“And the third one?” I push him for more, mainly to quell my boredom.
“Evokari is what the king does,” Barnham explains. “They can bend people to their will, manipulate others’ magic, and shape the energy around them.”
My eyes widen in curiosity. That’s how Wrath forced answers out of me when he questioned me. Even thinking of it sends the same chill down my spine.
“Now, will you stop asking me questions?” Barnham’s tone is annoyed.
“Thank you,” I say kindly, returning my attention to the landscape around us.
As we crest a hill, a small town comes into view. Every structure is abandoned, with broken windowpanes, sagging roofs, and weathered wood fences. I try to spot any townsfolk, but it is barren and devoid of life.
“What is that?” I ask.
“The town of Liora.”
That means we are close to the northern border. Soon enough, we will be crossing into the Elvarran lands. My pulse thrums with the thought, the anticipation of the unknownsending a thrill through me. The south is dry and warm, so does that mean the north is lush and green?
“It’s seen better days…” Barnham absently comments.
“What do you mean?” I tear my gaze away from the village.
“It looks like last winter was hard on them. There are fewer guards and fewer people in the fields, and some of their crops were wiped out due to the tainted water supply,” he explains vaguely.
“Every winter gets more difficult for the humans,” I reply. “We’ve sent rations to Liora for years, but I had no idea it was this… downtrodden.”
“It’s been difficult for the West this past year.”
“Why—?”
An arrow flies directly into my horse, making it rear. I scramble, clutching my reins as I try to avoid falling off. It whinnies in pain as I try to keep her under control, my horse continuing to buck. Something hits my shoulder, a sharp burst of pain erupting as an arrow lodges itself into my skin.
The impact makes me lose my grip on the reins, as the horse throws me from its back. I hit the dirt with a heavy thud, the impact knocking the air from my lungs. There’s no time to think. I rip the arrow free and roll to avoid the stomping hooves that threaten to trample me. I cry out in pain, my hand instinctively moving to cover the wound as blood coats my fingers. I have never been in battle, utterly helpless amid the chaos.
A figure approaches me, raising their sword high as they prepare to strike. Panic shoots through me like a lightning bolt as I roll quickly to the side. The sword sinks into the dirt beside my head, barely missing me. I try to stand, but the man shoves me into the dirt, causing my back to hit the ground once more. Pain shoots through my wound as my head snaps back,rendering me incapacitated. I try to get on my feet, but a hand closes around my throat, closing my airway with a forceful grip.
“Traitor!” He spits at me, moving to swing at me once more.
I can see the figure is clearly human… so why is he trying to kill me?
My heart is pounding rapidly in my ears, drowning out all else. I look around for a weapon, but there are none. I raise my hands in front of my face and prepare for the blow to hit me. A sword erupts through the man's chest, and a shower of blood rains down on me. Terror rips through me as the hot and sticky liquid coats my face and neck. The man falls dead to the ground beside me. My hand flies to my mouth, an attempt to push down the rising bile.
Barnham holds out a hand for me to take. “We have to move!”
He pulls me to my feet. I reach down to grab the sword from the man's lifeless grip. The blade is hefty, and I drop it before trying to pick it up again.
“You’re not strong enough to wield a broadsword.” He pulls out a small dagger and hands it to me. “Aim for the chest or the eyes.”
I take it from him as more people rush toward us. A fist closes around my scalp and yanks at my hair. The pull is so intense I feel hair rip from my head, causing me to cry out in pain as tears well in my eyes.
“I done snatched the Princess!” he shouts, holding a blade to my neck.
The dagger cuts my neck slightly as he holds me, a trickle of blood running down my skin. I grit my teeth and swing my arm backwards, sinking the dagger into his side. He screams as I rip it free to do it again. The man moves to kill me. Marek plunges his sword through his chest, killing him instantly.
The man drops to the ground, nearly taking me with him. I bump into something—no, someone. They yank a bag over my head, plunging me into darkness. Panic fills me as I try to get away, swinging my dagger blindly through the air as arms try to restrain me.
“You bitch!” A man swears as I catch my dagger across something. “Human dick ain’t good enough for ya, Princess? You like the taste of magical swimmers instead?”
His words make my stomach turn.
