Heed My Warnings And Survive

Chapter Thirteen

Aid, And Escape

I had been in the tent for hours, I was getting quite worried about Finley, because he hadn’t woken yet. Kiara had however. She hadn’t uttered a word about the tear tacks on my face, but she had tried to devise a way out of this, I imagined it was hopeless though.

Another hour passed, and Finley was still unconscious.

“Please, our friend is hurt, he needs help,” Kiara called out, there was no sound of a reply, but the tent flap moved, and I froze as I saw who it was. I was a stunningly beautiful woman. With chocolate skin, tightly curled black hair, and the most enchanting golden eyes.

“Neireida?” I asked. Neireida froze as she recognized me, almost dropping the tray of food she had brought.

“Your his prisoners?” she said. Looking incredulous. Kiara looked confused, before acting, seeing as I was too stunned to do anything.

“Please help us. He’s gonna kill us in the morning,” she pleaded, trying to wrench free of her bonds.

“Yes, Yes I can,did you happen to see where they brought your stuff? I could get it for you,” She whispered. Kiara shook her head,

“no, they knocked us out, and my friend there hasn’t woken up yet.” Neireida looked over at Draven,

“No, he’s awake. He’s pretending,” She said quietly. A smile crept onto Finley’s face,

“Shhhhh you’re not supposed to say,” He said weekly. I sighed in relief. I knew why he had pretended, but he really had scared me.

“Neireida can you untie us?” I asked, once the shock of her presence had worn off. She seemed to jolt at my words.

“Of course, I’m sorry,” She said, and went behind me, fumbling with the knots, but undoing them quickly. I went over to Kiara ignoring the cord binding my feet until Kiara was untied. Once I had freed my ankles, I went to Finley.

“Let me look at your head, Fin,” I said. He tilted his head up, it wasn’t as bad as the last one, so there must have been some other injury that was more serious. “Where are you hurt Fin?” I asked. He lifted his shirt, showing me a long, deep gash. “Frooshta. I can’t do anything without my supplies,” I said, mentally scolding myself for not being more careful. I scrubbed my face, the tears I thought had been dried threatened to reappear. Someone touched my shoulder trying to calm me. I pounded the ground.

“I’ll find your bag Draven, I’ll meet you at the edge of the clearing,” Neireida said before exiting the tent, the hand on my shoulder remained. Kiara, it was her comforting hand, her soft touch. Her presence, and Neireida’s absence seemed to have brought me back to my senses. Quickly I removed my shirt, tearing it into long shreds, and wrapping it around Finley’s torso.

“Ok Fin we gotta get you to the forest, this’ll hurt. Kiara, help me hoist him up,” I said, placing one of Finley’s arms around my neck. Kiara did the same, and we stood. Finley groaned.

We made it to the edge of the clearing, where Neireida was waiting, with my bag, Kiara’s bow, and Finley’s sword. I took my bag, and Finley’s sword. And Kiara took her bow.

“I’m glad I got to see you again Draven, I’ll miss you, and Fin greatly,” Neireida said. I turned,

“You’re not coming?” I asked. She shook her head.

“No, I can keep Zander distracted for a while, and he won’t do anything to me if he finds out I helped you, so I’m safe. I’ll try to get away soon.” I nodded,

“Alright. Be safe,” I said. She hugged me, ignoring the absence of my shirt, and she went quickly away.

We got as far away as we could from the clearing, but that wasn’t far considering the state Finley was in. Once we made camp, I took another look at Finley’s wound. I was bad, and I didn’t have the resources to properly take care of it, but I did all I could, and bandaged him up. I sat back, and ran my hands through my hair, and sighed. Finley chuckled.

“That bad huh?” He said weakly. I looked at him with a pained look.

“I don’t know what else to do, Fin. we can’t stay here long, and we won’t be able to move you for at least four days, and Zander will find us before that, and you and I both know I’m useless when it comes to fighting, and Kiara can’t hold them off,” I said, standing, and pacing the soft mossy ground.

“Then lea-”

“No, I am not gonna leave you here,” I said, cutting him off, “Just.” I sighed. “Just get some rest, Fin. We’ll figure something out,” I urged. Finley nodded, and closed his eyes, not long after I heard the steady breath of sleep from him. I sat hard next to the fire, and looked at Kiara, she looked deep in thought. “What are you thinking?” I asked. She looked up at me.

“I- who was Neireida to you?” She asked, I raised my eyebrows, That is not the question I was expecting. I thought.

“A friend,” I responded. “My closest friends wife,” I added.

“But there’s more isn’t there? You. Loved her. Didn’t you?” I nodded, “Do you still?” I shrugged.

“I don’t know Kiara, there was some sort of feeling, but it wasn’t the same feeling I had felt, It was different, as though it had dulled.” She nodded.

“I see. Thank you,” She said. I nodded, and I didn’t press her anymore. I then remembered something I had made her.

“Here, I finished this while we were at the village,” I said. Handing her a small square of fabric, with a cluster of embroidered roses on it. “Remember that first night of traveling, when I told you, you could have that when I finished.” she smiled, and nodded, taking it from my hands.

“Thank you Draven.” I smiled.

“Of course. We are friends after all.” There was something in her eyes when I said the word friend, that I couldn’t name, but I didn’t question her, she’d tell me if she wanted me to know. I thought to myself, and with that thought I drifted into sleep