Arranged (13 page)

More children began to rouse. Olia handed food to those who were awake. The children munched happily, allowing Alison time to study them. They were all so different, yet obviously of the same race. Those who were done eating began to crawl or walk unsteadily around the room, exploring. Mele helped balance one child by holding his hand as he took a few experimental steps.

Since Alison had never been around toddlers, she was fixated on their every movement. They seemed so fragile and every time one of them fell, Alison wanted to help them up. She knew she had always wanted children, but she never thought through the stages of life.

Absul gurgled happily as he tried to stuff one of his fists into his mouth.

The day passed much the same. The women played with the children and Colia took Absul away, only long enough to feed him. Alison hadn't realized how much time had passed, or that she was actually enjoying herself, until her escort stepped into the room.

Instantly, she was ripped back to reality. She was a prisoner. She was surrounded by creatures and she was probably never going to go home.

Qwinn entered the chamber and his eyes found Alison immediately. She cradled the baby to her chest. A small black hand reached up and tugged a strand of her dark red hair. He ignored the skip of his heart at the thought of her holding his future child.

He felt a slight touch on his leg and looked down. A toddler was bracing himself against the king's leg. He craned his head back to get a look at the King and his eyes grew wide. Qwinn smiled slightly and patted the child's head, who in turn giggled.

Mele and Colia bowed their heads slightly to her escort, which made Alison wonder just what his status was. He patted the child again and she couldn't help but notice how his eyes softened. Then his black eyes suddenly were on her. She froze under the intensity of his gaze. He stepped around the children, never taking his eyes from her. "Come."

Colia was suddenly by Alison's side, scooping Absul into her arms. Alison was sad to give up the baby, but once her eyes returned to her escort, Absul was the farthest thing from her mind. She stood, questions racing through her mind as if they had only been quiet until this moment.
Why is he taking me away?
Why is Mele still staring at me?
She wondered. As soon as she reached him, he said a few words to the women and turned on his heel, only glancing once back to see if Alison was following.

They made their way to the hall, where he slowed down. "Are you hungry?" he asked when the door to the child's chamber had been closed.

Alison blinked in surprise. "What?" she asked, the question was so unexpected. She'd been imagining him leading her to her execution.

"Are you hungry?" he repeated.

Her stomach growled in answer and a smile tugged at his lips. "I have had a lunch prepared for you."

Alison frowned slightly. "Who are you exactly?"

"What do you mean?" he asked, his smile disappearing and in its place, a hard mask to hide his feelings.

"You obviously have some sort of status if you can order people around."

Qwinn thought quickly of how to explain without scaring her. At that very moment, Jabr hurried down the hall. He bowed quickly. "Bartus wishes to speak to you," he said, getting right to the point.

"Now?" Qwinn asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Jabr nodded and the King sighed. "Escort the girl to her room," he said, glancing at Alison. It was obvious from the look on her face that she didn't understand a word they had spoken.

He didn't want to leave her. He had been in a meeting with the council all morning discussing the attack from the Torin. During the entire meeting, he had been anxious to see her again, to make sure she was all right. Now that he was with her, he had no desire to leave her again.

She eyed him hopefully, wanting him to translate and expecting him to protect her from the worst. Maybe he did need to distance himself. If he gave in to that look, he would never leave. So, with a nod to Jabr, he turned to leave.

He couldn't help but hear the slight catch of uncertainty in her throat. It nearly stopped him. He balled his fists as he continued walking. It seemed that no matter how much he tried to distance himself, she drew him more.

Alison watched as her only ally left her standing with the short man. Her heart sank with fear. He hadn't said a word to her about where he was going or what was going to happen to her. The small man turned to her. "Please, follow me," he said in a thick accent.

She began to walk with him. However, as they walked through the halls, nothing looked familiar, and then it hit her…they were going to sacrifice her.

A chill raced through her body. This was the end. Her eyes darted around the halls for a way to escape. She knew she promised that she wouldn't run, but she had told that to the other escort. The small man was walking only a foot or two in front of her, glancing back every now and then to make sure she was still there.

To her left she spotted a hall coming up that looked deserted and decided to take her chance. He glanced back and as soon as his eyes returned forward, she darted for the hall.

It took the small man a moment to realize what was happening, and by then, she had reached the shadowed hall. "Stop!" he yelled as he tore after her.

Adrenaline shot through her as she darted into the dark. She could hardly see more than a few feet in front of her, so she held her arms out before her. She nearly ran into a wall. She wished for that strange moss to light her way, but it was scarce in this area. Footsteps thundered behind her, but she didn't look back. Adding more speed to her run, the small man called out again. "Stop! Alison!"

The fact that he knew her name shook her to her core so badly that she never saw it coming. Then suddenly she was in the air with her stomach in her throat as she fell. She landed on the third step, which sent her sprawling down the rest.

Her screams ricocheted off the stonewalls as she smacked her shoulder, hip, leg and head as she fell. She landed in a heap at the landing at the bottom of the stairs. Her vision blurred in and out, as she saw the short man rush to her.

"Alison! Alison!" he yelled, patting her cheek. His arms were under her in an instant and lifting her. A sharp pain exploded from her leg and she cried out in pain. It was enough to send her over the edge. Her eyes rolled back and she blacked out.

* * * *

A roar of rage ripped its way from Qwinn's throat. Red covered his vision as he raced through the halls. Servants jumped out of his way. He took the steps four at a time until he reached her room. His jaw hurt from gritting his teeth. He threw open her door, nearly knocking over the servant, who was carrying a bowl of water and a rag.

She quickly excused herself. As he walked rest of the way into the room, he found Jabr by the bed where Alison lay unconscious, with a large purple bump on her left temple. His anger peeked and he picked up one of the few candles, throwing it at the wall, sending part of the room into darkness.

"What happened?" Qwinn snarled, pacing angrily, like a caged animal. "Tell me!" he yelled.

Jabr didn't flinch nor did Alison wake up, which made him even angrier.

"She tried to escape," Jabr said.

He roared. "That's a lie!"

"She ran from me and fell down the stairs."

Qwinn growled dangerously. "Do not lie to me," he stepped forward, menacingly.

"That is what happened," Jabr said, his demeanor remaining calm.

Qwinn balled his fists at his side. "She said she wouldn't run." Finally, his eyes fell upon Alison. She looked so beat up. Her eye was black and swelling, the rest of her was hidden beneath the blankets, but he was sure her limbs looked just as beat up as her face. Her eyes moved beneath her eyelids as if she were dreaming and beads of sweat began to form on her brow. Though he wanted to move to her side, he refrained. He was still too angry and he didn't want to handle her too roughly.

"I believe she has broken her leg," Jabr said.

Qwinn worked his jaw. "You may leave," he said softly. He needed to get a hold of his anger.

Jabr nodded, pausing at the door. "I should have kept a better eye on her. Forgive me."

Qwinn nodded and Jabr closed the door. The room suddenly became so quiet that all Qwinn could hear was the sound of her breathing. It calmed him slightly to at least hear her breathing normally.

He should have never left her alone. She had probably been so scared. He frowned and fought off the thoughts. He couldn't afford to keep softening toward her. It would only end badly. He needed advice and there was only one person to ask…

Adalia opened her door and her eyes grew wide with surprise, followed quickly by her smile. "Qwinn, what a pleasant surprise. Come in."

She ushered her brother into her large room. She had her huge bed pushed to one side and a pile of lounging pillows surrounding a table on the other side of her room. Flowers of all kinds hung from vines along her walls. She loved nature. If she had it her way, she would live in the forest.

She lay against one of the pillows and patted the one beside her. "What can I help you with?"

Qwinn chuckled slightly. "You know me so well," he stated as he sunk into the comfortable pillows.

She smiled kindly "Of course I do. You are my other half. What is on your mind?"

Qwinn ran his fingers through his dreadlocks and sighed.

"Is it the girl?" she guessed, turning her full attention to him.

He nodded, opening up, knowing he could trust his sister. "She tried to run."

"That is to be expected," her sister answered calmly.

Qwinn frowned. "She promised me she wouldn't."

Adalia pondered this. "Qwinn, she does not know what is happening. Give her time. This is a big change for her. I would have tried to run too…That is not all that is bother you. Tell me, what else happened?"

"She fell down the stairs and broke her leg. She looks horrible."

Adalia sighed. "They are so fragile…have you healed her yet?"

Qwinn looked uncomfortable and Adalia nearly pounced on him. "How many times have I told you not to be ashamed of your healing powers?"

"It is not the norm for a man to have the ability."

"Ahanu has blessed you with the gift. Healers are greatly needed."

Qwinn shook his head. "You do not understand…"

She pursed her lips. "If I were hurt, who would you want to heal me? Someone else?" Qwinn didn't answer. "Would you want another person to heal Alison? Maybe Ahanu gave you the ability for this reason."

The thought of another person touching Alison made him grit his teeth. She smiled slightly at how bothered he was at her words. "Now, you still haven't answered me; have you healed her?"

"No." He didn't add the fact that he had been too angry and was afraid to touch her. He didn't need to add his issues to his sister's shoulders. She already knew he had a temper. Almost everyone did, and it had only gotten worse over the past few years. Now, with Alison in the palace, his world was turning upside down.

"Good," Adalia said, bringing him back to their conversation. "Don't."

"Excuse me?" he asked in surprise.

"Well, heal the worst of it, but don't heal her completely."

"Are you mad?" he asked.

Adalia sat up, a twinkle in her eye. He knew that look well; she had a plan. She paused dramatically. "Imagine Qwinn, if you don't heal her completely, someone will need to take care of her. That someone could be you."

He would never admit that he might like this idea. "You want me to do servant's work?"

"No. I want you to create a situation where she has no choice but to grow her trust in you."

He was silent for a moment. His sister had always been crafty, now he could use that to his advantage. "Perhaps," was all he told her. Still she smiled, knowing he would do as she suggested.

"When will you let me meet this girl?" she asked, laying back into the pillows.

Qwinn shook his head.

"If you won't introduce her to me, I'll just have to sneak into her room and meet her myself."

"You will not!" he blurted angrily.

She giggled, knowing her brother would react that way. "You're not going to keep her cooped away I hope?"

Qwinn glared at her, not finding the teasing amusing. "It is none of your business what I do."

Now Adalia frowned. "Qwinn, you cannot hide her from our people. They will not trust her!"

"Some of them would rather kill her!"

"They know the punishment that would befall them if they did. Besides, no one harmed mother."

Qwinn stilled at the mention of their mother. She had withstood much criticism and hardship because of her love for their father. However, only after Qwinn and his sister had been born and an heir promised the throne, did the people accept her. Qwinn would rather skip the hardship altogether. Alison didn't deserve to be hated by his people. It wasn't her choice that they had been banished to the underground. Yet, he too, still blamed every human for what had happened to his people. Maybe he still had a lot to learn as well.