All is Fair in Love and War

Chapter 4

The forestry became a blur. Everything merged into one shade of green as I ran. I never looked back once, never slowed down until I got to the camp. Fear, dread, anxiousness pulled their cloak around my head and suffocated me. 

The camp was up ahead, I could make out some brown, triangular structures. 

My lungs burned with my legs, causing me to almost collapse. I took deep breaths, my head slightly dizzy. I tried to look and stand strong but was failing badly.

There seemed to be people gathering around me but I could not make out a face or a voice. They all clashed together as one, overwhelming me. 

"Everyone get back! Get back to your jobs!" A voice shouted as I fell to my knees. A familiar male came close before scooping me up. 

Everything disappeared as I plunged into darkness. 

***

I opened my eyes to a bright light being shone in my eye. It made me close my eyes again harshly. I wanted to go back to bed. 

My head pounded mercilessly, giving me no help. Everything had started to flow back to me.

I'm screwed.

The light finally shut off, giving my eyes peace. "She will be fine. Just let her rest for an hour or two." I believe that was the medic but I was too lazy to open my eyes and figure it out. Footsteps faded out slowly but there was still someone else.

I shifted on the cot and finally opened my eyes. Lee was standing in front of me with a blank expression. We made eye contact but no words were exchanged. He bent down to grab a rag from the bucket at the side of my cot. He squeezed the extra water out before folding it. I felt the coolness of the rag as he placed it on my forehead.

A chair scraped across the floor and creaked as Lee sat down on it. We both let out a sigh before chuckling at our unison. The air turned serious again.

"What happened?" He asked. 

"What happened to the rest of them?" I said, buying myself some time to answer his question.

"They are safe and currently resting. No injuries other than exhaustion and worry for you." He stared at me hard, still waiting for that answer. 

I took a deep breath. "I saw a couple of soldiers but they saw me first so I tried to keep them occupied." Not a complete fib but not the actual truth. "I wanted them to run because most of them acquired information." That was true, I hoped. 

If Lee suspected I was lying or hiding something, he did not show it. Instead, he dipped the rag back in the cool water, squeezed it, and applied it to my forehead. He then rose from his chair and started to walk out of the medical tent.  

"Lee?" He stopped and turned around, waiting for an order. "Tell everyone to begin packing. We are expected to report back on His Majesty's orders by tomorrow."

He nodded with respect. "Yes, General." And with that, he left the tent. 

My eyes fluttered shut for a moment. Everything felt as if it was out of place or spinning out of control. There was no rock for me to lean against.

General Valencia's map in my pocket felt so heavy, like a burden. It was the only thing I had managed to obtain when he came close to me. I hope that piece of scratch paper I left him would be some use to him. 

I am quite surprised that he did not notice what I had stolen from him but maybe he let me run away. Or that distraction was quite helpful. 

The thrumming in my forehead was not as bad as it was when I first awoke so I sat up. I was doing well so far, putting my legs on the ground. They trembled slightly but overall, they were fine. I stood up but immediately fell. 

My ankle had not healed entirely, hence the splint.

I grabbed the cot and pulled myself up. Limping to the nearest tent wall, I hobbled over. There was a pair of wooden crutches leaning against my cot so I grabbed them before making my way out of the tent. 

Using crutches was a lot harder than it looked. When I was younger, I tried breaking my leg so I could use crutches. I ended up breaking my arm instead. 

I wanted to tell Lee the truth but I couldn't. I have no idea as to how he would react and I don't want or need an enemy. Telling him is on my bucket list but it is not my top priority. 

My tent felt a lot farther than it normally does. A couple of eyes glanced my way before going back to what they were doing. Some looked as if they had already started to pack whatever they had carried with them, which wasn't much. 

The plan was to review the map once we arrived back at the castle. His Majesty was expecting something good in this... pathetic war. This war has no purpose, no honor behind it. It was as useless as the pompous ass that sits on the throne. If it were up to me, I would have had him killed years ago. Sadly, it's not up to me, it's up to him.

Lee was standing outside of my tent, waiting aimlessly. He looked distracted and confused, here physically but not mentally. I followed his gaze towards Priya Arena and Rajesh Volvo. They were talking to each other. 

They found out they were soulmates during training when they were partnered up with each other for hand-to-hand combat. They were a happy couple, always together in some way or another. I know they plan to settle down once the war was over. Both are great soldiers and warriors at heart, but their interests lie within each other. Truly inspirational.

The Lieutenant was not torturing himself anymore and instead, stared at the ground. I limped up to him and he looked up. He stood straight up and looked straight ahead. I chuckled at his order.

"At ease Lieutenant," I said, heading into my tent. Lee followed swiftly.

I should tell him now. Maybe later. Yeah, later is better. 

Lee cleared his throat, instigating me to look at him. He raised his eyebrow at me. I avoided his gaze. Does he know?

"So when were you going to tell me?" Well fuck.

"Tell you what?" I asked clearly, no stuttering or nervousness. 

"Tell me that you swiped his map." I whirled around and stared at him. 

It was a staring contest between two childhood friends again. Something we did often to decide who would get the last sweet or the best toy. He always won, yet always let me have it. I can't wait for his soulmate, she will have her hands full with him.

Lee smiled at me and held up the map. I opened my pocket and felt around, the map wasn't there. 

"How do you do that?" I asked, stomping my foot on the ground like a child. I probably look like a child to him too, given I am a couple of inches shorter. 

He chuckled and simply flicked my braid. "Didn't tell you then, not telling you now."

"Bastard," I muttered under my breath.

"Heard that," he called back. I simply rolled my eyes. "But I thought you didn't get any information." 

"None I thought was valuable," I shot back.

"I know you, Maze. You find maps very valuable so what? Was this meant only for His Majesty? Or His Highness?" He mocked the last couple of words with a posh accent. 

"Actually yes to both of those." His face fell immediately. My turn to smile.

"That is why we have to leave."

"Finally! You're getting it!" I exclaimed. "Now, get packing."

I shoved him out of my tent, not before he gave me back the map. It's packing time.