Gripping her cloak tightly, Elena hesitated before stepping onto the riverbank. The chill seeped through her slippers, and she felt a wave of homesickness wash over her. The scent of wet earth and pine enveloped her, bringing back bittersweet memories from her childhood. She recalled Caspian splashing her with muddy water while their mother's laughter echoed among the trees.
"Never again," she thought, squeezing her eyes shut, trying to push back the tears.
When she opened her eyes again, she noticed Aiden standing closer than she had expected. Startled, she instinctively stepped backwards and stiffened slightly. He walked past her and re-entered the carriage, giving her a questioning look. She climbed back inside and stumbled, falling against his shoulder as her dress tripped her. Their faces were so close that the scent of his cloak, rich with leather and cedar, enveloped her. Quickly, she pulled back and glanced away, trying to hide her flushed face.
They continued their journey as night set in. She wrapped herself in her cloak, trying to fend off sleep and the jumble of questions in her mind. Why had he looked at her that way? Why save Aurelia's palace but drag its princess to his fortress?
The carriage rattled more as the road got bumpier. The lantern swung back and forth, casting shadows that seemed to dance around like ghosts. Just when she thought she might doze off, the carriage jolted so hard that she fell from her seat and slammed against the wall.
Aiden stepped out of the carriage to investigate the sudden stop. Outside, he heard shouts, and the loud neighing of horses mixed with the sound of steel clinking against steel. Suddenly, Rowan burst through the door, his face splattered with blood. "Your Majesty! Stay down!"
Before she could respond, an arrow zipped past, embedding itself in the seat where her head had just been. Elena froze, her heartbeat thumping loudly and wildly like a war drum.
Masked riders suddenly emerged from the trees on both sides, resembling bandits with no banners or crests, only dark, forest-toned clothing and disciplined, swift movements. They manoeuvred with a precision reminiscent of trained soldiers. Before long, the masked forces and Aiden's entourage engaged in a fierce sword fight.
The riders charged quickly toward the carriage where Elena was seated. Although Aiden's army was under-armed and outnumbered, their swordsmanship proved to be far superior to that of the masked bandits.
Elena barely had time to glance out before the guards slammed the carriage window shut.
"Protect the Queen!" Rowan shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos as he spotted one of the attackers advancing towards Elena. Adrenaline surged through him as he quickened his stride. With a swift and forceful motion, he flung open the carriage door, reaching in with urgency to pull her.
At that very moment, Aiden was already engaged in combat, his sword slicing through the air with a practised grace. The nearest assailant met the blade with a heavy clash that echoed in the thickening tension of the scene. Aiden's men, loyal and battle-hardened, rallied around him, forming a protective barrier that encircled the carriage, their formation tight and resolute.
The relentless onslaught of attackers had them outnumbered, but they fought fiercely, driven by their duty to protect their queen. As the attacker reached for Elena, Aiden's sword came down with a powerful slash from behind, cleaving through the air and cutting the man down before he could even react. The sharp smell of iron mixed with the dust of the road, while distant shouts and clanging metal filled the air, underscoring the desperation of their situation.
Then, as quickly as it had begun, it ended. The masked soldiers turned and vanished into the woods, as if they had retreated because their leader was gone. Elena sat there, frozen, and her leg felt like jelly. For the next few seconds, she held her breath, as if she would be convicted if she let it out.
Aiden stood in the aftermath, panting heavily. "Is everyone okay?"
"No casualties," Kael replied as he surveyed the scene. "We lost two horses, but everyone is alive. The Queen is unharmed. It looks like they came for her." He continued, holding up a piece of paper that featured Elena's portrait.
Inside the carriage, Elena sat still, her heart pounding. In her closed fist, hidden beneath her sleeve, was a folded piece of paper. Earlier, the man had slipped this paper into her hand as he managed to get close to her.
Aiden sheathed his sword with a frown. "Who were they?"
"Looks like they came in disguise. They had fought like trained soldiers,"
Silas replied.
Kael knelt near the path of a fallen attacker and picked something up. It was a strip of cloth with crimson and gold thread faintly woven into the edge. "This is from Valencia. It's one of their old military insignias," he said.
Aiden's eyes narrowed. "Valencia?"
"Yes, your Majesty."
"I had no idea these bastards could be so petty. How dare they?" he hissed under his breath, glancing back towards the woods. Something was off. Unless someone had betrayed him, there was no way they could have known he was in transit today, let alone the route he was taking. He turned back to his men, his expression growing darker. Besides the ongoing war with Valencia, he couldn't understand why they would target his wife. His men couldn't have betrayed him, could they?
The company resumed their journey, this time more slowly but more alert. Aiden rode on his horse now. He knew that the attackers wouldn't come back anytime soon, but he just wanted to protect her.
They rode for two more days, constantly scanning the trees. Elena didn't mention the note, nor did she open it. She kept it pressed against her skin, afraid someone else might see it. Whatever the note contained, she was sure the sender didn't want her companions to know its contents, judging by how much danger the messenger had risked to get it to her.
At last, the black towers of Ebonhart came into view.