Saving Kai

Chapter 3

The fortress of Imman loomed ahead as they approached. Even the miles that still lay before them could not diminish its size and malignant presence, and Kai swallowed with difficulty as he watched it grow ever larger.

He tried to ignore the other occupants of the carriage as he returned to watching the scenery outside with blind absorption, attempting to control his own fears. Melville had not again touched him, but Kai could feel his gaze like a flame upon his skin, feel the other man’s satisfaction with the way events were transpiring.

What awaited in the fortress was nothing but horror, that much Kai knew, but the how and why of it remained a terrifying supposition.

But the question is why a man like General Melville would touch him in such fashion? It seems that he's assumptions were all right. They didn't respect him as prince. No one of them did. Whatever his true purpose might be for them, it was clear that he was merely a pawn in some political game.

He was to be used, and it seemed that Melville's advances were simply another use of someone like him.

When Kai first came to his past memories he never anticipated r**e. Physical a***e he was used to; he even expected it. But this—this was something. Something he familiar with, but not as Kai but as Lee Kyun. His strength of will faltered under the mere thought of being forced again to have intimate relations with men like Melville. And that was clearly what the other man was going to demand.

Kai clenched his right fist, out of sight of his mentors, desperation rising in his chest. His gaze slid to the door of the carriage, so close and yet so hopelessly far. If he could just get past…

He cast aside the thought as soon as it formed. He was far too practical to give in to such an urge, even in dire need. There were too many men surrounding the carriage…

All of his musings were cut when the carriage suddenly gave a savage lurch, and shoutings erupted outside. Kai grunted as Hasan was flung against him from across the seats, an elbow striking his ribs.

The carriage jerked once more, then suddenly turned impossibly sharply—and rolled.

Kai cried out as his head connected with brutal impact on one of the ornate edges of the seats, and he slid to the downside of the upturned vehicle, barely aware of what was transpiring around him. Glass shattered. Shouts and what sounded like pistol shots echoed through the broken windows. Kai was dimly cognizant of Melville and Gerald, the latter with a b****y slice to the side of his jaw, scrambling up and out of the carriage, pistols in hand.

He lay there, stunned, gradually coming round enough to push himself to one elbow, wincing as his hand encountered glass that pierced his palm. Hasan lay half on him, frighteningly still. Kai reached out his bleeding hand and tentatively shook him.

The lack of response spurred him on, fear beginning to tug at his dazed senses.

Managing to sit up, groaning at the pain of his pounding skull, Kai leaned forward and shook Hasan once more. This time the man lolled onto his back with the force of Kai’s touch, and the angle of his neck and the blankly staring eyes were proof enough of his death.

Kai snatched his hand back, horrified. It was one thing to read of death in the books of warfare, another entirely to see the demise of one he had known all his life. Kai hated him, but to see him actually dead…

He glanced dazedly at the opening above his head, the tumult outside unabated. Trembling, his legs seeming hardly strong enough to hold his weight, he stood and managed to brace himself on one of the seats and press up through the broken window.

He half fell off the edge. He felt more glass cut his hands, was dimly grateful that his thick tunic protected him from the worst of the sharp edges that still lay in the window frames like jagged teeth. It took every bit of his strength to heave himself out and roll across the top to where the wheels still spun slowly in the breeze. He crouched there, heart hammering, putting up a shaking hand to his face as he felt warmth trickle down his forehead, perilously close to his eye. Blood coated his fingers, and he brushed at his skin, remembering he had struck his head during the accident. His entire body ached, but he could not determine what other injuries might be present.

He pressed against the comforting bulk of the massive carriage, wide eyes taking in the scene before him.

Unidentified riders, wearing blue and gold uniforms, seemed to be attacking the men who had been guarding the carriage, and everywhere there was shouting and blood, men and horses down, brutal engagement of mounted warriors.

Like the textbooks, but so terrifyingly real.

He glanced about, not seeing any sign of Gerald or Melville. His fingers clenched against the splintered wood of the carriage. He shot a glance to his left, realizing he was only a few strides away from the thick forest they had been passing through.

Escape.

From this situation certainly, but perhaps more, perhaps from everything.

Gathering his will, he crouched, ignoring the pounding pain of his head as he inched forward. No one seemed to see him there, all were centered on the attack itself on the far side of the carriage.

There was nothing to lose.

He ran as he had never run before, expecting any moment to be struck down, but he reached the trees without incident, plunging into their depths with a complete disregard for what might lie before him.

Branches whipped across his face, and he reached up to try to protect himself, too frantic to pause at the sharp pain. He tripped over roots, hauling himself to his feet, his breath coming in the labored pants of panic.

It was only when the sounds of the conflict raging behind him became fainter, muffled, that he slowed, realizing that his frantic flight was more likely to give him away than anything else. Harsh breathing alone would clearly identify his presence to anyone pursuing him.

He paused then, fought to bring himself under control, glancing around himself helplessly. He had never been in such a situation before, and the woods seemed hostile to his inexperienced eye.

He shivered, then determinedly turned sharply to his right, hoping that such a change of direction would confuse anyone who might be able to follow his initial clumsy escape.

The trees pressed close. He had to weave his way among them, his fine tunic catching upon branches and rough bark, tugging at him, sometimes leaving small strands in his wake. Once his long hair, pulled loose from his braid, caught in a thick bush, snaring him. He finally tugged himself free with a grimace, a few silver strands remaining in the hold of the cursed plant.

It seemed like hours later, but was probably much shorter than that, when he reached a clearing, the sunlight like a blessing upon his upturned face. The darkness of the forest was nothing he wanted to enter again, but as he glanced about helplessly, he could see little choice.

His fear began to recede, and the true extent of his predicament became apparent. He was no woodsman, had not the faintest ability to gauge his direction and certainly no talent at living off the land. No one knew where he was, and this forest could go on for miles, as it had during their journey.

Kai shivered, wrapping his arms around himself in a futile attempt at comfort.

He was utterly lost.

He sat down rather abruptly upon a downed tree that extended from the forest into the clearing itself.

Staring blindly, he finally let his aching head fall into his hands, wondering what on earth he was going to do now. This sudden sense of isolation, when he had never been alone in his entire life, was disorienting and utterly terrifying.

He jerked at each sound coming from the forest, unable to determine if it was natural. Or the enemy.

Who exactly the enemy was remained to be seen. Those he had travelled with seemed to fit the role far better than the attackers.

Wearily he raised his head, brushing at the drying blood flow from his forehead, which had slowed, thank the gods.

Movement to his left made him freeze in place, and he could only stare in horror as three men appeared—in blue and gold uniforms.

The enemy.

He started to rise, only to catch his breath as the muzzle of a pistol was laid none too gently on his skull alongside his ear.

“Don’t even think of trying to get away, you little bastard.” The hiss was venomous, the g*n digging painfully into his flesh.

He flinched, watching helplessly as the three men, hands to guns, approached him.

They were tall, and with presence, but the tallest one, black haired and brown eyed, was the one who caught Kai’s attention.

There was something about the man—

Hard hands grabbed hold of Kai from behind and yanked him off the log, forcing him to his knees in front of the newcomers.

A booted foot kicked him in the back, forcing him face first into the damp grass.

He lay there, eyes closed, chest heaving, waiting for a musket ball to end his misery.

There was nothing for long agonizing moments, only the sound of the wind in the trees, such a beautiful soothing sound to accompany his death. And maybe this time all of his sufferings would finally end.

“Get him up.” The cool voice held no mercy at all.

Fingers tangled in his hair and yanked him up, pulling his head back so harshly he had to struggle to breathe.

Tears of pain trickled from his eyes despite his best efforts to be stoic. He despised his weakness. He had endured the a***e of his guardians, and all the sufferings from his past life. Why was this so much harder?

An open hand slapped him hard, jerking his head in the brutal grip.

He opened bleary eyes, meeting a cold brown gaze.

“So you are the imposter.” The tone held a deep fury that made Kai shiver. The man reached forward, and Kai flinched, expecting another blow. Instead the long fingers held his chin still, and the man leaned forward, a deep frown on his brow as he examined Kai’s face inch by inch, before letting him go with a contemptuous shove.

“They did their work well, I will admit. Even to the eyes, the hair. You could almost pass as one of them, even to me who knew them well.”

Kai swallowed hard, wished he understood the cryptic words.

“Nothing to say? No begging for your worthless life?” The sneer bit deeply, and Kai felt something surge within him, a pride that not even his upbringing had been able to completely smother.

His chin rose despite the pain of the hand in his hair, and he met the brown eyes squarely, fear fleeing from his thoughts.

The tall, dark man frowned, something flickering in his eyes. Doubt?

“Shall I kill him now, General?” The voice behind Kai was eager.

“No.” Kai’s nemesis answered slowly, thoughtfully, never taking his eyes from Kai’s face. “No, not yet. I think it best we keep him, use him to draw the others out. If we can get Gerald and Melville—that would be worth it. If they think the game was still in play, they might try for him. Without him, they haven’t got a chance, and they know it.”

There was a sigh of disappointment behind Kai, then he was dragged to his feet, his legs seeming strangely unsteady, as though his body still thought death was imminent.

He stood quiescent as they bound his hands behind him, searching him for weapons, puzzled when they could find nothing on his person. The tall man, the general, unwrapped his neck cloth and forced it between Kai’s lips, gagging him, tying it cruelly tight, catching his hair carelessly.

Kai fought for calm, focusing his eyes on nothing of consequence. If he did not fight, perhaps in time he would win mercy. Surely these men had some compassion, especially to some weak like him.

As they put a rope around his neck, forcing him to follow in their wake like a dog, half choking him, he reconsidered that faint hope.

Perhaps there was no compassion anywhere in this strange outside world. He didn't even have that in the place of his upbringing. Why would he think he can find that here, where his presence was not even welcome?

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