CHAPTER 154: HELP AT LAST

{Music Recommendation: Already Gone ~ Sleeping At Last}

Percy hastened his steps despite being drenched by the rain. He’d thought to make a stop and rest for the day, maybe return the following day since the weather had suddenly changed and the rain wasn’t stopping.

Rhane wasn’t going to be stressed as the drinking contest was easy. Percy thought of that and decided not to worry himself. But the thought didn’t stick for long; he only felt fulfilled when he was serving.

Percy had never had a time in his life when he wasn’t worrying for the one whom he served. Though Rhane wasn’t his actual master, Jenna had asked him to stay back. And because of it, anyone who was cherished by Jenna was also cherished by him.

Getting to the place, Percy was surprised to see most people standing outside and hiding from the rain in the shed. The contest had ended earlier than expected.

"Rhane," Percy wiped off the rain that blinded his vision once he entered the place. He scanned everyone gathered in the hallway for Rhane.

Percy didn’t see him in the crowd; it would have surprised him if he did. Rhane was solivagant and the only company he enjoyed had to be related to Jenna or his own family.

Percy’s first instinct was to check the dark and quiet sides of the place. Even if Rhane was with Jenna, he would apologize for intruding but be sure he had seen them.

The first person Percy saw was Jenna, but she was speaking to her father with a very serious look on her face. Without announcing his presence, Percy sneaked away.

He had almost given up his search, concluding that Rhane had left immediately after the contest or something serious had happened. But some maidens with their juicy gossip attracted Percy.

"He did that?" one of them asked with a whisper.

The other nodded, "Yes... he is really a scary man. All I wanted was to commend his effort and wins and he just—" the woman exhaled sharply, shaking her head.

"Who does he even think he is... I’ll just—ahhh!!!" The woman’s yelp caused others to scream in unison, jumping away without knowing the reason for fear.

Percy furrowed his brows. He had leaned closer to the woman that was speaking, and when he breathed it scared the living daylight out of the woman, but Percy remained unfazed.

"So... where is he?" he asked casually.

The woman, still terrified, grabbed her chest. "Where is who?! Why would you sneak up on a lady—"

"The man... the scary one that thinks too high of himself," Percy cut the woman short, ignoring her accusations.

The young woman rolled her eyes and pointed ahead. "He walked away rudely and went over there... I don’t know what this contest has unruly men thinking they’re special." She scowled.

Percy bowed as he walked away. "Thank you, thank you, ladies. Have a great evening." He ran down through the hall, searching for Rhane.

If he was still around, he should be standing alone in one of the halls waiting for Jenna.

Percy’s feet slowed when he finally saw Rhane, as he’d thought. Rhane was in a quiet place, but he wasn’t alone. There was a woman!

A woman that wasn’t Jenna. Percy swallowed hard. He looked around the place, ruffling his hair with his fingers.

The reason he had dedicated his life to serving Rhane was because the young man showed affection that was genuine towards Jenna, and not once had Percy seen Rhane with another woman.

Percy turned around. He decided to leave and pretend that he hadn’t seen anything. Maybe take it to his grave rather than watch his mistress get hurt again. Jenna didn’t deserve any of this. But it didn’t sit right with Percy.

Why? Why had Rhane betrayed Jenna? In such a disrespectful way. If he no longer wanted her, he could have left the contest. Was this all worth it? Was that why Rhane had sent him away so he could be with this woman of his?

Percy stood there in the hallway, rubbing his hair intermittently as he tried to get his thoughts together. He just didn’t know what he should do at the moment.

Confronting Rhane and embarrassing him until Jenna heard of the situation sounded like a good idea, but keeping quiet about it sounded even better.

"What should I do?" Percy mouthed to himself. "What should I do..." His voice trailed.

He moved his feet forward, then back. Percy hated that Rhane had gone so low as to put him in this situation.

"Rhane, you—" Percy’s hand remained fisted in the air. Something wasn’t right about the scene.

Rhane’s position seemed like he was resting or even sleeping, and the young woman— she was bringing her face closer. It wasn’t normal.

If a man wanted to kiss a woman, he’d be the one to initiate and not—

"Master Rhane!" Percy shouted, dropping his hand to his side. Rhane had fainted! How had he failed to notice that? Rhane wasn’t the kind of man to be sitting on the floor of a hallway.

The last time Percy saw Rhane in that situation was when he had passed out with his temperature running high.

Percy’s feet moved forward, this time without fear. Without doubt.

"Help us... please save him."

Percy ignored the woman sitting beside Rhane. He shoved her to the side. Sitting on his heels, he touched Rhane’s forehead, then turned to look at the woman. His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"I didn’t do this!" the young woman raised her hands defensively. "It’s not what you think... look, look, he’s bleeding, I think he’s—"

Percy stood up, his eyes hardened. "How am I supposed to believe you didn’t... you could have stabbed him and left him to bleed out but saw me and went ahead to put on an act."

"No... no... look, it’s not what you think," Lois pleaded, rubbing her palm on her dress.

Percy picked up the horsekin that had lain near Rhane’s leg. "If you weren’t trying to harm him, why didn’t you send for help... get physicians..."

"I... he... he asked me not..." Lois closed her eyes, repeating the words in her mind. When she opened her eyes, she shook her head.

"Look, I’m not that kind of woman, I was only trying to help this man. You can ask about me... I am well known, and my family too."

Percy scowled. He was only trying to trap the woman, but time was also running out for Rhane. Bending down, Percy, with a loud grunt, helped Rhane stand on his feet. He didn’t know what had happened earlier and wasn’t going to stay around to find out.

Rhane would have loved to be away from people’s eyes in a situation like this. And this woman— an opportunist must have slipped herself in after seeing Rhane fall.

Percy glanced at the bleeding part of Rhane’s shirt. Of course the wound wasn’t healing fast and had been infected. If it were another, they would be six feet under. Rhane was biting at death and making a bargain with it.

"Woman, I don’t care anything about your family or popularity." Percy held Rhane firmly. Any moment they should be leaving. He just needed to make sure that this woman— whoever she was, kept her mouth shut.

"I’ll pretend nothing like this happened, because I arrived earlier. But if you dare to speak of it... I’ll let the council and everyone know how you poisoned and stabbed an innocent man because he refused to give you attention."

The woman widened her eyes as if an unexpected arrow had been thrown at her. "What? I—"

"I heard everything from some maidens on my way here." Percy didn’t waver; he didn’t blink. "They told me how this man ignored them, but you chose to run after him... stab him and poison him."

Lois opened her mouth and closed it. This wasn’t what she had envisioned at all. "I... I didn’t... I..."

"Good." Percy nodded. "Let’s not do things we won’t want other people to hear." Percy used one hand to hold the side of Rhane’s stomach that was bleeding, before he slowly helped him out of the hallway.

Rhane’s condition was getting worse. His body was no longer hot but now really cold, and he was having chills.

"Please stay alive... please..." Percy prayed internally. He tried to leave with his head high so the woman wouldn’t alarm others, but also he was very much afraid.

And as much as Percy would have loved to let Jenna know of Rhane’s condition, it wasn’t a risk he was willing to take. Rhane came first, and next time he’d tell Jenna.

Getting to the carriage, he helped Rhane in and ordered the coachman to move to the nearest infirmary.

Percy couldn’t help but imagine what exactly had happened during the drinking contest that had led to Rhane’s health worsening even more than the hunting game itself.

As the carriage left the place, with the rain getting heavier, Jenna arrived at the same spot Rhane had been earlier.