Alissia looked up in the direction of the figure, and it was far closer than it had been seconds ago. It stood in the same, still position, yet it was now no more than a hundred feet away from them. Alissia had only looked down for a second, its speed was impossible. Alissia blinked slowly, and she could swear it moved even closer still. Alexander stirred, and she could see in her periphery that he was now sitting upright, but she didn't dare look down at him. The cloaked figure made a visible motion now, reaching an arm out toward Alissia.
She started running. Alexander called out to her, but her head was buzzing. For a split second, Alissia wondered if this was a dream.
The woods held an uncanny resemblance to the ones in her nightmares. The acute sense of deja vu shattered when a branch scraped along the length of her cheek. Not stopping, she raised her hand to her face and pulled away with fingertips wet with blood.
This was all too real. For a moment, it occurred to her that she didn't know why she was running, but something inside her was begging her to move ahead. Her arms were pumping, her brain willing her body to move faster, past the bushes and brush that tore at her. A clearing was just up ahead, she could see it if she squinted. Despite the aching in her lungs, she went onward.
No!
The memory of her most recent dream slowed her. She broke through the trees, slower this time than in her dream. Sure enough, the trees broke into a clearing dotted with blue and yellow wildflowers, and beyond that a drop-off. She turned left and right. There was no clear path here, regardless of where she turned. Even if she turned one way or the other, she was now hopelessly lost in the woods, with no supplies. There was no room for a wrong choice out here.
A bony hand clamped down on her shoulder, knocking her from her thoughts. She spun to the hand, and gasped, stumbling backward. Unnaturally dark, the figure stood before her. Alissia couldn't make out a face underneath the cloak it wore, only a curled and inhuman smile.
“I've been looking for you, Princess,” it spoke in a wispy voice, indistinguishable from any man or woman. Alissia could feel her breath catch in her throat. She tried to move away but her legs were locked in place.
“What are you doing to her?” The voice shouted out through the trees.
Alexander appeared through the clearing, panting and covered in sweat. In his right hand, he held a blade, similar to a machete. The cloaked figure turned to him and let out a raspy chuckle.
“Ahhh, the lover boy. I had a feeling I might see you out here,”
“Stay away from Alissia,” Alexander spoke through gritted teeth, taking slow steps toward the figure.
“I'm afraid I can't do that. Orders are orders,” the figure tutted.
“Orders? What orders?” Alexander lowered his weapon for a moment, a look of confusion darting across his eyes. The figure sighed.
“I'm getting tired of you and your questions, boy. I think its time for you to give it a rest,”
The figure raised its arm, pointing toward Alexander. The air surrounding the hand began to distort, warping around it in circles. Alexander blinked and took a step back. He had never seen anything like this before. The figure flexed his fingers and the distortion moved once more. Rather than surrounding the hand, it stretched out into three orderly lines at the tips of the fingers, comparable to arrows. With a flick of the figure's wrist, the distortion shot toward Alexander.
They shot toward him with inhuman speed, cutting into his skin on contact. The cut that pierced his cheek appeared first. A single beam cut through his side, just below his rib cage, a second through his leg.
With a cry, he crumpled to the ground. He could feel his clothing begin to pool with blood. His body felt hot, hotter than anything he had ever felt before. He wasn't sure he could stand. Distantly, he was almost positive he could hear Alissia screaming.
“Alissia?” Alexander lifted his head from where he lay to speak, his voice came out quieter than he had meant. His vision was blurring, he couldn't think straight. Alexander's head fell back against the grass once again, thumping as it landed. The heat was fading from him now, replaced by an overwhelming chill. The edges of his vision blurred and then went dark.
Alexander woke to the smell of firewood burning. For a moment, he could swear he was in his own bed and had only left the hearth on. With a groan, he sat up quickly, only to be greeted with searing pain. Hissing, he clutched at his side. He was outfitted in clean clothes, dry of any blood.
“Wouldn't move too much if I were you,” the gruff voice echoed throughout the next to empty room. Alexander's eyes shot to a workbench that lay illuminated across the room.
An old, gruff looking man sat, seeming to toil over something on the bench.
“Where am I?” the man turned back to Alexander, a somber look on his face.
“Found you out in a clearing bleeding out. Name's Carlisle, you can thank me for saving you,” the man stood as he spoke, moving to Alexander's side. “Couldn't help but notice that wound on your side,”
“I still don't know what happened,” Alexander's eyes widened with realization. “Was there a woman out there with me? Or a person in a cloak?”
“Not that I saw. Just you lyin' out there,” Carlisle gestured broadly around the room, “Ain't much, but I brought you back home, patched you up, brought your things back with me” He nodded toward the satchel that lay, stained but intact, against the wall.
“Thank you, sir, I appreciate it,” Alexander swung his legs over the side of the bed. “But, I need to leave,” Carlisle scoffed, pushing him back on the bed.
“Ain't in no condition to head out there in the dead of night on your own,” Carlisle stomped across the room, sitting heavily in a wooden chair.
“Sir-”
“What do you remember about your attack, boy?” Alexander pondered this for a moment. He remembered the cloaked figure and the energy that surged toward him. He remembered hearing Alissia scream, and then overwhelming darkness.
“I don't know how to say it without sounding insane,” Alexander spoke, looking down at the floorboards.
“Boy, when you grow as old as I have, most things do sound insane,”
“I-It was...” Alexander stuttered and cleared his throat, “There was a hooded person, and it was almost like he could control the air. That was what hit me. There was no weapon in sight,”
“Sounds like Magyks to me,” the old man nodded without missing a beat.
“Magyks? You can't be serious,” Alexander replied, incredulous. “The made up stuff from children's books?”
“Might not be as made up as you think, boy. Just forbidden now.”
“Forbidden?”
“Aye. Back when I was a boy, long before you were born, it was commonplace. 'Til one of the kings got his royal knickers in a twist when the people revolted,”
“The people revolted? When?”
“Let's see,” the old man rubbed his chin, “Probably been around fifty years ago now. The man got a power trip, sent armed guards with proficiency in Magyks door to door to collect what he called taxes. Nearly robbed the people blind just to cushion his own throne“.
“Turns out the royal guard weren't the only people that could learn Magyks. There was a lot of bloodshed back then. A lot I don't remember, even more, I don't want to remember. The neighboring countries got together and decided to apprehend anyone using Magyks without authorization, including the royal guards.
“'Course, it's been long enough now that most your age probably don't know much about it. Doubt your elders ever taught you the real history of the country,”
It was true, this was definitely news to Alexander. Of course, some of the old books in the royal library talked about people that could cure wounds or walk on water, but he always assumed these were just stories. The fact that this could be true left his mind reeling, despite the truth being right in front of him.
“So the king outlawed it?”
“Aye, if you leave the country you'll see. Anywhere south of the Nelian border would find it commonplace. Nelian guards stand watch at an outpost down south, no one is allowed through without the King's word. Any trade goods are delivered at the border and carried by Nelian guards. Let me ask you this boy,” Carlisle leaned forward, elbows on his knees, “How many people have come back to Nelia once they've left?”
Alexander said nothing. He couldn't recall, in truth. He could recall hearing people talk in the towns, but he could never nail down a face or a voice, any one specific person.
“I can't say I recall,” Alexander muttered. Carlisle just sighed. Alexander dropped his face into his hands. He had to think.
“Not surprising, I have to say. Who was this girl you were with then, someone important?”
“Alissia,” he looked up. “Princess Alissia of Nelia. King Gilbert, that must be who sent for her,” Alexander stood, wincing.
“You were on the run with the princess?” Carlisle guffawed, standing in turn. “From King Gilbert's castle no less?”
“I- Yes, why?”
“King Gilbert is possessive of what's his, you know. Do you remember the Queen of Nelia? Her passing?” Alexander frowned.
“I thought she passed during childbirth. That's what the King told Alissia,”
“Nay, boy. The king has been lying to you from the beginning, hasn't he?”
Carlisle approached Alexander, clamping a hand on his shoulder. “The queen had her child, yes, but tried to escape the castle with a peasant boy shortly after. Whether or not the King's blood actually flows in that girl is questionable at best. That being said, the King sent for her. Locked her away in a tower. That was her final resting place,”
A dark shadow crossed the man's face. Alexander blanched, setting back on the bed. His mind was reeling with information. He could find Alissia, at this point he was sure. Gilbert knew too much, he had figured out his relationship with Alissia. The resemblance between the Queen and the Princess was uncanny. He had sent someone to fetch her. The king probably counted on Alexander being dead. But this man saved him. Could Alexander trust him?
“How is it that you know so much about the kingdom?” He asked hesitantly. The old man sighed.
“Queen Isabella was a kind and fair ruler. She wasn't afraid to tell the King when something he was doing was hurting the people. I was too young to understand how badly the kingdom needed her,”
“What do you mean?”
“When the King locked her away in that tower, I was assigned the task of bringing her meals up. I spoke to her often, she didn't get many other visitors. I was the one who found her body, already cold. One of my biggest regrets was trusting the King's judgment of that woman. I fully believe the Queen could have stopped the revolt of the people. She would never allow it to happen. I was only a boy then, younger than you are now,” The fire in Carlisle's eyes when he looked up at Alexander was apparent.
“Running away from corruption doesn't always mean weakness, boy. Remember that,”
“I'm sorry to hear that,” Alexander moved across the room, lifting his satchel, wincing as he did so. “I can't let Alissia meet the same fate,”
“You plan on infiltrating the castle without Magyks, with an injury like that?”
“I can't just leave her there without trying,” Carlisle sighed, scratching the back of his head.
“What's your name, boy?”
“Alexander,”
“Alexander, eh? Come,” As instructed, Alexander stood before him. “I'll pray for your safety boy. You have a long journey ahead of you,” Carlisle rested his hand against Alexander's hip. A faint blue light seemed to surround the man's hands. At once, the burning feeling from his wound began to fade. Alexander gasped as the old man leaned over to do the same with his leg.
“You can use Magyks?”
“Most people of my age can, young man. Anyone can use it, it's a matter of having the control to master it,” Carlisle leaned back in his chair, obviously satisfied with his work. “If you truly plan on keeping your princess safe, what will you do?”
“Do you have a horse, sir?” Alexander spoke quickly, and backed off, “I apologize it's just, well, I don't really know where I am right now, and we were walking for two days before we arrived here, and, I can pay you, and-”
“Quit your yapping boy,” Carlisle stood from his chair, “Your money's no good here. As much as I hate to admit it, I empathize with you. If I could go back and save Isabella I would,” He moved to the door, propping it open for Alexander.
{{If You are new here this is part 4 of a kingdom Romance. The links for part 1, 2 and 3 are here}}:
https://steemit.com/fiction/@naltedtirt/alissia-and-alexander-3rd-part
Part 1: https://steemit.com/romance/@naltedtirt/alexander-and-allisia
Part 2: https://steemit.com/fiction/@naltedtirt/forbidden-love-alexander-and-alissia
Part 3: https://steemit.com/fiction/@naltedtirt/alissia-and-alexander-3rd-part
