They land on a small stone bridge over a freshwater stream right at the entrance of the village.
Kaida looks up and there is a welcome sign where black metal poles reach up and arch across the sky.
'ASHGATE' is suspended above in a silver gothic print.
The village is located in a valley surrounded by hilly and grassy terrain.
It is idyllic and isolated with neat rows of cottages.
Some are made with exposed brick, while others are stabilised by sleek metal beams creating the image of a perfect mixture between ancient and modern Norta.
Bright green and purple ivy weaves and snakes across the side of the biggest cottages, stacked high.
It adds to the bursts of greenery mottled throughout the village.
Right in the middle of the quaint little Ashgate is a flagpole with the King's banner of a flame within a tilted crown.
They hold the most updated version, redesigned for when Kaida sat the throne.
The red was brighter and the black bolder, no longer faded colours.
Kaida and Yuri walk in time with each other as they proceed into the village.
Their squad follows behind them.
The first thing that is glaringly obvious is the noise - or the lack thereof.
It is eerily silent.
Ashgate seems frozen in time.
Fresh smoke roses from a chimney but whoever lit the fire is gone. Everyone is.
Discarded farming tools litter the floor haphazardly and Kaida's eagle eyes spot a splatter of blood on a heap of firewood left strewn in a copper wheelbarrow.
She almost drops to her knees in anguish.
She paces to the wheelbarrow and lets out a puff of breath.
In a surprising burst of emotion she kicks over the wheelbarrow letting the wood clatter to the floor.
"We're too late."
Kaida looks at Yuri and there is a blaze of anger behind her brown eyes.
Yuri could see how much this means to the young Queen. She came to save this tiny little village, barely a spot on the map because who else would?
"He is moving faster than we anticipated."
"If I may?"
A male voice speaks up.
One of Yuri's own men steps forward and an orange sash hangs across his Nortan armour.
Kaida nods, giving him permission to speak.
"Lord Adrien cannot be far from here. I mean, this massacre is still fresh."
He points to the smoke still billowing out from the chimney.
Then he moves to the suspicious red smear on the beige wall once hidden behind the tipped over wheelbarrow.
He runs his finger over it and it comes away still slightly wet.
"The blood is not fully dry, and still a bit lukewarm. We did not save this village, but this mission does not have to be a failure."
He looks purposefully from Yuri to Kaida.
In all his years serving the Crown, he had never once seen the monarch leave the Palace into active combat, as bravely as Kaida dared to.
He is pleased to serve under the Red Queen.
YOU ARE READING
𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐄
Romance[Completed - Book 3 of the Blood Court Series] ❝ You manipulated me. Did you think I would be happy? To see you sit on my throne. The throne you stole from me, while you let me die. Me...
