The Princess's Revenge Chapter 85

Vlaencia’s POV

I watched her for a moment. Whatever was bothering her, she clearly didn't want to talk about it. I decided not to push.

"Echo was supposed to help me with makeup for tonight," I said, changing the subject. "But she's hurt now. Do you know anyone who could help?"

Delphine's face brightened slightly. A small smile tugged at her lips. "I can do makeup."

"Really?"

"Of course. I used to help my mother prepare for feast days." She set down the scalpel and dried her hands. "I'll go get the materials. You wait here."

"Let me finish cleaning these first," I said, reaching for the basin. "You go prepare what you need."

"Valencia, no. You shouldn't be—"

"I'm already doing it." I picked up the next instrument. "Go on."

She hesitated, then gave me a playful look. "Yes, my lady," she said, gesturing at my bliaut.

I rolled my eyes at her, but I was smiling. "Get out of here."

She laughed softly and left. I turned back to the instruments, working quickly. The repetitive motion of cleaning was almost soothing after everything that had happened.

I was almost done when I heard shouting from the entrance.

"DR. VANCE! DR. VANCE, WE NEED YOU!"

My heart jumped. I quickly finished the last instrument and hurried toward the noise.

Dr. Vance was already there, bent over a figure on one of the treatment tables. Blood. So much blood. The person was completely naked, wrapped in a blanket, their body covered in cuts and bruises.

Elias stood nearby with six or seven warriors. Their faces were grim, jaws clenched tight.

My pulse raced as I moved closer to see who it was.

My breath caught in my throat.

Amara.

Her face was swollen beyond recognition, covered in blood. Her auburn hair was matted with it. She was unconscious, her breathing shallow and labored.

"What happened?" Dr. Vance asked, his hands already working to assess her injuries.

"We found her like this," Elias said. "About two miles from the eastern border. No clothes, no weapons. Just... this."

"Who did this to her?" I asked.

Elias glanced at me, noticing me for the first time. His eyes widened slightly at my torn dress, but he answered. "We don't know. She hasn't woken up."

Dr. Vance pressed gently on her ribs. Amara groaned but didn't wake.

"Broken ribs," he muttered. "Multiple lacerations. Possible internal bleeding." He looked up at Elias. "How long was she out there?"

"Hard to say. The blood was mostly dry when we found her."

"These wounds are at least eight hours old," Dr. Vance said. "Maybe more."

One of the warriors spoke up. "There were tracks. Looked like she was running. Being chased."

"By who?" I asked.

"Couldn't tell. The trail went cold at a stream."

Dr. Vance started cleaning the wounds on Amara's face. As the blood came away, I could see the damage more clearly. Black eyes. Split lip. A deep gash across her forehead.

"Someone tortured her," Dr. Vance said quietly.

"What?" Elias stepped closer.

"These aren't battle wounds. Look at the pattern. Someone took their time with this."

My stomach turned. Despite everything Amara had done, seeing her like this was horrible.

"Why would someone torture her?" one of the warriors asked.

"Information," Elias said grimly. "Someone wanted something from her."

"But what?" I asked. "What could she know that—"

I stopped. Amara knew about the assassination. About Elton's involvement. If someone had captured her...

"Did you tell Alpha Logan?" I asked Elias.

"The Alpha went hunting. He's trying to get food for the pack." Dr. Vance said, not looking up from his work.

Hunting. The word made my stomach clench. I suddenly remembered Marcus, how he'd gone hunting and been attacked by a bear. The bear had torn open his stomach, pulled out his intestines. The image flashed through my mind, vivid and horrible.

I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. That was stupid. Logan wasn't Marcus. Logan was the strongest warrior in the kingdom. Nothing would happen to him.

"I already sent Bastian to find him," Elias said, noticing my expression.

"Good," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Amara groaned again. Her eyes fluttered but didn't open.

"Will she survive?" Elias asked.

"If I can stop the internal bleeding, yes." Dr. Vance was already preparing supplies. "But she'll need time to heal. And when she wakes up..."

"She'll be in pain," Elias finished.

"Significant pain."

I watched Dr. Vance work, his hands steady despite the severity of Amara's injuries. He cleaned each wound carefully, stitching the worst ones.

"Valencia," he said without looking up. "In that cabinet, third shelf. There's a blue bottle. Bring it here."

I found the bottle quickly and brought it over.

"Pour a small amount on this cloth," he instructed.

I did as he asked. The liquid had a sharp, medicinal smell.

"What is it?"

"Something to prevent infection. Hold it here." He guided my hand to a particularly deep cut on Amara's shoulder.

The moment the cloth touched her skin, Amara's body jerked. Her eyes snapped open, unfocused.

"No!" she screamed. "Please! I don’t konw anything!"

"Amara, you're safe," Dr. Vance said firmly. "You're in the stone house."

Her eyes darted around frantically before focusing on his face. "Dr. Vance?"

"Yes. You're home."

"They... they wanted to know about..." Her voice trailed off as she noticed me. Her expression shifted from fear to confusion.

"Hi," I said awkwardly.

"What are you doing here?" Her voice was weak but still held that edge of hostility.

"Helping," I said simply.

She tried to sit up but gasped in pain.

"Don't move," Dr. Vance said, gently pushing her back down. "You have broken ribs."

"Who did this to you, Amara?" Elias said.

Her face went pale. Well, paler than it already was. "I don’t know..."

"Amara, we need to know," Elias pressed. "Were you trying to reach Elton?"

Her eyes widened. "How did you—"

"We're not stupid," Elias said. "You left in full armor after Xander died. Where else would you go?"

Amara's face crumpled. She looked completely broken. Her swollen lips trembled as tears rolled down her bruised cheeks.

"Answer me," Elias said, his voice harder now. "Were you going to Elton?"

"No," she whispered.

"Don't lie to us."

"I'm not lying!" Her voice cracked. "I wasn't going to join him."

"Then what were you doing?" Elias stepped closer to the bed. "You left in full armor and took weapons. "

Amara closed her eyes. More tears leaked out. "I was going to find Dorian." Her voice was so quiet I almost didn't hear it. "To track him down and kill him."

The room went silent. Even Dr. Vance stopped working for a moment.

"You wanted to kill Dorian alone?" Elias asked.

"He betrayed us," Amara said, her voice gaining strength despite the pain. "He got Xander killed. My brother is dead because of him."

"So you thought you'd just march into enemy territory alone?" Elias's voice was incredulous. "That's suicide."

"I didn't care." She tried to sit up again but gasped in pain. "Xander was all I had left."

"What happened?" Elias asked. "How did you end up like this?"

Amara's face went pale. "I couldn't even leave our territory. Cliffwatch Pack is being watched."

"What the fuck?"

"Scouts rogues. They're everywhere." Her voice shook.

"How many?"

"I don't know. Ten? Fifteen? They came from all directions." She touched her swollen face gingerly. "I tried to fight, but there were too many."

"They captured you?"

She nodded. "Dragged me to some cave. Started asking questions."

"What kind of questions?"

Amara went quiet. Her eyes darted to me, then back to Elias. "About... about three years ago."

"What about it?" Elias frowned as he realized the severity of the problem.

"They wanted details..." Her voice dropped to a whisper. She glanced at the warriors behind Elias and me, clearly feeling this wasn't the place to talk about it.

One of the warriors, a stocky man with a thick beard, stepped forward. "This doesn't make sense."

"What do you mean, Ryan?" Elias asked.

"She's lying," Ryan said bluntly. "Think about it. She gets captured, tortured, then just... released? Why would they let her go?"

All eyes turned to Amara. The question hung in the air like smoke.

"I..." Amara started, then stopped.

"Ryan's right," another warrior said. "If rogues captured you, why didn't they kill you? Or ransom you?"

"Maybe she made a deal," Ryan suggested. "Maybe she's a traitor after all."

"I'm not a traitor!" Amara tried to shout, but it came out as a rasp.

"Then explain it," Elias said. "Why did they let you go?"

"I don't know!"

"You don't know?" Ryan laughed, but there was no humor in it. "You were tortured for hours, then they just decided to release you? For fun?"

It didn't really make sense. If it was Elton's people who caught her, they'd want her dead. Amara know too much about the assassination. All the assassins dead means no witnesses. No proof. So why keep her alive?

Amara's eyes darted around the room desperately. "I don't know! They just... they stopped. Told me to run."

"They told you to run?" Elias's voice was skeptical.

"Yes."

"After torturing you for information about the assassination?"

"Yes!"

"And you don't find that strange?"

Amara's face crumpled again. "Of course I find it strange! But I don't know why they did it!"

The room fell silent again. Everyone was staring at her, suspicion clear on their faces.

"Maybe they got what they wanted," Ryan said quietly.

Everyone turned to look at him.

"Maybe she told them something. Something important enough that they didn't need her anymore."

Amara's eyes flashed with anger. "I didn't tell them anything!"

"You were tortured for hours," Ryan said. "Look at you. Broken ribs, cuts everywhere. Most people would say anything to make it stop."

"I'm not most people."

"No?" He gestured at her injuries. "Then why do you look like you've been through hell?"

Amara shook her head frantically. "No. No, I didn't say anything. I swear."

"Enough," Dr. Vance said sharply. "She needs rest and treatment, not an interrogation."

"This is important," Elias argued.

"So is keeping her alive." Dr. Vance turned to the warriors. "All of you, out. Now."

"But—"

"Out!" Dr. Vance's voice left no room for argument.

The warriors grumbled but started filing out. Elias lingered for a moment.

Dr. Vance sighed heavily. "Let's get you to a proper bed." He called out, "Martha!"

A middle-aged servant woman appeared from behind another curtain. "Yes, Dr. Vance?"

"Help me move Gamma Amara to bed three. Then help her into a clean gown."

"Yes, sir."

Together, they carefully lifted Amara. She cried out in pain as they moved her, her face going white.

"I'm sorry," Dr. Vance said. "Just a little further."

They got her onto the bed. Dr. Vance pulled the curtain around it for privacy.

"Martha will help you change," he said to Amara. "I'll prepare something for the pain."

He walked away, leaving Martha to tend to Amara. I could hear soft voices behind the curtain, Amara whimpering as Martha helped her out of the blood-stained blanket.