The night was peaceful as the knights relaxed before the bonfire. Eric took a sip of his drink while they discussed different topics in the cosy setting.
"If His Majesty doesn't sort out this Tarnova matter with the Dracor King, we will be dispatched repeatedly. The outlaws and villains will continue to come," he said after putting down the mug.
The knights' eyes darted at him at the statement. The campaign's main issue was once again brought up in the conversation.
It was a topic they frequently discussed, as it had been years since the campaign began, with no sign of a definite end in sight.
"We all know what the root cause is. The commander should have talked to His Majesty sooner about this," Eli, one of the knights, grumbled.
The lightness of his skin complemented his fresh blue eyes and short blonde hair. He sounded like he knew a lot about the matter, but in reality, he was only a newly ordained knight starting his first mission.
"Maybe the commander was waiting for the right time to wage war. Now, we all know how capable Cassian's knights are," another knight named Garin interrupted.
The rough complexion and fine lines clearly defined the big age gap between him and Eli.
"His Majesty won't approve it without a valid reason. If only the commander had become king, it would be easier to wipe them off once and for all, including that smelly city," Eli commented.
His biased opinion of the king showed his admiration for the commander, whom he believed was an exemplary leader.
"Watch your mouth, kid! He would have slit off your tongue without hesitation if he had heard what you said. He has pledged his loyalty towards His Majesty, and so must we! Never question his decision on that," warned Eric to the young knight.
His admonition silenced Eli. Though everyone knew about the sudden succession change, no one had ever questioned why Kyren, the firstborn prince of Cassian, refused to take over the throne and passed it to his younger brother, Kyden.
"You're lucky he's not here. Otherwise, you would've become mute instantly," Garin sneered at the knight.
Eli pursed his lips in rebellion.
"Where did the commander go?"
Uninterested in continuing the topic of discussion, Eric changed the subject and asked Garin about their leader's whereabouts.
"Ayden said he wanted to swim at the lake," he replied. About half an hour ago, he had heard the assistant healer tell the squires so.
"Taking a swim, eh? Did he hunt, too?" Eric suddenly threw an awkward question.
The man stared intently at a gallant figure rushing towards the camp carrying something in his arms. Despite the distance, his alertness made him quickly identify the man.
"Why would the commander hunt in the middle of the night? Did he bring his weapon too while taking a swim?" Turning to Eric, Eli flung back another question with a clueless look, unaware of the incoming commander.
The knight's lips clamped shut as he was still busy identifying what the commander was carrying. It was a rare sight that piqued his interest.
"Is that a deer in his arms?" Garin, the experienced knight with sharp eyes, noticed the same and scowled at the approaching grand duke.
Eric's eyes widened as he realised by now what was being carried by the commander.
It was indeed surprising.
Like once in a blue moon, something that had never occurred was happening right before his eyes.
"A woman! The commander is holding a woman!" he exclaimed and pointed, standing up in amazement.
The group of knights turned in bewilderment. All eyes darted in his direction. Their eyebrows curved, eyes gawked, and jaws dropped at the scene.
The half-n*ked commander was carrying a woman in his arms.
As Kyren entered the campground, he ordered loudly.
"Men! Halt and lower your gaze!"
The demand reached their ears, making the men of the camp cease their movements and look down immediately. The sudden order made everyone curious. Nevertheless, no one dared to raise their heads.
The Knight Commander's order was absolute and not to be defied, as he was the highest-ranking officer in the camp. His rushing steps brought him straight to his tent.
"Call up Rafe, now!" Kyren shouted to the squire who was standing nearby.
"But, Commander, you ordered us to halt just now," replied the squire, confused by his demands.
"Order dismissed! Now get me the healer!" sneered the commander in annoyance.
The squire bowed and ran to the infirmary, not wanting to provoke his anger.
Inside the tent, Kyren lay the girl down on his bed. Her eyes were tightly shut, and her hands languidly flailed on the sheets, sweating profusely as her face turned red.
"Yes, Commander!" Rafe, the healer, rushed in without waiting for permission and froze, eyes widening as he took in Kyren at the bedside, staring intently at an unfamiliar woman.
Formality was set aside; the urgency of the situation left him unbothered by the usual need to ask for permission to enter.
"What happened?" he asked, brows furrowed. "Who's she?"
"An assault victim. I found her in the forest. Check her up," ordered the commander, stepping aside.
The healer approached the bed and began to examine the patient. Minor cuts, wounds, and lacerations were apparent as he inspected Anna's limbs and abdomen.
Her physical stature, which was already on the petite side, was greatly diminished by malnourishment.
New injuries and scratches were visible around her neck and hands. Some reddish marks that would soon bruise her skin were also spotted. Her clothes were torn apart, and the only thing covering her decency was Kyren's tunic.
"It looks like she has been mistreated and underfed for quite some time," Rafe reported.
"I was able to save her just in time before the worst happened," replied the commander.
"Ouff! Whoever that is… he must have a death wish for committing such a crime on this land."
Rafe felt disgusted upon hearing his reply.
The assault was considered one of the worst in Cassian, with the punishment for the perpetrator being genital mutilation.
In other words, the convict was as good as dead when the judgment was passed. Therefore, such an offence was rarely heard of in the kingdom.
"It was a slave trader. I finished him off. He deserved it."
"No objection to that!" said the healer, glad.
"What's causing her fever?" the commander asked.
"I'm not sure. It could be a disease, an infection, or poisoning. I need to take some blood and have it checked at my lab to determine it. For now, I will use a fever reducer and apply hemostatic powder to the wounds," said Rafe as he examined her symptoms.
Judging by her condition, it was no ordinary fever. Kyren nodded, trusting that his healer knew best how to treat her.
After administering the medication, the healer drew a blood sample from the patient and carefully placed it in a vial.
The lab within the infirmary, equipped with various elixirs and potions, would analyse it to determine the root cause of her illness.
Rafe wiped Anna's face with a clean, damp cloth. He patted her face briskly to wake her, and after a moment, she began to move.
The princess groaned in pain and turned her head to the left and right before finally opening her eyes, looking confused and disoriented.
The commander approached her and asked, "Are you all right, Lady Anna?"
Rafe watched Kyren speak to her, blinking in surprise. Somehow, despite having just met, it was clear the commander already knew the woman.
"I only know her first name," Kyren revealed, noticing the awkward look on the healer's face.
Rafe nodded in acknowledgement.
Anna panicked when she saw two men watching her. She wanted to flee, but her weakened body wouldn't obey.
"It's me. We met in the forest just now. Don't be afraid," Kyren said gently, reading the fear in her eyes.
At the sound of the man's voice, the princess felt a flicker of relief. It was her saviour, and now that the light fell on him, she could see him more clearly.
He appeared kind and handsome, just as his voice suggested. Yet her nerves lingered.
Rafe cleared his throat and introduced himself.
"Lady, I am Rafe Amares, a healer. Can you hear me?" he asked, looking into Anna's emerald eyes to confirm she was fully awake and understood him.
The princess nodded to him, hesitant—not from drowsiness but from caution.
"Where am I?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"You're in the knight's camp. This is the kingdom of Cassian," Kyren briefly told her.
"Cassian?"
"Yes. You fainted. So, I brought you here," he explained.
Anna thought back. It seemed she had yet to reach Dracor, the destination determined by the slave traders, and had ended up in a foreign kingdom instead.
She looked at them, fear in her eyes.
"Please don't hurt me!" she begged.
"No one is going to hurt you. I promise that. I saved you, didn't I?" said Kyren, trying to convince her.
The princess nodded. Honestly, she wasn't sure she could trust them, but with no one else to turn to, she saw no alternative.
A foreign land, unknown people, and no one to turn to for help—doom could easily fall upon her. And yet, she was already stranded here. Fate truly worked in strange ways.
"Are you all right?" the healer asked, noticing her frown, as if she were holding back pain.
"It hurts… so much," she admitted after a pause.
"I was told that you were assaulted," Rafe said carefully. "Aside from the physical injuries, were you… um… s*xually abused?"
It was a sensitive question, but he needed to be certain of her condition.
"No… thankfully not. He never got the chance."
Both men felt a wave of relief. At least she hadn't suffered that.
"But… I still don't feel well," she added.
"Have you been bitten by a poisonous animal or have any disease? Perhaps, did you eat something unusual?" asked the healer again.
"The slave trader gave me something... something that made me feel strange," she told him.
"Strange, like what? Can you describe it?" Rafe asked for more details to make a diagnosis.
"Burning…. heart rushing," she answered in a brittle voice.
"Are you experiencing any shortness of breath?"
Anna nodded at his question, surprised at the accuracy.
"All right. Take a few deep breaths and calm yourself. We'll take care of you," Rafe said, finishing his assessment.
The faint glimmer in his eyes suggested he was already forming a conclusion.
"Am I… going to die?" the princess whispered, her voice breaking as she fought to hold back the surging agony.
The fear was evident on her face, eyes brimming with tears.
"Don't think about dying," the healer replied steadily. "For now, you need to rest."
Rafe didn't give a definite answer, though he could guess where this was leading. Given the situation and her emotions, it would be best to conduct further investigations to help with treatment.
"Help me, please! It hurts so much!" she cried, tears streaming down her face as pain wracked her body again like a wave.
"I'll do everything I can," Rafe said, his voice calm and steady.
As a healer, he would do whatever it took to restore her health.
Once he had reassured Anna, Rafe turned to Kyren and gestured for him to follow. The two stepped out of the tent, seeking a private place to speak.
"So, what are your thoughts?" the Commander inquired.
"From what I can observe, I suspect she was given a potion, probably an aphrodisiac. It will take some time to identify the exact type, and her behaviour is likely to change soon."
"What a b*stard! I should've made him suffer more!"
Kyren gritted his teeth and flared his nostrils, his fingers curling into a fist as he recalled the slave trader who had tried to harm her.
The commander's anger was understandable, but the urgency to treat the patient took priority.
"I'll prepare the antidote as soon as I have the results," Rafe continued.
Kyren nodded, allowing the healer to hurry to the infirmary. Fearing the worst, he knew they had to act quickly to save her.