The Reformation Wars: Countdown to Catastrophe

Chapter 13

Just before Andre could make the plunge, the rattling of a bowstring sounded off. An arrow penetrated his belly. Andre gasped and paused before falling onto his back. He dropped the sword and clutched his own wound. Manfred stared in confusion, grimacing at the sight of the arrow jutting out of his old friend's bleeding flesh.

Manfred's eyes darted about to spot the archer, and sure enough, Princess Kate stepped out from behind a tree trunk. Her eyes softened upon meeting Manfred's gaze, and after shooting a deadly glare at Andre, she hurried over and dropped to her knees at Manfred's side.

"Manfred!" she cried, "I...should have been here sooner."

"Is a princess supposed to show her face on the battlefield at all?" Manfred mumbled.

Kate paused for a second with a wrinkled forehead. "Technically, no, but this particular princess has her own way of doing things."

"You're like a breath of fresh air for sure, your highness."

"Enough about me, though. How can I help you?"

Manfred shuddered as the pain shot up and down his bleeding leg again. An urge to scratch the site washed over him. "I just need a medic."

"I sent my maid to get one." Kate assured him, "But until then, what can I do?"

"Elevate his leg if you can." Andre grunted from where he lay a few feet off, "It'll bleed slower."

Kate glanced about for anything to use for the task, but came up empty-handed. With a shrug, she sat down crosslegged in the grass and gingerly lifted Manfred's leg into her lap.

Weakness conquered Manfred's body even more as his lifeblood continued leaving his body. His head swam, and his vision blurred sporadically. Drowsiness also made an appearance, and he felt himself drifting in and out of consciousness.

"Manfred, stay awake, please." Kate begged. He felt her dainty fingers snake into his own bloodstained grasp.

"I...can't. Too weak."

"Just talk to him." Andre blurted out again, "You'll either get his mind firing up, and that'll keep him alert, or you'll soothe him into a gentler sleep."

Kate glowered at Andre. "You can be quiet, traitor."

"Hey..." Manfred slurred, "your birthday's in a few days, isn't it?"

A subtle smile tugged at the corners of Kate's rosy lips. "That it is. But four days, and I'll have caught up with you again."

"Two decades...feels so old and so young at once."

"It does indeed."

Manfred's eyelids narrowed to slits, but still, his gaze remained fixed on Kate. He found himself admiring the hairstyle she'd picked, pleasing to the eyes but functional as well, with one side braided and swept back to allow greater visibility when shooting arrows, and the other flowing down naturally. The contrast of her silky dark brown hair with her light skin and vivid emerald eyes added to her strikingly lovely aesthetic.

"You know..." he said weakly, "Andre was right. If you wouldn't mind...I just want to hear your voice. Please...just speak whatever's on your mind."

Kate's gaze darted over Manfred's face, and her lips parted for a moment before words emerged. "I...alright, I'll think of something."

While she paused to think, Manfred spared Andre a glance, and he sighed upon observing his old friend had fallen unconscious. Manfred could only hope the sleep was only temporary.