Chapter 12
Ren awoke from a deep sleep with a shiver.
It’s too cold. And hard. What am I lying on? Where…is Kathryn?
Then all of it came flooding back, and he sat up quickly.
Brenin was kicking dirt over what little remained of the fire from last night, and Kathryn had already saddled their horses. The bluish early morning light gleamed through the tall redwood trees that surrounded the clearing.
Kathryn smiled at him. “How does your shoulder feel?” Despite the fact her hair was dull and stringy and her eyes had dark circles under them, her smile was still incredibly beautiful in his eyes.
Surprised to see her up already, he said, “It’s fine. Are you all right, though? You look like you didn’t sleep.”
She averted her eyes self-consciously and said, “I’m fine as well. But we must get moving.”
Brenin mounted his horse, grunting with effort as his joints creaked. “I’m going to see if we’re being followed.”
“Not a chance, sir.” Ren grinned at him. “You took the watch last night while I snored away. I’ll do the scouting today.”
Brenin started to protest, but Ren was already pulling himself into the saddle. The older man grumbled, “You always were stubborn.”
“Be careful,” Kathryn warned. “If you see Xian, don’t try to fight him.”
“I know, I know.” Ren waved over his shoulder as he rode away.
Some of the heaviness of the past days left him as a cool breeze lifted his hair and the soft smell of flowers and herbs made his nose twitch. It was good to be moving, even if his shoulder ached agonizingly and he couldn’t help but worry about the future.
“That’s not like you,” he remarked aloud.
I should let Kat do the worrying. No doubt she’s doing plenty for the both of us.
Kathryn watched Ren disappear through the trees before walking over to her own beautiful white horse, Ivory. Patting her soft nose, she said, “I hope you got a good rest last night. There will be a lot more riding today.”
“If you’re done chatting with your horse, Miss Kathryn, we should be going,” Brenin said wryly.
She pulled herself into the saddle and clicked her tongue to let Ivory know she could start walking. Ivory started out at a brisk trot despite the exertion of the previous day. And in spite of the grief and the overwhelming sense of fear and doubt Kathryn couldn’t quite push away, she realized that it was a lovely morning.
As they rode, Kathryn couldn’t help but sneak the grizzled old veteran a glance now and then. He was a mystery to her, despite her close relationship with Ren. She remembered how, as children, both she and Ren were a bit frightened of him. He always looked grim, and he was hard on Ren as he trained the boy to fight. But Ren seemed to get more comfortable with him, until shortly after his 16th birthday, when Brenin simply left.
If Ren knew why Brenin left, he never told Kathryn. He kept it to himself, maintained a smile, and never once reproached the older man or spoke disrespectfully about him. But Kathryn couldn’t help but wonder why the old man, who clearly cared about Ren, had left all those years ago.
Brenin seemed to feel her eyes on him, and he said in an exasperated tone, “What is it you wish to say, Miss Kathryn?”
“Oh…I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind…talking.” Kathryn shifted her weight in the saddle, trying to find a comfortable position, but the recent days of riding had made it nearly impossible.
“I don’t talk a great deal, Miss Kathryn,” he replied firmly.
“I realize that, but…but I would really rather not continue in silence.” Kathryn chose her words carefully, afraid of offending the one man who was on their side . “So will you tell me about Ren?”
“You know far more about him than I do. He’s only spent time with you these past four years.” Brenin’s voice betrayed some resentment, which surprised her.
She cocked her head. “As I recall, you were the one who left,” she pointed out.
“It was more complicated than that.”
Finally, Kathryn decided there was no real reason for subtlety and said earnestly, “Tell me. Please, if it’s not too uncomfortable.”
He was quiet for a moment, and she assumed he was going to refuse. But instead, he said, “I left because I wasn’t a good person for him to be around in those days.”
“Why not?”
“As you may know, Miss Kathryn, I had a…problem. It was why I was expelled from the Generals. Or did your father not tell you?”
Kathryn shook her head. “He respected you greatly, and he always said that you retired because you’d had enough after seeing all the devastation of the first war.”
“Well, that was a lie.” Brenin kept his eyes fixed on the path ahead, and his voice was emotionless. “I was a drunkard.”
Kathryn’s eyes widened in surprise. As a child, she had never even suspected such a thing. But now as she could put her memories in a new context, she recalled smelling alcohol once or twice when Brenin came to tell Ren it was time to train.
“My wife died in childbirth. She took a part of me with her.” Brenin fixed his one good eye on her face. “I took it out on Ren. I didn’t want to do that anymore. So I left.”
“I…I’m sorry. I didn’t know about your wife,” Kathryn began, terribly embarrassed that she had pried into his grief, but he waved the words away.
“I cried those tears a decade ago, Miss Kathryn. So I don’t need your sympathy.” Instead of pain in his good eye, there was an expression of resignation.
“Why didn’t you write to him?” Kathryn asked hesitantly.
“I did. There were a good many letters. But the boy rarely wrote back, and what he did write, I couldn’t read very well,” Brenin said bluntly. “That was one thing I never could teach him properly.”
Ren never told me that.
Kathryn knew it was unreasonable to expect him to share everything, yet it still bothered her.
She pushed the foolish thought aside and asked, “So, did you solve your problem?”
“I did,” Brenin said. That was all, but it held the weight of years of desperation and effort and determination, and she could tell that it was true.
As if he had read her mind, the old man remarked, “I would have thought Ren would have told you all these things. Did he really not mention my problem?”
“Never. I think…he respected you too highly. But he always talked about how you’d come back any day,” Kathryn said softly. “He really missed you.”
“That fool.” Brenin shook his head. “He should’ve given up on me. Goodness knows I gave him every reason. But it’s just like with you, I suppose. He’ll follow you until it kills him. It’s who he is, and knowing that is why I left.”
“I won’t let that happen,” Kathryn said. “I won’t let him die for me.”
Brenin shrugged slightly. “Let’s hope not.”
Ren was cornered. He was a mile away from Brenin and Kathryn, sheltered behind a big boulder that half a dozen vipers were peppering with crossbow bolts, darts, and daggers.
Normally, Ren would simply slip away in the other direction and leave them to keep shooting. The trouble was, the boulder was on a cliff overlooking the giant Verdant lake. There was a good chance the long drop would kill him if he tried to jump, so he had nowhere left to go.
He had underestimated his enemies, he reflected bitterly. He had assumed that, with Gregory heading back home and Xian falling behind after having pushed himself too hard to catch up with the two fugitives at the castle, the few Vipers that were left would be little danger to him.
As a result, he had been completely surprised to come upon six vipers, two of whom were crossbowmen, headed directly for Brenin and Kathryn. Ren considered withdrawing, but in typical fashion, he decided instead to show these monsters that they didn’t have the right to stomp all over Iridalys’ territory.
Initially, the fight went well. He chose a narrow portion of the forest where it was hard to shoot a crossbow properly and they could only come at him a couple at a time. He wounded one and killed another outright, no longer restraining himself since he’d already been banished, but he didn’t realize there was a second group. The other five Vipers surprised him from the side, and eventually he found himself being chased onto the bluff where his only option was to hide behind a giant boulder and wait for them to come for him.
“I can’t die here,” he said firmly. But the trouble was, he couldn’t see an easy way to escape. While they were being cautious right now, they wouldn’t wait forever. And when they came, they might come all at once.
Then a voice called out, “General Ren!”
His heart dropped. “Blast it,” he muttered.
He should be limping his way home already. Why is he here?!
He called, “Why hello, General Xian! You must’ve missed the news. I’m not a General anymore.”
“Come out and finish the fight we began,” Xian said determinedly. “It will be only us. I give my word.”
“Not a chance. I don’t trust you,” Ren retorted.
“I am honorable, General Ren. Fight me!”
Ren hesitated. He didn’t have many other options. So at last he said, “How about this. If I win, your little dogs will give me a head start to get back to my princess.”
“Agreed,” Xian said simply.
Ren took a deep breath before coming out from behind the boulder and holding up his sword. He half expected the Vipers would shoot him on site, but they simply stood in the shadows of the trees, glaring at him from under their hoods. It was rather unnerving.
Xian saluted with his own sword and took a fighting stance. “Captain Mardin! Call the start,” he ordered.
The Viper captain stepped out from the trees with a cold, disinterested expression on his face. He said just one word: “Fight!”
Ren attacked first. Xian deflected his sword and slashed directly at the young warrior’s face But this time, instead of blocking it, Ren took a step back and let it whizz harmlessly past him.
My turn!
Stepping forward and drawing his dagger, he struck at Xian’s throat.
Xian grabbed his wrist in one hand and thrust with the sword in his other hand. Ren twisted free just in time and blocked with both his sword and dagger, letting Xian’s blade fall in the “X” formed by his weapons.
Xian’s face twisted into an expression of pure concentration. Ren poured his whole soul into every attack.
Dropping his dagger, he used both hands to bring his long, heavy sword down with a deafening “Clang!” on Xian’s weapon. The Navinorian General’s knees actually buckled slightly, then he shoved forward, pushing the younger man back.
Ren only retreated a step before locking his legs and straining against Xian with all his might. Sweat poured down his face, and he grit his teeth as his shoulder twinged painfully.
Xian’s face actually showed enjoyment. A man like Xian wouldn’t find a worthy opponent very often, he realized grimly.
This isn’t working. Time to try something new!
Ren stepped back. With no further resistance to push against, Xian staggered forward. Ren thrust, aiming for Xian’s heart.
Xian blocked with the hilt of his sword before striking Ren in the chin with his other hand. Ren stumbled, but quickly recovered and jumped backwards to give himself enough room to kick Xian in the chest.
As Xian staggered again, a crossbow bolt flashed out of nowhere and buried itself in Ren’s thigh.
It took him a split second to realize what happened as the impact made him stumble and fall to one knee. Then he looked down. Blood oozed from the wound. Nearly unbearable pain surged through his body, and he gasped for breath.
Xian turned purple with rage. “Captain! I gave an order!” he shouted.
“Prince Gregory gave us a different order,” the Captain said smugly. “We were to watch, and if it seemed that you had any possibility of losing-”
Xian backhanded him across the face. “You cowardly dog!”
But even as he spoke, more crossbows aimed in Ren’s direction.
Blast it all!
Ren’s hand tightened on his sword. There was only one thing to do. He whirled and scrambled towards the bluff overlooking Verdant Lake, dragging his wounded leg.
A crossbow bolt flashed past his face, barely missing him.
He vaguely heard Xian shout, “Enough! I’ll kill anyone who interferes! Stop shooting!”
Ren hesitated at the edge. Could he survive the drop? His head swam at the sight of the green waters moving far below.
But Ren wasn’t one to overthink things. He tensed to jump.
Xian shouted after him, “Wait!”
Ren glanced back and gave the general a mocking salute before launching himself off the edge.
I can survive this.
That was his last thought before he hit the water.
When the young warrior disappeared, Xian swore and rushed to the edge. He saw the young man hit the water with a splash. Ren did not resurface.
Xian glared at the Viper captain, who was rubbing his bruised cheek with a disdainful expression on his face. Xian snapped, “Take a group and go to the foot of the cliff to deal with him. The rest of us will continue after the former princess.”
“He’s definitely dead after a fall like that,” the Captain said dismissively.
“Go,” Xian repeated angrily. Shrugging, the Captain complied, and General Xian mounted his horse.
One of the other Vipers asked, “Sir, why should we all go? Won’t it be a simple matter to handle the girl and an old man?”
“Do not underestimate her,” Xian snapped. “She has many allies.”
“I don’t get how so many people are loyal to her. It’s not as though she’s accomplished anything useful in her life,” another Viper muttered.
Xian didn’t reply. But he found himself wondering why a great warrior like Ren, who was the only man he had ever fought on equal footing with, was defending a girl who had lost her husband, her throne, and her kingdom.
Kathryn and Brenin had fallen into a slightly awkward silence as they rode along. But as the minutes passed and Ren still didn’t join them, Brenin’s face became impatient. Kathryn’s chest constricted. Surely nothing had happened to him. He was very capable of handling the Vipers, wasn’t he?
Finally, Brenin burst out, “Where is that brat?”
Kathryn bit her lip. “Maybe he ran into trouble,” she said.
“You think?!” Brenin stopped his horse with a sharp pull on the reins. “Wait here, Miss Kathryn.”
Before she could respond, he dismounted and dashed away into the trees, leaving his horse munching on the undergrowth placidly.
Kathryn murmured to Ivory, “I’m sure he’s fine. There’s nothing to worry about.” Her heart pounded in her chest.
Less than five minutes later, Brenin reappeared, his face grim. He yanked himself into the saddle, saying shortly, “We need to move.”
“Where is Ren?” Kathryn dreaded the answer she would get.
Brenin snapped, “It doesn’t matter. The Vipers are close by, and Xian is with them.” He gripped the reins so tightly his hand whitened. “They’re expert trackers. We need a way to put them off our trail. We should head west. I have a refuge about two miles out. But they’ll just follow us.”
Kathryn mentally reviewed the map of the area that she had studied hundreds of times. “This way,” she said briefly, urging Ivory on through the trees.
Brenin followed her, but he balked when he saw where she was headed. “Opal mines?” he began.
“There’s a path through them. It’s not on any foreign maps, and Xian wouldn’t know about it. The mines are also very dangerous, unless you know your way through them well.” Kathryn dismounted at the black mouth of the cave that led into the abandoned mine.
Brenin said, “I don’t do well with small, dark places.”
She said quietly, “It doesn’t seem to me like we have much choice.”
Loyalty Fallen Hub 