The shorter of the two guards carried a flag at the top a pole; it made frantic sounds as the night wind blew at it. The King’s emblem had been embroidered onto the material. I traced the same symbol on my knee with my fingernail, the symbol of the Niraen elves. A knot of roots that looped around a tree in a circular motion. The same symbol carved into the guard’s shoulder plates and the signs we passed on our way to Olderim. King Dalior’s mark.
The wagon bumped over a ditch and I shuddered at the vibration it caused to run up my spine. The bows on the guard’s plated backs bounced with momentum, making a high-pitched clacking noise, wood against metal. The bows were unlike any I had seen, vastly different from the flimsy, yew wood bows I used back home. The thick wood was embellished with designs of vines and leaves painted in gold and silver hues. I could only imagine the power the bows held. The taught strings and the sturdiness of the frame looked unbreakable. I’d kill double the pray with it. If only.
I lost myself in thoughts of hunting, my eyes fixed to the guard’s bows. It wasn’t until I heard a familiar voice that distracted me from my own imagination.
“I’ve heard the Prince still has no mate, I think it’s time I changed that…”
My ears twitched in response to the name used at the end of the wagon closest to the guards. I diverted my attention towards it, not shocked that it was Illera.
“I wonder what he’ll be wearing tonight?” Illera fiddled with her deep chestnut braid, twisting it around her finger. “Something tight, I hope…”
Alerior chuckled, nudging Illera’s shoulder with her own. “You’re terrible, truly!”
For as long as I could remember, Alerior and Katill had followed Illera around like doe-eyed puppies, always feeding her with just what she wanted to hear. I knew steering clear of her was the best option. I’d gained her unwanted attention before and became the brunt of her boredom. It didn’t end well. I felt almost sorry for whoever it was they gossiped about.
“I can’t wait to see his face when he sees what you’re wearing later… or what you are not wearing.” Katill also had a filthy mind, it was her one redeeming quality.
Illera’s laugh was shrill, forced. “We’ll see. I had to sneak my dress past father. He would drop down dead if he saw what I’d done to it.” She motioned with her two fingers, “Snip, snip, snip.”
My laugh even surprised me.
The snort burst out of my nose, which I tried to cover up with a cough. It didn’t work. I turned away, looking back over the side of the wagon but their conversation had ceased. I didn’t have to see to know Illera was looking at me, her gaze burned into the back of my head.
“Something funny?” Her voice was sweet, though I could taste the sickly undertone as she questioned me.
I looked to Illera’s violet eyes, full of intrigue. Her sharp brows pinched above her sinister smile.
Here we go.
I shook my head and held her gaze, biting my tongue.
Don’t fall for it. Don’t fall for it.
“No?” Her cackle pierced my ears. “Well, let me see… you must have been daydreaming about your father, who will no doubt fail miserably at the hunt this evening,” she drawled.
My canines bit into my bottom lip and my mouth filled with salvia and copper.
“Oh, I know, I know.” She jumped in her seat, raising her hand in the air. By this point, the entire cart was listening, watching. “Was it the thought of your mother having to beg yet again for food? Yes, that must be it. Because that is hilarious” She threw her head back and roared with laughter. If that was not enough of a kick to the balls, she clenched her fists pretending to rub fake tears from her eyes.
I kept my eyes on her, ignoring the laughter that had erupted around me. I leaned forward to close any space between us, a smile plastered on my face. For a slight moment, her own smile faltered; she knew what was coming.
I knew better than to get personal. But when it came to Illera, I found great pleasure in wiping the smug smile from her face.
“Sorry for the confusion…” I paused, taking a slow breath to allow those listening to quiet. I wanted everyone to hear this. “But I must thank you for your concern. You seem so interested in something that has nothing to do with you. If you really want to know what I found so amusing, I’ll tell you. I was just daydreaming about your parents and how they didn’t even bother to see you off this morn… but then again, who can blame them? I too would be more than happy to see the back of you.” I leaned forward even more, and brought my voice down to a whisper. “I’ve heard they’ve been praying to the Goddess this day would come…seems she has been listening.”
Her smile dropped, and her eyes lost their sinister sheen. She opened her mouth to respond, but came up short, shutting her thin lips, her face blotched red with embarrassment. Katill laughed first and was soon followed by Alerior, whose eyes bulged as she fought back against her own giggle. Illera turned and snapped at them, even going so far as to slap Katill’s leg who cowered away from her.
“Shut up!” Illera shouted, a vein bulging on her forehead. I still didn’t drop my gaze and to my pleasure, she didn’t look back, looking everywhere but at me. Illera cut a look to the crowd who watched on, stifling their muffled laughs.
Satisfied she’d not comment back I turned away, fixing my attention on the darkening sky. If Illera was clever, she would keep to herself the rest of the journey.
The sun had set. The golden wash faded, leaving a moody blue haze across the land. I closed my eyes and slowed my breathing. Sleep was a welcome friend.
***
I AWOKE TO silence. I blinked through the haze in my mind and looked around, disorientated. At first, I forgot where I was, but I followed the eyes of those who were still awake and watched as we passed through a village. There was something off about this place. Not a single sign of life amongst the leaning shacks and the closed shuttered tavern. The moon hung bright in the sky, and illuminated the deserted streets.
There was a smell that hung in the air around us, but I couldn’t place what it was. The cart bumped across the road, and the remains of a building came into view. If it wasn’t for the standing doorframe and the ruminates of bricks and wood, I would have passed it without thought. But as it came into view, I could see it was not the only building left in that state. The guards directed the wagon through the destroyed portion of the village, not saying a word or responding to the worried murmurs behind them. I watched in confusion, finally realizing the smell was smoke. Moonlight shone across the blackened building remains. The air was thick with smoke still, yet all signs of fire had dwindled.
I looked to the stars and began tracing the constellations, working out how far Horith was from here. Growing up in such an open, detached village, I had grown used to the stars and the stories they told. Fa had taught me to use them as a tool of navigation, a skill that came in handy during the many evenings I spent hunting when sleep didn’t come to me.
I didn’t recognize this village, but could tell from the distance of Orion’s belt we were miles from home. What had happened? Thoughts spiralled in my mind, but the lack of reaction between the guards was enough to subside my worries.