“Here, let’s rest for a moment.”
She led me to one of the stone benches and we sat down. I grabbed the edges of the polished rock with my hands, exhaling and inhaling slowly.
“Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.” Sally watched me with worried eyes.
When at last my heart resumed a steady rhythm, I managed to look around and noticed the rows of leafy trees, and an assortment of decorative plants situated on well-groomed, meticulously organized flower beds. Narrow, gravel pathways slashed between the borders of greenery creating an intricate labyrinth I was dying to explore.
A flash of blue made me turn my head, and I saw the sentries stationed further down the walkway.
“Sally, how come there are so many soldiers from the blue clan?” I asked.
“Milady?”
“Every person we saw today was wearing blue leathers.”
“Yes, you’re right. It’s because the blue clan is the largest. They simply have more men, and I suppose it helps them to apply some pressure on all the other clans.” Sally had lowered her voice, as if she did not want to be overheard.
I sighed, suddenly feeling too tired to talk.
“Should we go back? Milady, you look pale.”
“Just a little bit longer, Sally.” I leaned back and closed my eyes.
Five minutes later, we headed back to the palace. Thelight breeze had turned chilly, and a couple of rain drops landed on my cheeks and eyelids.
Sudden noises from further ahead made me stop. The next moment, I saw something I could not fully comprehend. A figure, wearing a lengthy gray cape, stepped from behind one of the trees. It was a figure wearing a mask under the hood and holding something in their hand. It took me a long moment to process what was happening, but after Sally screamed beside me, the realization suddenly hit. The stranger was looking straight at me. I took a step back as Sally tried to drag me behind her.
“Run!” she yelled.
I tried to follow her, but my legs refused to move. I was too weak, too sick. I could not run, even if my life depended on it.
The masked man walked toward me with its arm raised, a steel blade clearly visible in his grip. The intruder was after me, and there was nothing I could do to save myself. I wanted to scream, to fight, but everything was restrained behind the thick veil of whitebane clouding my mind. I was a sheep ready to be slaughtered.
In no time, the attacker reached us and pushed Sally away. She fell to the ground, screaming for help, and I just stood there, stupefied and unable to move.
I saw his eyes; light blue or gray, the eyes of a young person, perhaps someone my age, but there was no malice in them. Then his eyes moved to something behind me. I turned.
One of the guards was rushing toward us. He was tall, and well-built, his dark blue leathers accentuated the muscles of his shoulders and strong arms. The blade of his long sword glimmered in his hand.
Sally managed to push me away, when the fight broke out. The sentry attacked first, and the masked man stepped back, blocking the strike. Then both of them slowed to size each other up. The next strike was from the assassin, who slashed the guard’s arm. The latter kicked the other man in the stomach and caught the edge of his cape, slashing it before the man managed to move away. The man in the gray, hooded cloak took two quick steps back, and lunged at the guard one more time with speed and ferocity. The sentry was prepared for the attack, and blocked the dagger’s strike before punching the man in the face. The assassin took two steps backwards. Knowing he was defeated, he sprinted back into the safety of the garden maze.
The guard turned to face me and stilled, as if unsure what to do next.
“Milady?”
Only then did I focus on his face. My heart took a dip in my chest, and for a moment, I forgot who I was. Nothing around me made any sense when I looked into the eyes of the warmest shade of chestnut brown, with thick, black eyelashes. The unknown sentry was breathtakingly handsome. I took a long moment to take in the perfect lines of his dark, straight eyebrows, the strong angle of his jaw, hisbeautifully shaped mouth, and the almost golden tint of his skin.
He had an open and direct look on his face as he waited for me to respond, but I continued to stare at him without saying anything.
“Milady?” Sally touched my shoulder, and I could finally pull my eyes away.
Voices, and the sounds of footsteps on the gravel came from every direction. More sentries were running toward us from the castle.
“Take the maiden back to the palace!” someone shouted.
The strong arms of the stranger who saved us cradled my shoulders. As we walked back, I suddenly realized that Sally was still whimpering by my side, but I was too exhausted to comfort her.
“Five of you in the garden, and only one managed to get there in time!” the same voice shouted behind us.
