Enchantments

Chapter Eight

Zarina and Thaddeus landed at one of the villagers up north

They had overheard Iston talk to Callon, and then they just followed the smoke.

While surface affairs were not any of their business, they couldn't just walk away from the possibility of finding the King's weakness.

Zarina followed after Thaddeus feeling her daggers strapped to her legs, and her dual swords strapped to her waist. She shook her head as she remembered what had happened at the Needling.

How dare that King declare her? She was an Ambassador, who deserved more respect than that.

She was also not fit to ever mate with anyone. He had called her a half-breed, he knew she wasn't allowed to mate.

It had taken all of her power to control herself. Oh, how she wanted to shine, to make the King fall to his knees and beg to have her, embarrass him in front of all of his people.

But oh, the war that would arrive after that.

She looked up first noticing the smell, then seeing the smoke.

Many of the houses had been burnt to a crisp, the black wood against the snow was a bright contrast.

She knew the smell that filled the air, death, a lot of death. Her hair stood up as she looked at the blood that stained the snow covered ground.

A woman sat crying, holding a bundle that was awfully still. Blood soaked the floor around them.

Zarina winced, trying to not let the sight throw her powers into over drive.

"You two." She heard the king's over bearing voice as he stomped towards them from behind.

They slowly turned and Thaddeus didn't look phased at all. He stood tall with his hand plants sternly on the pommel of his long sword. So Zarina decided to hold her cocky smile too.

In the court she may now be the king's Maiden, but out here, out here she was the trained warrior her brothers had taught her to be.

The king looked furious though. He was strapped in leathers and armor, with a fur coat to protect him from the harsh cold.

"You aren't supposed to be here." The King ordered as he glared at Zarina, specifically talking to her. "If anyone recognizes you, they may think I have favorites."

Zarina felt a strong urge to punch him, could she punch the king? Probably not.

She clenched her fists and controlled her powers.

"Although, like that, maybe no one would recognize you." His light golden eyes traced over her body.

She wasn't in her leisure gowns, nor was her make up over done. She was as she preferred to be. In light leathers, weapons strapped to her, with her hair tied up out of her face.

"You wear your hair down, in the palace." He ordered pointing at the ground as if to emphasize the word down.

She arched her eyebrow at him, unsure how to take this King. He couldn't possibly be considering her as a mate, could he?

"What happened here?" Thaddeus asked looking around at the mess.

So much blood, and yet something was missing.

The King had been here before them, she was unsure how, but maybe he had more details about the incidents that unfolded in the small village.

He looked up at Thaddeus concern washing over his face.