered from mine to the ring on Colm's hand. I moved my back to him again.

Colm still did not answer me. If Mekhi was actually going to work with me... I needed to distract his brother for him. For a moment we continued to walk in silence. When I was finally facing Mekhi, again, I halted my movements. Colm followed my actions, slowing until he was no longer walking.

"How have you hidden Mekhi's true identity this long?" I asked, a question I was actually pondering. 

"Most believe my brother is dead. Those who know would never dare tell anyone else."

"That simple?" I rose my eyebrows at him, my false confidence making him scowl. 

"That simple." He repeated quietly. His wolf-like eyes gazed at me calculatingly, his stance prepared for an attack that he thought would come from in front. 

It all occurred in a moment less than five seconds. 

Mekhi's mouth moved next to Colm's ear; only the two brothers know what he had said. Colm's eyes widened slightly. He twisted in shock to defend himself; too slow. Too unprepared. 

The flat side of Mekhi's sword hit Colm's head with a solid thump, sending the vulnerable King to the floor. His left hand fell underneath his body, his right hand lifted in a pathetic defense, his face for the first time one of surprise and almost fear. 

"Mekhi!" He cried, not snapped or ordered. It was a shout, a plead, a whimper of betrayal. 

A sharp, sickening snap filled my ears, the left wrist twisted in an odd fashion, simultaneously Mekhi gripped the right one in a firm grasp and removed the ring. 

That moment was over as soon as the next began. 

My eyes met with Ash; we both felt the same release of bond. It was over quicker than it started. 

Mekhi slipped the ring onto his own hand as he fell to his older brother, cradling the broken wrist. I stepped closer than I would ever dare to his side and slid my mother's weapon from Colm's sheath, darting away as soon as I could. 

The king's men awoke from their confusion, circling us and defending their wounded King, dragging the traitorous Prince away from him. 

Ash and I darted to our comrades, standing before Saga and Wolf, beside Archer. Ash rose his hands, allowing the crackle of chorren to surround him, as I did the same with my sword. Saga rose to his knees, watching the scene like an eagle. 

P.S... I've changed my plan again! There's about three chapters after this... the last chapter is probably chapter 51..... my plan is to post chapter 49 on Christmas eve, 50 on Christmas Day, and then 51 on Boxing day! But I MIGHT have chapter 52 as well and I'll probably have some extras and maybe an epilogue so we'll see how that goes:)

Quick question, how do you guys feel about a Christmas special that's set a few years back with Isaak, his family and Jackie? Or maybe a questionnaire with the characters? I dunno... if you have any ideas about a good Christmas special (or new years?) (if you want one) please let me know :)

Love you guys! Hoping the next summer (or winter) week before Christmas is great wherever you are, and the Christmas countdown has been fun so far! If you normally get snow, hope it snows, but not too much, and if you get sun, hopes it's not too hot, and if you get rain, hope you don't get flooded, and if you get anything else, hope it's great!

Can't wait to post another update on Christmas Eve! (even though I know most of you will probably too busy those three days to read this book but anyway...)

Love you as always,

Baby xx