Chapter 11

The next morning was damp and cool. Aloy let Erend sleep, working to awaken the fire once more to keep him warm. She gathered her clothes, aware of the bruises on her body. They made her smile to herself.

Her leg felt better, but putting all her weight on it still brought her pain. She doubted Avad had considered the great gift he'd given her, her spear, would become a walking stick. Her clothes in one arm and the spear in hand, she began to trek back the way they'd traveled. She knew there was a spring not far away, Erend had gotten water from it, and she knew washing with the cold water would energize her.

The spring was where she'd seen it, and she unceremoniously dumped her clothes on the bank before slipping into the water. It chilled her to the bone, but she knew it was much too shallow to house any Snapmaws. A swim was what she needed: not a battle to the death.

After a few laps, she dipped deep beneath the water, as if looking for an escape. They were so close to Meridian: so close to Avad. She hugged the bottom of the pond, her lungs burning. What would she tell him? The truth, of course. He knew she hadn't interest in the throne, or him for that matter. But what would refusing him do to relations between the Carja and Nora, one that were already shaky, at best?

Finally, she surfaced, her back to the shore. She heard a noise and emitted a sigh. It must be time to go. "Come in, Erend," she suggested, procrastinating. "The water's…" She turned towards the bank, water sliding in rivulets across her bare skin. She gulped. It wasn't Erend watching her.

It was Avad.

The Sun King stood alone on the bank near her clothes, his arms crossed over his torso. He was cloaked, something she'd never seen before: usually he liked to show off his gold.

Self-consciously, she lowered herself into the water, feeling her skin burn. "Avad! What are you…"

"Come ashore, Aloy," the king requested, beckoning with a hand. His voice held sorrow, his expression wistful. "We have much to talk about. I will see you at the camp."

The camp… he'd already been with Erend. What did they speak of? The King disappeared with a flare of his cloak into the trees once more, and Aloy hurredly rushed to the shore to gather her things. Pulling on the furs was difficult with wet skin, but at least she didn't have to worry about drying her now-short hair.

Erend was seated near the fire when she arrived, his head in his hands. Avad wasn't the only one there. She recognized Carja guards, three of them, and one other from the Vanguard. There was a woman, Oseram by her dress. Aloy recognized her immediately.

"Petra! Avad!" She wasn't sure if she should be happy to see them. "What's going on? We were on our way back to Meridian." While Avad frowned at her stumbling gate, Petra seemed blind to it, taking her up in a bear-hug.

"Not anymore, fire flower!" The woman told her, carefully setting her back on her feet. She grinned, her eyes creasing slightly with her smile. Seemed she was always in a good mood. "We're headed east, towards your people. We were worried we wouldn't run into you on the way, but here you are! Good old Kiln here really knows his way around!" She thumped the Oseram Vanguard on the back. Aloy recognized the name as the man Erend had sent to tell Avad of what happened to them.

"I still don't understand," Aloy admitted a little desperately. Erend had lifted his head, looking at her with a helpless expression beneath his brows. He was already wearing his armor, offering no explanation.

Avad, on the other hand, stepped in. "Much has happened since you and Erend left," he spoke quietly, tucking his hands into the sleeves of his cloak. He glanced briefly at Erend. "And… I see much has happened with you as well."

Aloy scowled. "Look. Someone needs to start talking straight."

Avad nodded. "My apologies. Kiln filled us in on what transpired in the Claim. He told us of the Vanguard who had taken off towards the East to throw your trail… but it seems they were no longer after either of you." He glanced briefly at Petra. "Meridian fell under attack. The Oseram… this clan… they were being led by one of the former Ealdormen… a man named Lock."

"Lock!" Erend spat. "That sonofabitch…"

Avad raised his hand. "The firepower they brought was overpowering. We had just begun work on the defenses of the city, but… with the vanguard gone… with Erend gone… we weren't prepared." The king's eyes glinted. "Many were lost. Blameless Marad among them."

She heard Erend curse. Unable to stand any longer, she moved to rest on the edge of the wagon. "Meridian's been occupied by the Oseram? How did you escape?"

This was the part Petra seemed to be waiting for. "When I caught wind of one of our old coot's comin' after Meridian because of some bull about Avad murdering Ersa, Dervahl, and Rath, I knew it wasn't right. So I came along to help. Was hoping to see your fine figure there, but settled for this fella instead." She thwapped the king on the back. "He was havin' a little trouble smuggling himself out. So I opened a few walls for them."

Recovering from the Oseram assault, the king cleared his throat. "I owe my life to Petra, Kiln, and the rest of my personal guards. But I would have stayed to fight were it my choice. It was Marad who had the escape planned. For how long I do not know." He looked at Aloy, his brows knitting. "Seems our wedding is… for now… postponed. For I am a King without a Kingdom."

Aloy couldn't let her relief show on her face. People had died. "Avad… I'm so sorry. The Nora will accept you, I know they will."

The man smiled warmly. "With you by my side, how could they not?"

She twitched. "Your people, the Carja. What's become of them?"

Avad's face darkened. "Access to and from the city has been barred. The Oseram… they have stronger weapons than I've ever seen. No one's allowed in or out. The Carja within are… prisoners. Treated like nothing more than animals. Revenge, Lock says, for the Red Raids."

Petra planted her fists on her hips, grinning. "So what's the plan, King Man?"

He reached up to stroke at his goatee, thoughtful. "We continue on our journey. Petra, if you're still with me, I need you to return. Scout the city as well as you can without being seen. You know the weapons they're using. Find out what we're up against. Erend…" The Sun king moved, putting a hand on the Vanguard's shoulder. Erend looked up carefully. "Be my captain once more. I need you." The king smiled in an attempt at warmth, and it caused Erend to wince more than any wound.

Erend stood. She noticed the blood of his arrow wound still on his armor, a dried patch of red. "Leave Lock to me. We go way back. I'll find a way to get to that…" The leather of his glove creaked as he flexed a fist.

Avad turned to her. "Aloy," he took a long moment with his next words, apparently unprepared with them. "I… need you to come with me. The Nora may not hear me out alone. You've seen what they do to envoys in their lands. But." He glanced briefly at Erend. His mouth worked for a moment before he decided on his next words. "You are injured. I cannot ask you to risk your life on the journey. I can't protect you as well as… the Captain of my Vanguard can."

Stunned, Aloy and Erend both stared at Avad. Petra just seemed to catch on. "OH!" She cried, pointing at the other Oseram. "Oh no! Did you snog the King's fiancée? You snogged the king's fiancée! You dog!" She tsked, crossing her arms. "And here I thought I had a chance."