Page 4 of A Monarch's Fall

“We need to secure you first and then Percy,” he stated.

“I’m fine,” I argued.

“Hardly,” he replied. “I’m sorry, Ma’am, but you can’t so much as stand unaided. The venom will take days to leave your system. We must ensure your safety until the paralysis effects wear off. Once we secure you, we can begin the process of extracting Percy,” Rylan uncharacteristically challenged, “Is she safe for now?” he asked pointedly.

I tried again to feel her, to sense my pet through our link, but all I found was silence.

“I don’t know,” I could barely speak the words past my frustrated growl. “Why can’t I feel her?” I asked angrily.

“Only a day ago, you were complaining of the opposite,” Rylan replied. “Your enchantments are holding well. That’s a good indicator. If something was wrong, you would know; no enchantment could hold that back,” he said confidently, trying to reassure me. I swallowed down the panic that fluttered in my chest.

“I want eyes on the maze. Pheidon, you will watch the maze. If anything changes, if it moves aggressively, I want an immediate report,” I commanded.

“Yes, Ma’am,” he agreed.

“Kostas,” Rylan commanded, “Take our Princess from Pheidon.”

I felt humiliated as I gripped hold of Kostas as best I could; he was shorter than I was, and a guard with whom I had little personal interaction. Most of my communication with the guard was via Rylan or Ariston in his absence.

“We’ve got company,” Kostas announced, a few moments before I, too, began to hear the untrained footsteps approaching. Kostas’ hearing was phenomenal.

It could only be rebels approaching, and I would be worse than useless in a fight.

“We’ve got this,” Pheidon assured.

“No, you don’t,” I told him. “Go and watch the maze.”

“Right,” he agreed, and infuriatingly turned to Rylan for confirmation.

Rylan nodded almost imperceptibly, and Pheidon turned to continue in the opposite direction from the approaching rebels.

“Almost every rebel we’ve encountered has been severely untrained. They have the numbers and weaponry, but we have the tactical advantage. We’ll get you to a secure location and retrieve Percy by nightfall,” Rylan promised.

I wanted to be soothed by his words, but the longer I was separated from Percy without any input from our bond, the more restless I became. Was she truly safe for now within the maze, or was it trying to consume her as I became more limp and useless in the arms of one of my guards?

But the ground had not shaken in that telltale sign of maze activity, and I tried to settle my mind.

I was not fond of the Gods.

I wasn’t sure I believed in them; I only ever prayed or made offerings to please my mother. Still, I vowed a silent prayer that if Artemis were to protect just one young woman this day, just my Percy, I would sacrifice every deer in Ardens to her, I would create a new festival in her honour, I would braid my hair and gift the lot to her.

Chapter two

Get the Girl.

Dylan Viridis

The smoke from the explosives and the rubble of the maze wall caught in my throat, and I coughed uncomfortably. She was here, a heap in the dust and smog. After months, I was finally able to rescue her. Finally able to rip her away from that monster’s grasp. It took the beginning of a rebellion, the first blow in the coming war, to separate her from her monster and give me a chance to get her to safety.

Not exactly ideal. But necessary, in more ways than one.

The dust blurred my vision, but it was her, undoubtedly. As it settled and I neared her cautiously, even though I knew she was alone in here, and Fredrick was guarding our rear for any opportunistic True North scum not currently being engaged, the caution wasn’t for them; it was for the maze. This enchanted thing moved. It killed. It took out one of our recon-team last week. We couldn’t get the body back. The family won’t ever getto say goodbye, perform their rites. War was deadly, I knew that, but I guess I didn’t expect the first death to be the result of an enchanted lump of stone.

I hated enchantment magic; it was twisted, made everything all wrong, like a maze brought to life to trap and kill, or an innocent young girl bound to a deadly psychopath and thinking she’s in love.

“Percy, baby?” I asked softly.

I couldn’t help being soft with her. I had known she was the one the moment we met.