Chapitre 200: Disgusting Lie
For as long as a day, the party of three managed to escape the knights of Dragsa by riding along the river. Yet, the heavens were against them. On the second day, a whole mountain stood in their way, only leaving the hole the Dimgard had grinded through it. When they tried to bypass the broad massif, another party of knights blocked their way, then the pursuing party caught up as well. Uneasy, Katherine turned her horse, but the knights of Dragsa had them surrounded from all sides. It was like a Deja vu.
Anxiously, her gaze swept to her husband, but Nathaniel's eyes seemed dark and gloomy. Even the regions around his eyes seemed almost black on his pale skin. Suddenly, she remembered that she did not see him sleep, neither in this night nor in the one before, where she herself had leaned against him under the giant tree. Had he held night watch? How exhausted was he now? With the questions, despair grew in her. After all, it was common knowledge that magic needed energy. Remembering how the dark power had shielded them from arrows and the screams reverberating down the wall, Katherine shuddered. Was Nathaniel capable of using this horrible power again so soon? Did she even want him to? But what else would stop the soldiers from killing them all wantonly?
She didn't know that in Nathaniel's head, a rather similar argument was fought. Would he have to use this power again? He didn't doubt that it was possible, but his whole being abhorred the thought. He wasn't a killing machine. He was human just like them. There were already too many deaths on his shoulders. And yet, those deaths also forbid him from stopping in his path, from turning back or giving up. Even more than killing itself, the thought that the former deaths would be without purpose was despairing. So, he would go on. Like always. One bloody footprint after the other, through the white snow of the mountain. Just like the little boy when his power just awoke.
It was impossible for Katherine to read these thoughts hidden behind his expressionless face. Yet, she knew that something was wrong. Every time, her husband had stepped forward to lead the way and confront opponents head-on. Now he was standing by quietly with this gloominess in his eyes that made her hairs stand on end.
Well, she rapidly decided, if he didn't stand forward, she would. She would ask questions first before her husband made the rash decision to kill them all.
Driving her horse forward a bit, she halted right beside Nathaniel, and, hidden between their horses, touched his hand with the back of hers. It was a small gesture of reassurance, yet she nearly flinched. His hands were ice cold. Instantly, her protective instinct grew into a deep worry. Had she neglected the influence of the battle on her husband too much? Just because he was used to fighting and fleeing, it didn't mean that he was immune to the stress.
Her spine straightened, prepared to take on some of his burden now. But when she made a move to confront the knights that had silently encased them, Nathaniel held her back. His cold hand had lost its rigidness and the fingers slid between hers, holding on to her strongly. Surprised, she glanced up and saw some color and determination return to his face. The grip of his hand was tight, almost desperate, but his countenance was as cold and unreadable as always, the blood red eyes focused on the knights before them.
"We don't want to fight", he declared with quiet seriousness. "Let us resolve this peacefully... please."
Katherine's heart skipped a beat at the last word. She could count on one hand how often Nathaniel had said 'please'. No, maybe even two fingers sufficed. What made him so desperate? Could he really not use his power anymore?
Similar to the icelandic leader of forces, one of the knights opened his visor. Behind it was a suntanned male face with sweaty black strands stuck on his forehead.
"My name is Richard Kylan, captain of the Blazing Guards Team of the dragsean border to the Icelands. What are your names and what matters bring you here? Before you answer, let me remind you that it is forbidden for anyone to linger between the two walls. And since there is a war coming, passage is forbidden for commoners as well."
Nathaniel was about to speak up, when Katherine tugged on his hand. Triggered by the accent of her homeland she didn't hear for so long, she suddenly had an inspiration. If they wanted to enter Dragsa or at least not be attacked, there might be a way. She just had to use the person she hated to her bones and hide her disgust. The lie would match unexpectedly well with the timing and circumstances.
"I'm Lady Katherine Mary Balder", she introduced herself, and placed her free hand on her chest in a delicate gesture that matched neither her personality nor the less than praise-worthy clothes she was wearing. It did, however, accentuate the glittering amethyst on her ring finger, the only jewelry she wore. "These are my husband Nathaniel and my maid Ella. I was invited to the wedding of the Duke of Sleipnir, my dearest cousin. I'm sorry, we got nervous when such dangerous and well-armed soldiers suddenly started pursuing us. My husband and I are living a rather peaceful live but when we tried to pass the border, these icelandic bandits robbed us of almost everything. I even had to hide my wedding ring under my tongue, do you believe that?! I'm sure you understand that we are a bit on edge because of that. Right, dear?"
She used the opportunity of kissing Nathaniel's hand to gauge his reaction. His brows were furrowed in unwillingness, the face too stern to read a peaceful life into it.
"Smile", she whispered against his cold fingers, though her mouth tasted bad from the crap she'd just spewed. "It's alright."
Hints of guilt and resignation flashed by his eyes, before he forced his lips into a thin upwards pointing curve. It was as if he was apologizing with his eyes alone, even though she was the one to decide for this charade.
"Right", Nathaniel finally confirmed, and turned back to the guards. "We were invited. Do you need proof to let us through?"
The guards exchanged glances, then the captain sighed. "I would have, if a messenger did not come right before you, informing us of your circumstances. Lady Balder, we were told that you didn't want to come home. It is a pleasant surprise that this is not the case. Please follow us inside. We will arrange for food and resting places until the escort send by your cousin arrives."
Luckily, the captain turned his horse after speaking, or he would have seen the shock and nausea clearly showing on Katherine's face.
"Did you know it?", she rashly whispered to Nathaniel. "Did you know that this bastard wanted to get me?"
The guilt again showed in his red iris as he weighed his head. "I suspected it."
"Then why did you bring us..." Suddenly, Katherine's eyes went wide. "Did you maybe hope he would catch us? Why?!"
With a shake of his head, Nathaniel denied it. "It was just a fleeting thought. I would have talked with you before deciding. It was just bad luck that the soldiers made their move too soon. Though returning to the Icelands... would have been difficult as well."
"Hmpf", Katherine made and pulled her hand out of his to spur on her horse. "You should have talked with me before even coming here then!"
From behind him, he felt the judging eyes of Lady Brandon as well. She was the only one standing close enough to hear their talk. Now, she overtook him to ride at the front with Katherine. The dark hair of the Ladies fanned out in the wind. Quietly, Nathaniel clenched his fist. Below the edge of his sleeve, a dark vein was barely visible.
"This is why I didn't want to do it", he muttered. "Though I knew it was the most plausible of options."
When he had discussed the next movement with the former king, William Icefall, this was the one he had rejected all the time, yet the king was adamant on doing it. Why? Because there was nothing else that could turn the tides against the organization faster than a strong ally in Dragsa. And to get into Dragsa, they needed this evil cousin's invitation. Nathaniel just hoped that they would find someone else strong enough to be allied with. He didn't want Katherine to know that he ever so much as considered the murderer of her parents to be on their side.
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
Freakzilla
Freakzilla 200 chapters :D I hope you aren't tired of it yet.
Actually, I'm telling myself that I'm coming closer to the end for a year now, but somehow things just keep popping up that want to be written about :') but this time, I've got the feeling that it really isn't that far anymore... what do you think?
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone