“Yes.”
Horse hooves pounded on the dirt road behind them as the rider neared. Allyssa prayed he’d fly past without paying them any heed.
A body fell alongside her window, an arrow protruding from Renlek’s back. He tumbled to the ground. Allyssa screamed. The carriage veered to the right, almost tipping. She caught sight of the man nocking an arrow and shooting at Dromar. The second driver toppled to the ground.
“It’s him!” Allyssa said. “The assassin!”
Marek climbed out of the window, trying to reach the perch in order to gain control of the spooked horses. Allyssa wanted to order him to stay put, but Jarvik yelled at her to be prepared to fight. Clutching onto her knife, she readied herself. The carriage slowed, and the rider caught up to them.
The sound of metal clinking echoed as Marek fought the assassin. There was an odd shift. She realized Jarvik had exited the carriage and cut the ropes to the horses so they wouldn’t crash. The assassin swung his sword, knocking Marek off the carriage. He landed on the dirt road with a thud.
“Let’s go,” Allyssa said to Prince Odar. He nodded and followed her as she climbed out of the carriage on the opposite side of where the assassin was. Glancing back, she saw Jarvik fighting the assassin with his sword.
“Let’s run to the cover of the nearby trees,” Prince Odar whispered.
She shook her head. They couldn’t go to the forest and leave Marek lying on the ground. Not even hesitating, Odar sprinted toward the trees, not once looking back. She wanted to yell at him but, instead, she knelt next to her friend. His chest moved as he breathed. He was alive then. There was a large gash on his forehead, but it wasn’t deep.
Grabbing Marek’s arm, she started dragging his body toward the trees, which were a good thirty feet away. Prince Odar had almost reached the cover of the forest. There was a slight hiss and then a thud. An arrow embedded into the back of Prince Odar, his brown shirt turning red with blood. He fell to the ground, not moving. Allyssa released Marek, stifling her scream. When she spun around, the assassin stood there, smiling at her. Jarvik was at his side, forced onto his knees, a sword to his chest. The squire’s eyes were wide with horror at the sight of Odar’s body.
“Don’t move,” the assassin said to Jarvik.
“You killed him,” Allyssa said with disbelief. Prince Odar lay lifeless on the ground. How was she supposed to save her kingdom if the prince was dead? Emperion would never receive the soldiers they needed. She glanced at the squire, wondering why he didn’t attempt to fight. He reached up, touching his right shoulder. His hand came away bloody.
“I said not to move.” The assassin backhanded Jarvik across the face.
What happened to her knife? She must have dropped it when she climbed out of the carriage. She should still have another dagger in her left boot. If she could snatch it, she could kill the assassin.
“Get up,” he said to Jarvik. The squire tried to stand, but his leg gave out. His thigh had a gouge in it, blood running down his leg. With the assassin’s focus off her, Allyssa reached down and grabbed her dagger. The assassin whipped his head around to face her. She aimed for his chest and threw. He ducked, the knife narrowly missing him. She spun and kicked toward his chest. He blocked the blow and swung, punching her in the stomach. Stars exploded in her vision, and she hunched over from pain.
“Stop your attack,” the assassin demanded. “Or I’ll kill your friend this minute.” He had the sword on Jarvik’s chest again. She knew not to trust the word of an assassin. She tried to stand, but her stomach cramped. The assassin hit Jarvik across the head, and he passed out. If his wounds weren’t tended to, he would die.
The assassin reached down, grabbed Allyssa by her cape, and dragged her closer to the carriage. He took out some rope, fastened her wrists together, and tied her to the wheel. He jumped on his horse and took off in the direction the other two horses had gone after Jarvik cut them loose.
She wished she could reach Jarvik to wrap a bandage around his wounds to stop the bleeding. Marek moaned and rolled over.
“Marek,” she frantically whispered. “Run for help.”
He grabbed his head as he tried to stand. “I have to save you,” he said.
“No,” she said with determination. “I order you to save yourself. Go and find help. Now.”
“I can’t leave you here. The assassin will be back any minute.”
“If he wanted to kill me, he would have already done it. We’ll never make it out of here together, but he might not notice if you’re gone.”
Marek stood on shaky legs. “Let’s at least try to make it to the forest,” he said, his eyes filled with desperation.