Prologue
Bronwynn crept through the trees, silently blending in with her surroundings, icy air puffing out with every exhale. The forest was pitch black, the clouds blocking the moon’s light. Hopefully the rain held out. Reaching up she pulled the hood of her cloak tight around her body, making sure to keep her long braid tucked inside. Wet hair would be disastrous in these temperatures. Her long muscular legs were beginning to ache from the day's exertion and she needed to stop soon. She wore tight fitting black leather pants that ended in matching boots, laced halfway up her calves, and soft gloves that were great against the elements. However, it was the black cloak that really kept the chill away, but even it wouldn’t be a match for the frigid rain that was surely coming.
There were just a few more hours until dawn. She was in the home stretch, soon she’d officially be a part of the elite. The Thorns. She had spent months mastering her skills, learning to be deadly. It had been trial after trial of poison, obstacle courses, and rigorous training sessions-her body littered with bruises and blisters. The worst part by far had been this challenge,created to force new cadets to utilize every skill their mentors had drilled into them in a real life scenario. They wouldn’t all make it out, but she would. No one would ever be able to hurt her or those she loved ever again.
Bronwynn leaned back against a tree, taking a moment to catch her breath, and survey her surroundings. She had been stabbed, hadn’t seen him coming at her until it was too late. She would need to work on her defensive skills more. It was a weakness that she couldn’t afford. A shadow shifted, a few feet to her left. Ducking instinctively-a throwing knife embedded into the tree where her head had been a heartbeat ago.
“Anza, he’s fast! I should’ve lost him by now!”
Trees whipped by as Bronwynn sprinted through them. Her breath coming in ragged bursts, sharp and shallow, as the pain in her shoulder pulsed with each step. She pressed a gloved hand against the wound-warm blood oozing between her fingers.Gods, that burns like fire!She would need to wrap it, to get the bleeding to stop.
Turning sharply, Bronwynn took off again, zig zagging through the trees, her heart pounding. Her mind raced with what she needed to do next. Another thud behind her. This time footsteps, quick and light, someone fast. But she was faster. Speed and endurance were her greatest allies but right now she needed a different approach. Grabbing a low lying branch, Bronwynn launched herself upward into the canopy. She would have to wait him out to get the upper hand. She would not fail, not this time. Sitting motionless, her blood dripped silently to the ground. A twig snapped just below her. Without hesitation, Bronwynn dropped from her perch, daggers flashing. Her attacker, a wiry figure in obsidian leathers, met her strike midair. Steel clanged. Sparks flew. They danced with a brutal rhythm, footfalls muffled by the forest'sundergrowth.
“You’ll never make it out of here alive”, he growled, pushing her back. “You’re too weak.”
“I. AM. NOT. WEAK!” she parried each blow, dancing back.
He lunged. Bronwynn dropped low, sweeping his legs. He stumbled. One strike, deep to the gut, with a twist. He collapsed, gasping. She knew it was within the rules to kill an opponent when attacked, but she wouldn’t. It wasn’t in her nature to maim future allies. But she would not stay to help him either.
Staggering to her feet, she disappeared into the trees again. She couldn’t run forever, but she would survive tonight. She just had to make it a little further.
Looking around to find shelter, Bronwynn spied an outcropping of rocks in the distance. Taking off at a slow jog, her head swiveled in all directions, ever watchful for fellow cadets. The throb of her shoulder, her only companion. All she needed was to get this far and bleed out in the last few hours. No way was that going to happen. Nearing the rocks, she slowed to a walk.
Stopping completely, she cocked her head to the side. Something in the distance caught her attention. A shadowy figure, tucked into the trees, barely visible, moved quickly in the opposite direction. She would have missed it if not for the fact that she was on high alert. Unnerved and refusing to be taken so easily, Bronwynndropped down to a crouch, ducking behind the rocks. Half crawling, she searched for any crevice that might provide shelter for the night and shield her from further attacks. She was small in size and would be able to squeeze into some tight places.There - a small indent, just ahead, perfect to meld into.
Not waiting to check for a stray animal, she slid inside. To her surprise, it wasn’t a wild animal she had to worry about atall but a newborn babe, swaddled tightly in a blanket.Oh, Gods! It can’t be more than a couple of months old. Who would do such a thing?Quickly crawling into the hole, she picked the baby up and big gray eyes met hers.
“Where did you come from?”, she exclaimed in a hushed whisper, her thoughts returning to the shadowy figure in the trees.
Bronwynn had never wanted to be a mother; in truth, the entire idea of motherhood terrified her, but holding that precious babe in her arms melted her heart more than a little bit. Gently unswaddling the baby, she quickly checked it over, and contrary to its surroundings and location, it appeared to be otherwise healthy and alert. It didn’t have any marks on it and seemed to be warm enough. She wasn’t sure what the best option was at this point. Stay here and risk a possible attack if whoever left them came back? Or leave but take the child with her? Neither seemed like viable options.
“What am I going to do with you, little one?” Bronwynn whispered, careful not to cast her voice in case any others lurked nearby.
The baby just cooed and snuggled into her chest, yawning big. Whatwasshe going to do? She couldn’t keep the babe; that was out of the question, and she knew no one who could. Yet, she couldn’t leave it there, alone and vulnerable. Letting out a heavy breath, Bronwynn settled in for the last few hours before dawn. Come morning she was going to have to make her way back to base, possibly having to fight off fellow cadets. She couldn’t do that with a baby in tow and her useless shoulder.Shit. Come on Bron, you can figure this out.She sat, rocking the babe, lost in her thoughts, oblivious to the lone figure watching from the trees.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, reverberating through the thick forest. Heavy raindrops fell as the skyfinally released its hold on them. Bronwynn looked down to see the baby had fallen asleep, envy mixing with her growing anxiety.To be able to sleep so soundly and quickly!
Bron knew that she needed to settle her mind, or sleep would never find her. She breathed deep, and recited the only words that ever gave her any sense of center in her chaotic life, “Be the calm-the steady hands in the dark.”
She had been taught to feel it, believe it, to focus on her breathing, and find her center. The rain droned on, broken up only by streaks of lightning, brightly lighting up the night sky. Eventually, she drifted to sleep, despite the storm.
Bronwynn was awakened by a pitiful whimper. Disoriented for a moment, it took her a second to remember what was making that noise. The events of the night before tumbled into focus and she looked down at the babe squirming in her arms.Thank the Gods I didn’t drop it during the night!
The first colors of dawn lit the morning sky. Shit, she had slept longer than intended. It was ok, there was still enough darkness to use to her advantage. Bouncing the baby, she gathered up her things and prepared for the trek back into the forest. Hopefully, the baby would stay quiet long enough for them to make it back to safety. She had gotten as close as she dared to the base the night before, avoiding any of the obstacles that surely awaited those who tried to get there first. It wasn’t about being first, just being the best. Peeking her head out of the rocks, she scanned the trees. No movement, no noises except the forest creatures awakening for the day.
“Ok, wee one, time to be quiet.” She whispered, the baby looking up at her with big eyes.
Gripping the baby tight against her chest, she stepped away from her shelter. Still nothing moved. Bronwynn set off for base, relying on her stealth to keep them safe. As she neared her destination, she slowed. The baby had miraculously been silent for the surprisingly uneventful trek; no explosions, no animal attack, no surprises of any kind.Strange.
A quiet ringing tickled at the edge of her hearing but quickly drew louder, turning swiftly into the clang of steel blades meeting. Bron stopped, crouching low. She could see two cadets fighting each other in the distance. Clearly Fari’s good fortune had run out. However, this could work to her advantage. Their noises would mask hers as she rushed by, as they would, hopefully, be too engaged in grappling with each other to notice her. Staying low, she used the tall grass to shield her, running on silent feet towards the gates ahead. Much to her amazement, she encountered no further obstacles, no hidden traps in the undergrowth, no other cadets brandishing weapons. She was through the gates. They were safe.
“You’re my good luck charm, little one”, she laughed, trying to catch her breath.
Preoccupied with the baby, she didn’t see The Black Thorn until she damn near ran right into him. His strong hands grasped her shoulders, causing her to hiss in pain.
“Whoa, cadet.”
He tilted his head, looking into her arms, confusion reflected on his face.
