Worth Fighting For by Alexis Porter

The air was heavy with rain from earlier and the night was silent, almost as though it was waiting.

The tents flapped gently with the sway of the wind, the footsteps and their voices of men echoed in the night air. Horses quietly nuzzled on some grass while men filled their jugs with water from the clear stream.

“Sir, we have her in your tent.”

Xavier opened his eyes and accessed his right hand, Maxwell. He eyed the long bleeding gash across his cheek and arched a brow.

“She was a little bit unwilling to cooperate.” He explained

Xavier nodded standing and followed Maxwell’s lead. They both stopped in front of a tent, two men standing guard bowed in reverence. Xavier nodded in acknowledgment; Maxwell raised the flap of the tent and with his other hand stretched a lantern.

“We had to sedate her but she should be awake soon.” He informed

Xavier walked inside and set the lantern on the table; he pulled a chair to the centre of the room and quietly watched the sleeping form crumpled on the ground. Her chest rising and falling with each breathe she took. His eyes hooked on her feet and noticed the heavy layer of caked sand and blood.

She stirred a little and Xavier etched forward in his seat placing his elbows on his thigh and clasping his palms together. She opened her eyes slowly and first tried to adjust her eyes to the darkness and her environment, and then she locked eyes with the man watching her.

She noticed the colour of his iris; dark green flaked with red at the side

Xavier noticed her dark purple irises, a most unusual colour he thought.

She attempted moving but her limbs wouldn’t cooperate, she eyed her captor. He seemed at ease, her chances of escaping were very slim.

“The sedatives in your system won’t wear off for a while and even if you manage to escape it won’t be long before Lord Fletcher gets to you again.”

Her eyes slanted as she took in his words.

“I suggest you rest your body we have a long journey ahead of us Vanessa. I’ll send a doctor to take a look at your wounds, though you seem fine to me.”

Vanessa flexed her fingers.

“What do you want from me?” she addressed Xavier

“You have nothing to offer me; I was sent by the king. He and your father were good friends, and your father asked the King to keep you safe after his death, but before the king found out about your father’s death you were already taken.” He explained to her

“And how do you come in?” Vanessa asked while she sat up

“The king asked me to track you and bring you to the palace.”

“You seem to know a lot about the King.”

“Am his son, its expected.”

“Am assuming your father would want me to get married to you to ensure my safety and to unite our kingdoms.” She snarled in response

“I can’t assume to know what my father plans to do, but I have no desire to marry you. The King wouldn’t send the man he hopes to marry you to fetch you.” Xavier said with finality and standing up he walked out of the tent.

A man walked into the room with a bag in hand, she assumed he was the doctor. He smiled softly at her and sat beside her.

“Am the doctor to attend to you.” He quickly accessed her profile and added

“It seems you won’t be in need of my services, all you need is some food and rest.”

“You know what I am?”

“I am a doctor, I have encountered plenty things.”