“Myah and Xena? These are your horses?” I shriek, like an excited child, jumping in place.
A deep laugh booms out of him. “Yes, I wanted you to finally meet my friends. Plus, don’t you think it’s time we have our first date?”
A burst of energy hits me as I rush toward them, my excitement overwhelming. The two white horses tower over me, their legs long and powerful, making the House of Hedro seem small in this moment. A slight difference is visible between the two, with gray spots marking one of the beasts' noses. Their beauty is breathtaking, embodying pure strength and stamina.
“That’s Xena. She’s been mine since I was ten. Her mother was my father’s horse. When she was born, my father trainedher, and she was a gift. The first and only gift he’s ever given me.” He points to the stark white horse as she meets his gaze and snorts in delight, her long gray mane flowing in the breeze like she’s proud he’s speaking about her.
“The one with gray spots is Myah. She’s gentle but strong. You don’t want to get on her bad side—just like you, Princess,” he laughs. “I’ve had her almost as long as Xena. During one of my father’s punishments, the man I was fighting had her chained. When…I killed him, I took his horse and vowed to give her an amazing life, better than she would have received from that monster. We’ve all been inseparable since—like family.”
I press my hand against her cheek. Her piercing blue eyes shine into mine. She nudges me back as if saying hello. “They are both so beautiful.” The widest grin graces my face, showing all my teeth. True happiness in this moment casts away all darkness. I turn to Silas to see him staring at me with just as much delight.
“What?” I ask, still giddy.
“You are beautiful,” he replies.
My face reddens as guilt flushes through me once more about my earlier actions. “I’m sorry.” I lower my head.
“I know,” he responds. “You just scared me, is all. I’ve waited so long to be with you, and I don’t want to lose you now, Briar.”
“I promise I’m not going anywhere.” I flash him a soft smile. “Can we ride them?”
“Well, that’s why they are here, of course.”
I mount Myah, lightly kicking her side as we begin to trot toward the castle—the small movements causing pain to radiate through my sore body. Silas follows me, allowing me space to ride in silence through Daramveer. The sunset acts like magic before us—a promise that the sun will return to bless us with another day. I can only hope to live long enough to witness a few more magical moments like this.
The town around us is quiet, and most houses are dark for the night.
“Briar,” Silas cuts the silence. “I’m not sure why I’ve dreamed of you for so long or why we are connected, but my life for so long has been filled with a darkness that I think you can understand. However, when you are around, I feel lighter. I know you were cautious of me—I can’t say I blame you—but I intend to protect you and those you care for. I will work the rest of my life to prove to you I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
The horses’ hooves echo down each dark alley we pass, sending an uneasy feeling through my body. An instant shift puts us both at full attention. Silas glances in my direction, refusing to make eye contact and risk distraction.
“Myah,” he clicks his tongue, “Stay close.”
The horse follows, moving closer to Xena’s back, indicating a genuine trust between the two beasts. The breeze seems to pause as we move down the cobblestone streets, and darkness creeps over the tops of the buildings.
A hooded figure steps into the road, blocking Myah from moving forward. The suddenness startles the horse, causing her to rear up and knock me backward. The fall makes my ears ring as I land hard on the street. The hooded figure advances, revealing himself as a man I’ve never seen before but who is clearly an elder Wielder. “You will bring this land to ruin. You are darkness, and you are evil.”
He raises a sword as I pedal backward, trying to escape the swing. Sparks fly, the sword landing mere inches from my body. Rage boils in my chest as shadows begin to dance in response. I slowly rise, preparing to fight as Silas kicks the man in the chest. Stepping over his fallen body, he places his boot firmly on the man’s throat. The man grabs Silas’s leg, but he remains unmoving, only applying more pressure to the struggle. “Stop!” the man cries.
Silas’s eyes darken, his voice rasping and hard, “If you try to harm her while I’m around, I will kill you. If you try to harm her while I’m not around, I will hunt you. Then I will kill you.” Silas moves inches from the man, towering over his frail body, “And if you even so much as think about harming her, I will haunt your dreams, your nightmares, and the harm I will do to you will make you wish you never have a thought again.”
The man’s eyes turn wild, “You are a fool. Don’t you see it! She will kill us all one day. Don’t you feel it? What’s inside her?” He points a trembling finger in my direction.
Silas leans in closer, “I’m warning you. Not another foul word toward the princess.”
“She… is… death.” The man hesitates but continues, barely a whisper leaving his shriveled lips.
Silas grabs the man’s throat and shifts out of sight. I slowly rise, whipping my head in all directions. I steady Myah and rush to grab Xena’s reins, “Shhh,” I whisper to each horse.
“Silas!” I yell, my voice bouncing off the stone walls surrounding us. The night seems to freeze as I search in each direction for a shadow, a figure, a noise—anything to tell me where he took that man. Myah and Xena pause, focusing on something moving and lurking down the dark alley. Even the blackest nights aren’t as dark as the shadows billowing from the thin road.
Then I see the creature that’s been haunting me slide into view, the horses raising up in fright. A scream freezes in my throat as it approaches. I cover my ears, hoping to block out the unnatural hissing from its mouth, “You know what you are now, don’t you!”
I crouch down, wrapping my arms around my body, and the horses stomp and snort wild above me.
A gust of wind whips my hair in my face as Silas comes into view, no man or creature anywhere to be found. “Are you okay?” he runs to me.
“What did you do to him,” I ask, unsure if I want the answer.
