Ethan was busy sorting herbs in the infirmary when he heard hurried footsteps outside. The door burst open, and two guards entered, carrying a wounded and battered woman between them. Her clothes were torn to shreds, her face covered in wounds, and her eyes shut tight in pain. The moment she crossed the threshold of the infirmary, Ethan's eyes widened, and his heart began to race. This woman... Raidne!
Raidne had left deep scars in Ethan's past. She was unforgettable. She was the woman who had orchestrated his expulsion from the ship. In a fleeting moment, Ethan's mind conjured up the sharp gaze of Raidne and the words she used to have him thrown off the ship. A cold wave of shock spread across the infirmary's cold floor.
"Ethan, we need your help!" Rowena called, standing over Raidne and urgently attending to her wounds. But Ethan's feet felt as though they were nailed to the floor. This had to be a nightmare; he hadn't expected this.
"Ethan! Now!" Rowena's voice snapped him out of his trance. Despite the storm raging within him, he had to perform his duty as a healer. Steeling himself, he quickly moved to Raidne's side. The woman was unconscious, but it felt as though she could sense his presence.
"She's losing too much blood," Rowena said, her eyes focused on Ethan. "Get the herbs to stop the bleeding immediately."
Despite the turmoil inside him, Ethan swiftly fetched the necessary herbs and bandages. They began cleaning and dressing Raidne's wounds. Rowena noticed Ethan's intense gaze and asked curiously, "Do you know this woman?"
Ethan's heart pounded harder. He tried to mask the tension in his voice as he replied, "No, I don't. Let's just focus on her injuries right now."
Rowena asked no more questions, but Ethan's mind was racing with endless queries. Raidne was here, at Ravenna Palace. What was she doing here?
After Raidne's wounds were treated, the guards took her to appear before King Marlon and Queen Nyla. Ethan stood at the door of the grand hall, straining to hear their conversation.
Raidne, still trying to conceal the deep cuts on her face, stood unsteadily before the king and queen. King Marlon and Queen Nyla scrutinized her with seriousness. Raidne quickly fabricated a story.
"Your Majesties, my name is Raidne," she began. "I was wounded while escaping from pirates. I barely managed to escape from them. I have nowhere else to seek refuge."
Queen Nyla's eyes were filled with suspicion, but King Marlon spoke. "You say you escaped from pirates. Why were they after you? Why did they attack you?"
Raidne took a deep breath, concealing the pain on her face. "I was among them for many years, but I could no longer endure their lawless ways. I had to flee, but when they realized, they tried to capture me. They set traps along my path, wounded me... but I finally managed to find refuge here, at Ravenna Palace."
King Marlon listened attentively to her story. "So, you wish to stay here now? What do you plan to do in Ravenna?"
Raidne felt at ease because there was no one to disprove her words. "Your Majesties, all I want is a safe place. If you allow me to stay, I will be forever grateful. I can work in the palace, help in any way... just protect me."
Queen Nyla turned to King Marlon, her eyes filled with hesitation. However, King Marlon nodded. "Alright, Raidne. You are permitted to stay here in the palace. However, your every move will be watched. In your current state, you pose little threat. You will stay in the infirmary and rest until you are healed."
Raidne took a deep breath, inwardly smiling. "Thank you, Your Majesties. I promise I will not cause any trouble."
King Marlon motioned for the guards to escort her back to the infirmary. As Raidne passed through the door of the hall, her eyes locked with Ethan's. But without saying anything, she averted her gaze and continued under the guards' escort.
Ethan's mind was in turmoil. Raidne's presence here was a significant threat. His past had caught up with him, and it could lead to enormous trouble. Inside, something was breaking apart. What if Raidne revealed what she knew about him? What if she told them he was a pirate?
However, Ethan decided to keep this situation under wraps. If Raidne had plans, he would do everything to thwart them and protect the palace. He had to fight not just for himself but for Rowena and everyone else.
With these thoughts, he returned to the infirmary, but the unease within him did not subside. Raidne's presence was like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. Yet, Ethan was now ready to face his past.
As Ethan carried out his last duties in the infirmary, he stood at the foot of Raidne's bed. She was still wounded, but her eyes were alive and filled with sharp gazes. Ethan tried to avoid looking at her as he organized the medicines in his hands. However, Raidne's presence weighed heavily in the room, like a storm ready to burst.
"Are you going to forget your past so quickly?" Raidne's voice was like a hissing snake. The silence was shattered by her dangerous words.
Ethan turned to Raidne and saw the pain and anger accumulated over the years in her eyes. "You being here isn't a coincidence, is it?" he asked, his voice trembling but resolute. Raidne seemed to relish in his vulnerability.
Raidne smirked slightly, but it was a cold, calculating smile. "I can see how my presence here affects you, Ethan," she said with a taunting tone. "Have you learned how to behave in the palace? Or are you still the naive, inexperienced pirate?"
Ethan's anger surged within him, but he controlled himself. This woman had ruined his life before, and now she was here to do it again. "What do you want, Raidne?" he asked, his voice filled with growing tension.
Raidne, intent on exploiting Ethan's helplessness to the fullest, smiled mockingly. "What do I want?" she echoed, her smile turning more sinister. "The real question is, what can I do? You don't want me here, Ethan. You wouldn't want me to reveal your little secret, would you?"
Ethan's face turned pale. If the palace discovered his secrets, he would be in great danger. "You wouldn't," he said, but his voice lacked the strength to counter Raidne's determination.
Raidne tilted her head slightly, her eyes never leaving Ethan. "Why wouldn't I? Don't you think they should know about your past? Wouldn't it be fun for them to find out the palace is harboring a pirate? Especially when they learn who had you thrown off the ship."
Ethan's heart raced. Each of Raidne's words cut through his soul like a blade. But for a moment, he tried to maintain his composure. "What will you gain by threatening me? I'm the only one who can protect you here."
Raidne remained silent for a moment, her cunning gaze reminding Ethan of how dangerous an enemy she was. "Perhaps you're right, Ethan. Maybe controlling you would be more entertaining than getting rid of you immediately. You will protect me, yes. But not just me; you will also protect my secrets. If you utter a single word, I will burn not only you but everyone here."
Ethan's fists clenched involuntarily, but he calmed himself. His inner fire burned fiercely, but he had to suppress it. "Agreed, Raidne. But remember, everyone in this palace has a role to play, and I know what you're capable of. If you continue to threaten me, you'll lose the only ally you have."
Raidne shot him a dismissive glance. "You've started playing this game well, Ethan. But remember, a pirate never forgets; they only wait. Don't play games with me, or many in this palace will suffer."
As Ethan walked away from Raidne, the mix of anger and fear inside him swirled uncontrollably. This threat was not only a danger to him but to the palace's security as well. Now, he had to keep Raidne in check and foil her plans. At all costs, he had to neutralize the threat this woman posed. He would not protect that vile pirate.
His mind raced as he tried to devise a plan. Yet, Raidne's final look whispered to Ethan that this battle had only just begun.