Rue hopped off the carriage before it stopped at the steps leading up to the palace front doors. She went around to the side of the carriage to open the door and check on Gideon.
Rue lifted Gideon’s hand and felt for a pulse, only to be devastated. Gideon didn’t make it to the palace.
Outside, Rue could hear Julie calling for a doctor and for Rafael. The source of thɪs content is NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Rue remained still, wishing that if she stayed still a little longer, Gideon would give her a sign that he was still alive. She was in too much shock to move to check the other guards.
Rue was in a state of emotions she couldn’t explain. She already knew that Gideon’s injuries were too severe for him to survive the ride back to the palace, but to see that he was gone broke the wall of hope Rue had slowly built up.
"Rue, I sent for your father and a doctor. Rue?" Julie spoke softly, the seriousness of their predicament dawning on her. "Is he gone?"
"He’s gone," Rue softly replied. "There might be someone else alive, so," she wiped her eyes.
Rue was yet to let go of Gideon’s hand as she turned to inspect the other guards. "We need to check. Ugh, I don’t. Just give me a moment," said Rue.
Rue lowered her head and wiped away her tears.
Julie knew Rue wasn’t in any state to check on the others, so she entered the carriage and did it in place of Rue.
"I am not certain if I did it right, but I felt one. The palace guards are coming so I will tell them," Julie said before stepping out of the carriage.
Palace guards entered to take Rue’s guards out.
Rue kept her hold of Gideon, not wanting outsiders to touch him. Gideon was to be sent home, where he could have a proper burial surrounded by people who cared for him.
Rue touched where Gideon was shot in his chest. The sight of the wound replaced her sadness with rage.
Guns were never going to be a weapon that Rue liked. The order that guns could be used in this kingdom was going to get many killed.
Rue wished she could take away all guns and burn them, but deep down, she knew it wouldn’t be fair. Many were terrified of swords, yet she used them.
Rue continued to hug Gideon until he was the last one left in the carriage to be removed.
The palace guards stared at Rue and Gideon; none of them dared to go forward to take Gideon from Rue’s arms.
Luckily, Rafael came running out in search of Rue with the king not far behind him.
The palace guards made way for Rafael to get to Rue.
Rafael felt relieved when he saw Rue was alive, but the blood he saw was enough to keep him worried.
"They killed them, father. They killed everyone to get to me," Rue said, her eyes still filled with tears. "He fought them off so I could get away, and they shot him. There’s no coming back from so many gunshots."
"Rue," Rafael said as he entered the carriage.
Rafael palmed Rue’s face, the last of his fears going away since she was warm. She was alive. "This isn’t your fault."
Rafael knew Rue like the back of his hand. She would soon blame herself for this.
"No," Rue wiped her tears away. "It is the fault of the man who ordered this, and I am going to kill him. I’m going to kill him and pray that his afterlife will be filled with torture."
Rafael’s brows were knitted as he realised Rue knew who was responsible. "Who did this?"
"They said the name Cassius. I know of him. I have seen him before."
"Rue, you must let go of Gideon and come with me. The others will take care of him and send him home. I must check that you are well," Rafael said, offering his hand to Rue.
"I am well. I have never been better. When I leave this carriage, I am going straight to kill that man. I will not let you or anyone else get in the way of it. They killed our people when we did nothing to them. I’m going to kill him," Rue said, her hold of Gideon remaining strong.
"I know that you are angry, and it is rightfully so, but Gideon would want you to be looked at and kept safe. We will have our revenge, but first, you must allow us to look at him and care for his body even in death. The others are outside, worried," Rafael said, bringing Rue’s attention to the outside of the carriage.
Rue looked beyond her father and finally noticed the other guards who stayed with her father in the palace. Some stared blankly like they couldn’t believe their eyes, while others didn’t hide their emotions and cried.
"I’m sorry," Rue apologised, letting go of Gideon. It had not crossed her mind that others would want to see him. "I’m sorry."
"You don’t need to apologise. He was dear to all of us, so it will be hard to let him go."
Rafael made way for his people to get Gideon out of the carriage and remained behind to hold Rue.
Rafael hugged his daughter, happy that in the midst of all the death, he had not lost her.
Julie stood outside, watching Rue with her father. She wished to have her father near after this experience.
"I have sent a guard ride out to the duke’s estate to get your father and uncle," Tobias informed Julie.
Julie mustered up a smile. "Thank you, but my uncle should go to Ally since we were followed on that path to my grandmother’s home. There are a lot of dead men where we came from. A lot of weapons someone could take. I can show you the way."
"That is kind of you, but I think you have seen enough. You only need to tell us where you were," said Tobias.
"I don’t know for certain where it is. I can only point it out when I see it. Rue couldn’t join her guards right away because she had to hide me. I know you are thinking of my best interest, but I need a distraction," Julie said, wanting to go along with the palace guards.
"Rue won’t blame you," Tobias assured Julie.
"I know she won’t, but I blame myself for being so helpless. I shot two men, but I don’t feel like I was of much help to her. Let me be of some help to her by showing you where the bodies are," Julie pleaded.
"Very well, but I must wait for your father to arrive. In the meantime, you will stay close to me," Tobias offered, owing it to Reed to keep his daughter safe.