Treasures of Andalia Chronicles: Ring of Flames

Chapter Thirty Four: The First Kill has the Best Thrill

AMARIS

We found the horses by the stream, drinking from the running water, and quenched their thirst. Rihaan bolted as soon as he saw his black horse, reins on his arms, and a saddle on his back. Immediately brushing his slender fingers on its gleaming raven black mane as he called his name, "Darius."

He stood out from the rest of the horses. He was the only black horse among them—I believe he was the only black horse I've ever seen so far. The night sky would be envious of his beauty.

The horses flocked around him, neighing and jumping. They were happy to see him again. An expression of relief showed through his face, smiling as he touched them with his bare hands.

Rihaan instructed the other two horses to go toward us, and they obeyed him willingly. One of the horses went to Trisna, and the other one stopped in front of me.

I stood frozen. Unsure of what I should do. Then Val came, and caressed the horse as he put the reins back. The horse whimpered at the sound of a loud click. A clump of his light brown hair got tangled with the strap of the reins. He kept shaking his head but Val tried to calm her down.

I moved cautiously to Val's left side, passing by his back. Unbuckling the strap and removed the tangled hair, and put it back again. "There, problem solved."

"Thank you," said the female horse.

I nodded.

It was only a second later that I realized Val was staring at me intently. And when I glanced back, he averted his eyes.

He couldn't be more awkward. I mean, the guy practically confessed his undying love for me (as my sister) two days ago, and now he discovered I'm not Aleiah after all.

But I haven't confirmed Aleiah's death. Maybe that's what they've been assuming because she would be here instead of me.

The buckles of the saddle kept making dangling noises as he tried to set it on the horse's back. He kept sighing when it didn't meet. He was getting frustrated. I was standing beside him staring at his fidgeting hands—it was starting to get on my nerves. But I had to cut him some slack. Having two near-death experiences and the revelation of the death of a loved one in one day might be too much to bear.

But I couldn't keep it in any longer. I don't want to be silenced and ignored anymore.

"Val, can we talk?" I started.

"I don't think now's the right time. A war might start anytime soon, and we haven't got much time to chat." He walked away from me without looking back, and pulled the reins. The horse followed unwillingly.

"Please, you need to understand. I didn't have a choice. Aleiah made me do it."

He halted, and turned to face me. "This isn't about Princess Aleiah. It has always been about you. What Prince Rihaan said back in Levos was true, and now, you're feeling guilty because of all the lies and manipulation, aren't you? Well, you'll have to live with that for a while. It's the least you could do to the people you've used to get this far."

My mouth gaped open, appalled with the choice of his words.

I felt a twitch in my heart. His words hurt me more than I expected. I just wanted to come clean. He didn't have to phrase his words like that. I know I was wrong but this is too much.

Even for me.

I scoffed. "You think I wanted this? You think I chose to carry the burden of a whole nation just so I could—what? Lie for fun? My life is at stake—the very life that Aleiah worked so hard to save, and I'm sorry if I'm not the one you wanted here standing in front of you, but I'm the only one you got. So if your devotion to her is the only thing that makes you stay, then I release you of that burden."