Fire in the Heart : The Princess and the Bandit (9781629020112) (13 page)

He had never felt this kind of pressure before. Feeding his friends never felt like this, even with the guards chasing him. He held onto the hope that Aiken would have the answers he was looking for. The prison area was quiet, and the few passersby didn’t pay him any heed at all. They were all heading toward the city center and the bustle of acrobatic activity still going full swing. A string of men on camels slowly plodded past, and his next sight was the dirty brown stone of the prison. There, beside its formidable walls stood the devastated weapons shop, now completely dark. The low, prison windows, peered out at him, beckoning him closer. Stooping down, he was greeted with only thick, dark silence. The next cell one wasn’t empty though. A younger man was chained to the back wall.

Suddenly, he jumped. “Looking for me?”

A set of blue eyes stared at him from yet the next window over. “Aiken?” exclaimed Elijah.

“Yes, yes. I am still in one piece,” came his half-hearted reply.

Elijah knelt down, shaking slightly.

Aiken calmly asked, “Yes?”

“I need information. I believe you have it.” Elijah quickly glanced down the street.

Aiken shrugged. “Well, that depends. What information are you looking for?” he replied.

Elijah paused. “Who killed the weapons smith? Who killed the guards?” he finally blurted out.

Arms crossed, Aiken stepped back into his protective shadows. “Now, why would I tell you that?”

Elijah frowned. “Why wouldn’t you?” he asked.

Aiken smiled. “Information is power. If you help me, I will help you,” he replied as he again closed in on the bars.

But Elijah shook his head. “It doesn’t work like that, Aiken.”

“Oh, it doesn’t? And how does it work?”

Then Elijah leaned closer. “I need your help. Please! I just need to know who killed those men,” he pleaded.

The moonlight struck against Aiken’s dirt-streaked face. “Well, I just need out of here. Help me get out, and I will tell you the name of the killer.”

Elijah glanced to the ground. “How am I supposed to help you? I am just a bandit! There is no way I can get through the guards and free you. I am sorry! If I could, trust me, I would!”

Aiken clenched the bars. “When you want something bad enough, you can achieve whatever you set your mind to,” he said.

Suddenly, Elijah raised his voice. “Many people’s lives are at stake! I need to find out who this is! Someone very dear to me is in trouble now! I need help! Please! Just give me the name!”

But Aiken wouldn’t budge. “Sorry. Can’t help you,” he affirmed and started to turn. But then he stopped. “Karam,” he said.

Elijah had stood up to walk away and abruptly stopped. Looking back, he didn’t say a word.

Aiken repeated himself. “His name is Karam.”

Elijah felt his blood rush to his head. “I knew it,” he exclaimed.

Aiken asked, abruptly, “You know him?” Elijah could see his face clearly now.

“Yes,” whispered Elijah sharply. “I can’t believe he has fallen this far!”

“Then you know it’s best to stay away from him,” said Aiken, pointing at Elijah.

Elijah grimaced. “He threatens the one I love! I will confront him!”

Aiken’s stern voice echoed in Elijah’s ears. “Elijah!” he practically shouted. Aiken continued, “I know men like him. He is power hungry and he will do anything to achieve his goal, even if it means killing others,” he said, shaking his head.

Elijah leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “I do not fear him.”

Aiken whispered loudly, “Then do not fear him, but respect his ambitions, for if you don’t, it will kill you. He would kill you, Elijah, without a moment’s hesitation. You have been warned.”

Elijah stared down into the opening and nodded. “Thanks, Aiken,” he replied.

Aiken reached out his hand, fingers spread. “Could I now persuade you to help me? Remember! Whatever your heart desires, I know a way it can come true!” he repeated.

Elijah knelt. “I have everything I could ask for,” he replied, grinning. “Thanks anyways, though. Take care, Aiken.”

Aiken sighed as Elijah disappeared around the corner.

On his way back to the hideout, his thoughts raced about how he must confront Karam! He refused to put Natalia in harm’s way! He felt his chest thump when the image of that shadow by the secret entrance played back in his mind. He suddenly screamed inside,
Not on my clock!

The warm glow of the hideout seemed to offer a calming reassurance as he stepped through the front door and saw Karim sitting, sharpening his blade.

Karim glanced up. “Good evening, Elijah,” he said.

Elijah felt his chest tighten but knew he must ask. “Karim. I need your help.”

His blade slid across the stone a few more times before he turned. “Of course you do. What is it now?” he replied, grinning.

Elijah raised his voice. “Karam!”

“What about him?” asked Karim, frowning slightly.

“He…he is killing people around the city, and now I think the princess is in danger,” blurted Elijah.

Karim’s blade screeched again across the smooth stone. “She is only in danger because you put her in danger.”

Elijah glared. “Karim! How could you say that?”

Karim quickly stood up and sheathed his blade. “Elijah, I am your friend, and as your friend, I will tell you the truth. You are a bandit, she is a princess. Did you really think it was going to work out?” he said, shaking his head.

Elijah glanced down. “Karim. It’s not like that! It’s not my fault Karam is insane!”

Karim nodded. “No. It’s not. But this is your world, Elijah. You live in a dangerous world, a world in which you never know when you’re going to get a next meal, a world where guards hunt you down to kill you.” Karim clenched his jaws. “Her world is the opposite. A world of safety, prosperity, and wealth. A life where other people live to serve her and make her happy!”

Elijah listened to the rushing wind as it fluttered the rug across the doorway. “Then what would you have me do?” he whispered as his voice cracked a little.

Karim hesitated. “Do you care for her?” he asked.

Elijah’s next words caused their eyes to meet. “With all my heart.”

Karim frowned. “Then end it between you two. The more you lure her out here, the more danger she will be faced with. It’s your choice, Elijah. But remember. Any choice you make will affect others. There is no denying this,” he replied.

Elijah clenched his jaws and walked over to his blanket roll under the table. He noticed how flat it looked and immediately ripped it open. The silver and emerald were nowhere to be seen! “What!” he shouted. “Who took my belongings?”

Karim jerked around. “What are you talking about?” he yelled.

“Who took it?” Elijah demanded as his face turned red.

“Took what, Elijah?”

Elijah turned to Karim. “Who took it?! Did you take it?” he demanded, veins bulging.

Karim pleaded, “I do not know what you talking about!”

Elijah quickly scanned the room. “Who was here last?” he shouted.

“Isabelle.”

Elijah’s color slowly began to return to a healthy tan. “Of course…where did she go?” he asked, fists clenched.

Karim shrugged. “She went with Nizar somewhere.”

Elijah’s strained voice started to rise again. “How is she not here? She is always here at this time of night!”

Karim yelled, “Elijah. You are always gone. Most of them see you as their leader. How are they supposed to follow when their leader disappears?”

Elijah moved over to the table. “I need to find her! Especially if she is with Nizar,” he said as he reached out for his sword.

Karim turned to follow. “Are you planning to fight them?”

Elijah glanced back. “No…I plan to use this on Karam, if necessary.”

“Elijah! You need to settle down. You have a lot to consider. Collect your thoughts.”

Elijah smiled. “Don’t worry. I know what I am doing. You should come. This will be so much fun!” he said as his eyes slowly narrowed.

Karim pulled back. “How so, Elijah?”

“Because I also have to stop a prince from getting to the princess,” replied Elijah, grinning.

Karim threw up his hands. “What! You have lost your mind!” They both stood there, staring at each other.

Smiling, Elijah replied, “Maybe. But it’s all for the best.”

“So let me get this straight. You’re first going find a leader of the biggest gang in this city. Then you’re going to find a friend who stole a precious item from you. Then you’re going to stop a prince from getting to the princess?” said Karim, shaking his head.

“Something like that,” said Elijah as he turned away.

Karim slowly smiled. “Okay,” he replied.

After one more glance at Karim, Elijah said, “Let’s go.”

Karim shook his head and followed Elijah out the door.

Chapter 15

T
he moon hid
behind swollen, black clouds as Elijah and Karim clung to the sparse cover along the way to Karam’s hideout. Elijah peered straight ahead while Karim kept glancing behind them. Karim bumped into Elijah when he stopped abruptly in his tracks. Thunder boomed in the distance.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Elijah,” exclaimed Karim as Elijah shook him off.

Elijah stared at the looming tower of a building just ahead. “I have dealt with Karam before. It’s nothing I can’t handle,” he replied, ducking behind some low-lying bushes.

Karim turned around. “Well, remember. You foiled his plans to assassinate the sultan and the princess,” he said as he glanced at the narrow sharp-edged structure.

Elijah could make out the entrance of the crumbling building and realized that it was going to be a climb to reach it. It looked like it would fall at any moment because of the rocks and foundation that had already given way. The lower floor’s exposed corners looked like they had been destroyed by some powerful force, with huge sections completely gone. The three floors above the enormous gaps rose to the sky as if still fully supported. Elijah saw a movement several floors above the rocky ground, what looked like an archer, but he wasn’t sure. Someone was there, though as he motioned toward Karim.

Elijah whispered, “I know, and I can’t have him getting another shot at killing the Sultan and princess.”

“I heard he is building an army,” replied Karim with a nod.

Elijah shrugged. “He doesn’t scare me, Karim.”

“Maybe he should.”

Suddenly, some rocks crashed down the nearby embankment, landing with a
thud
. Two men emerged from behind a teetering mound of rubble in front of the abandoned house.

Elijah and Karim ducked behind a pile of broken stone as the two men took position in front of the open entrance to the building.

Elijah grabbed Karim’s sleeve and stepped out into the open. One of the men jerked around and unsheathed his sword. “Are you here to be recruited?” he shouted.

Elijah looked him up and down before he replied, “No. I’m here to talk to Karam.”

The other bandit yelled back, “Who’s asking?”

“Elijah,” he shouted.

The first one to speak scratched his chin. “That name sounds familiar,” he mused.

Elijah’s calm voice echoed across the rock-strewn surface. “It should be.”

The man pointed his sword at Elijah and said, “Hold on.”

The remaining bandit clung to his sword as Elijah approached. “Do you like working for Karam?” asked Elijah.

The man immediately burst forth. “It is glorious! Soon, we will rule this city!”

“I am sure you will,” replied Elijah with a grin.

Karim kicked up some dirt as the minutes ticked by. Finally, the messenger reappeared and said, “He is expecting you.” His sword pointed toward the entrance.

Elijah nodded. “Good. Well, we’re ready.”

The man then jumped in front of Elijah and Karim and stepped into the cool, dark passageway. “Follow me.”

They quickly arrived in the basement after passing over crumbled steps and mounds of trash. As they turned the corner, over two hundred sets of eyes surrounded Karam, seated in an overstuffed chair. They all seemed to turn in unison with their arrival and erupted in confused shouts of victory. Several men stood and slammed their closed fists against their own chests, shouting, “Karam, Karam, Karam.”

Karim grabbed Elijah’s arm from behind. “This is not good,” he said.

Elijah whispered, “We will be fine.”

Karam leaned back. “Ahh, Elijah. What brings you to my base of operations?”

Elijah stepped forward and stopped. “It’s simple, Karam. Leave me and the princess alone.”

Karam launched out of his chair. “You don’t give the orders here,” he shouted above the din of his men’s laughter.

Elijah winked. “You having fun playing sultan?”

Karam’s curt reply came quickly. “I’m not playing,” Two steps later, he was breathing in Elijah’s face. “I am sultan,” he shouted, causing his men to erupt in screaming.

Elijah turned away slightly. “You have lost your mind,” he whispered.

“Have I?”

Elijah glared back. “Quit following the princess and me!”

Suddenly, Karam held on to his swords. “Oh, really?” he chuckled as he circled Elijah. “I am sorry. I am afraid you have been kept in the dark for too long, Elijah. This city…this city is my city!” He lowered his head and thrust his swords into the air. “I can capture the princess at any moment I choose! I have her lover right here in my home.” Elijah clenched his jaws as the man continued to rant. “I have a secret passage into the palace! I have men! My army grows daily! Desperate men from all over the city are tired of being beggars! There is a storm coming, my dear Elijah!” Karam turned and faced him. “And whoever gets in my way will perish!”

Elijah stared into the man’s black eyes. “You have lost your mind! Do you really think you can take over the entire city?” he shouted.

A hush filled the room as it awaited Karam’s answer. And then it came. “Yes.”

Elijah’s eyes darted to Karim and then down to his sword.

Karam continued. “In fact, I will be generous,” he said as the turned away. “I will give you one more opportunity to join me.” He abruptly turned back to Elijah. “It is your choice. Die today or live tomorrow. Which is it?”