Chapter 23

Kim

Sara left the trees, crossed the path, and halted by the thicket separating the track from the riverbed. I wondered if I should follow, but I didn’t want to disturb her genius thinking, so I decided to stay where I was. She peered out over the riverbed, and I couldn’t believe it when she gestured for me to join her. I hurried over to her, trying to keep as quiet as I could. I had learned to sneak up on people at the Queen’s Champion camp, and my, did the training finally come to some use.

She pointed at the riverbed, and I stretched to peer out over the thicket. I could see two people sitting by the river. One was dressed in black, with a sword lying next to her, and the other one was… I stared at her. Was it… an elf? I had never seen an elf before, but no one else had pointy ears, from what I’d heard. Did Sara know them? I glanced at her, but she was so deep in her great scheme that she didn’t notice me. Maybe they were part of her secret army? But no, I guess it didn’t make sense that we would need to sneak up on them if they were. I didn’t have time to ask her about it, though, because she gestured for me to stay, and stepped out from our hiding place and halted not far from them.

“It gladdens my heart to see that the river has spared you, my child.”

So she did know them. Both of them turned when Sara spoke, and the elf stared at her in surprise. The other girl, though, grabbed her sword and cried,

“Bastard! You will die!”

She leapt up, held out her sword and raised her other hand. What was she doing? Didn’t she know who Sara was?

“No! Cat, don’t!”

The elf girl scrambled up and took hold of her arm, but the girl in black shook her off. I stared at them. Had the elf said Cat? Wasn’t that… the Queen’s Whip? She was really dangerous. I glanced at Sara, but she just watched them without even blinking. Had she known all along that it was the Whip sitting on the riverbank? But if so, why would she have decided to talk to them?

“You will pay for what you did to her”, the girl cried.

She crouched down, and sparks shot from the palm of her hand, but Sara only smiled at her. I didn’t understand anything. Why was the Whip here? And with an elf? I couldn’t believe Sara was just standing there, not even raising her fire to fight. Had Sara done something to the elf? But she would never hurt anyone.

“And so you have seen through the lies of the Queen, Cat. It brings joy to my heart.”

Sara stepped closer, still not even preparing to fight. Seen through her lies? What did that mean? Had the Whip deserted? Is that why she was hanging out with an elf? But if the Whip had deserted, why was she attacking Sara? Weren’t they on the same side? I didn’t have time to ponder it, because the girl flicked her wrist and a lightning bolt blasted from her hand, but Sara sidestepped it without blinking. My, was I watching a battle between the Queen’s Whip and Sara?

“Cat! Don’t!”

The elf girl threw herself onto her, and Cat stumbled. Sara stepped closer, and I almost wanted to shout at her to be careful.

“You do not want to cause Silvi more harm, do you, Cat? You must know the pain she has suffered, seeing the death and destruction in the Queen’s wake. Is it your wish to bring more upon her?”

The girl glared at her, but Sara continued as if it weren’t the Queen’s most deadly weapon standing in front of her. I couldn’t believe how brave she was.

“No, I do not believe it is in your heart to do so. You do not want to cause her more grief.”

“It was you who hurt her!”

“I have made mistakes, to that I admit. You know just as well as I that the road of the Queen is laden with thorns, heedless of what side you walk on. It is easy to misstep and cause pain. But is it then not even more worthwhile to refrain from it when you are given the choice?”

“You’re a traitor, Cat hissed. We have nothing in common.”

“Am I, truly, Cat? Who regards me as a traitor? The villagers fighting for their lives as the Queen’s soldiers descend on them? No, I am no traitor among the farmers. Only the Queen marks me as one.”

Sara stepped closer, and I grabbed hold of a rock and squeezed it until my knuckles went white. She was really talking to the Whip as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Anyone else would have been dead by now.

“You hold the elf dear, I can see it.”

Sparks shot from Cat’s palm as Sara said it, but she didn’t fire this time. Would I need to go in if she attacked? But I wouldn’t stand a chance against the Whip. But Sara didn’t seem to worry about it, because she continued,

“You can walk with Silvi, stay by her side.”

“I will not follow you, “Cat spat on the ground.

“I know you are clever, Cat. You would not have survived had you not been. So tell me… Where will you go? Your reputation will fly before you, and you will have no villages daring to take you in. “

Wait, was Sara trying to get her to join her? Was that what was happening? Would the Whip walk next to Sara? It seemed like it, because Sara continued,

“The winter is harsh, you know that too. Staying in the forest by yourself. Even if you do survive, what will happen when the soldiers find you? They will not take your egress lightly.”

“She’s right,” the elf girl pleaded.

“Listen to her, the elf knows it. She does not want you to bring harm upon yourself. Can you not see the truth in her words?”

Cat glanced at the elf. So the Whip had deserted the Queen and found an elf friend. And now Sara tried to convince her to join her cause. Had Sara known that the Whip had done it? Is that why she stepped out to talk to them?

“You do not have to hold me close to your heart. Let your hatred for the Queen guide your actions. You will have a chance to strike at the core of her. You will see her bleed, withering in agony. Is that not what you dream of, Cat? Is that not the images that follow you into sleep?”

She stepped closer.

“You can choose another road, one that was destined for you once you saw through the lies of the Queen. Her life can lie in your hands, should you choose it. “

Oh my, I couldn’t believe she was trying to get the Whip to join her cause. What if she said yes? Sara halted, watching Cat for a moment, before she continued,

“You can walk this land far and wide and never find a better chance to fulfil it. I have shelter to offer at friendly places where you would be welcome, and your past would not matter. Is that not what you wish for?”

“Cat, do it, the elf girl pleaded. We can stay together that way. “

Cat kicked a stone but lowered her arm.

“Don’t think I will like you, horse.”

The elf girl ran up to her, taking her hand.

“A wise choice, Cat,” Sara concluded.

I stared at them as they made their way up onto the path. Had Sara just convinced the Whip, or I mean Cat, to join her cause? The Queen would be obliterated in moments with her on our side. I had never seen the Whip, only heard of her in tales told to make children obey their parents. But boy was she powerful. I couldn’t believe I watched history being made before my eyes.

Sara gestured for me to come, and I left the hiding spot and walked up to her.

“Meet Kim, she said, as the elf girl and Cat came up to her. Just like you, she has broken free from the chains of the Queen.”

Cat glared at me and looked away, but the elf girl smiled as she saw me. I tried to smile back, but her eyes were so sad, I almost stepped back.

“We should be on our way, Sara said. We have a long journey ahead of us.”

She continued down the path, and the elf girl took Cat’s hand and followed. So it would be three of us following Sara now. Maybe this was the beginning of the secret army that Sara would build after all.