Chapter 37
Kenna was awakened by a noise, that she initially couldn't understand. Frightened, she opened her eyes and suddenly remembered. They were in the forest. Because it had become too dark to continue walking, they had decided to take a rest. And apparently, she had fallen asleep, she thought and rose from her bed of leaves. Now she also realized what the noise was. There were voices of children and among the group, Emeline's voice who asked for silence.
Kenna stretched her body. Every bone and muscle hurt. She was simply not accustomed to spend the night on the forest floor. She went there, where she suspected the voices and was greeted immediately.
"Good morning! Do you want breakfast... bread and water?"
Kenna shook her head. The thought of solid food caused nausea. She took a deep breath. "How long did I sleep?"
"Oh, quite a while. I didn't want to wake you up. I know how it is in the beginning of a pregnancy. You could sleep all the time." Emeline said softly.
Kenna nodded. "But the nausea is worse." She took another deep breath.
"However, some bread will help. Here!" Emeline handed her a piece of bread. "Chew slowly and then swallow." She looked worried to her children. "I told them to be quiet. But they just don't listen."
"They are not aware of the danger." Kenna bit off a piece of bread and began to chew. "I think we should continue our walk."
Emeline nodded. "I just wanted to wait until you're rested enough. The next part is exhausting."
"I've never been on the way by foot." Kenna said embarrassed. "Only with a horse or horse-drawn carriage."
"My parents were never rich enough to afford a carriage. But we had horses. But they were not for riding, only for the use of cultivation."
"So, your parents lived in modest circumstances?"
Emeline nodded. "Yes, we were quite poor. But what about you, have you always been at the Royal Court?"
Kenna shook her head. "No, not all the time. Only when Mary went to France, we became her maids. Actually, I'm from Scotland."
"It sounds exciting! I was never somewhere else than France. I was born here and will probably also die here." She shrugged her shoulders.
"Never say never." Kenna smiled. "Mary is currently in Scotland. But as soon as she comes back, I will talk to her. Until then, you and your boys are welcome to stay at the Castle."
"Oh my God!" Emeline slapped her hand over her mouth. "I can't believe it! We will actually see the Royal Palace!"
"Even more. You will live there." Kenna rubbed her aching back. "This forest floor is anything but comfortable. I think, walking will be good for me now."
Emeline nodded and gave her children a sign, that they wanted to continue walking. But they had barely walked a few steps, when they heard it. The clip-clop of hooves.
"He found us!" Emeline whispered to Kenna. "We shouldn't have done a break."
"It's my fault." Kenna ducked deeper. "What are we doing now?"
"Keep quiet! Maybe he is riding past us, without seeing us." She looked at her children. "Duck! And I don't want hear any noise!"
The boys, intimidated by the harsh tone of her mother, obeyed immediately.
Kenna took refuge behind bushes. "He's getting closer!" she whispered to Emeline.
The young mother nodded. "But it's just one horse. He comes alone." She pulled the knife out, that her brother had given her. "At least, we're not completely defenceless."
Kenna looked at her doubtfully. She was certain, that Emeline would never be able to turn the blade on her brother. But was he aware of that, too?
The sound of hooves came closer and closer. And now you could also clearly notice, how the ground vibrated beneath them. Kenna closed her eyes as she could make herself invisible that way. The neigh of a horse was right next to them.
"Finally I found you!"
Emeline screamed with pain, as Victor dragged her by her hair out of her hiding place.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice that you're fled?" He shoved her roughly to the ground. "Then you're more simple-minded than I thought."
Kenna looked around quickly. When he had attacked her, Emeline had let the knife fallen to the ground. It was only a few meters away from her. On all fours, she crawled to it and picked it up with trembling fingers.
"Please!" Emeline begged. "Kill me, but let my children and Kenna alive!"
"You should have thought about that a little earlier! Now it's too late." He slapped her in the face. "No one contradicts or opposes me!" Slowly, he pulled out a knife and held it to her throat. "Do you want to say anything before your life is over?"
Kenna was only breathing intermittently, and she had the feeling to pass out any moment, but Emeline's desperate look, left her no choice. She didn't know where she got the strength and the courage, but she took the opportunity of the moment of surprise, when she jumped out of the bushes, the knife ready to stab out.
She closed her eyes when the blade found its target. A gurgling sound was heard and she felt wetness pouring over her hand. Blood. Kenna suppressed a gag reflex as she let go of the knife. Even before she had opened her eyes again, she heard Emeline's sobbing.
"Oh my God... Kenna...! You... you killed him!"