Goldie and Red

Chapter 6 - The Sword

It had been three weeks and I'd had enough.

I was confused. I was heartbroken. I was angry. I needed to do something about it.

I sat up in bed. The room was full of animal heads hanging on the wall. It made me uncomfortable. 

I shook my head, stood up, and stretched gently to one side before lifting my oversized shirt to my hip. The scar was pretty small now. I knew it would stay with me forever, but so would my grief, so I guess it was fitting. I twisted side to side. I felt fine, I'd healed quickly. Now I wanted to get back out into the world. I wanted to hunt down the King's Guards who fled my village. 

So I could kill them.

I stopped at the bottom of the stairs when I heard murmurs from the kitchen. Alec's cabin was well built, I had to hold my ear against the wall to hear properly.

"We've tracked them to the edge of the Flatlands, but we think they'll head into the Mist." One voice said.

"Why would they do that? Are they stupid?" Alec said.

"Perhaps they know we're onto them, I think they might have split off into groups. One headed straight back to Solis and the others around the Forest continuing their hunt." I recognised Theo's mother's voice anywhere. It was low and steady. She was a powerful witch, one that Papa Bear had paid many times for her magic.

"Whatever they want, they must be convinced it's in the Forest somewhere. The King must have sensed a gift, or maybe a calling from an Element in this part of the Kingdom." I heard Dr Wallace say.

"If they go into the Mist, they'll surely die, no one ever comes back from there." Alec dismissed.

"That's an ironic statement for you to make Alec." chirped Theo's mother. The Mist is where the demon lured Rowan and her friends before Alec found them. It's where the darkest magic hides. Most get drawn to it through hypnosis and trickery, though some venture in voluntarily, as it is said that many years ago, nobles would bury their treasures and jewels in the Mist to stop others from stealing them.

My stomach grumbled. I wanted some food. I stepped into the kitchen quietly, not wanting to draw too much attention to myself. But it didn't work. Everyone turned and immediately looked at me. Alec stood up from the table.

"Morning." He raised his eyebrow. He knew I'd been listening at the door.

"How are you feeling Amber?" Asked Dr Wallace. He looked tired from weeks of caring for wounded villagers. Me being one of them.

I grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl. "I'm fine. Good as new."

"Well not quite yet you're not." Alec interjected. I rolled my eyes and stuck the apple in my mouth before flipping over onto one hand and cartwheeled. I stood up and curtsied. Then bit a good chunk out of the apple.

Everyone stared at me, impressed, except Alec, who glared.

"See. Healed." I smirked and walked past the group and out onto the balcony at the back of the kitchen. The fresh air hit my face as I scanned over the tree tops. It was a stunning view. Alec built his house higher up above ground level on stilts so he could get a perfect view of the Forest. Birds flew around me as the breeze picked up my hair gently. I closed my eyes and forgot where I was for just a moment before footsteps behind me disturbed my peace.

Alec came to my side and looked ahead.

"I know you heard us." He sighed and looked down for a moment before speaking again. "I know you're eager to get involved Amber but you're too emotionally-"