Chapter 71

The sun rose above the forest, and while some animals were just barely waking up, others were going to their caves or burrows. And other animals that haven't been so lucky in their hunting decided to try one more time before going to sleep.

An ice wolf howled close to the place where Rhobart and Ayla stood. And then another. And another.

Rhobart gave Ayla a short nod. "We will talk, but here is not the place or the time to do it," the King said and looked around the trees.

Kerra moved in front of the King and the princess and growled as loud as she could while looking at the snow-bushes.

"We have to go," Rhobart said and grabbed Ayla by her hand, but before they could walk away, a pack of five wolves appeared from behind trees and snow-bushes. Rhobart unsheathed his sword and pushed Ayla behind him. "Don't let any of them get close to you. With one bit,e they can break bones. Hurts like a motherfucker."

How could Rhobart know how strong an ice wolf bite was? Unless–

"Did you get bitten by an ice wolf?"

"I was ten. He bit my right leg just a second before my sword cut his neck."

The ice wolves did not waste time and attacked immediately. Kerra jumped on one, and a fight started between them. The other four ice wolves ran towards Rhobart and Ayla. The King was calm as he looked at the ice wolves, calculating his movements. One ice wolf jumped, and Rhobart sank his sword into the animal's chest. Before he could free his sword, Rhobart had already cut the throat of another ice wolf with a dagger. The King took a few steps backward, dodging the attack of the other two remaining wolves. When Ayla felt Rhobart pushing her with his back, she moved with him and made sure she didn't stumble on rocks or fallen branches.

Even if her heart was beating fast and fear tried to take control of her, Ayla remained calm.

'It is normal to feel fear in case of an attack. But it is important not to let it rule you. And you must always be alert when a pack of animals attacks you,' Rhobart explained to Ayla when they were training with daggers. She grabbed her dagger with her right hand and prepared to defend herself.

Ayla tried to look at what was going on, but Rhobart moved fast, and he had already killed two of the animals. Kerra killed the wolf she attacked, lost no time, and jumped on another ice wolf, who was about to attack Ayla. The fourth ice wolf went for Rhobart's leg, but with a quick swing of his magic ore sword, the King separated the ice wolf's head from its body.

While the King and Kerra were distracted killing the ice wolves, unknown to them, a shadowbeast walked slowly toward Ayla, who had her back at it. When the King killed the last ice wolf, Ayla took a few steps backward and was about to put her dagger back in its sheath when she felt her left arm as if it was on fire. A moment later, she was on her back, on the snow, and something was pulling her left arm. She turned her head, and a loud scream echoed in the forest.

Rhobart spun around with his sword, ready to attack, but the shadowbeast was already dragging Ayla into the shadows.

"Ayla! I am coming!" Rhobart said in a calm tone.

But Ayla did not hear Rhobart's voice. She was concentrating on the beast that wanted to kill her. To her relief, she didn't let off the dagger when the shadowbeast attacked her. Ayla twisted her body and buried the dagger into the animal's neck. She pulled the dagger free and was about to stab the beast again when the animal stopped moving, let go of Ayla's arm, and fell to its size.

Ayla looked at the shadowbeast only to see Rhobart pulling his sword from the animal's torso. The King swung the sword so hard, it almost cut the beast in half.

Rhobart kneeled next to Ayla, and with gentle movements, he lifted her left arm. She was bleeding, but the bone was not broken.

While the shadowbeast was dragging her away, Ayla tried to be calm, but once Rhobart killed it, she realized how close she had been to dying. Her arm was hurting, and her body was starting to tremble.

While Rhobart inspected her arm, tears pricked her eyes, but Ayla concentrated on her breathing and blinked the tears away. Even if the whole experience had been terrifying, she didn't want to start crying.

"How badly injured are you?" Rhobart asked.

"I am fine," Ayla said in a low tone, trying to hide how badly she was shaking.

Rhobart touched her arm. "The bone is not broken. Milton will take care of the wound," Rhobart said, still in that calm tone.

The King put an arm under her knees and the other behind her back and scooped her up. And started walking fast, carrying Ayla to the camp. Kerra followed them.

"I can walk," Ayla protested.

Rhobart looked at her, "I am faster than you. We will be back at the camp in no time. I can't stand the idea of you being hurt or in pain."

Ayla put her head against his chest. Being in his arms made her feel safe.

Moments later, Ayla said, "You can't stand the idea of me being hurt because I am your n'alxa?"

Rhobart stopped walking. When he didn't say anything, Ayla looked up and saw that he was looking at her with shocked eyes.

"You know?" Rhobart asked in a shocked tone.

"Yes," Ayla said.

He swallowed hard before talking, "You–You remember?"

Ayla shook her head.

"Then how do you–?" Rhobart asked, but then his eyes widened with realization. "You heard Milton and me talking," Rhobart said. It wasn't a question.

"Yes," Ayla said. "You should have told me the truth. You had no idea how angry I was with you for not telling me the truth."

"I know I should have, but Milton said I should wait to see what magic it had been used for breaking our bond. I know you don't remember, but–"

Ayla spoke before Rhobart could finish what he was about to say. "Look at my palm, Rhobart," the princess said and lifted her left hand, with the palm facing up. She tried not to wince when the pain intensified.

Rhobart looked at her left palm, and his eyes when wide with shock. He started at her palm for a few moments before looking into her eyes. "How?" he asked in a shaky voice.

"How about you take me to Milton, and then we find a quiet place we can talk?" Ayla said.

He gave her a short nod, and then he rushed to the camp. Kerra followed the King and the princess while she sniffed the air.