Fire in the Heart : The Princess and the Bandit (9781629020112) (27 page)

Sniffling, Natalia gazed into his eyes. “It’s okay,” she whispered.

Anas gently threw his arms around her fragile frame. “Oh, my poor princess,” he whispered.

Natalia let her eyes fall toward the ground. A small family of blue birds jumped together through the nearby bushes.

Anas lifted her chin. “Come. Let’s go watch the acrobats perform down in the lobby. I had them come just for you,” he said smiling.

“Okay,” she answered, her chest gently heaving one last time.

Chapter 33

E
lijah lay, stomach
first, on the ground, as Aiken squatted above his lower back. Darrel eyed them narrowly. Aiken lowered his cupped hands and pressed hard, several times, causing a series of loud pops. Elijah felt his bones once again move back into place. His wracking pain diminished daily, especially after Aiken’s adjustments. He thought back and realized that it had already been one full week since the bizarre ghoul attack. Enough time had passed to allow the crusaders to move camp to the watering hole that Elijah, Aiken, and Caleb had found. One of the injured crusaders didn’t make it, but the worst of their experiences seemed to be over. Now, they had all the water they could wish for. They just needed to complete their recovery.

“Ouch!” shouted Elijah.

Aiken pushed down, once again. “Do not worry, Elijah. This is for your own good,” he admonished smiling.

Grimacing, Elijah was quick to reply. “It doesn’t feel like it!”

Aiken laughed. “Oh, come on now. Don’t be such a sore sport,” he said.

Elijah slowly lifted himself off the ground.

“Aiken! Edward is not doing well. He is getting progressively worse,” said Darrel, shaking his head at Elijah.

Aiken raised his voice. “I told you. The herbs should kill the infection,” he said.

Darrel motioned toward the tent. “Have a look for yourself!”

Aiken grabbed Elijah’s shirt. “Come on,” he barked.

“I do not want his kind in the tent with Edward!” shouted Darrel and thrust his arm in between the two.

Aiken didn’t stop. “Elijah has already proven himself! He will come with us!”

Darrel sneered.

Elijah and Aiken gently pulled back the tent flap. When they entered, Edward was lying on a cot, coughing, practically gasping.

Aiken breathed deeply. “How are we today, Edward?” he asked.

Edward replied feebly, “Not so good, Aiken, not so good.” He coughed roughly and continued. “Urggh! The pain!” he said and grabbed at his chest.

Aiken leaned over, trying to break a smile.

From the tent flap, Darrel asked, “What do we do, Aiken! You are the doctor here! You know better than any of us what to do!”

With his eyes focused on Edward, Aiken replied, “He needs a stronger herb. The infection is getting worse. The herbs I have are too weak.”

Edward burst out with another round of coughing. “I would rather die than face this pain another day!” he cried.

“Nonsense. We cannot give up yet,” said Aiken as he reached for Edward’s hand.

“Any ideas?” asked Elijah.

“There is an herb. It’s called Anglican root. It is the only desert herb for this problem that I know of,” Aiken said.

“Well. Shouldn’t we start looking?” replied Elijah.

Aiken shrugged. “I do not know. I am not even sure where to start looking. I do not know if it is found in the mountains or around caves. I am just not that familiar with it.”

Darrel glared at Elijah. “Don’t your people know about this?” he prodded.

“Maybe some of us. I was not fortunate to learn about herbs and medicine.”

Darrel’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, that’s right. Let me guess. You are a beggar!”

Edward’s shaky voice suddenly interrupted, “Enough!”

Aiken lifted his hand. “Save your strength, friend.”

Darrel quieted down for a moment and then continued, “There is only one thing I can think to do.”

Elijah stared at him. “What?” he asked.

Darrel glanced around quietly.

“What is it?” exclaimed Aiken.

“The barbarians. They are the only ones who would know. They know this land better than anyone,” replied Darrel.

Aiken said, “There has to be a catch. It is too simple.”

Smiling, Darrel replied, “Well. We killed a few of them back before we got trapped in the gorge. They are not too fond of us crusaders.”

Elijah kept his eyes on Darrel.

“But maybe, they would accept the sand rat,” said Darrel gruffly.

Elijah clenched his fists. He wondered just how much of this man he was willing to take.

“If you cannot treat our friend with respect, please do not say anything at all,” demanded Aiken.

Darrel clenched his jaws.

“I can go,” exclaimed Elijah.

They all turned when Edward spoke. “No! You will not put your life in danger for me again.”

Elijah walked over to Edward. “I will help you. We can do this. Where is the barbarian camp?” asked Elijah.

Darrel lifted his arm and pointed. “It’s a few miles west of us. Over that mountain range.”

“All right. I can do that,” nodded Elijah.

“Well. You can’t go by yourself,” said Aiken.

Elijah quickly replied, “I have a better chance than anyone else. They will kill you all on sight.”

He watched for Aiken’s reaction, expecting something, but Aiken didn’t respond.

“Plus, maybe, by the time I get back, you will finally show me the magic you have been promising me since the day I met you,” continued Elijah.

Aiken’s voice sounded strained. “Elijah…”

“Please, Aiken. I could really use it. I will save your friend. All I ask is that you show me the magic, and please don’t change the subject like you always do,” pleaded Elijah.

“Elijah! It’s not that simple!” said Aiken.

Elijah frowned. “Sure sounded that simple before we got here,” he said.

Again, Aiken didn’t respond.

“Thank you for teaching me how to use a blade,” said Elijah. “I think it will come in handy. I will be back as quickly as I can.” He then leaned over Edward. “Stay alive, friend,” he said smiling and grabbed a sword from the corner of the tent and walked outside.

“Elijah!” said Aiken, following his friend.

Elijah continued to walk away, grabbing a nearby canteen. “Just get me the magic, Aiken. I will save your friend.”

Edward could be heard from the tent. “God bless you, Elijah.”

Darrel stepped out of the tent as Aiken watched his friend fill up his canteen.

Chapter 34

N
othing removed the
searing heat. It attacked everything. The crunch of sand was a constant reminder of how close death was without water. Aiken watched his comrades mill about their wind-blown tents, shoulders slumped, heads wrapped. He wondered just how long they could endure before Elijah returned. A quick glance across the dunes showed no signs of movement except for the wavy refractions. He told himself, over and over again, that the mirages were not men, just more of the desert’s active furnace. He heard Edward rustle in the fragile shade and stepped back again to visit with him.

“How do you feel?” asked Aiken.

Edward rolled his eyes. “Same as I did the last time you asked,” he replied grinning.

Aiken chuckled. “Of course.”

“This bloody hurts!” cried Edward as their eyes met.

“I know. We will get you help soon enough,” replied Aiken.
If only Elijah was back
, he thought.
Edward needs help and he needs it now
. But he didn’t want to expose his intense concern. He knew that it would cause his friend to worry.

“You think Elijah will make it back from the barbarians?” asked Edward, rubbing his leg.

Aiken shook his head. “He is more resourceful than you would think. He is so stubborn though. How could he possibly do this by himself?” he said. Then he found himself building images of Elijah trudging across the searing dunes, step by step.

Edward quickly broke into his train of thought. “Why is this foreigner with you, Aiken? Why did you allow him to come with you?” asked Edward.

Aiken’s eyes dropped down. “I owe him my life,” Aiken said. “I owe him everything. He saved me from the clutches of the sultan.”

Edward continued, “And why does he continue to help us? What is in it for him?”

Aiken turned to look through the flap.

“He has saved your life, and he has saved our company’s life. And now, he goes and puts his life in danger to save mine again. What would drive a man to do this? We are his enemies, after all,” asked Edward.

Aiken turned around quickly. “Nonsense. Not all of them are evil. This war has tricked us into thinking they are,” he said.

But Aiken’s reaction didn’t slow down the conversation. “Still. He has to have some reason to do all of this?” asked Edward.

“He does this for love,” smiled Aiken.

“Love?”

Aiken nodded. “A love for a princess who he can never have.”

“That poor boy. So what does helping us gain him in that area?” replied Edward, chuckling softly.

“I promised him magic,” exclaimed Aiken. “I promised him, if he helped me, I could show him something that would make all his heart’s desires come true…”

Edward’s eyes widened. “Why would you promise something that you cannot keep?” he asked.

Aiken breathed deeply. “Damn it all, Edward. I was going to be executed! What was I suppose to do? I had to persuade him with everything! Damn it all! I was even going to tell him I would turn into the princess! My life was on the line, what choice did I have?” he exclaimed.

“I don’t blame you, Aiken. But when he does all of this for you, he will expect something in return, and you will not be able to offer what his heart desires,” said Edward.

A gust of wind blew through the tent, causing Aiken to cover his mouth.

“For all we know, the poor boy might try to kill you for lying to him,” said Edward.

Aiken suddenly raised his voice. “Nonsense. I can read people like a book. He does not have a mean bone in his body.”

Edward grinned. “Well, of course you think that. You have not told him you lied to him yet,” he continued.

Their eyes met again until Edward sat up, coughing hard.

Edward wiped his hand across his mouth. “I hope you are ready to face the consequences,” he said.

“I will be ready,” said Aiken, arms crossed.

Then Edward frowned. “Not only do you have to tell him you lied, but you will also have to tell him you are leaving. We have orders to return home,” he said.

Aiken practically yelled. “What?” He paused as the sound of crunching sand quickly passed by.

“We were heading home when we got trapped in the gorge. Our time is done, old friend,” said Edward.

Aiken’s jaws suddenly clenched. “I cannot leave him. He has no home to go back to. He lost his home to rescue me. I cannot leave him. That would be unrighteous!” He felt his chest tighten again.
How can I leave my friend now
, he thought,
after all he’s done for me.
For a moment, his surging mind refused to be comforted. “Maybe he can come back with us? He can start over, a new life in the kingdom!” he exclaimed.

Edward quickly replied, “Aiken. That is impossible. Our people would never accept him. I know you like him. I like him. But he belongs here.”

Aiken pounded his fist into his hand. “After all he has done for us, you say we should just let him rot in the desert?” he cried.

He felt it first in his cot, then throughout his entire body as the vibrations grew stronger. “What is that?” Edward asked excitedly.

Aiken peered outside. “I do not know! The earth is shaking!” He ran out into the open and was met by the others, staring off in the distance.

Darrel stood closest. “What is that?! What the bloody hell is that?” he shouted.

Aiken ran to the top of the nearby dune and witnessed a huge dust cloud moving east.
That is massive
, he thought.
It covers most of the horizon
. Then he shouted, “It’s the bloody God-King’s army leaving from Habarga!” He was transfixed as the wavy mass of man and beast slowly crossed.

Darrel shouted up from below. “What?”

But Aiken stood speechless, mesmerized, as he watched the army move. He could easily make out the elephants and the thousands upon thousands of men and women positioned before and after the moving city. Their shouts slowly drifted across the dunes.

Aiken ran back down to the men as they talked among themselves.

“We must go home quickly and warn our comrades of this,” said Darrel.

“Be wary, Darrel. This is only a fraction of the God-King’s army,” replied Aiken frowning.

Darrel scoffed. “That…That can’t be true!”

Aiken threw up his hands. “Unfortunately,” he said as he walked back to Edward across the shaking ground.

Glad to be out of the sun, Aiken moved closer to Edward. “We are not safe here. We need to get out of here as soon as possible. Let’s give Elijah enough time to find the root,” Aiken said.

Edward’s lungs erupted again. “I agree. This will be the greatest war the world will have ever seen. I pray that I do not miss it by dying of this cursed infection!” said Edward.

Aiken frowned. “You may want to miss this war, Edward. I foresee more death than any human should have to witness,” replied Aiken.

Edward laid back. “So be it. If that is what it takes to defend God’s people, then it shall be done.”

Suddenly, Aiken found himself lost in thought. ‘Was Elijah going to get back in time to save Edward?’
He’s such a good man; He can’t die
, he thought.

“I hope your friend hurries. I do not know how much longer I can last,” said Edward softly.

“You will last, friend,” replied Aiken. He slowly dropped to his knees beside him. “I will pray for your health.”

“Thank you…,” came Edward’s quiet reply as his eyes fell shut.

Chapter 35

D
ark, brooding clouds
swirled over the city as hundreds of eyes peered out from the rooftops at the palace. The streets had given up their soldiers to Prince Anas, blanketing an uneasy quiet everywhere. Karam watched every move down below, grinning at the obvious void of activity. A muffled roar slithered over the palace wall when Voran yelled at the chimera, “Down!” The two guarded the inner court and garden area, ready at a moment’s notice to defend. But Karam had already been informed of the secret passage way. Zeke stood by his side. A smile crossed Karam’s face, glaring intently at his goal.