Aaron's nose twitched when he caught his brother's scent, faintly mixed with the doctor's. He rose and approached Skyla's door, his eyes going wide when he saw Nicolas. The other tod was leaning heavily against the wall, limping, his jacket scratched and scraped.
"What happened to you?" Aaron hurried to his side, keeping his voice low so Skyla couldn't hear. "Did the doctor do all of this?"
Nicolas shook his head.
"No, I just," he hissed through his teeth. "One of the steps in the tunnels gave way, and I took quite the fall."
Aaron helped him the rest of the way to Skyla's rooms, the white vixen gasping in shock when she saw them.
"Oh, dear," she stood, cleared the small pile of gowns from her bed, then dragged a large bag out from beneath it. "My father said he'd feel better if his supplies were close by, should I ever get hurt."
She looked at them, her eyes sparkling inquisitively.
"Where is my father," she asked Nicolas. "Have you found him?"
Nicolas couldn't meet her gaze. He sighed heavily, groaning as Aaron helped pull off his jacket.
"I did, but I'm afraid he had an illness he was hiding from you," his tail, flicking in agitation, went painfully limp. "I did find him, however, it wasn't before it could claim his life. I'm so sorry…"
He clenched his jaw, tears beginning to seep into his facial fur.
"I arrived in time to hear his last words, and he wished for you to live the fullest life possible, whether or not he was there to share it with you," he finally faced her. "I'm so sorry, highness, I truly am."
Skyla was a statue, the only sign of life the tremble in her lip, the shallow quiver of her breath. Then the next moment, she crumpled, falling into hysteric sobs. Aaron was fast by her side, doing what he could to comfort her.
"Oh, Father…" she choked on her grief. "J-Just when we were finally going to be safe, we were going to be happy!"
She threw herself at him, gripping his robe in shaking hands, soaking the rough cloth with her tears. He glanced back at his brother, who appeared genuinely heartbroken, yet still determined to see the mission through.
"We should be going," he said, groaning again when he tried to stand. Aaron continued to hold the princess.
"Our own supplies are still waiting above the bakery, I'll return shortly to collect them," he gripped Skyla's shoulders. "I hate to ask this of you now, but will you be able to tend to my brother, until I return?"
She nodded, though her breath still shook.
"Yes, it will be nice to have a task to focus on, so I don't think as much of this," she stood and adjusted her gown, looking so stately, even with her dampened face. "I shall do my upmost to care for him, as you did for me, Aaron."
Arron nodded, then quickly swiped one of the pistols from his brother's holsters.
"I'm not much use with such things," he said lightly. "But it is better than wandering the streets unarmed. I'll return before sunset, then we can set sail for the order."
He left, wishing there were more he could do for Skyla, for as long as this enchantment were on her, she would feel the pain of grief and longing, all for a false father who had been a soulless murderer.
The journey to the order was swift, thanks to strong currents and favorable winds. There was also a marvelous hidden trick to the ship; mechanisms at the helm and rudder could lock them in course, and since the broad river was nearly straight as an arrow, that meant there needn't be a mammal on constant guard, to steer through any turns or twists. It was clear of any dangers, as well, with a line of clear, flat land on either side, the towering forests too far back for any trees to fall, any stones long since worn to the sand that covered its floor.
Shortly after they had begun, Skyla had shown them a wondrous sight: a magnificent bird with incredible azure plumage, with yellow along a large black beak and encircling intelligent black eyes. She had explained that she had raised it from a hatchling, training it to carry messages and catch the small reptiles that plundered the palace stores. Nicolas had expressed his doubts that it could locate a place it had never been, but a day after it had been dispatched, it had returned with a reply in their father's hand. Their medical officers were ready to receive the princess, and the governor had informed the king of her whereabouts, though not yet the full truth of what Alexander had done.
There is no need, Nicolas told himself. The hellish physician was finished, and so were his crimes. The king has granted all the time we require to heal his daughter, there is no point in causing him further duress.
"We're almost to the docks," Aaron came up behind him. "You should still be resting."
Not even a day had passed before Nicolas had risen from bed, despite being hardly able to walk. He had managed to keep relatively whole throughout the mission, yet had received a mortifying injury on his return from the forest.
"I still can't believe falling in the caves led to fracturing your foot," Aaron openly smirked. "With everything else you had gone through."
Nicolas scoffed.
"It is my luck, though," he said. "Something like this occurring just as the mission ends, as you well know."
Aaron snorted. It had been over a sennight since that incident with their father's snare, and the memory still brought him to mirth. Skyla had thought the story humorous as well, though at least had the good sense not to laugh in Nicolas' face. The red grabbed his brother's arm and twisted sharply, though not enough to break. Aaron whimpered.
"Okay, enough laughing," he said, his tail puffing. "Got it!"
Smirking, Nicolas released him, then returned to watching the land sail past. The river followed a route he never would have thought to use, taking nearly half a day off their journey on its own.
"How is Skyla?" he questioned after a silence.
"Still well," Aaron answered, sitting on a crate filled with dried fruits. "She's developed the habit of sleeping in the day, as recommended by Alexander I suspect, so she wouldn't be exposed to sunlight."
Nicolas nodded.
"I wish I knew how long it might take to find a solution, but the truth is nothing like this has been attempted before," he shook his head. "There is a chance it may never happen."
"It will," Aaron said resolutely. "I will see to it myself if I have to, but there will be a cure."
He looked to the horizon, bathed in the pale, glowing beauty of a late winter sunset, the stately bow cutting smoothly through the water, the reflections therein becoming wavering pieces of liquid mercury, reforming on the mirror surface in their wake.
"There was another message from Father," Nicolas interrupted his musings, groaning softly as he shifted his feet, stretched the wrapped one out in front of him. "He said I am to go to the southern forest in the spring, if I am to return with Judith for our summer nuptials."
"So soon?" Aaron asked, adjusting the folds of his cloak so it fell behind him. "That's barely time for your injury to heal!"
"It's a long journey, even more so there and back, and I am eager to see her," he added, a fearful tilt to his lips. "But it's been so long, I would not be surprised if she has abandoned me, or even forgotten me."
"Could you have not written to her?"
"Hers is a village of nomads," Nicolas explained. "Any letters I might have sent would likely never have reached her. I hope she at least gives me the chance to explain myself…"
Aaron leaned forward, touching the other's knee.
"If she is even half as incredible as you have made her sound, then I'm sure she still feels just as strongly for you," he leaned back again. "But…how did your engagement come to be?"
Nicolas shrugged.
"That, I don't know, I was too young to be part of the meetings Father held with the Elder," he pulled the chain from his collar, running his thumb along the smooth wood of the ring. "My best guess would be it is some form of alliance, though they are already part of the order, so I'm not sure what benefit that would be."
Aaron gazed past him, then stood, a bright smile blooming on his face.
"You will be able to ask Father soon," he spoke, then pointed. "I can see the order's church looming, we are nearly there!"
He started for the stairway that led below.
"I will go and wake Skyla, she'll like to be prepared before we dock, and as I said," he paused briefly, smiling again over his shoulder. "Judith will be overjoyed to see you, there's no need to worry."
He descended, and Nicolas resorted to watching the approaching cathedral, towering above all around it, and as they approached, the plethora of details became clear. The deep azure tiles of its sloping roof, the polished dark stone of its walls, spouts for runoff adorned with carved, fearsome creatures of fantasy: heads of dragons, griffins and demons, maws forever gaping, eyes blind to the ever-changing world below. The high, majestic black lattice spire, the copper bell gleaming so proudly within. It pealed its nightly song as the sun finished sinking past the horizon, a line of hazy mystery in the far distance, small flames leaping to life in their sconces, as if by magic.
He could see the darker shadows of those who called the holy palace home, gathering along the stately dock, ready to receive and assist. The children, both foundlings and birthed by the order's members, had gathered at the front, cheering and clamoring as the magnificent ship approached. The fine hemp line Nicolas threw was one of many fastened to the deck, caught deftly by a rhino, who moored it swiftly. Aaron returned, the gangplank lowered, the princess hooded and whisked inside, lest a stray beam of sunlight come across her.
Everything will be right soon, he thought to himself, as he and Aaron met their father on the dock, the elder fox beaming proudly, yet with reservations.
"What of the doctor?" he questioned, once the crowd had departed. Nicolas swallowed, then groaned softly in pain.
"The cold magic consumed him," he revealed. "In the narrow wood surrounding the palace, I witnessed it myself."
Jonah nodded gravely.
"As I had supposed," he spoke in low tones. "Is His Majesty aware of this?"
"No," Aaron supplied, adjusting his stance to take more of his brother's weight. Nicolas had slept little on the voyage, his conscience weighted by what had occurred. He and Aaron had succeeded in rescuing Skyla, but Alexander's soul had been damned to hell, and they were now telling a great falsehood to their sovereign. "He knows she is here, of course, though he believes it to be so we may find a way to heal her, not so we may remove an enchantment from her."
Jonah nodded gravely, placing a hand on each of his sons' shoulders.
"We will come to these bridges in time," he said. "Then we may determine how to cross them, but until then, let us look solely to the present task. Her Highness is now safe with us, and I believe you, Nicolas, have been neglecting your health, as you so often do."
Nicolas sighed.
"I had to be sure we arrived securely," he began. "That was more important than wasting my time with rest, I shall have more than enough of that here now."
Aaron and their father chuckled, then the three of them started slowly for the massive oaken doors of the cathedral, sharply arched and carved with scenes from their holy book, granting peace and serenity to all who entered.
If only it were so…
I was hoping to have this story finished by Halloween, and obviously, things didn't turn out that way, but at least I got the first arc finished before Christmas, right? Now on to the second one!