Mercy's Prince (46 page)

The
prince pushed himself to his feet. He hunched over, his right arm dangling, but
he still held the sword in his left hand. His back was to the armory wall, and
his face grimaced in pain.

Caelis
came toward Valerian, swinging the ax in tight figures-of-eight. The prince’s
eyes widened in alarm. He tried to lunge with the sword, but Caelis batted it
away. Valerian struggled to hold on to the sword while evading Caelis’ attack.
Caelis followed relentlessly until the ax blade caught the sword and sent it
flying across the cobbles.

Savoring
the moment, Caelis leered. Valerian leaped forward and grabbed the ax with his
left hand. He pushed the haft across Caelis’ face, opening a cut above his eye.
With a growl, Caelis twisted the haft out of Valerian’s hand. The prince had to
dive away from the blade, but it sliced across his chest and cut the dragon
emblem in half.

Sneering,
Caelis moved in for the kill.

Valerian
tried to breathe deeply, but the burning pain from his cracked ribs and bruised
chest caught his breath with a sob. His sword arm hung useless. How could he
save Merry from this monster?

Caelis
stepped closer and swung the ax. Valerian dodged, wincing. He had to work his
way back to his sword. It was the only way to stop Caelis.

But
Caelis didn’t let him near the sword. He caught Valerian across the left thigh
in a glancing blow. Crying out, Valerian grabbed the place and ducked the next
blow. Warm blood poured through his fingers. His legs were too heavy to move
out of the way, and the ax sliced his right forearm. Caelis was toying with him
now.

Their
eyes met, and Valerian
Saw
through the knight’s madness that
he
was the one responsible for the massacre of the Brethren.

“You
killed the Brethren?” he said, gasping.

“Cowards.”
Caelis growled and lifted the ax as if he were splitting wood. “Like you.”

Valerian’s
left shoulder bumped against the toppled stack of crates. He was trapped.

Just
like when the Mohorovian swung the ax at Waryn, time slowed down. Valerian
Saw
as if illuminated by heaven itself how he could give his life to keep this man
from hurting any more innocents. As the ax head glinted in the sunlight and
came toward his head, Valerian gathered what little strength remained and
leaped to the left. The blade smashed into the crates and became imbedded in
the wood. Caelis lost his balance and fell on top of the crates.

Yelling
to block out the searing pain of his ribs, Valerian stumbled to the sword and
grasped it with his left hand. He turned and planted his feet, sucking in a
painful breath.

Caelis
finally pulled the ax from the wood and approached Valerian with a roar. He
shifted his grip on the haft, and his glove caught on the splinters. Valerian
took that moment and with another yell lunged forward and stabbed Caelis in the
right arm. Screaming, the knight tried to swing the ax left-handed, but
Valerian blocked his hand, hard. The ax spun out of Caelis’ grasp and clattered
on the stone. With a final shout, Valerian shoved the blade through the gap
under Caelis’ left arm. Something tore in his own chest, and his vision swam,
but he clung to the hilt.

Caelis
frowned, and then his eyes widened. He fell to his knees in slow motion,
incredulous, as Valerian wrenched his blade out. Valerian stood swaying on his
feet, and Alden’s sword glistened with the traitor’s blood.
  

***

When
Merry stepped into the yard, she gasped. There in the sky flew many enormous
dragons. She couldn’t tear her gaze from the graceful motion of their wings or
the shimmering blue-green scales that sparkled golden in the sunlight. What
magnificent creatures! Her heart swelled with pride that Valerian had brought
them.

Strange
there were so few soldiers milling about. Most of them crowded on the walls,
staring outside the castle. Were any of the Horde left? She had no way to know.

Merry
scanned the walls, searching for Valerian, when the sound of metal clashing
against metal echoed off the stone. Running toward the sound, which came from
the nearest tower, she cried out. Caelis was attacking Valerian! Valerian
defended himself with his sword, but the slim blade appeared fragile against
the massive battle-ax.

No
one else was close enough to help. Merry wanted to shout at Caelis, but she
feared it would distract Valerian. While she came nearer, Valerian struck
Caelis a mortal blow, and the knight collapsed to his knees.

“Valerian!”

“Merry?”
He slowly turned toward her with a weary smile.
I’m so glad to see you and
hear your voice at last
.

You’re
hurt!
The
amount of blood on his arms and legs propelled her to run faster. Before she
reached him, something moved behind him.
Caelis.

“Behind
you!”

Valerian
could not turn quickly enough. Caelis’ ax struck Valerian’s right leg. The
blade cut into the calf at an angle. Blood gushed from the terrible wound as
the ax flew from Caelis’ hands. Valerian fell forward, losing his grip on the
sword.

While
Valerian lay helpless, Caelis stayed on his knees, grimacing. How could Merry
get to Valerian? Could she break her Oath of Peace to protect him? Then she
stared more closely at the knight. His eyes were glazed and his face ashen. He
was so near death he was no longer a threat.

Merry
dropped to her knees beside Valerian. He had lost consciousness. Before she
could staunch the flow of blood from his leg, something jerked her head back.
Caelis had her braid! He slowly pulled her toward him, and he had a knife in
his hand.

“No!”
Valerian’s sword lay beside her. Merry tried to pick it up, but it was too
heavy. Caelis tightened his grip on her braid, yanking her back.

Then
Merry saw a knife on Valerian’s belt and pulled it from the sheath. She twisted
against the pain in her scalp and pointed the blade at Caelis. Briefly their
eyes met.

“No,”
she said again, gritting her teeth. “I will not break my oath, even for an
animal like you.” Instead, she used the blade to saw through her hair. With a
final sigh, Caelis fell over and lay still, clutching her braid.

Merry
dropped the knife and knelt beside Valerian again. His blood soaked into the ground.
Merry took his injured right leg between her hands and cried out in anguish. The
lower part was only connected by a strip of skin and tendon. Not knowing if it
could be saved, she focused all her Healing energy to stop the bleeding before
he died.

Once
she stopped the blood loss from his leg, she turned her attention to his other injuries.
His breastbone was cracked, as well as several ribs, along with torn muscles.
He had many lesser cuts, but his right shoulder was torn and bleeding heavily
from a slice to the bone, so she stopped that bleeding next and Healed it.

By
the time she could focus on his ribs, Merry’s strength was fading, but she
rallied every scrap of strength to pour into Valerian. Strong hands pulled her
away, and she fought them.

“No,
no! I must save him.”

“You
have, Merry.” It was Kieran’s voice. “The bleeding has stopped. He lives.”

She
opened her eyes. Many hands moved Valerian to a litter.

“Where
are you taking him?”

“To
the infirmary,” Kieran told her.

Merry
struggled to stand.

“I
must go, too. My medicines are there. And my brother and Gwendolyn and Sir
Edmund.” As soon as she was upright, she swooned and Kieran caught her.

“If
you must, then I will carry you.” He scooped her in his arms and glanced over
his shoulder. “Drew, bring the prince’s sword. Dinna forget to wipe the blade.”

Drew
. Merry squeezed her
eyes shut against the vertigo of exhaustion.
I must tell Gwen about Drew
.

By
the time they reached the infirmary, Merry had regained enough strength to
stand. The men laid Valerian, litter and all, on the cot nearest the fireplace.
The older physician entered with King Orland, and they went straight to the cot.
Merry pulled away from Kieran to join them.

“It’s
miraculous the bleeding has stopped, Sire,” Weldon was saying. “Otherwise he
should have died from loss of blood.”

“What
about his leg?” Orland wrung his hands, frowning.

“I’m
afraid it cannot be saved.”

“Let
me try,” Merry begged. “I didn’t attempt it outside because I had to stop the
bleeding and Heal some of his other wounds. Please, let me try to save it.”

Kieran
stepped forward and bowed to King Orland.

“Your
Majesty, I must protest. The lady is supernaturally gifted, but the use o’ that
gift always comes with a price.” He stared at Merry. “I’m sorry, my lady, but
if ye tried to Heal this terrible injury, I know it would kill you.”

“You
don’t know that.” Tears filled her eyes. “You could watch and bring me back
before I went that far.”

He
lowered his voice.

“I
did watch you. The Healing you’ve done today has already taken a terrible toll.
Ye canna tell me that you feel no weakness still.”

Orland
laid a hand on Merry’s shoulder.

“I
would not have you risk your life and compound this tragedy, Lady Merry. You
have saved Valerian’s life. When he recovers, he will learn to deal with the
loss of the leg. He has already proven his great strength and courage.”

Merry
covered her face with her hands and wept. She knew they were right. Oh, how she
knew! But for Valerian’s sake she wished there was a way to save his leg.

To
her great surprise, Orland put his arm around her and led her away from the cot.

“Let
Welden do his work now.”

“What
is he going to do?” She grabbed Orland’s arm.

“I
must complete the amputation, Lady Merry,” Welden said. “Thanks to you I will
be able to cover the stump with a skin flap to better prepare him for a wooden
leg when it heals.”

“Let
me keep him from pain, at least.” When physician and king both gave their
permission, she rushed to the cot and knelt behind Valerian’s head. His eyes were
closed, and his skin so pale. Merry gently placed her hands at his temples and
brought her forehead down to his. Closing her eyes, she drew on the Healing
power just enough to keep him unconscious. She cradled him with her love and
esteem, so he was unaware of what Welden did to his leg.

They
drifted together in a place between wakefulness and sleep, each accepting the
peaceful oneness beyond words.

At
last hands pulled at Merry, insistent. She resisted, not willing to leave Valerian’s
mind, but she had to return to normal consciousness. When she opened her eyes,
Rafael stood beside her.

“Sissy,
I made some balmflower tea. Is that a good thing?”

“Yes,
love. It’s a very good thing.” Merry kissed her brother’s cheek. “As soon as he
wakes a little, you may give it to him.” She tried to stand, but the room began
spinning, and strong arms caught her before she fell.

Kieran
picked her up and set her in a chair. The king sat on a bench beside her, and
Drew stood next to him. Gwendolyn handed her a cup of nectar, and Merry
gratefully drank it.

“I
do want you to rest, Lady Merry,” Orland said. “But first I need some answers. How
was Valerian so injured?”

Merry
shared a glance with Drew. She took a deep breath.

“Sir
Caelis.”

“Caelis?”
Orland frowned at Drew. “What do you know of this, squire?”

“Your
Majesty,” Drew said. “Sir Caelis has hated Prince Valerian ever since the day
Prince Waryn was killed.” He wrung his hands. Merry nodded at him to continue.

“When
Sir Caelis took us south, at first he said it was to practice with the new
crossbow in the field.”

“Yes,
yes.” Orland gestured with his hands. “I already know that.”

“Later,
Your Majesty,” Drew continued, his voice trembling, “Sir Caelis said he had a
decree from Prince Valerian himself. I didn’t see it, but he showed the men.”

“What
decree was that?”

Drew
swallowed and glanced at Merry again.

“It
ordered the Brethren put to death for refusing to fight against the Horde.” He
dropped to his knees and bowed his head. “I couldn’t believe the prince would
order something like that, but Sir Caelis was very…persuasive.” Drew covered
his face with his hands. “Though I did not kill anyone, I was not able to stop
Sir Caelis. I deserve whatever punishment you decree, Your Majesty.”

“Drew
Campignon.” He and Merry both looked up at the sternness in King Orland’s voice.
“A squire is not held responsible for the crimes of his knight. If Sir Caelis
ordered his men to put to death an innocent village by deceit, he bears the
responsibility. Where are the other men?”

“They
were all killed in the south, Your Majesty. Thankfully, Lady Merry was not
present when the village was attacked, and I—” Drew swallowed again and tears
welled up in his eyes. “I refused Sir Caelis’ direct order to kill Rafael, so
his life was spared also.”

“Rafael?”
Orland turned to him.

Merry
held out her free hand, and Rafael came to her, standing close but not crawling
into her lap as he used to do.

“This
is my brother, Your Majesty. Another cousin.”

“I
am very pleased to meet you, Rafael. How old are you?”

“I’m
almost five years old.” He held up five fingers.

“He
will be five on May Day,” Merry said.

“That
is my birthday, too.” Orland smiled at the boy.

“When
I found everyone in my village slain,” Merry explained, “I couldn’t find my
brother and assumed the worst.”