The Dragon's Kiss

"Ouch!"

Kel winced as another sharp branch slashed through her skin.

Her sleeves were practically in tatters, and her exposed calves were crisscrossed with scratches. Even her toes ached from the amount of stones she'd inadvertently kicked as she raced through the trees.

But she couldn't stop.

She had no idea what the cry she'd just heard was, but every bone in her body screamed that she needed to find the source.

She was more off balance than usual as she ran, struggling with the heavy feeling of dread clinging to her shoulders.

Something was wrong.

Something was horribly wrong.

The sounds of yelling guided her as she leapt across the stone path and bounded into the other side of the forest.

"Hurry up and finish him off!"

"No, we have to drag him back for questioning!"

"Don't you know who this i-"

The rowdy conversation between the two men was cut off as Kel crashed nearly into their backs.

As she leaned forward, catching her breath, the men whirled around.

They were wearing guard uniforms, though Kel didn't recognize their faces. That meant they were probably stationed mainly along the outskirts of the palace grounds where she hardly ventured.

But what were they doing out here?

And why did they have such fearful expressions?

"Y-your Majesty!" one of them stammered while the other stood trembling.

Kel opened her mouth to ask why they were addressing her that way but instantly froze at the scene that came into view as both men sank to their knees.

She tried to swallow the bitter saliva rapidly accumulating in her mouth, but her throat had completely sealed itself off. Even air could not find its way to and from her lungs.

With legs shaking too much to support her weight, she crawled around the two bowed guards.

"B-b-b-b" she wheezed, dragging herself indifferently through the blood-soaked mud toward the lifeless heap laying on the ground.

As she approached the body, she heard a faint grunt and vile gurgling behind her.

Glancing back, she saw one of the guards sprawled on the ground, the emperor's sword still lodged in his chest. How long had the emperor been here?

"Princess! Princess!" She could see the emperor's mouth moving as he called to her, but the world around her had gone mute.

Shivering, she turned back to the bloodstained man in front of her.

I'm sorry! She wanted to shout. I'm sorry for everything! I was wrong!

Just please, she begged, don't be dead.

She rested a shaking hand on the man's chest, pleading with whichever deity cared to listen that, by some miracle, he was still alive.

Out of the dark world around her, a steady hand shot out and wrapped itself around hers.

"He's alive," came a reassuring whisper.

"B-Barclay," she choked as her throat finally loosened a little.

The next several events happened like a fever dream.

Kel watched in dizzying silence as a group of knights charged onto the scene. Several heaved Barclay onto a wooden platform and immediately set off toward the palace, the platform hoisted on their shoulders.

One knight in particular was given the task of prying Kel's fingers off the injured man's clothes so he could be moved. After successfully separating her from her comrade, he looped an arm around Kel's waist, attempting to help her hobble along behind the knights.

Eventually, the man gave in and scooped her up, deciding that carrying her would be a more efficient means of travel.

Kel didn't take her eyes off Barclay's limp figure as she bounced along in the knight's arms. Once they reached the main palace, Barclay was whisked off to receive medical treatment, while Kel was settled into a nearby room.

Despite the knight's urgings, her body moved by itself, repeatedly struggling to go back to Barclay's side. She managed to escape several times, until the knight was finally forced to lock the door.

Sealed inside the room, Kel sat next to the door, knees hugged to her chest. Her lower lip began quivering, and soon, her entire body was taken by hysteric sobs.

"Why.." she bawled, "Why. Why. Why."

The last conversation she'd had with her comrade replayed itself in front of her eyes.

'We're the only two people on this whole blasted continent who care about you.'

The only people who care.

The only person who cares.

He was right.

When everyone else had chosen to abandon her, Barclay stayed behind. When even those she considered to be her family tossed her aside carelessly, he fearlessly took her side. She was nothing but a subordinate, but he gave up his whole life for her.

And she had treated him no better than a nagging guardian, as if he was a burden.

"What have I done?" she cried, hanging her head.

Eventually, her tears dried, and she sat staring blankly into the darkness. Her heart and mind were both too numb to think anymore. The only indication that she was still alive was the shuddering rise and fall of her chest as she took shaky breaths.

The initial shock had finally worn off and left behind unbearable emptiness in its place.

An indeterminable amount of time ticked by that way, until finally, the door creaked open.

"Princess?"

It was Thane.

He crept softly inside, stepping carefully but purposefully making enough noise to alert Kel to his presence. After a few steps, he stopped to scan the room, searching for Kel's figure.

"Oh! There you are!" The knight exclaimed as he spotted Kel's ball-like silhouette.

He moved farther into the room, Roland trailing behind him, and pulled open the curtains.

"That's better," he smiled, clapping his hands together as sunlight flooded the room.

Sunlight? Kel was taken aback. Hadn't the sun already set?

She squinted in the brightness, her gaze eventually landing on Roland. His uniform was covered in various patches of blood and dirt, and thick dark circles hung below his eyes.

"Ah, Sir Roland carried you here last night," Thane piped up, poking his head into Kel's line of vision.

"Not that that's important right now," he added, offering Kel a hand. "His Majesty has requested to meet with you."

"What about Barclay?" Kel whispered hoarsely, allowing the knight to pull her to her feet.

Thane's face fell momentarily and he glanced away.

"I think it's best if you just follow me now, Princess."