Capítulo 14: Chapter 14: Arrival At The Village
After we rode for a while, I commanded the warriors to halt. We needed a rest, and more importantly, Agartha needed to recover.
"Stop here," I ordered, dismounting my horse.
I glanced at Agartha—her face still pale from exhaustion.
One of the warriors stepped forward, bowing slightly.
"My Lord?"
"Give me your coat," I said, gesturing toward the man. I needed something to lay on the ground for her. He obeyed immediately, draping his coat across the grass.
I gently lowered Agartha onto it, placing her head on my lap as a pillow. She needed to feel comfortable.
The other warriors watched us closely, their gazes filled with curiosity and something else—maybe confusion. It was as if they were seeing me differently now.
And perhaps they were right. I was different now.
As I stroked her hair, she slowly began to stir. Her eyelids fluttered, and finally, she looked up at me, her brown eyes catching mine. For a brief moment, I could see her strength returning.
"Damian?" She called my name. Her voice was so soft.
I swallowed, trying to mask my concern.
"You should rest a little longer."
She sat up slowly, brushing off the remnants of fatigue. "Where are we now?" she asked, looking around at the unfamiliar landscape.
"We've left the northern forest. We're still a couple of miles away from the outskirts of the villages," I replied.
She nodded but remained silent, her gaze was distant.
"We'll need to keep moving," I continued. "We're entering the terrain of the beast. It won't be safe until we reach one of the villages."
♤♤♤
By sunset, we had successfully arrived at one of the outskirts' villages. The villagers were preparing for a strict curfew. I could see the fear in their eyes. Every door, window, and chimney was sealed.
They had begun building bunker homes to protect their families from the beast. No entryway could remain open; even a small crack might invite doom.
As Agartha and I walked through the village, the people stared at us—more at her than at me. Her stark white hair and ethereal appearance set her apart from anyone they'd ever seen.
"Everyone's looking at me like I'm the beast itself," Agartha whispered with a faint smile.
I couldn't help but chuckle. "You do stand out a bit."
We were led to the Lord of the village, an old man, tall but frail. His lanky frame bent slightly as he recognized me.
"Prince Damian," he said in a hushed reverence before dropping to his knees. "Long live the Prince."
"Rise," I commanded, a touch of formality in my voice.
The rumors of my arrival had spread like wildfire. As we made our way through the village, people bowed, whispering my name as if I were some sort of savior.
The village Lord led us to his modest home. Our horses were taken to a sealed stable, as even animals weren't spared by the beast.
"We must hurry," the Lord said. "Curfew is approaching. It is unsafe to stay outside after dark."
He had me and the others bathed quickly, offering me a set of his own clothes. His garments were too large, but they were of better quality than anything else available.
I glanced at the oversized clothes draped over me and sighed. "Do you have anything that actually fits?" I asked. "Something from your son, perhaps, or a servant?"
The Lord quickly found me something more suitable, and I felt somewhat more human again. My warriors were also given fresh clothing.
As for Agartha, she was taken into the women's chambers by the village maids. I could imagine their curiosity.
I smiled, waiting for her to emerge.
When she finally stepped out, I was stunned. She was dressed like one of the village maidens, but there was something about the simplicity that made her even more breathtaking. The neckline of her dress was low, revealing the delicate curve of her collarbone. Her white hair had been wrapped into a traditional updo.
"Close your mouth before a fly gets in," she teased, walking toward me with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
I smirked, whispering into her ears. "I wouldn't mind eating a few flies if it meant gazing at you for the rest of my life."
She tensed slightly at my whisper. I noticed, and it made me smile wider. I was a natural at this.
Before I could continue, the village Lord interrupted, his face grave.
"It is time for the curfew. The darkness awaits us."
I nodded. "We must not risk anything."
"I've prepared a private bunker for your highness," he said. "I hope you find it satisfactory."
I was impressed with his hospitality, but something else was on my mind.
"What about my guest? The sorceress?" I asked.
The Lord's face tightened.
"Your highness, she will stay in the women's quarters. We uphold strict rules of morality in this village."
I blinked, surprised.
"What? Why? She is my guest—she should stay with me."
The old man's tone turned firm, almost reproachful.
"In this village, a man and woman who are not married cannot share a room. I'm sorry, but that's the law."
I opened my mouth to protest, but I knew better than to push it. "Fine," I said with a sigh, though it pained me to be separated from Agartha.
♤♤♤
The bunker they had prepared for me was humble. A small mudroom, the floor covered in straw. Light was not an option—it could attract the beast. Even breathing too loudly could be a risk.
I lay down on the straw, my thoughts drifting to home. My father would be proud of me when I returned with the sorceress. Jasmine and Eden would hug me, and Lady Eleanor—well, she'd cry tears of joy. And maybe, just maybe, my older brothers would finally respect me.
I allowed those thoughts to carry me into sleep.
♤♤♤
A shrill scream tore me from my slumber.
I jumped up, heart pounding. The sound of fear filled the air. I rushed out of my quarters, running toward the men's quarters, only to meet Agartha halfway.
"Agartha!" I called.
"Damian," she replied, her voice tense. "Did you hear that?"
"Yes. Something's wrong."
Together, we ran to the men's quarters, where the village Lord was already awake. His face was filled with sorrow.
"That scream," I said, breathless. "What was it?"
The Lord's eyes were heavy with unshed tears. "It's my grand-niece. She's in labor."
I frowned, confused. "Labor?"
The Lord nodded, his voice breaking.
"We prayed she'd give birth during the day, but it's happening now. And any noise… any scream could bring the beast."
I felt a wave of dread wash over me.
"I'll go to her," Agartha said, stepping forward.
I whipped my head toward her. "What?! No—it's too dangerous."
She met my eyes, unwavering. "I was brought here to fight the beast, wasn't I? Let me do it."
I hesitated. "But the king—"
"The king will be more impressed if I save his people before paying my respect," she interrupted.
I clenched my jaw. She was right.
"Then I'll go with you," I said, gripping my sword.
We stepped into the night, ready to face whatever waited for us in the darkness.
As we stepped onto the deserted streets of the village, the silence was suffocating. Not a single sound could be heard, save for the distant rustle of leaves. We moved quickly, our destination clear: the house where a woman was in labor.
Suddenly, a piercing scream split the air.
Arrrghhh!
We rushed to the door, pounding on it urgently. The house remained still for a moment, the family inside likely terrified to open their door in the dead of night.
"We come from the village Lord!" I called out. "We're here to protect your household!"
After a brief hesitation, the door creaked open.
The family had sealed their home as best they could—windows boarded up, cracks filled with whatever they could find. Inside, the woman's husband stood gripping a sword, his knuckles white. He was trying to be brave, but a quick glance at his trembling legs betrayed his fear.
The moment he recognized me, his eyes widened, and he dropped to his knees.
"Your Highness, please have mercy on my household."
"I brought the sorceress with me," I said, my voice calm but firm. "We will protect you. No one will be lost tonight."
In truth, I had never seen the beast myself. No one who had seen it lived to describe it. But tonight, I was determined to face it and survive.
I glanced over at Agartha. Her focus wasn't on the impending danger, but on the woman in labor. Without hesitation, she rushed into the back room where the woman was surrounded by wet nurses.
A moment later, she returned, her face grim.
"It's a difficult delivery. The umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby's neck," she informed the men waiting anxiously outside. "I'll do what I can to help."
She disappeared back into the room, leaving the rest of us to stand guard. The minutes dragged on, the air thick with tension. We knew it was only a matter of time before the beast made its presence known.
Then, without warning, the atmosphere shifted. The air grew cold, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. A heavy, ominous presence loomed over the village.
Agartha rushed out of the room, her eyes wide.
"It's here," she said, her voice steady but urgent.
I nodded.
"We need to lead it away from this hut. If we draw it toward us, it would attack the hut," I suggested, already planning our next move.
Agartha met my gaze and nodded in agreement. There was no hesitation. This was our only chance to protect the family inside.
"Let's go," I whispered, gripping my sword tightly.
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