The Early Chronicles Book Four: The Queen and the General

Chapter 9

"What should we do with him?"  The other Calormen asked Mekau.  Goran lay still on the ground, feeling too exhausted and too in pain to fight back.  It was all he could do to remain conscious.  Mekau said something back but Goran couldn't understand him.  He didn't need to, though.  He knew he would die.  He closed his eyes and prayed that Swanwhite would be saved somehow, by a better and more deserving man than him. 

"Well, General, it seems your time is up."  Mekau gloated as he stood over Goran.  Goran closed his eyes and knew Mekau's sword was raised over his head.  He braced himself for the final blow, but heard a woman's voice shout and a cry from Mekau.  He looked up and saw the door guard furiously swinging his sword against Swanwhite, and Mekau was staggering sideways with a knife having pierced his arm.  Feeling new strength, Goran ignored the pain in his shoulder and rose to his knees.  He had no weapon but he rushed at Mekau and tackled him to the ground.  Mekau struggled and pressed his hands to Goran's throat.  Goran felt Mekau squeezing the air out of him and he retrieved Swanwhite's knife that still pierced the villain's arm.  With the last of his strength, he put an end to Mekau.  Coughing and gasping, he struggled to stand and help the queen but saw the other Calormen fall to the ground and Swanwhite standing with sword in hand.  The world started to spin and he once again dropped to his knees.  His vision was blurry but he saw Swanwhite rush towards him and grip the sides of his arms.  

"You must stay awake."  She pleaded.  Goran's vision slowly began to clear.  

"You... you found me."  He whispered.  She cradled his face with her hands and looked at him with tears in her eyes but a relieved smile on her face.

"I thought I'd lost you."  She said with a crack in her voice.  Then he felt her arms wrap around him and her warm embrace.  He closed his eyes and savored her touch, until her hand moved to his injured shoulder.  He grunted and winced.

"Your injury!"  She said with concern and drew back.  She moved around behind him and delicately pulled his blood-stained shirt away from the wound.  "We have to get you back."  She said before he heard a tearing noise.

"Don't rip your cloak."  He protested.

"Hush.  I can easily get another one.  You can't get another arm."  She scolded.  He chuckled to himself at her warning but then winced as she tightly pressed a ball of fabric to the wound.   He felt a strange sensation as her breath floated by his ear when she wrapped a long strip of cloth from his shoulder and around his arm to create a sling.  "Are you in much pain?"  She asked.

"I'll live."  He said while trying to ignore the intense throbbing.  She moved around again in front of him and gave him a pitied smile.  She seemed to concerned for him.  Did she care for him more than he thought?  She'd said she was afraid she'd lost him, as he was afraid he'd lost her.  Did he dare hope there was a chance?  "I couldn't believe it when I saw you.  I thought I was dreaming."  He chuckled.  She reached her hand out and stroked his cheek tenderly.  Goran's heart began to fill with joy and ache all at once.  He put his hand over hers and brought it away from his cheek.  "You were worried for me?"

"Of course I was!  You left me in quite a fright all day."  

"I was terrified of what they would do to you."  He looked down.  "You don't know what I've done.  I tried to stop them but they had me trapped.  My last hope of escape failed, and I--"

"Whatever it is, we can speak about it later.  Now we must get you back to the castle."  She looked around and her face filled with relief when they heard the thunder of approaching hooves and torchlight appeared in the distance.  "Rufus!"  She shouted happily.  Soon Goran found himself helped back onto Valeon and carried all the way back to Kent.  He didn't remember much after he got back to the castle except his wound was tended and dressed, and he collapsed into a soft bed before drifting off to sleep immediately.