The (Not So) Perfect Princess

We almost make it

I jumped for Scout and caught him just before he fell. Nessa was suddenly off my back and standing next to me, sobbing like crazy. I knelt down on the dock, Scout's head resting on my lap.

I tried to fight through the growing panic inside me.

"Scout, don't move, okay?" I mumbled, my voice wavering. "Keep still."

His blue eyes were wide and fixed on me. He hadn't made a sound this entire time. I wasn't sure if he was trying to be brave, or just going into shock. I cupped his face gently.

"Scout, can you hear me? You need to stay with me, okay?"

"Okay, Avani." Scout replied so softly I barely heard him.

I moved down to Scout's stomach. His shirt was already stained a deep crimson color, and I practically had to peel it away. The actual arrow wasn't in the center of his stomach, more over to the side, so that was good. But the arrow wound....sure, I'd read about injuries like that back at the palace, I'd even seen pretty graphic and detailed pictures in books, but my mind went completely blank as soon as my eyes landed on it. I knew at least I had to stop the bleeding, but how could I without hurting Scout more? It seemed like if I put pressure on it, it would just gush. But if I removed the arrow, Scout would definitely bleed out. I didn't have the time or the right tools to help him, but if I didn't move fast, Scout might die.

My hands were already covered in blood, and I'd barely touched him.

Just when I thought things couldn't get worse, somebody much stronger than me wrapped their arms around my waist from behind: The Capitan. He picked me up clear off the ground, making Scout's head drop onto the hard dock. Nessa shrieked again and backed away, closer to the water.

"NO!" I screamed, kicking my legs and clawing at his face. "He's gonna die if I don't help him! PUT ME DOWN!"

"Sorry, princess," The Cap. sneered. "But I couldn't care less about your little friend. In my defense, you did get a fair warning."

"LET ME GO!" I howled, flailing around even more.

Suddenly The Capitan hollered, and his grip loosened ever so slightly. In that fraction of a second, I put all the strength I had left into wriggling free, and shoving the soldier backward as my feet hit the wood. The Cap. stumbled backward and tripped, landing hard on his behind. He was clutching his calf with both hands, and staring at Nessa with a mix of hatred and bewilderment. I glanced at her, and she gave a little shrug.

"I bit him," Nessa admitted sheepishly. "Was that mean?"

"No, that was completely fine," I reassured her. I didn't have time to feel proud, though. The twelve or so other guards started forward, toward The Cap., toward me, toward Scout. I quickly snatched up The Capitan's fallen crossbow, and loaded it faster than I thought possible. Two seconds later, I had it cocked and aimed at The Cap.'s head.

"If anyone takes another step, I'll shoot him," I threatened, and evidently they saw I wasn't joking, because no one moved.

"Avani," Scout whimpered, and I risked a glance back.

He looked absolutely petrified. His skin was beginning to look sickly pale, and he had his blood-stained hands wrapped around the arrow. Blood covered his clothes, the dock, everything. Too much blood. He couldn't afford to lose any more.

I was going to get him on that ship if it killed me, and unfortunately, there was only one way to do that.

I turned back to The Cap., who hadn't moved.

"Nessa," I said under my breath, keeping my eyes forward. "When I say go, you have to jump into the water and swim to Eily. She'll get you on the boat from there. Got it?"