CHAPTER 18:NOT YET HEALED
By the time we returned to Draeven, the castle gates felt colder than the snow beneath them.
The king was waiting. Not in person, of course—but his summons came before the dust even settled from our horses' hooves.
"The throne room. Immediately."
Kael grumbled the whole way up the stairs. I didn't speak. Neither did Valen.
My ankle throbbed with every step. I'd been ignoring it for days—wrapping it tighter, walking straighter, pretending it didn't hurt.
But pain wasn't something you could outrun forever. Not this kind.
---
The king sat high above the room, framed in red and gold, eyes sharp beneath the weight of his crown.
We bowed. He didn't ask us to rise.
"I've heard troubling things," he said. "I want the truth. Not speculation. Not silence."
Valen stepped forward, calm and steady.
"The ambush was planned by Lord Harland Veris. He coordinated with external forces to sabotage the escort."
"Why?" the king asked.
"He was paid. Bought. Greedy, bitter, and reckless."
It wasn't a lie.
But it wasn't the whole truth.
The king's eyes flicked to me, then to Kael. "Do you confirm this report?"
Kael nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."
I followed suit. My voice didn't shake. "Yes."
"Then I believe that traitor is dealt with."said the King.
"Yes, Your Majesty. He won't be a problem anymore."Kael answered.
He gave a brief nod. Dismissed us with a flick of his hand.
---
We left the throne room in silence, footsteps echoing down the marble steps.
Halfway down the staircase, it hit me.
Not metaphor. Not memory.
Pain. Raw and sharp.
I'd stepped wrong. Put too much weight on the twisted ankle.
My knee buckled.
The world tilted—cold stone and open air rushing up to meet me—
And then… arms.
Strong. Unshaking. Familiar.
"Whoa!Are you alright?"
Valen's voice. Right at my ear.
His arms were around me before I even realized I'd fallen. One behind my back, the other under my legs.
I blinked. My heart thundered in my chest, louder than the pain in my leg.
"You're hurt," he said,looking at my ankle.
It wasn't a question.
---
"I'm fine," I muttered.
His jaw tightened. "You're not."
"I can walk."
"You just tried and nearly cracked your skull on royal marble."
His tone wasn't angry. Just… frustrated. As if he was more upset at himself than at me.
He didn't set me down.
Instead, he turned—still carrying me—and headed straight toward the lower halls.
Kael, still on the stairs, blinked. "Well… I guess I'll follow?"
---
The royal doctor fussed and clucked, muttering about strained tendons and warriors with no sense.
Valen stood at the doorway the entire time. Arms crossed. Watching.
Not leaving.
Not once.
---
When the doctor finished, I sat on the bench, foot bandaged, dignity mostly intact.
Valen finally spoke again.
"You should've said something."
I looked down at my leg. Then up at him.
"I thought it was healed already.I never thought it would be such a big deal."
"I am to blame for this condition you're in.I shouldn't have assigned you the escort mission.For that I deeply apologize. " I had never seen him so sorry ever since I told him of my past.
"No, Your Majesty it's really fine.You don't have to apologize. I could've said no,so it's my fault."
Valen was gazing at me with an expression I had never seen before.I could still sense he was feeling guilty.
He cleared his throat and finally said,"I'll let you rest now.I need all my soldiers in good condition."
He left the room and I could still hear my heart beating, not from the pain in my leg.