Zendar, page 11
The four guards entered the room and Draken immediately began to give them orders. Azel opened the door slightly and looked out into the hall as the six men spoke behind her. She was just closing the door when she heard something from outside of the room, but with their whispering she couldn’t quite make it out.
“I hear something,” she said. She turned back towards them.
Immediately they went quiet as she strained her hearing. It noises were sad and muffled. Azel’s eyes opened wide in horror as she pulled the door open and ran down the hall. She could hear her guards follow her, and Draken’s arm reached out to stop her as she shoved past him. Her heart was beating and her head hurt.
Following the noises, she pushed the double swing doors open to the stockroom. Bookshelves of medicinal herbs lined the walls and hung from the ceiling. Marked boxes and jars filled the room from floor to ceiling with herbs and tonics. Yet the room hardly registered as Azel’s entire focus was on the woman who was bent over a table while a man took her. Two other men held her in place so she couldn’t defend herself. There were tears running down her face and a dozen or more children were huddled in the corner, crying.
As she took in the entire scene, something snapped inside of Azel. “Where did you come from?” she heard one of the other men say.
She put all of the children to sleep where they lay huddled in the corner. She forced them to drift out of consciousness because they had witnessed enough for one day. They did not need to be audience to what she knew was about to happen. This time, she let her control go so that vengeance might be carried out.
When she turned back towards them, he was taking a step towards her. “Look, she is shaking from fear.”
Her gaze flicked up and he stopped cold at the look of rage in her eye. He started to convulse as blood started pouring out of his nose, ears and eyes. The other men watched in astonishment as all the blood was drained from his body. When he fell to the floor, dead, she turned her attention on the man who was bent over the woman.
He flew backwards and hit the wall as the other two men released the girl. She fell to the floor holding the tattered front of her dress, as though she could hide under it. Draken and his men were entering the room behind them.
“Kill them,” Azel said without turning. She pointed at the man picking himself up from the floor. “Except for him. I will question him.”
The assassins had clearly intended to use the element of surprise and were not prepared for Draken and his men’s skill. Blood drops littered the ground and there was sand in the cracks of the flooring. Zendar was just a planet of sand and blood. Its inhabitants had ruined the world and destroyed each other. They littered the dying world with the blood of their enemies when they should be their brethren. Reason was beginning to return to her.
“Stop,” she whispered. Still they continued, and Azel felt her eyes fill with tears as she yelled, “Stop! Take them into custody.”
Draken stopped his assault as he was about to cut a man down. Instead he hit him in the jaw with his fist. The few remaining men were collected and bound as they were lead away. She stood still as they were lead from the compound, her eyes looking at the destruction she had caused.
Draken stopped just as he was about to leave. “Why did you stop me?”
Azel met his gaze without hesitation; her eyes were dry but she felt tear tracks stiffen on her cheeks. “Because this is the folly of war. We are blind to the tragedy we create when we kill our enemies. I am both your enemy and your ally. They are the same for me. In their eyes, their assassination is an act of war, and it is to be carried out without fail because it was commanded of their Liege’s. I am tired of crying mothers who have lost their sons and children wondering where their father or mother is. I will take no part in anything but peace.”
“You are a foolish woman if you think they would hesitate to kill you,” Draken retorted. His lip curled back in disgust.
“You are not wrong,” Azel said, looking to the crying woman and the sleeping children. “I must be the change I wish to see in our world. We are on a dying planet and our only goal is to kill one another. I feel as though we are only succeeding in killing ourselves.”
He looked thoughtful for a moment. “I cannot leave you here alone.”
Azel nodded, “Have the servants take the children to a safe place before they wake. Also, look for the real Physician. We will need his abilities.”
“As you wish,” he answered as she walked past him. She felt as if she was blind. She found herself on the edge of the collapse, and her knees felt weak as she stopped in the shadow of the building. The sun stretched out before her and yet she stood in the dark. Her intentions may be admirable but her method was flawed. She reached her hand out and let the sunlight touch the tips of her fingers, finding it strange that they were not covered in blood after she had taken a life.
“Lady Azel,” Draken said, waving a set of new guards over. “These men will escort you back to the safety of the Palace.”
Azel glanced at him as the litter was lowered for her to enter. “I am safe in no place.”
She entered the finely decorated box and stared at the floor as they began their journey through the city back to the Palace. She needed to contemplate how best to tell Aleron what had occurred. He would be furious. Tears stung her eyes. Would they always be hunted? She had hated her fate when she had first arrived but now she was to be Queen. Azel had never understood how painful love could be; it made her feel helpless.
Azel was pulled from her thoughts as shouting started all around her. She turned back to push the front curtain aside to see what had caused such a disturbance in the crowd. Aleron rode towards her on his Horiti and a small army of men. Her heart clenched at the sight of him, and their eyes met. Before she could think she was already jumping from the litter and running towards him. He dismounted and opened his arms to her an instant before she hurled himself into his arms. He lifted her from the ground as she securely wrapped her arms around his neck. She buried her face in his neck and took in the comfort of his scent as she bit back her tears.
“You are safe,” he whispered as he stroked her hair.
“Take me home,” Azel whispered. He walked back to his Horiti with Azel still in his arms. He tugged on the Horiti’s reigns which proceeded to kneel. He carefully mounted the Horiti with Azel sitting sidesaddle so she could rest against him. She glanced down at the people who were kneeling in the streets, in honor to their Liege. She closed her eyes and leaned against Aleron, finding comfort in his embrace as she began to doze.
Chapter 22
“Rage”
“How dare you place your future Queen in such peril,” Azel heard Aleron yell. “I placed you in charge of her care and she was nearly killed. You are a disgrace. I offered you a second chance to prove your loyalty to me, and you failed.”
Azel rose from where she lay on the bed, and slowly made her way up the stairs to his study. She felt numb from her experience in the storeroom. She couldn’t stand any more violence. Aleron continued to berate Draken’s abilities as she drew closer which grated further on her weariness. She put her hand on the door and pressed it open slightly.
“Draken is not to blame, my love,” Azel said as she looked upon the angered Aleron with a quiet affection. In this dark world, he was the only thing that seemed to make sense anymore. She kept her tears at bay as she told him the truth. “I am.”
He looked surprised but she could see his rage just below the surface. “What would tempt you to face those who wished to kill you?”
“They had children as hostages, I could not sacrifice their safety for my own,” Azel informed him. “Draken did well protecting me. He wanted me to leave with him. I was the one who insisted we stay.”
Aleron nodded before he turned his gaze on Draken. “By my lady’s grace you are forgiven and shall remain my most trusted guard.”
“I am thankful,” he said, bowing his head before he stood.
“Leave us,” Azel said softly. As he was about to leave he turned back to give her a respectful bow.
Aleron was bent over the desk, and she could see the tension in his should blades as he stood there. She waited silently as Draken closed the door behind him. The moment the door closed Aleron pushed everything off the desk onto the floor in a rage.
His eyes were ablaze as he turned back to her. “Will they never stop?”
Azel was thoughtful for a moment before she said, “I do not know. I have asked myself that very question again and again.”
“I place you in danger by keeping you here,” Aleron said. He slapped his hand against the table. “I know you would be safer far away from me but I cannot bear to part from you.”
Azel crossed the room and put her hand on his face. “I may not know if these attacks will ever stop, but I do know that nothing will take me from you. Even if I were kidnapped or if I were to leave this place my heart belongs to you and you alone. I would prefer to remain here by your side than miserable and far away.”
He closed his eyes and pressed her hand into his cheek. “You should leave; my rage cannot easily be tempered by words. Even yours.”
“Then don’t use words,” Azel said, going on her tiptoes to put her lips against his a brief moment. “I can take your rage.”
His eyes opened and he leaned forward, placing his hand around her throat. “You are frail. I need but one hand to crush your throat. Leave before I take you.”
Azel pulled on her powers and pressed him back. “I may be frail but I am also powerful.”
He growled and fought against her. He picked her up and placed her on the desk, tearing at her clothes. He succeeded in pulling her pants from her legs before she pressed him back so she could wrap her hand around his throat. She pressed him up against the wall and placed her hand against the bulge in his pants.
She sent a ripple effect through her hand and she saw him began to shudder from desire. Before she could react he exerted more force to pick her up and slam her up against the wall behind her. He pinned her hands above her head in one of his own as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
Azel felt his tip press against her as he drove himself into her without mercy or hesitation. She gave a startled cry as her flesh expanded at his violent penetration. His free hand cupped her exposed buttocks as he emptied and filled her. He eventually released her hands so that he might hold her hips and thrust himself deeper still into her.
She did everything she could to hold on as Aleron expelled his rage into her. His passion and rage mingled as she began to feel lightheaded from the rush. He grunted as one of his fists hit the wall behind her and his thrusts became almost violent. She felt herself gasp from the force of it; his strength was narrowly beyond breaking. It was though he was trying to bury himself into her and remain as one.
Azel dug her hand into the folds of his clothes by his shoulder blades as she rested her forehead against his shoulder. She was riding the wave of his storm, and although she was able to temper it with her own abilities she allowed him to take comfort in their union. He was practically out of control and she was nearly screaming from what he was doing to her. She pulled back and let her head fall back as she let out a cry. She felt him stop and go perfectly still as reason seemed to return to him.
He tried to pull back from her but she put her arms around him. “I can still feel your anger. I will not leave you until I am satisfied.”
She pulled herself up and felt him slide from her before she settled herself back around him. Instantly he pulled her from the wall and pulled her head down to kiss her. He carried her across the room to a large chair with a high back. He sat down in the chair with his hands on her hips.
“Do that once more,” he whispered against her lips.
She pulled herself up and off of him before pressing down around him. He sucked in a surprised breath and she felt his hands tighten on her hips. She began to rise and fall, and the dig of his fingers into her flesh drove her faster. It was his turn to struggle for breath and she could see that his lust was spilling over. His hands were guiding her and helping her as her hands went to the back of the chair.
She felt every inch of him tense as he held her hips still and expelled his seed into her. She crushed her mouth against his. When he was done she pulled back and put her forehead against his.
“You alone give me what I need,” Aleron said, putting his hand against her face. “You are beyond this world, and I do not deserve what you give me.”
“I am the one that chooses to give it to you,” Azel retorted, putting her hands on either side of his face. “It is my choice.”
He kissed her with the same tenderness she had come to love before he said, “I have never trusted another person in my life besides myself, but I trust you. You would never lie to me. I give you this ring so that my home might also be yours.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. Her eyebrows were pressed up together as she fought back the tears. Azel knew that she needed to tell him of her origins but more than ever she could not imagine breaking his heart by her admission. In two days, before the wedding, she would tell him she was a Princess of Undel. She only prayed to Zendar that he would forgive her.
Chapter 23
“Market”
“Are you sure my brother approved this?” Bella said softly, looking around the market place uncomfortably.
“All eyes will be on me,” Azel said, looking at a scarf. “You are no different than the other escorts.”
“Except that I am,” Bella said, pulling the veil further down her face.
“You won’t be able to see any of the market that way,” Azel said with a laugh.
“I am unaccustomed to walking in the market,” Bella answered with a slight pout. “I don’t know how you can do it after what has happened.”
Turning away so that Bella couldn’t see the slight worry on her face, Azel nearly walked right into the merchant. She stumbled back to avoid tripping over him. One of the guards took hold of the man and moved him back.
“Let him go,” Azel commanded. “I am as much as fault as he.”
The guard let him go with a little shove. “As you wish.”
“Please, forgive the trouble and show me your wares” Azel said, gesturing to him.
He cleared his throat, clearly still unnerved. “What is it I can interest you in today?”
“I am not from Sol. Do you have anything that is special for this area?” Azel said as Bella drew closer.
“I do,” he said excitedly. “come and look at this jade statue.”
“What is it?” Azel picked up the little statue.
“It was called an Elephant,” he said happily. “They were native to his area. It is an antique.”
“I have seen these,” Bella said, “my brother has a gold one much like this.”
“There are two of them,” he said, taking the one from her and setting them the table together. “They link. It is said that these creatures would find a family and stay with them for life. If you look closely you can see there used to be places to add three more elephants but they have been lost with time.”
“They look like sisters” Bella said, leaning close. “I want them, Azel.”
“Azel?” the merchant said, pulling back. “The Liege’s betrothed?”
She took a step back as the guards closed around her before she answered. “Yes.”
“Oh!” He shook his hands back and forth as though to wave away suspicion. “My daughter works in the palace and she speaks highly of you. I do not believe the rumors - I believe my daughter. Here. These are a gift.”
“I cannot accept this,” Azel said, waving her hands.
“It is a wedding gift,” he insisted holding them up to her. “It is bad luck in Sol to refuse a wedding gift.”
Azel looked at the jade elephants and nodded before taking them. “I do not need any more bad luck. Could you tell me the name of your daughter?”
“Nitya,” he answered happily. “I am very proud of her.”
“She works with Juni in the kitchen,” Azel said with a smile. “They are very close. I should congratulate you; I believe she is to be married as well.”
“Oh, to have my daughter remembered by the Liege’s betrothed and have her wedding known,” he said, patting his chest. “I am truly blessed.”
“I wish your daughter all the happiness in her marriage,” Azel said as they turned to leave.
“Thank you,” he bowed.
“Azel,” Bella said, tugging on her sleeve, “Teach me to be like you. You are exactly as I should be.”
“We will be sisters,” Azel said softly. “I do not wish you to be like me, or your company would be boring. Remain as you are now. There is plenty of time to learn to be a princess.”
“My brother will never allow me to be as free if I have no abilities,” Bella said with a heavy-hearted sigh. “My powers will not manifest for another year.”
Azel looked down at her. “How old are you?”
“I am thirteen and a half,” Bella said proudly. “I am nearly fourteen and I will shine with the light of Zendar.”
“I am sure you will be granted the power suited for you,” Azel said with a smile.
In the back of her mind she was calculating. The old king died sixteen years ago. It was impossible that Bella could be his child. Aleron had lied to her and everyone else. Was that the reason he kept her tucked away and killed anyone who threatened to expose her secret? Something was wrong and Azel had every intention of finding out the truth.
“I am ready for lunch,” Azel said as she picked up a pretty green scarf that was like the color of Bella’s Bloodline. “I believe this is perfect for you.”
“Shopping involves a lot of walking,” Bella agreed. “I think I already have this one.”
“Then we shouldn’t get it,” Azel said, setting it back.
“Before we go,” Bella asked, taking Azel’s hand, “can we find a set of matching ribbons to put on the elephants?”
