Hey guys! Sorry for the late update. Computer's down first of all, and I've had a major source of writer's block. BUT! I've got a few more chapters down, and the ideas are still coming! Yay! Anyways, on with the story! Oh, and I don't own any of the characters, and right now, I don't own the plot either. It belongs to the author of Red River! At the end though, it's mine. So! Without further adieu…!
Back in Hattusa, word had already reached of the attack on the caravan. The king and an Egyptian party were in a dispute over who the attackers were. A servant bowed before the king, ready to confirm the horrible thought that raced though everyone's mind. "Prince Zannanza and the others are dead."
Kail stood in complete shock. Dead? They couldn't be dead. Zannanza and Yuri, they were both strong, they never would have allowed themselves to be killed. His brows creased in fury as he fought back tears. I shouldn't have let him go! Even if it meant war with the Egyptians, I shouldn't have let either of them go!
A speaker for the Egyptians stepped forward to address the king. "Your Majesty, I am Horemheb. Queen Ankhsenamen's emissary plenipotentiary. Great Suppiluliuma, do you contend that we Egyptians murdered your son?! Such an accusation is intolerable!"
The king raised his voice in a challenge. "Do you deny it? We have a witness!"
"Whatever your witness claims, we did not kill your son! Is this false accusation some pretext for war?"
The kind stood from his throne. "How dare you? It is you who have provoked this war, not we!"
Kail watched the two in their argument. I know I should calm my father. There are many things that need to be clarified. But I burn with rage and dark emotions. Right now, I yearn for battle, too."
Cries sounded from the people. "Those dirty Egyptians! They killed our Prince! Let us rescue Ishtar!"
"Hittite liars!" the Egyptians retaliated. "You never sent you Prince to us!"
I'll look into my brother's clear hazel eyes no more.
"Egyptian dogs!" cried the king. "We will crush you!"
And never again will I stroke you black hair, Yuri.
"Then let there be war!" Horemheb threatened.
I'll never hold her in my arms again! Kail buried his face in his hands. Why?
His father's booming voice sounded. "ATTACK!"
"Father! WAIT!"
The two sides started towards each other with cries of war.
A flaming arrow soared through the sky and landed between the two parties before they reached each other. "All right. Before you start this deadly game, a word."
Everyone looked towards the new voice. Surprise raised amount the Egyptians. "Commander!'
A black horse and his rider rode up beside the Egyptian commander. "Please wait! Don't go to war! The Egyptian's didn't do it!"
As the horse neared the Prince, the rider fell into Kail's arms. "Yuri!"
Her dark eyes met his. "Prince Kail, did I make it … in time?"
Prince Kail held her close, eyes widening as he saw the arrow protruding from her back. "Yuri, you're hurt! You need a surgeon!"
She began to push away from him. "Wait."
"What?"
"Give me a moment, please!" Yuri scanned the crowds, searching. Finally finding what she was looking for, she lifted a shaking finger and pointed at the traitorous servant. "That man, killed Prince Zannanza!"
The man's eyes widened in fear as he looked at the queen. "No, I… Queen Nakia!"
Calmly, the queen stood. "Oh, dear." She looked to Kail and Yuri. "The sun has baked the poor girl's brain! She's been roaming the desert unprotected, and with that horrific wound! She needs immediate attention and rest."
Yuri glared at the Queen angrily. "Queen Nakia, I'll never forgive you. Prince Zannanza's blood is on your hands! I'll see that you pay for this!"
"She needs bed and rest! She's raving!" The Queen pointed towards the servant. "The Egyptians murdered Prince Zannanza! This man saw it all!"
"That's not true. I saw that man kill Prince Zannanza! The Egyptians didn't do it!"
The man spoke in his own defense. "She… she's mad! Ishtar is sick! She burns with fever!"
"Yes!" said the Queen. "Her ordeal in the desert has given her fever dreams! She should have never have gone there. You must go and rest now, my child."
Yuri refused to back down. "I saw him die with my own eyes! They weren't fever dreams Look at this!" She indicated the blood on her tunic. "This is Prince Zannanza's blood! He was killed by that man's spear!"
The servant shook his head violently. "The Egyptians, they did it! All I did was escape with my life, and return to Hattusa to warn Your Majesty!"
"You're lying! You and your cronies killed Prince Zannanza and his men! Then you killed your cronies!"
The Queen waved her hand at her. "If you continue to accuse people without evidence, I'll throw you in prison, even if you are Ishtar!"
Yuri jumped up. "I have evidence. "
"If you continue to lie, I'll have you gagged! Enough of your insolence!"
"I'm not lying! I have evidence that proves he's the murderer!" She turned around. "Look at this arrow! Pull it out and examine it and you'll see who it belongs to! Prince Kail, please, pull the arrow out right now. Let everyone here see who it belongs to!"
"Yuri…"
"Please do it! Prince Zannanza would have been a good king. The Queen must pay for his murder!"
Prince Kail nodded in compliance. "Kikkuri. Get a dagger and hold the blade over a flame, then bring it to me. Hurry!"
The servant stumbled off. "Yes, your highness."
Kail turned to Yuri but refused to meet her gaze. "Is it true? Is Zannanza really dead?"
Unable to speak through the emotions that gathered in her throat, Yuri gave a small nod.
Silence pooled between them before the prince whispered, "I see…"
Kikkuri ran though the tension. "Prince Kail, the dagger is ready."
Kail took the dagger and pulled Yuri close. "Bit my shoulder. This will hurt you terribly. If you clench your own teeth too hard, they'll break."
Yuri gave a small nod before choosing the area between his shoulder and his neck.
"Are you ready?"
The whole world seemed to disappear at that moment. The only two people alive at that instant were Kail and Yuri. He didn't want to hurt her. Didn't want any reason to cause her harm. But this was the only chance they had to prevent a war with Egypt.
Gritting his teeth, Kail cut the shirt from Yuri's back. Oh, gods. It was worse than he feared. The arrow had penetrated deep. The flesh around it had already begun to heal. He would have to reopen the wound to get it out. Clenching his hand around the hilt of the dagger, he cut into Yuri's back.
She bit down on his shoulder, drawing blood. Apologies and pleas for forgiveness stormed his mind. I'm sorry, Yuri. Be strong for me. Just hold on a little longer.
He continued his surgical menstruations. Warm blood and tears ran down his shoulder. She was strong, but even her strength could not prevent bringing tears to her eyes. "I'm going to pull it out now. Don't move." Knowing best not to hesitate, Kail grabbed the length of the arrow and pulled it free.
A soul shattering cry filled his ears before he felt Yuri go limp in his arms. She was still conscious, but exhausted from the pain. Kail held up the arrow. "Your Majesty, look at this! This undoubtedly a Hittite arrow. Now, to wash off the blood and see who made it."
Panicked, the treacherous servant ran through the crowd in attempts to escape the fate he knew was to befall him.
"Catch him! Don't let him escape!"
"It wasn't my idea!" He cried back. "I… I was ordered to do it!"
The servant ran into a black cloaked figure. Before a thought was able to cross his mind, the figure pulled out a dagger and slashed his throat.
The king and queen hastened towards the figure. "Urhi, why did you do that?"
The figure lifted his head to reveal an angelic face with pale blue eyes. "He murdered Prince Zannanza!"
"But we might have interrogated him and learned who put him up to it!"
"He was running towards me. I acted on impulse, I fear."
"Well, we can do anything about it now. We'll have the body removed at once," the king stated.
Yuri hung on to Prince Kail with what little strength she had left. Images of Zannanza flashed through her mind. "I'm so… sorry" The last thing she remembered was Prince Kail calling her name.
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From the crowd, a hooded figure watched the whole scene. Black eyes watched as the arrow was pulled from Yuri's back. Watched as the servant fled. Watched as revenge escaped his grasp.
Silently, he made his way from the crowd, and back towards the desert.
