Sword of Sephina (Quest of Prophecy #1)

Chapter Three

The girls were silent, enveloped in their own thoughts, as they walked the streets of Rona. The pixies never did that. Sugar high? Fyora wondered. Even with sugar highs, the pixies never used their power of Jest or "comical death". The pixies' power of Jest wasn't unheard of, but it was certainly uncommon for it to be used.

Fyora was lost in thought when Isla nudged Fyora.

"Isn't that your cottage, Fyora?"

Fyora's attention snapped back to reality. Fyora had made the entire trek back to her house while being in a trance state of thought.

Isla pointed to the cottage that was visible in the near distance. However, the view was disrupted by multiple carriages and a group of...military men? Villagers were standing outside their cottages, looking on at the rare sight of officials in Rona

Fyora knew immediately that something was wrong. She quickly closed the distance between her and the military men standing outside her house, leaving Isla behind.

"What is going on?" Fyora demanded. The military men, a group of five, immediately turned to face Fyora and pulled out their swords. Now that Fyora was up close, she could see a burgundy emblem etched on their uniform. Royalty? Huh?

"Lord, we have her!" One of the men called into the cottage from outside.

"The hell you have me, what in the gods is going on?" Fyora exclaimed, prompting the men to tighten the grip on their swords.

As if on cue, a man emerged from the small cottage, his beard was bronze, aged with grey hairs, similar to his hair. He was decked in silver armour, with a stern expression on his face. However, he did not come out alone. The man had a tight grip on Fyora's mother, who despite groaning, had a defiant flash in her eyes.

"Mother!" Fyora, despite being threatened by multiple swords, lept out to her mother. However, she was quickly grabbed from behind and put in a tight embrace.

Fyora struggled against her capture "Let her go, what are you doing with her? She's done noth-"

The man who was holding Fyora's mother ignored her. "Fyora of Osmyus, you are under arrest for attempted murder of a noble man on the grounds of Osmyus"

Fyora's mouth became agap, in confusion and awe of the bewilderness of such a serious and ridiculous claim. She stopped struggling against the tight arm around her, too shocked what was happening

"I beg your pardon?"

"You have been arrested for-

"I did not murder anyone! Or even try to! But I will attempt to murder you if you-

"I would save your words for the King, bastard"

Fyora was baffled. "You mean my father? You're taking me to the palace?"

Fyora noticed her mother moaning. Her mother's poor state reignited Fyora's fight against her capture, but the arms around her only tightened.

"Put her in the cell carriage!" The man, who now Fyora assumed to be the leader, ordered. The man who had been holding Fyora loosened his grip on Fyora, attempting to reposition himself to lead Fyora to the carriage.

Fyora, in a brash attempt to escape, took note of her training and landed a back kick against her capturer's groin. Satisfied with the solid landing and passionate yelp, Fyora attempted to steal his sword. However, the escape attempt was doomed to fail as the other guards quickly surrounded Fyora.

"Try that little stunt again and your mother will pay for it," the leader grunted.

Fyora, feeling helpless, sighed in defeat and put her hands up. She was not an idiot, she wouldn't even try to risk her mother's life. Fyora didn't want to look her mother in the eyes because it pained her. Although Fyora did nothing wrong, that she knew of anyways, her whole existence had seemed to cause her mother a whole lot of trouble.

The men began ushering Fyora into the back half of the carriage.

"Fyora, Fyora!" Fyora turned her head sharply to the image of Isla jumping up in down behind the guards

Fyora managed to squeeze in some last words before she was shoved into the back half of the carriage. "Something's up Isla! Look after my mother!"

The carriage door shut, and Fyora was trapped in the stale grey interior of the carriage. The guards had placed handcuffs around her, and the only taste of freedom Fyora had was the view outside the window. She was able to see her mother, who fortunately, was being let go by the leader. Her mother was now on the ground, struggling to get up. Before Fyora could see her stand up again, the carriage started moving. Fyora was about to retreat into her thoughts when she heard a call

"Fyora!" Fyora looked out the window. It was her mother, running alongside the carriage. "I'm going to come get you, I promise. You'll be okay!"Mira stopped running, unable to keep in pace with the moving carriage. Fyora gave her mother a meaningful look before a guard shut the window. 

Her last glance of freedom was gone.