A/N:
Hello everyone! Yes, I'm back. Wishing you all a Happy New Year with this new chapter!
Let me know what you think about it!
Chapter Ten: Alive
Arslan gritted his teeth. His eyes focused on the horizon as he grabbed hold of the horse's mane. Every movement, every jolt was causing him pain, but he couldn't stop. Reaching Ecbatana in the shortest possible time was his absolute priority.
The warm sunlight illuminated the vast plain. Arslan crossed it at full gallop leaving behind himself a long trail of dust. The soft morning breeze ruffled his silver hair. He was sweating profusely, whether it was because of the rising summer sun or the intense effort, he couldn't tell.
«Almost there…», Arslan whispered. Every muscle of his body was aching. Not only he had just barely survived a terrible battle, but also he hadn't eaten nor drunk properly for the past two days. His vision began to blur. The young king tightened his grip on the horse's mane to strengthen his consciousness.
«Not now…», he reprimanded himself. «Almost there… almost there…», he repeated as the outline of Ecbatana's mighty walls took shape in the distance.
As he got closer to the massive brick walls, Arslan noticed that the gates were still closed. Usually, the main gates were to be opened as soon as the sun rose to allow the merchants to freely enter and exit the city. It was possible that the sovereign's sudden disappearance had led to Council to keep the gates closed as a precautionary measure.
The king spurred his horse toward the Eastern Main Gate. Like the others, it was still closed and guarded by at least a dozen soldiers. Five men, two knights and three infantrymen, were checking the outer bank of the moat that surrounded the walls. As soon as Arslan approached them, the foot soldiers moved forward, pointing their spears against him.
«Who are you? Where do you come from?», one of the soldiers asked him rudely. The young king stopped and raised his hand in an attempt to calm down the soldiers.
«I'm… », Arslan hesitated. He wasn't sure telling those soldiers who he was would be the wisest choice. To be honest, he wasn't even sure they would have believed him. He was covered in dust and blood, he was panting heavily, still out of breath due to the effort. He had lost his helmet and his sword, his royal emblems, and he had no idea if his face was still recognizable to those men.
«Answer the question!», another soldier shouted.
«I'm part of the royal army just as you are», Arslan said. It wasn't a complete lie, he thought. «I survived the battle that took place in the mountains while we were trying to reach Peshawar Fortress». The soldiers exchanged worried looks.
The two knights were observing the scene. Suddenly, one of them got closer to his comrade, whispered something, then spurred his horse and rode away. The remaining knight approached the foot soldiers in front of him.
«The troops have already come back from that battle, led by General Daryun», he said.
Arslan couldn't help but smile. Daryun was safe, and so was part of his troops apparently.
«How come you are here now?», the knight added.
«I woke up a few hours ago. I guess they thought I was dead and left me behind. Anyway, I need to talk to General Daryun as soon as possible», Arslan said firmly.
«Yeah, sure!», one of the soldiers laughed. Arslan sighed. Things weren't going to be easy, as expected.
«First of all, get off that horse», the other one said. The sovereign did as he was told. As soon as his feet touched the ground, his legs almost gave in. He had to lean against the animal to stand still. His head was spinning and for a few seconds, he felt horribly nauseous.
«I'm not carrying any weapons if that's what you are wondering. Please let me through. It's important», the king said looking at them. The soldiers regained their composure. There was something in the intense gaze that the young man was shooting them that was unsettling and familiar at the same time.
In that moment the knight that had left a few minutes earlier rushed back to the gate followed by another one. Arslan glanced at the two.
«You're lucky», one of the foot soldiers said sarcastically, pointing at the knight who had just reached the gate, «Now you can beg the commander himself to let you through».
«What's happening?», the newly arrived commander asked, getting off his horse.
«This man has just reached the gate, sir», one of the knights reported. «He says he was part of the troops that left the Capital two days ago and were ambushed on their way to Peshawar Fortress».
The commander took a few steps toward Arslan, then stopped suddenly. His legs started trembling as he mumbled something incomprehensible. Then, much to his subordinates' disbelief, the knight collapsed on his knees, shaking uncontrollably.
«Impossible… how could… », he said, as his lips started to bend into a shy smile. It took him a mere glance at the king's blue eyes to recognize him. Arslan smiled back, relieved.
«Kaveh», he called him. «I'm so glad you know who I am».
Kaveh, the knight in charge of the small company that was guarding the Eastern Main Gate, was one of the king's most trustworthy men. He had sworn to devote his life to serving Pars and following Arslan after his first encounter with the king, years earlier. The sovereign was still a prince back then. Arslan remembered that day very clearly too. It was a warm, sunny day and King Andragoras III had just returned to Ecbatana bringing dozens of Lusitanian war prisoners with him. As soon as they had entered the city, the prisoners had been divided into groups and assigned to different slave markets with no exceptions for sick people, wounded or children. That's how Étoile too found herself locked in a wooden cage, waiting to be sold to some parsian nobleman or worse. Kaveh was one of the three boys who dared to provoke her and ended up causing the abduction of the prince and the turmoil that followed. Arslan had been kind enough to spare his life and had decided to let them go unpunished. Three years later, Kaveh and his friends, had fought in the battle of Atropatene. Arslan knew for sure one of them didn't survive and was aware that the possibilities that the other two were still alive were narrow. It was only during the celebrations for his coronation that Arslan learned that Kaveh had survived the battle and was still more than willing to serve his kingdom.
«Majesty!», the commander exclaimed, finally able to properly address the sovereign. The other soldiers, still standing behind him, gasped in shock. «I cannot express how glad I am to see you safe and alive!». Kaveh stood up and rushed to the king. He took off his helmet and dropped it on the ground. Then, he unfastened his cloak and placed it around the king's shoulders.
«Thank you, Kaveh», Arslan said, smiling.
He turned around and glared at his subordinates. The soldiers took a step backward, scared by the knight's attitude and terrible ashamed of their own behavior.
«You fools! How dare you! How could you not recognize your own king! You insolent-!»
«Don't be too harsh Kaveh», Arslan interrupted him. The commander turned his attention back to the sovereign. «I'm sure the last time they met me I wasn't looking this miserable». Kaveh looked at him. The sovereign's clothes were torn and covered in blood. The skin of his face was bruised and scratched, his silver hair was now tangled and dirty. Yet, his blue eyes were still gazing at him as intensely as ever.
«Majesty, you're wounded! You need immediate treatment!»
«I need to talk to Daryun as soon as possible. Can you help me?», the king asked the commander. Kaveh nodded immediately.
«Of course, Your Majesty! Here», he answered, grabbing his horse's bridles, «take my horse. He's among the fastest in our troops. I'll personally escort you to the Royal Palace». Arslan was still leaning against the horse that had brought him back from the battlefield. The poor animal was panting heavily and was clearly unable to continue their journey inside the city. The sovereign patted the horse on his back affectionately.
«Good», Arslan said, taking the bridles of Kaveh's horse. One of the other knights offered his horse to the commander, who had already ordered to open the Gate.
Before leaving, Arslan turned his attention to the soldiers once more.
«Men, no one shall pass this or any other gate», he ordered in a serious tone.
«Yes Majesty!», they answered in unison. Arslan nodded his head and left, passing through the Gate followed by Kaveh.
At the Royal Palace, Daryun was crossing the large square in front of the stables, shouting orders to his subordinates and shaking his spear in the air. He was already wearing his armor and cloak and his pitch-black stallion, Shabrang, was waiting for him at the other side of the square.
All around, soldiers and knights were getting ready to depart at a moment's notice. A mere hour earlier, the general had assembled three rescue squads and the Royal Guard to go back to the mountains and search for the king.
«Lord Daryun!»
The general turned around but didn't stop walking. He saw Elam paving his way among the soldiers and getting closer to him.
«Elam! Is everyone ready?», the Knight in Black asked him.
«The Royal Guard is armed and ready to leave, and so are two of the three squads», Elam informed him, trying to keep up with Daryun's fast pace.
«Good. We're leaving in ten minutes. The third squad should be ready in time», the general commented, finally reaching Shabrang. Elam cast a worried look at him. Daryun was rushing into action without considering all the possible implications. The young counselor wanted to return to the battlefield and look for Arslan too, of course, but the operation needed better planning. The troops had just returned to the Palace, many were injured. Narsus wasn't there to help them and Elam knew that Daryun was still emotionally shaken. Everyone was. The wisest choice was to slow down and consider what was best to do to ensure the safety of the kingdom and the Capital and then try to understand what was going on underneath. Elam was smart enough to understand that something was off, that someone was playing behind their backs. The danger was closer than they thought.
The young man was certain that Daryun wouldn't have listened to him, but he thought he at least had to try reasoning with him. He was about to talk when a small group of people approaching them caught his attention. General Daryun noticed them too and as soon as he recognized them, he stiffened.
Étoile was walking quickly toward them followed by her men, all fully armed and wearing their Lusitanian blue vest. Alfreed was accompanying them too.
«We are coming too», the Lusitanian commander announced as soon as she got close enough to Daryun. Elam could sense the general's annoyance.
«I don't think so», Daryun answered plainly, narrowing his eyes.
«We can help», Étoile insisted. Daryun took a step forward. He glared at her threateningly.
«This has nothing to do with you! All of this matters Pars alone. Stay out of this, understood?», he shouted clenching his fists. Étoile's amber eyes clouded over with anger, but before she could say or do anything, Kostàs had already moved forward, placing himself between his commander and Daryun.
«Don't you dare talk to her like that ever again!», he yelled. The general looked at him smirking teasingly.
«You're brave, boy».
«Everyone, please, stay calm», Elam intervened. The last thing they needed, was that kind of turmoil, he thought.
«They are not involved in this!», Daryun insisted, looking at the Lusitanian girl. He couldn't bring himself to like her. Since she had returned to Ecbatana, King Arslan had changed. Not only that, the sovereign was gradually losing the support of both the Court and the Council, and he couldn't help but think Étoile was the responsible one.
«Enough, Daryun!», Alfreed intervened, getting closer to the commander. «They just want to help. What's wrong with that?»
Suddenly, a hiss tore the air. Everyone raised their gazes to the sky.
«What was that?», someone in the square asked. Another piercing hiss drew everyone's attention.
«There!», Alfreed exclaimed pointing at a small dot moving across the sky. As it went flying toward them, the dot took the shape of a bird, a majestic bird of prey with long grey feathers.
«That's…», Alfreed stuttered.
«… Azrael», Elam said. The bird screeched again then flew toward the southern side of the square, where was the main gate towards the lower levels of the Royal Palace complex.
Everyone turned their attention to the gate. Unsettling noises were coming from it and a few seconds later a light breeze carried a faint cloud of dust. Suddenly, two men came running through the gate and reached the square, followed by other people. The previously unintelligible noises were now clearer: they were voices of people shouting.
Étoile felt her heart skip a beat. She knew that feeling. That same sensation had seized her the moment she had learned about Arslan's disappearance. But now, that voices, were yelling something else.
«The king!»
Daryun, Elam and Alfreed rushed toward the gate immediately.
«The king is back!»
Étoile felt dizzy. She focused on the gate and saw two men riding their horses through it. Around them, people were cheering, shouting, crying for joy. One of them was a fully armed knight of Pars. The other was Arslan. He was wearing a torn, dirty tunic, he was covered in blood and dust, his hair was a mess, but she would have recognized him among a thousand people. Her eyes filled with tears.
«King Arslan is back!»
Everyone that was in the square rushed toward the sovereign, crying and cheering, calling their king's name and thanking the gods' for keeping him safe.
Arslan and Kaveh stopped in the middle of the square. Daryun, Elam and Alfreed reached him.
«Your Majesty!», Daryun greeted him falling to his knees. Elam and Alfreed knelt too, as tears started rolling down their faces.
«Daryun! Elam! Alfreed! I'm so glad to see you all safe!», Arslan replied, as Kaveh helped him getting off his horse.
«We thought…», Daryun told him, not daring to complete the sentence.
«I know», the king said placing a hand on his shoulder.
«You are wounded!», Elam stated. «You need immediate treatment!»
«I can wait! What about the troops? And the injured?», Arslan asked concerned.
«All treated, Majesty. The dead have been buried this morning, at dawn», Alfreed, answered.
«I see», Arslan said, closing his eyes. No one spoke for a few seconds, allowing him to collect his thoughts.
«Alright», Arslan conceded finally. «I guess I'll need proper bandages at least…»
Daryun immediately moved to his side to support him.
«Kaveh. Thank you for your help. You're a trustworthy man», the king told the commander.
«I'm honored. You don't need to thank me, Majesty», Kaveh responded, bowing slightly. The knight moved aside and let Elam got closer to the king to help him walk toward the main building of the Palace. Daryun's presence and attitude were enough to make everyone move aside to let them pass through the crowd.
Arslan chuckled.
«I wasn't planning this but… a few people recognized me along the way… the news spread rather quickly…», the king said.
«It's only natural, Majesty. Your people loves you», Daryun commented smiling. Arslan chuckled again. He let his gaze wandering over the crowd, then he saw her in the warm summer light. Everyone else disappeared. Étoile stood just about a dozen meters from him, with her comrades. She was looking at him with her shining amber eyes. Arslan felt the urge to hold her, and for a moment he thought of rushing to her. But his aching body and the voices of the people surrounding him brought him back to reality. He smiled tenderly at her, then let Daryun and Elam dragging him inside the Palace.
A single tear slid down Étoile's cheek.
A/N:
Thanks for reading!
I'm currently working on the next chapter. I won't keep you waiting for too long this time!
Stay tuned!
- Kiara