Why did Mandell act like that? Like she was hypnotised? The thought stuck to me, refusing to let me rest. Yet no matter how much I try to divert my thoughts, it just keeps coming back to Mandell and this strange city.
I shift in the small bed, squeezed between two maids. Another sharp kick hits my back, in a not-so subtle way of telling me to ‘stop moving’. How did I forget that the working class used to share beds. Is this my life now? Doomed to forever share beds with other people?
My thoughts, unsettled, return and Caspian’s words echo in my mind.
‘This place, these people, you can’t trust them.’ This city…Something about it feels so wrong… I turn once again in bed, careful to not disturb the others. Why does Caspian accept the way people treat him? Why doesn’t he fight back? If it were me, I don’t think I could live in a world hated by others. But then I recall the war camp. Not everyone hates him…I think of Ester and the knights that showed Caspian the respect he deserves. Is it just this city?
My thoughts carry me into the early morning, and when daylight breaks, the castle once again bustles with workers. People rush about, preparing for the departure of Caspian’s soldiers. But unlike yesterday, when the army’s arrival had been met with excitement, and cheers, today’s atmosphere is heavy. Dull.
People carry out their duty without a care, seemingly unbothered if the small army of men will survive their journey back home.
Supplies are stacked haphazardly in wagons, barely secured. Meals are overcooked and meager, and nowhere near enough to sustain the army. It seemed as though the city’s disdain for Caspian had extended to his people.
Ester retrieved me in the early hours, returning me to Caspian’s watch. In response, Caspian placed me atop his horse, well aware that it was too tall for me to climb down on my own. A petty power move. Now, he stands nearby, trying to make sense of the pitiful provisions being handed over for his army’s journey. As I watch the flow of servants and artisans hand over their goods and repairs, I notice something…Strange. Where most didn’t bother with the quality of their supplies, tossing them into wagons and at soldiers without a second thought; a few workers seem unfazed by Caspian’s reputation, handling their repairs with care, and showing Caspian a duke’s worthy thanks, some even having a polite conversation with him.
The contrast is striking and confusing. Not everyone?
As I sit atop the horse, waiting for the final stocktake before departure, my gaze sweeps across the bustling courtyard and I note the slight difference in clothing of Caspian’s people compared to everyone else. His men wear a more barbaric, fantastical version of viking clothing, which is a stark contrast to the medieval English style of this city and its inhabitants.
A final count is taken, and the order to depart is given. The weary soldiers once again mount their steeds, and the sound of shifting armour and stamping hooves fills the courtyard.
Caspian approaches and tightens the straps on the horse. My grip tightens on the saddle as Caspian swings himself up behind me, his movements effortless against the large steed. As he settles into the seat, his warmth immediately radiates onto my back. I try not to react to his warmth, or the irritating knowledge of how close he is to me. But it’s impossible to ignore as his knee bumps against mine as he adjusts himself. Upon feeling my cool temperature emanating from under my thin dress, Caspian once again unchains his fur cloak, wrapping it around us, locking us together until he unclasps the silver. His arm, under the cloak, reaches around to me to take the reins, his touch sending an uneasy prickle down my spine.
I hate this. I hate how trapped I feel, how small I am to anything against this brute. Why am I so useless in trying to save myself? I just want to go home. My current situation makes me irritated at the fact, I’ve yet to show any progress in escaping.
“You’re tense.” He speaks in a low tone close to my ear. His voice irritates me, a reminder of my failure to escape from his grasps. I press my lips together, staring ahead. I am tense. How can I not be? I’m once again on my way to an unknown place, getting further away from home, with a man I don’t trust or like. I don’t respond. Nothing I can say will change my situation.
Caspian exhales slowly, feeling the tension growing between us. The reins shift slightly in his hands, and the horse unexpectedly moves forward causing me to jolt at the sudden movement. Caspian’s hand is quick to grasp my side, steadying me.
“Don’t fall off.” I swallow hard, my fingers tightening around the saddle, slightly embarrassed.
The army begins to move off from the castle’s grounds, but there’s no camaraderie, no parade, no real send off. As we pass through into the city my unease grows. The streets are no different to an ordinary day, its inhabitants don’t even spare us a second glance as we pass through.
Caspian rides ahead, his posture rigid, his expression unreadable. His demeanour seems…unsettled? As if irritated by how his people are still treated. Making it the gates of the city, Caspian moves back allowing the scouting team to go to the front of the army. Sir Leiman? Why is he with us…Is he Caspian’s knight?
Where’s Ester?
The gates of the city groan as they open, and with a curt nod to his knight, the scouts head out into the landscape in front of us.
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The sun sinks lower, staining the sky in deep hues of orange and violet. Our long journey has remained silent and everyone has remained on edge, as if prepared for anything to happen. Or something…
I squirm uncomfortably on the horse again. Hours of riding has left a dull, aching soreness in my legs and lower back. How did people get used to doing this for hours on end? Especially before cars were invented. I shift, trying to readjust myself to relieve my aches, but my new position makes me more uncomfortable. I let out a quiet huff of frustration, wishing that we’d stop soon.
Caspian notices my irritation and without a word, he adjusts his grip on the reins and shifts slightly behind me. Then, with one hand he reaches down and tugs my leg into a better position. His touch is brief and helpful, but the sudden adjustment startles me.
I stiffen instantly, heat rushing to my face. What the hell!?
“What are you-” I begin to speak with a flushed face, but I'm cut off by Caspian speaking over me in a neutral tone.
“You’re sitting wrong. You’ll ache less like this.” Caspian returns to his upright position, bringing his arm up and around me to grab the reins once again.
I press my lips together in annoyance, a rosy blush spreading along my face at the unexpected touch. I hate him. I lock myself into place to prevent him from seeing my discomfort again.
The grass gets taller and denser along our path, its height now swallowing the lower half of the horses.
A strange clicking noise suddenly spreads around us, and the scouts ride ahead, tense and alert. The horses sense something too, their ears point back and hooves shift uneasily. I can feel Caspian chant something under his breath, holding the hilt of his sword.
“Krehvins…” Caspian mutters, before pulling his sword out in preparation.
Then it happens.
A blur of fur and claws bursts from the grass, then another, and another. I let out an involuntary scream to the terrifying creatures. WHAT THE FUCK ARE THOSE?! With black fur, a skull like face and a body like a saber tooth tiger, mixed with a wolf. It is enough to make me freeze in terror. Chaos erupts as the pack starts attacking the men. Horses rear and scream and the soldiers draw steel. The first of the beats lunges, taking down a knight’s mount in a single vicious strike. The knight, rolling out of the way, swings his leg around knocking the beast to its side before striking it. More creatures surge from the grass. THERE’S MORE!?! An unsuspected soldier to my right is yanked clean off his horse, and is pulled into the tall grass. Our mount rears, and my breath catches as I grip the saddle for dear life. Then I feel a strong arm hook around my waist. Caspian.
Before I can react, he yanks the reins, maneuvering our horse away from the assault. His grip tightens around me as he swings his sword in one fluid motion, cutting down a lunging beast mid-air. The force of his swing jars through him, into me. I’m going to die! I’m going to die. I’M GOING TO DIE! I continue to scream and cry through the chaos.
A second creature charges from the side. Caspian kicks our horse forward, parrying a swipe of claws. But his movement feels strained. Balancing control of the horse and me, all the whilst being trapped with me under his cloak, is limiting his movements. He can’t fight like this.
I barely have a second to process what’s happening, before Caspian yanks the reins and steers sharply towards a tall tree.
“Caspian!” I wail out as he tears the chain that holds the cloak together. He’s going to leave me here alone! “NO!” I cry out, gasping onto his armour. But he doesn’t hesitate, instead he lifts me off the saddle with ease, and dumps me on a low, sturdy branch. My hands immediately shooting out to balance myself on the branch, my breath coming fast and uneven.
“Stay here.” He commands in an authoritative, strong voice. Handing his cloak to me.
He doesn’t wait for a response, turning his horse away back into the mayhem, his sword flashing as he cuts down another beast.
I grip the branch, heart pounding. HE LEFT ME! THAT ASSHOLE LEFT ME! My breath rises in panic, tears continuously fall as I cry out into the wild landscape. I watch as Caspian returns back into the fight in the distance. From atop his steed, he moves in a precise, practised fashion. His sword glowing, he cuts a beast away from a soldier struggling to fend for himself. It stumbles back, bleeding onto the ground, but before long, another takes its place.
There’s too many of them! The beasts seem crazed, relentless, almost desperate. As if something is driving them crazy beyond reason. The soldiers struggle to keep their mounts under control. Some have already been thrown off, fighting from the ground with occasional glows of light. Another creature bolts from the dense grass, aiming for Caspian’s horse. My breath catches.
Caspian yanks the reins, his horse sharply pivoting as the beast leaps. Its claws graze Caspian’s arm as he expertly moves the horse. He doesn’t wait long, thrusting his sword into the creature, a hiss leaving its body as it flails to the ground.
I squeeze the branch tighter, my nails digging into the bark as I watch on. Caspian barely flinches at the attacks, he’s focused. But the creatures don’t stop. Another barrels its way towards him, and in a swift motion Caspian uses the blood from his arm to coat his sword, causing all the symbols on it to glow and ignite into flames. What the- He kicks his horse forward and swings hard. The beast ignites into flames as Caspian strikes his head away from its body, its remains skidding across the ground in a burning heap. Despite his wound, he barely looks winded.
A soldier nearby isn’t as lucky. One of the creatures has knocked him flat on the ground, its snarl being held back by the soldier’s hands. He’s going to die! My throat tightens and my heart sinks. But before I can fully react, I see Sir Leiman on the move. He rides past the beast and grabs its scruff, pulling it off the soldier. Dragging the beast along the floor, he takes his sword and stabs the neck of the creature, a flash of light emanating from the wound before he lets go. He pivots his horse back into the fight, his sword already swinging for another beast.
I grind my teeth together. My body is tense, but I force myself to stay as still as possible so I don’t fall off the branch.
Rustle.
I look down and freeze.
Krehvin…
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