The Moments Between Read online

  “Who is he?”

  “He’s the king’s son!” Seph shouted, his eyes wild with fury. “How dare he step foot here! Here, in my camp!” He turned, grabbing hold of her shoulders and shaking her. “What did he do to you?” he screeched. “You must be careful! He’s dangerous!”

  “What’s going on?” a man called from outside, pulling the door open.

  “Eli!” Seph roared, releasing her from his grip and turning to the man. “In my camp!”

  The man gasped, his face turning white.

  “I’ll sound the alarm!”

  “Don’t bother!” Seph told him, cursing again. “He’s long gone by now!”

  “What should we do?” the man cried, terror in his voice.

  “Triple the guard!” Seph hissed, dismissing the man with a wave. “Go, NOW!” The man obeyed, quickly vanishing into the darkness.

  “As for you,” Seph continued, turning his attention back to Laice. “How can you be trusted right now in your state? You can’t even recognize the king’s son!” She cringed, feeling helpless beneath his angry glare.

  “I…I didn’t know!” she protested. Tears filled her eyes. “Stop yelling at me!”

  “Don’t you understand how much danger you were in?”

  “He didn’t look dangerous!” Laice retorted, her throat swelling with a sob. “He was dressed in rags! How was I to know he was a prince?” The bruise on her neck hurt even more now, and she looked down at her hands as tears spilled over her cheeks.

  Seph sighed.

  “I’m sorry, Laice,” he said, his voice calming. He moved towards her, reaching out and pulling her into his arms. “Don’t cry, I’m sorry.”

  “I don’t remember anything!” she choked out. “It’s not my fault!”

  “I know, love, I know,” he said, squeezing her tight. “I’m sorry I yelled, I’m just afraid for you.”

  Laice’s tears began to slow, and Seph let her go.

  “He didn’t hurt me,” she said, sniffling. “He just talked.”

  “What did he say?” Seph asked tensely. She shot him a glance, seeing the fire still burning in his eyes, and she shook her head.

  “Nothing really,” she lied. “You came in before he said much more than his name.” Seph studied her face, but she avoided his gaze.

  “Please,” she said, finally looking at him. “This is too much for me, I need time to calm down. Can you leave me alone? I just want to be alone right now.”

  He stared at her for a long moment, contemplating, then slowly nodded.

  “Keep your sword by your side,” he said. “And you call out for me if he comes back.” She nodded. “No, you have to promise me,” he told her. “I need to hear you say it.”

  “I promise, Seph,” she whispered, forcing a smile. He grunted with satisfaction, turning on his heel and ducking through the door.

  Laice collapsed on her bed the moment he left, her eyes once again brimming with tears. Everything had happened so fast, and now her mind reeled as she tried to process it all. She thought of the crazed look on Seph’s face as he yelled at her, and Eli’s words echoed in her mind.

  He is your enemy.

  “Nothing makes sense,” she whispered, staring up at the ceiling. Sighing, she stood to her feet and retrieved her armor from where Seph had left it, carrying it inside and dropping it on the floor of her tent. Taking the oil and rags from the wardrobe, she sat down and began cleaning and polishing each piece.

  The steel was dented and worn; it had obviously seen many a conflict during its life, battles that she had no memory of. She concentrated as she burnished each surface, trying to remember, but it was no use. She recognized the armor, and her hand remembered the feel of her sword, but nothing beyond that. Her mind was blank, and her frustration built with every swipe of the rags.

  By the time she was finished, Laice’s blood was on fire with anger. She flung the bottle of oil across her tent, seething as she watched the thick fluid trickle down the wall. Her gaze shifted to the dresser, and she got up, stomping across the floor and reaching for the drawers.

  The first two were empty, and she slammed them shut as she moved to open the top drawer. The wood moved easily on its track, sliding open to reveal a hairbrush and a small, round object. Laice took them both out and sat down on the chair, setting the brush on the desk and focusing on the smaller item.

  She turned it over in her hand. It was round and flat, and just a bit smaller than her palm. A halo of roses was carved on the front, and on the back, looping swirls of calligraphy etched out the letters of her name with delicate, perfectly-formed flourishes. The hard, metal surface shone like gold, and there was a small nub sticking up from the top edge. She gently brushed her fingers against it, only to let out a shriek of surprise as the object snapped open in her hands.

  It was a pocketwatch, but it wasn’t right; there weren’t enough numbers, and the few numbers it had ran backwards, counting down from seven and ending with zero. Its one hand, which rested exactly on the seven, wasn’t moving.

  Laice sighed with annoyance; even the watch didn’t make sense. She snapped it shut and moved to toss it away, then paused, staring down at it once more. The watch’s case glinted brightly in the lamplight, and she couldn’t help feeling that it was somehow important, that she needed to keep it close. Sighing again, she slid it into the pocket of her trousers and reached for the brush.

  She had just finished working through the last of the tangles in her hair when she heard Seph call out.

  “Come in!” Laice answered, pulling the brush through her hair one last time.

  “You’ve been busy,” he remarked, glancing at the armor piled up on the floor. “You know, you’re supposed to put it away when you’re done cleaning it.”

  “Did you come here just to tell me that?” she snapped curtly.

  “You’re still mad at me,” he sighed, moving closer. “I’m sorry I yelled at you earlier, Laice.”

  “It’s fine,” she responded flatly, standing up and putting her brush away.

  “But it’s not,” Seph insisted, grabbing her hand. He touched her chin, lifting her face to look at him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken to you that way.”

  “It’s okay, Seph,” she answered. “You were worried, that’s all.” He smiled down at her, brushing a wayward strand of hair out of her face.

  “You clean up nice,” he teased, pinching her cheek. “I don’t recall the last time I saw that rat’s nest on your head combed out like this!”

  “Tell me about it,” she said, pointing at the desk. Droplets of blood stained the wooden surface amid a pile of loose hair, and the brush’s bristles were tinged pink.

  “Do you remember anything yet?” he asked. Laice pursed her lips and shook her head.

  “Nothing,” she answered. “I’ve been trying my hardest, but it’s not coming back to me.” She glanced at the thrown bottle of oil, and Seph followed her gaze.

  “I see,” he mused, eyeing the puddle that had dripped down and gathered on the floor. He chuckled. “I have a spare bottle in my tent, just so you know.” He turned to leave. “It’s almost time for training,” he said. “You’ll want to get dressed.”

  Time.

  Laice pulled the watch from her pocket.

  “Speaking of time,” she began, holding it out to show him. “I found this in my drawer. What does it mean?”

  Seph’s face instantly changed, and she couldn’t help feeling like she’d made a mistake showing it to him.

  “You do have it!” he cried, reaching for the watch. She pulled back, unwilling to let him take it, and he withdrew his hand, pretending not to notice.

  “It’s mine,” he told her. “Can I have it back?” Laice narrowed her eyes.

  “No, it’s not,” she replied, instantly defensive. “It says my name on the back.”

  “I mean, you gave it to me a long time ago,” Seph corrected himself, eyeing it. “I lost it and you got mad. I didn’t know you found it!”
He couldn’t seem to tear his gaze away from her hand.

  “I didn’t tell you I had it?” she asked. Something about his body language was off-putting, and she didn’t believe him.

  “I think you were still angry at me for losing it,” Seph replied, his eyes still locked on the small object.

  “It feels…important,” Laice said. “I think it means something, but I don’t know what. Where did it come from?”

  “I don’t know,” he answered impatiently. “You’ve had it forever, but it’s never worked. You gave it to me a long time ago, and I felt horrible when I lost it. I’d really like to have it back.” He reached for it again, and she quickly put it back in her pocket.

  “It must be important if I got so mad about you losing it,” she said, grabbing her chain mail and boots. “Maybe it’ll help my memory.”

  “But you gave it to me,” Seph protested, his face hurt. He swallowed hard. “Time doesn’t even work anymore, the king took it long ago. Please, give it back.”

  “If it doesn’t matter, why do you want it so much?” she countered, carefully studying his expression. His jaw tightened and his face froze.

  “Never mind,” he said dismissively, forcing a relaxed smile. “It’s yours, and you’ve every right to keep it.” He turned to leave. “Hurry up, we’ll wait for you.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  A large circle of fire blazed in the center of the encampment, and the men were gathered close to its edge, each dressed for battle. They talked amongst themselves, obviously at ease, but their babbling instantly fell silent as Laice and Seph approached.

  “None of that,” Seph admonished as they drew closer to the group. “It’s still Laice, she’s still one of us.”

  “How can she be one of us if she doesn’t even remember us?” one of the men pointed out, and the rest murmured their agreement. “I’d bet my sword she doesn’t even know my name! We all heard what happened, Eli was right in front of her and she didn’t even recognize him!”

  Laice averted her eyes, staring down at her feet in embarrassment, and Seph’s face darkened. In a flash, he crossed the short distance that separated him from the man until they stood toe-to-toe.

  “How easily you forget how many times she’s saved your skin, Goesh!” Seph hissed, narrowing his eyes. “Do you think she’s the only one subject to the king’s magic? What if it was you, would you want us to turn on you so quickly?”

  Goesh looked away.

  “I was just saying,” he grumbled, stepping back from Seph’s imposing figure. “That’s all.”

  “Spare us your feeble-minded opinions,” Seph snarled, shooting a threatening glare at the rest of the men. “She’s one of us, and that’s that!” He seemed to dare someone else to question him, but no one so much as breathed.

  “Now,” he continued, turning and beckoning to Laice. “If we’re through with this nonsense, we have training to do.”

  She watched as the men paired up and began to spar, the sound of clashing swords and curses ringing out in the darkness. Their excitement was catching, and she quickly found herself caught up in the cheers and groans of the other spectators. She was so engrossed in the scene that she almost didn’t notice Seph tap her on the shoulder.

  “Your turn,” he told her, and her eyes grew wide.

  “You expect me to do that?” she asked incredulously. “I don’t know how!”

  “Yes, you do,” he responded, dismissing her concern with a wave. “Your mind may not remember, but I’ve no doubt your hands will.”

  “I’ll get killed!” she protested, shaking her head. Seph laughed.

  “No one dies here!” he snorted, and the men joined in, pointing and snickering. “For someone with no memory, you’ve no problem recalling the stories of old!” She glared at them, her face hot with embarrassment. Seph gestured at her arm.

  “It’s part of the king’s curse over the land,” he told her. “When he stole the sun, he decreed that none should die. That’s why your arm grew back, any injury you sustain will heal. It’ll hurt like hell, though, before it does.” He glanced back at the men, winking.

  “But…but―”

  “Enough excuses! Don your armor, you’ll spar against me.”

  Laice’s mouth went dry as she tightened the leather straps that held her breastplate in place, her aching throat refusing to swallow the lump of nervous anxiety that had appeared there. She stepped into the circle of fire, almost tripping over herself, and the men pressed in close to watch.

  Seph unsheathed his sword.

  “I’ll not take it easy on you,” he warned, flexing his knees as he began to slowly circle her.

  “You’re sure it’ll heal?” Laice choked out, awkwardly brandishing her own sword. “I don’t know, Seph, my throat hurts for some reason, so maybe it’s not―”

  “GAHHH!!!”

  Seph lunged, interrupting her mid-sentence and catching her off-guard. She tried to dodge, but his blade slipped through a gap in her armor, plunging into her side. She screamed as pain burned through her.

  “Come now, Laice,” he scolded, pulling his sword free as he backed away and repositioned himself. “You’re making this too easy!” He snickered, lifting his arms in mock triumph as he played to the jeering men. “Then again, I suppose you never were much of challenge for me!”

  The air filled with uproarious laughter, but Laice ignored it as she tore off her helmet and clutched her side. She winced as blood gushed through her fingers, then, sure enough, the pain began to fade. She glanced down; the wound was gone, and she slowly straightened.

  “I can’t do this!” she cried. “I don’t know how!” Seph turned to look at her, his gray eyes sparkling through his helmet as the crowd fell silent.

  “RAISE YOUR SWORD!”

  His roar startled her into instant obedience. He lunged again, this time slashing her face.

  “Enough, Seph!” Goesh called from the sidelines. “She can’t do it!”

  “She can!” Seph shouted. “I know she can!” With a cry, he ran towards her, his sword lifted high above his head as he prepared to strike. Laice cringed, unable to look as she braced herself.

  CLANG!

  The sound of clashing steel reverberated in her ears, and she opened her eyes to see her sword locked with Seph’s. She had moved without thinking, and her mouth dropped open with surprise as a cheer went up from the men.

  “See?” Seph crowed, his wild eyes sparkling. He backed away, readying himself, and Laice couldn’t help a giggle of astonishment as she felt her body take itself into a defensive stance.

  Her hands flashed as she parried Seph’s blows, her feet moving quickly as she danced around him. His neck grew red with exertion as he tried to land a strike, but, just as he had said, her body remembered what to do. The men screamed encouragement as she fought, and it seemed like her very being trembled with adrenaline and exhilaration as she blocked each of Seph’s attacks.

  Finally, as he spun on his heel in an attempt to hit her from behind, Laice saw an opening. Reckless abandon washed over her as she dropped to one knee and drove her sword straight up, impaling him under his chin with enough force to send the tip of her blade through the top of his skull. He froze mid-turn and collapsed to the ground, and a gasp of shock echoed through the air.

  Grinning with triumphant glee, Laice turned to the men, her arms raised in victory as her heart pounded in her ears.

  “I won!” she shouted, jumping up and down amid thunderous applause. “I did it!” Goesh stepped into the circle and slapped her on the back.

  “You’re full of surprises, now, aren’t you?” he mused, pulling off Seph’s helmet and placing his foot on his face. He wrenched her sword free and handed it back to her. Laice glanced down at Seph’s lifeless form, and her elation faded for a moment as concern washed over her. He wasn’t moving, and a tingle of worry raced up her spine.

  She held her breath, watching him. The moments ticked by, feeling like forever, until finally she saw his ch
est move.

  “What happened?” Seph moaned, reaching up and clutching the top of his head.

  “Our Laice bested you, that’s what!” Goesh laughed. Seph blinked, then winced.

  “And she said she didn’t remember,” he mumbled, cringing. He lay on the ground for a moment, then leaped to his feet in a sudden bound.

  “I knew you could do it!” he cried, reaching out and grabbing her. “I knew it would come back to you!”

  “Are you okay?” Laice asked, struggling free of his suffocating embrace and staring up at him. “Your head doesn’t hurt?” Seph threw his head back with laughter, draping his arm over her shoulders.

  “I’m fine!” he answered. “You did a fine job, I’d have done the same to you!”

  They stepped out of the circle and the men crowded around her, congratulating her before dispersing and heading back to their tents. As Laice watched them disappear into the darkness, she turned to Seph.

  “What now?” she asked, sighing as the thrill of adrenaline faded from her veins. “Is it time to eat?” He gave her a strange look.

  “There you go again,” he said, eyeing her. “Speaking of old times as if you’ve lived them.”

  “What do you mean? What does food have to do with old times?”

  Seph pointed to a large, flat rock near the fire, gesturing for her to sit.

  “Laice, you’ve never eaten anything in your life,” he told her, watching as the embers burned low. “Those are just stories from before―”

  “Before the king stole the sun,” she interrupted, finishing his sentence. “You keep saying that, but I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t understand why it feels like I do know about these things. Like being tired, or eating, or dying.” She thought of what Eli had said, and she pursed her lips, eyeing Seph. “If there’s no such thing as being tired, why is there a bed in my tent?”

  “Because sometimes people want to lie down,” Seph answered, shrugging. “You don’t have to be tired to want to lie down.”

  “But I remember tired,” Laice insisted. “I remember eating.”