War (The True Reign Series) (34 page)

“
She’s a mighty fine woman. You’re lucky to have someone so compassionate.” He patted Darmik on the back and left.

Darmik was definitely the lucky one to have Rema in his life. As Rema spoke to the next group of people, she kept
glancing back at Darmik—panic in her eyes. He needed to find Kar and Maya for her.

Movement off to the side caught his attention. He saw
Neco and Savenek walking toward him, Ellie lying limp in Neco’s arms. Darmik rushed over, Rema immediately at his side.

“
Is she alive?” Rema demanded.

“
Yes,” Neco responded. “She’s just exhausted and fell asleep in my arms.” He gently nudged Ellie, and her eyes opened.

Rema
’s shoulders relaxed, and she smiled. “Wait, why is there blood on you if you’re well?”

Ellie and Neco exchanged a brief look. Savenek
stepped back as Neco carefully set Ellie on her feet. He also took a few steps away, giving Rema and Ellie privacy. Whatever Ellie was about to say, it must not be good. Darmik knew he should also give them space, but he wanted to be by Rema’s side in case she needed him.

“
I do have blood, but it’s not mine.” Ellie reached forward, hugging Rema.

“
Whose blood is it?” Rema asked in a high-pitched voice.

“
Shh,” Ellie said, rubbing her back.

“
Whose?” Rema demanded, crying.

Ellie l
ooked into Rema’s eyes.

“
I’m so sorry,” Ellie tenderly said, “but Kar and Maya are dead.”

Rema

Rema
’s world swayed, everything went black, and she collapsed to the ground. Strong hands held her tight. It must be Darmik embracing her. Things were blurry, gradually coming back into focus, and she could see again.

Darmik hovered above her.
“Someone get her water,” he demanded.

She remembered what Ellie had said—Kar and Maya were dead. She wrapped her arms around Darmik
’s neck and squeezed, the tears coming. How could they be dead?

“
Here,” Ellie said, handing her a waterskin.

Rema shook her head. She just wanted to be left alone.

Darmik stood, pulling her up with him. “I’m going to find her a place to rest for the night. We’ll regroup in the morning,” he said.

She caught a glimpse of Mako
’s stricken face, and she felt her heart squeeze in pain. “Ellie,” she whispered. “Will you please come with me? I’d like to know what happened.”

“
Of course.”

Darmik led them about twenty feet away
from the small crowd that had gathered. Rema sat with her back against a tree trunk, Ellie on one side of her and Darmik on the other.

“
Please tell me what happened,” Rema whispered.

“I
’m so sorry,” Ellie said.

Rema leaned against
Darmik’s shoulder, taking comfort in his steadfast strength.

Ellie took a deep breath.
“When the battle broke out, Savenek ordered us to form a protective circle around you. I was to your left. I saw Kar and Maya nearby, the panic clear on their faces. They were heading in your direction. They…they were so focused on you that they weren’t watching behind them.”

Tears formed in Ellie
’s eyes. “The enemy came. I was fighting off a man. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a soldier running toward Kar and Maya.” Ellie wiped her cheeks. “Savenek sent me to help them. As I ran over, I saw a man shove Maya out of the way. She fell down, smashing her head on a rock.” The words started coming quickly, and Ellie’s eyes glazed over. “Kar turned around and saw her. He screamed and engaged the soldier in a sword fight. More enemy soldiers came and Savenek started condensing the line down, closer to you.”

Ellie brought her legs up, hugging them
, resting her head on her knees. “While Kar fought the soldier, I saw another approach him from behind. I screamed, but it was too late. The soldier plunged a sword into his back. He tumbled forward, flat on his face. An Emperion came to my aid. We attacked the two men who killed Kar and Maya. After we took them down, I turned to see if you were all right, but you and Savenek were gone. Bodies were all over the place. I saw Maya’s body jerk and ran to her. She tried talking, but I told her to be quiet. I grabbed her arms and pulled her out of the mess. I heard more soldiers coming. There was a large tree with huge roots that formed a small, cave-like place to hide. I slid inside, pulling Maya down with me. I held her in my lap, while listening to people run by.”

Rema reached out, taking hold of Ellie
’s hand, squeezing it.

“
Maya started mumbling. She begged me to watch out for you. She asked me to promise her. I did. Then her body went limp—she was gone.” Ellie buried her head between her knees.

Rema
scooted closer to her, hugging her. “Thank you for what you did.”

“
I’m sorry I couldn’t save them.” Ellie’s face was red and her eyes swollen.

“
There was nothing else you could have done,” Rema said.

“
I need to be with Neco right now.” Ellie stood and left.

Rema couldn
’t believe her aunt and uncle were gone. The people who raised her, cared for her, and loved her. She buried her face in her hands, crying. She was a terrible leader. She couldn’t even save her own family—how was she supposed to save a kingdom? An empire?

Darmik wrapped his arms around her.

“I just want to be left alone,” she cried. “I can’t do this.”

“
Shh,” he said, consoling her.

“
Go away.” None of this would be happening if she’d never met Darmik in the forest that one day. She’d be married to Bren, and Kar and Maya would be alive. Sure, she’d still be confined to her home in Jarko, but everyone she loved would be alive. She wouldn’t be responsible for all these people. She wouldn’t bear the weight of the crown.

“
I’m not leaving you,” he said. “I know how you feel.”

“
How could you possibly know?” she demanded. “You’ve haven’t lost almost everyone you love.”

Darmik shook his head.
“You’re wrong.” He sat across from her, not touching her.

She couldn
’t see his features very well in the darkness.

“
You know Barjon isn’t kind and loving toward me. He doesn’t act like a father. But there are others I love—and have lost. Phellek was as close to a father figure that I’ve ever had. Captain killed him right in front of me. Almost my
entire
personal squad died saving me from Lennek. Those were the men I spent every day with, fought with, and trusted with my life.
They
were my brothers. And you forget—my mother died delivering me into this world. How do you think that makes me feel? To know, and be reminded by Barjon, that I am the reason my mother is dead?”

He scooted forward, taking her hands in his.
“I know you’re hurting right now. I know because I have felt your pain—I understand it. You are not alone because I’m here for you.”

She stared into his eyes, at this beautiful man before her.
“I love you,” she whispered. “I don’t want to lose you, too.”

He leaned forward
, kissing her forehead. “I don’t want to lose you either. When I heard the front line was broken, I was scared to death that the soldiers got to you. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you, too.”

“
Does it get easier? Does the pain go away?” It hurt just to breathe. It felt like her heart had been ripped from her chest.

“
With time, it becomes manageable.”

She wiped the tears from her face.
Mako walked over and sat down beside her. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “Kar was like a brother to me. Losing someone is never easy.”

“
No, it’s not,” Darmik added, patting her hands. “Just remember, they spent their lives protecting you. You can honor them by finishing what they fought for. You can end Barjon and Lennek’s tyrannical reign.”

“
We will end this,” Mako promised.

“
Thank you both,” Rema said, glad to have these wonderful people in her life.

Darmik pulled out a dagger from the sheath strapped to his thigh.
“Phellek gave this to me.” He handed it to Rema. She recognized it as his prized possession. “I want you to have it. I want you to use it to end this.”

Mako stiffened beside her.
“Let me see it,” he asked, his voice trembling.

Rema
carefully handed the knife to him. He took it, his hands shaking. For several minutes, Mako just sat there, staring at it. The weapon was beautiful. There was a silver sun on the hilt, and the tip looked sharp and deadly.

He handed it back to Rema
, his face white. “Are you well?” she asked him.

Mako shook his head.
“That is the knife used to kill my daughter, Tabitha. I removed it from her chest, tossing it to the ground.”

Rema stared at the weapon lying on her
palms. “I want you to have it,” she said. “Use it to kill the man responsible for all this.”

With quivering fingers, Mako delicately picked up the dagger, his eyes glassy. “I will kill Barjon and avenge my wife and daughter’s deaths.”
His hands curled around the weapon, squeezing it tightly.

****

When Rema woke the next morning, she immediately went to check on Audek. Vesha was sitting by his side.

“
How’s he doing?” Rema asked. He lay on the ground, covered with tunics that people had freely given to him.

Vesha glanced up at her.
“Ask him yourself,” she said.

Rema knelt down. His eyes were closed
, and she didn’t want to wake him. Leaning in closer, she examined his face. His cheeks had some color to them. That was a good sign.

“
Hey,” he said, his eyes flying open. “The all-mighty empress is here to see me!” She jerked back, and he laughed. “Ah, forgot I can’t laugh. It hurts too badly. Did you see they stitched me up?” He started to lower the tunics covering him.

“
Stop,” Vesha said. “She does
not
need to see that.”

Rema couldn
’t believe he was awake and coherent. She’d expected him to die, too.

“
He’s been like this all morning. He thinks it’s funny,” Vesha said, the corners of her lips pulling up like she was trying not to smile.

Rema noticed Vesha holding Audek
’s hand.

“
Is he going to make a full recovery?” Rema asked.

“
I am,” he answered. “You don’t need to look so shocked. I might not be the beauty I once was,” he said, pointing to his torso, “but I will most definitely live.” He looked at Vesha. “Thanks to you.”

Vesha
’s face turned red, and she glanced down at their joined hands.

“
I need to speak with Darmik,” Rema said, standing. “I’m glad you’re well, Audek.”

She spotted Darmik
talking to Neco, Savenek, and Mako, and walked over to join them. They were all on their knees, studying a map lying on the ground.

“
What’s going on?” Rema asked. Peering at the map, it seemed familiar. Everyone looked at her, but no one spoke. “Someone needs to tell me.” She pointedly looked at Darmik.

“
We have an idea,” he said, focusing on the map.

“
Which is?” Rema prompted.

“
The King’s Army is following Lennek because he and Barjon have taken their children.” Darmik glanced back up at her. “If we rescue the kids, then my men can fight for me.”

“
Are you certain?” Rema asked.

“
I’m positive.”

“
Regardless,” Neco added, “we need to save the children. It’s the right thing to do.”