Lily discovered in the worst way possible that she wasn't good with carriages. The moment they left Drushik, she began to feel nauseous and vomited several times. Now she sat pale and exhausted, half-leaning against the cushions, while Liora sat beside her, chirping endlessly, trying to distract her from her misery.
Suddenly, the carriage screeched to a halt, throwing Lily forward. She struck her side against the wood and gasped in pain. The sudden jolt worsened her nausea. As she tried to ease herself back onto the seat, Liora urged her firmly, "Stay inside, no matter what happens." Then, without another word, the ghost slipped out of the carriage.
Lily remained seated in pain, fighting the urge to look outside. Instead, she pressed her trembling hands together and waited, listening as the sounds of clashing steel grew fiercer. Her palms grew damp with sweat as she rubbed them together, trying to calm herself.
Then swish! A sword pierced through the carriage wall, blood splattering across the carriage and splashing across her face. The blade withdrew, followed by a heavy thud outside.
Lily sat frozen in shock as the curtain was pulled aside. A muscular hand drew the curtain back, and Lucien's concerned face appeared.
"Are you unharmed, Your Highness?" he asked.
"I am doing very well, Archduke. Will you join me for a cup of tea?" she replied with a small smile.
Lucien's lips curved into a smile. "No, thank you, Your Highness. I am rather occupied at the moment. You could perhaps invite me another day." He returned her banter effortlessly.
"I came to check on you, but it seems you are holding up far better than I expected. We are dealing with a small matter outside, but I will return to check on you later," he said sharply.
At that very moment, Lily heard the swish of the sword. Lucien's arm moved, and then she realised, with horror, that he had impaled someone against the wall. He was still smiling at her. He nodded once, released the curtain, and was gone.
Lily's smile disappeared as she exhaled sharply. Her hands trembled as she closed them tightly together. The Archduke had struck down someone while looking at her, yet what shocked her more than his violence was the brief concern she had glimpsed in his eyes and the flash of relief when she invited him for tea.
The clash of steel faded faintly, and dead silence settled. The only thing Lily could hear now was the drumming of the startled horses' hooves. The danger seemed to have passed. Lily inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself.
Then, swish, Liora drifted back inside the carriage.
"Why do you look paler than me?" she asked, pointing at Lily. "And why are you covered in blood?"
Lily gave a tight smile. "I do not know why I am paler than you. But Lucien impaled someone against the carriage, and the blood splashed upon me." She gestured toward the gaping hole left by the sword.
"I see," Liora replied, settling herself beside her. "There were several assassins who attacked, but your brother, Lucien, and the guards handled them."
Her expression suddenly brightened as she fanned her face. "You should have seen them fighting! Especially your brother so handsome." She sighed dreamily. "We never get scenes like this where I come from. Most of the men there are on microphones, making podcasts about women's dresses."
Lily blinked as Liora rambled, not fully comprehending half of her strange words. Still, she was deeply grateful her brother and Lucien had fought off the assassins. To have died again only a day after being reborn would have been a most pitiful fate.
"Oh sorry, I rambled," she said quickly. "It's the misogynoir in me talking," she said.
Lily frowned slightly. In the short time she had known Liora, she realised she understood very little of what the ghost said, especially during such rants. Misogynoir? What strange language was that?
"Were there any losses on our side?" Lily asked, bringing Liora back to the present matter.
"Yes. Some guards," she answered quietly.
"Lily! Lily!" They both heard Evander's urgent voice calling outside, followed by the sound of his hurried footsteps approaching the carriage. They both turned toward the door at the same time.