Adrenaline surged through Kazi as a blur of black shadow lunged towards her with unnatural speed causing the dagger to fall to the floor as she instinctively threw her arms up to block the attack.
A sickening crunch of her bone rang through her ears as something slammed into her, sending her flying across the deck. Groaning in ache, Kazi squeezed her eyes close, momentarily stunned. She tasted a metal tang in her mouth, realizing that she was bleeding.
Disoriented, she scrambled to her knees as she crawled towards her fallen dagger. Her vision swam, but she forced herself to remain alert. The shadowy figure was nowhere to be seen. She gripped the dagger tightly in her hand. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she scanned the deck, searching for any sign of her attacker.
Then she saw it...A changeling...Just like the late King Madoc...
"Who are you?" Kazi managed to croak out, her voice barely audible above the pounding of her heart. The changeling did not answer, only darting from one corner of the deck to another. Before Kazi could react, it lunged at her again, its razor-sharp claws aimed for her throat.
Kazi rolled to the side, barely avoiding the changeling's claws. Scrambling to her feet, she lunged forward, but she missed as the changeling dodged out of reach again. She spun around, her dagger held high, searching for an opening. The changeling landed lightly on the deck, its eyes locked on hers, its breath coming in quick gasps.
Just as Kazi felt her strength failing, she saw an opportunity. The changeling had lowered its guard, its focus on her, giving her a split second to react. With a swift motion, she lunged forward, driving her dagger deep into the changeling's arm.
A shriek, inhuman and chilling, ripped through the air. The changeling clutched its wounded arm, its claws digging into the deck as it struggled to remain upright. Kazi stood frozen in shock for a moment, then lunged forward, her dagger raised. Before she could strike, however, the changeling vanished in a swirl of darkness.
Kazi collapsed onto the floor; her body full of pain. Her abdomen throbbed where the changeling had hit her. She could feel warm blood trickling down her chin. Her vision blurred and her head spun.
Although she was in pain, she was grateful she had confirmation of her suspicions – a changeling, was lurking within the Althean court. Slowly, forcing down the waves of dizziness, Kazi surveyed the wreckage. Spotting a dusty first-aid kit tucked away in a broken cupboard, she managed to patch up her wound, the antiseptic stinging her raw flesh. The pain was almost unbearable, but she knew she had to stay alive. Her survival was now more important than ever.
With a deep breath, Kazi pushed herself to her feet
With a deep breath, Kazi pushed herself to her feet. She had a long journey back to the castle, but she would not rest until she unmasked the changeling and exposed the traitor at the heart of the Althean court. Tonight, she had stumbled upon a truth far more sinister than a missing trade ship. And she, Kazi, would not rest until justice was served.
The ride back to the castle was a blur. Kazi clung to the horse's back, her every movement sending fresh waves of agony through her body. The pain was a welcome distraction from the thoughts swirling in her head. The rising sun cast a glow over the landscape but offered little warmth as she trudged through the early morning mist.
Finally, the familiar silhouette of the Althean castle came into view. As she reached the castle gates, Kazi slid off her horse, every movement sending a fresh wave of pain through her body. Kazi slipped past the sleepy guards, her steps silent despite the throbbing pain in her abdomen. She had to get back to her quarters, unseen and unheard.
But fate, it seemed, had other plans. Rounding a corner, she bumped into a figure. A gasp escaped her lips, sharp and choked.
"K?"
"What happened?"
Kazi looked up; her vision momentarily blurred. There, staring down at her with a mixture of concern and surprise, stood Prince Azrael. An unforgiving light fell on her face as the sun rose, making the dirt and traces of blood more noticeable. It looked like her carefully planned-out disguise was starting to unravel. Her throat tightened in panic. She got dizzy before she could even think of a good lie. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she slumped back against the cold stone floor, the sound of her name echoing faintly in her ears before darkness claimed her.
Her eyes fluttered shut, and she slumped back against the cold stone floor, the sound of her name echoing faintly in her ears before darkness claimed her
Kazi was momentarily blinded by a sliver of harsh sunlight through her eyelid. She blinked disoriented and found herself in the white room. The chamber was the royal physicians. Panic swept over her. Had they found out about her? Had they found out that she was actually a woman?
A guttural groan escaped her while she tried to sit up; her body was sore all over. A big hand gently pushed down on her shoulder.
"Sir K?" The voice was faint and distant, like it was coming from the far end of a long tunnel. "Sir K, can you hear me?"
Kazi squinted, her vision still blurry. The figure standing over her came into focus. It was the physician. "Yes," she croaked. Her throat felt raw from disuse.
"You are awake already? His Majesty, Prince Azrael, and the guards just brought you in a few minutes ago. They found you collapsed outside the castle gates. You had dirt and blood on your face. They were quite concerned," the physician informed her, his voice calm and reassuring. "Now, how do you feel?"
Kazi forced a weak smile. "I am... fine, I suppose. Just sore, that is all." Her voice was scratchy from disuse, and she cleared her throat self-consciously.
"You have a nasty wound on your abdomen. I was just about to prepare the wound for treatment."
Kazi's heart skipped a beat as the physician mentioned the wound on her abdomen. Treatment? This was bad. They would want to undress her, would not they? Expose her actual identity?
"Actually," she stammered, trying to sound nonchalant, "perhaps it is not necessary. A little rest is all I need, I am sure."
The physician gave her a sceptical look. "Rest is important, yes, but a proper cleaning and dressing will prevent infection. This wound looks quite serious, young man." His tone was gentle, but firm.
Kazi sighed in defeat. There was no escaping this. She had to find a way to maintain her charade. "Very well," she muttered, trying to sound as masculine as possible. "If you must, then please do it quickly."
Kazi lifted her shirt slowly. At the same time, she twisted herself a little bit in an attempt to make a shadow that would cover the obvious curve of her breasts. Her heart raced, and her hands trembled slightly as the physician began to clean the wound. He did not seem to notice her discomfort, his attention focused on the task at hand.
While cleaning and bandaging her wound, Kazi fabricated a story about how she got injured. She said she had been on patrol when she had tripped and fallen on some rocks near the castle walls.
The doctor patiently listened, though doubt still lingered in his eyes. "Are you sure that is all there is to the story?" he asked.
Kazi held his gaze, her expression firm. "Quite sure," she replied. "Just a bit of clumsiness on my part."
The physician sighed, appearing to accept her explanation at present. "Well, take care of yourself out there," he warned, giving her a meaningful look. Kazi nodded, feeling a twinge of guilt for lying to the man. But it was for the best, she told herself. If anyone else discovered her secret, it could mean the end of everything she had worked for.
Kazi slowly stood up, wincing as she put weight on her wounded abdomen. Leaving the physician to his herbs and his doubts, Kazi made her slow and agonizing escape, slipping back into the shadows of the castle's corridors.
Kazi came out of the physician's room; an injury in her abdomen made her feel great pain as she walked. She turned a corner and someone she knew well crashed into her, causing a sharp pain on her side.
She turned a corner and someone she knew well crashed into her, causing a sharp pain on her side
"K! What happened?" Princess Athiel asked with concern, her hands hovering over Kazi's injury.
She winced with a carefully manufactured smile cracking under her touch. "It is nothing, Princess," she replied through gritted teeth. "Just a little accident during my patrol, but the physician took care of it. I should be fine in no time; do not you worry." Athiel looked unconvinced, her brow furrowing as she studied Kazi's face. "Really, it is nothing. I have taken worse, believe me."
"You look dreadful, K," she said as she cupped Kazi's face in her hands, studying 'his' features.
"Thanks for your concern, Your Highness," she forced himself to smile while internally writhing in a mixture of fear and dread. "But rest assured, I am okay. I just need to lie down for a while."
Athiel was about to speak when another voice broke through the tension.
"Athiel," Prince Aradiel appeared from behind the princess, his expression concerned. He glanced at Kazi, then back at his sister. Layil, his wife, followed close behind, her hand resting protectively on her baby bump. "Leave K be. He needs his rest."
Athiel opened her mouth to argue, but Layil placed a calming hand on her sister-in-law's shoulder. "K," Layil said gently, "Aradiel is right. Please return to your chambers and get some rest. You do not look well."
Kazi nodded gratefully, unable to hide the pained expression from her face. "I will go rest, Your Highness," she said, wincing as she straightened up. "Thank you for your concern." Relief flooded him as she turned to leave, her steps slow and measured.
Just as she reached the door of her chambers, a voice called out
Just as she reached the door of her chambers, a voice called out. "K?"
She whirled around to see Queen Evangeline and King Eldarion approaching. She bowed her head in respect.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness," Kazi greeted them, bowing deeply. "I apologies for the state I am in."
Eldarion frowned. "What happened? Are you alright, boy?"
"A minor setback, Your Majesty," Kazi replied, forcing a smile. "Nothing serious."
Eldarion looked unconvinced. "We were informed you were found injured outside the palace walls at dawn. How did this happen?"
She explained the lie that she had been out on a late-night stroll and had a minor accident hoping it would be enough. Eldarion seemed to accept it.
Queen Evangeline, however, spoke next. "Speaking of messages," she announced, "we just received a letter from Queen Nia of Ivamis."
Kazi internally smiled at the Queen's mention of the letter. She had sent a letter to her sister weeks ago and she must have received it.
King Eldarion sighed, running a hand through his beard. "I apologize, K. This reflects poorly on Althea. How am I to face your Aunt Queen Nia after her nephew gets injured under my roof?"
"Your Majesty, please do not worry about it," she said quickly. "It was an accident."
"Your aunt will be arriving for a visit soon." King Eldarion said. "Perhaps it would be best if you met with her and explained the situation. Show her that you are unharmed, and that this was merely an accident."
"Of course, Your Majesty," Kazi said, nodding. She was finally going to see her sister after months of being apart. The royal couple exchanged a look, then excused themselves. As they walked away, a new worry surfaced in Kazi's mind. She had lied to Prince Azrael about inviting a friend named Ren. Now, with Nia coming to visit, she had to somehow sent a letter to Ren to solidify her story.
Kazi cursed under her breath. Why did she always have to lie to get herself out of one mess or another? Reaching her chamber, Kazi winced as she closed the door behind her. Rest, indeed. She had a whole lot of scrambling to do before Nia arrived and with an injured body and a web of lies threatening to unravel, the coming days promised to be anything but restful.