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I ran forward, crushing wreckage underfoot. Another arrow whizzed through the air. My head snapped in the direction it came from. The archer sat perched on the limb of a tree. Magic swelled within me, tingling over my skin, stretching taunt from underuse.
The earth below me was gone and replaced with the bark of a tree.
“Hello there,” I said.
The archer’s blue armor glinted. A strangled yelp slipped out when he jumped in surprise, nearly dropping his bow. His hands reached to re-nock the arrow as if that would help him, as if that could stop me. I lunged forward.
My shoulder collided with the point of his chin, I wrapped my arms around him and his jutting armor and we fell through the air together. From the limbs of this tree, the drop would kill him if he didn’t have enough noble Fae blood in him. At least, if he did, it would knock him out for a long while. Served him right.
“Sorry, I can’t stay longer, you’ll have to take the rest of the trip by yourself,” I growled as my power pulled me back to the trail.
I settled in a low crouch on the edge of the forest, catching his short-lived scream and the sound of his body crunching against the ground with a thud. Heavy panting breaths pillaged my lungs. Fatigue tormented what was left of my power.
Men still trickled over the hill, though not as many as I expected at the beginning of the fight. My parents had underestimated us. A mistake that worked in our favor no matter how offensive it was.
Pushing off the ground, I sprinted into the woods, flinging my knives into any uncovered piece of flesh available. Eye sockets usually worked the best when using plenty of force with my long-tipped daggers, but getting them right in the jugular was also satisfying.
As their bodies dropped I darted past them, pulling my blades out as I went by. I didn’t care if blood stained my belt line as I slipped my weapons back into place.
Jesseline and Slyke still moved like choreographed dancers, in and out of what was left of the soldiers, only slowing as their numbers lessened. Nymphs sliced through soldiers too, with weapons they picked up off the ground. It didn’t matter if you were trained when you were angry enough and had the gods on your side.
I wove my way to where I'd seen Shavarra last. My pace quickened as I stepped over a lifeless body and then another. Blood and mud mixed in large dark puddles that coated my boots.
A tumble of blonde hair spilled over the ground, a line of crimson trickling down over rounded cheekbones, parted lips, and down her neck. Her body lay still.
A nervous, stuttering breath filled my chest. Mud splashed around my feet as I ran the last few yards to her. More blood coated the neckline of her shirt, warm and wet against my hand. Her chest rose with a shallow breath.
She’s not dead. She’d not dead. She’s not dead.
The rustle of a soldier in the trees pulled my attention up.
Wide drab purple eyes focus on me on me, fear shone within them when a wild roar ripped out of my throat. Birds scattered from far away trees. The soldier turned to run away, scampering back up the hill.
The tingle of magic over my skin moved slower this time but in a blink, I was there, in front of him. Those bright eyes grew wider and his mouth dropped open. He made a pitiful soldier if he was fleeing like this, or maybe he was smart to run from me. My fingers wrapped around the sweaty flesh of his throat. Lifting him in the air, I listened victoriously to the gurgling sound he made as he fought me.
“Tell my mother I said hi,” I hissed before throwing him at my feet. “Now run faster, before I regret sparing your life.”
The man gasped, his feet searching for purchase underneath him before he could even get air into his body. I didn’t take any more time to see if he kept going or not as I dropped into the dirt before Shavarra once more.
Jesseline and Slyke were doing their final sweep of the forest. Any remaining armored Twinity Court lay lifeless. Nymphs around us were helping each other up and examining new wounds. They were less frantic than the last time. Like they had come to expect that bad things were going to happen.
“Shavarra. Oh, Shavarra,” I murmured, rolling her head to the side to examine her injuries. Her mouth opened, but no noise was emitted. Splinters from the fractured trees were embedded in her skin, none deep enough to do serious damage. No, the head injury was what had done it.
Carefully, I slipped my arms under her. The full weight of her body dropped into my arms. We had to get to the Heathern Court. We had to get to Ryker. And we had to get therefaster.
The white stone steps of the castle led down to the waiting buggy. A restless horse huffed and shimmied within its bindings, waiting for the order to carry us forward. It was simple enough transportation, no flashy insignias or sparkling jewels embedded in the wood. Just enough space for two people to sit with the reins or lay in the back with the packed food.
My throat bobbed as I swallowed. Princess Maggie lifted her shimmering auburn gown with one hand as she descended next to me, in her other hand she held a bundle of papers. Her lips parted with a smile, her head constantly swiveling as she took everything in.The strands of her blonde hair sparkled in the crispy rays of the sun that poked out around the shifting clouds. Ever the picture of a goddess.
“Now, Milo, I’m sending this scented parchment with you. Use it to correspond with me. Write me letters; I want to know everything that is happening. Every two days, I’ll send my bird. You’ll know him by his black feathers and the tie at his ankle.” Without asking, the princess opened the bag that hung over my hip and slipped the papers in. Her ring clad hand gave the bag a good pat after she closed it.
“Shouldn’t I be sending that information to your father?” I hummed, trying to appear more bored than scared shitless.
“Oh, you will,” she winked. “But he will send his bird every four days. So you’ll need to writea lotof letters. Keep in mind, we're friends, and friends don’t leave out the details.”
“I wouldn’t dream of doing anything to the contrary.” My feet met at the bottom of the stairs, my hand already clasping the side of the wagon, fingers drumming against the weathered wood.
“No need to rush. It’s only a few days' travel. Just follow the sunrise and eventually you’re bound to run into the Acture Court. Nevertheless…come, come.”
