Everly~
Jagged rock tore the skin on my legs as a wraith dragged my body across the frozen earth away from my village. Away from everything I'd ever known.
Four others stood waiting just outside the walls with weapons in hand. I was flung to their feet and could feel the vibration of magical blood from within their veins.
"Are you going to kill me?" I asked, trying to prevent my body from healing the bleeding flesh on my legs.
"Speak up little nymph." A cruel voice said, grabbing me roughly by the chin.
My teary eyes adjusted to the wraiths who surrounded me, but one face stood out from the rest. The sudden sense of recognition was reciprocated when he suddenly let go of my chin and took a shocked step backwards.
I know you. You're the wraith from the snow.
He recognized me, I was sure of it. The expression on his face was a mixture of confusion and concern, but it quickly hardened into anger as he grabbed my arm and effortlessly pulled me to a standing position. These wraiths weren't the size of regular men, they were massive, each at least seven feet tall and some larger than that. They wore battle leathers that provided plenty of housing for weapons, but offered very little warmth in the harsh cold. Maybe they didn't need it.
"Are you going to kill me?" I asked again, trying to control my own shaky voice.
"You're far too valuable to kill just yet." One of the wraiths replied, sending a shiver down my spine.
Only one of you knows how truly valuable I am. The only question is, why hasn't he revealed what he knows about me?
"I expected her to be taller and much older." A calloused hand reached out and caressed my arm which made my stomach churn and my blood boil.
"She's a nymph you idiot. Nymphs are tiny little things. But so much fun to play with." Another hand touched my neck, causing me to pull away and glare up at him.
The words used to describe Thoracian wraiths bounced around in my mind - heathens, monsters, animals, barbarians - all accurate descriptions. Their hair was long and braided into messy knots at the base of their necks. I stared into each pair of dark, soulless eyes like animals salivating at the chance to touch me.
"Thaddeus wants her taken to camp." The familiar wraith stated as he reached down and took hold of the chain that bound my wrists.
"She can ride with me. What do you say little nymph? I'll take good care of you." The disgusting creature licked his lip seductively, putting a deep disapproving scowl on my face.
"I would rather you kill me." I hissed.
"I could do that too." He huffed, his sadistic grin fading and a blade appearing in his hand.
"Enough. She rides with me."
"Of course Talon gets the pleasure of escorting our little garden nymph."
Talon.
Without saying a word Talon took hold of the chains that bound my wrists and aggressively pulled them, setting me off balance as I tried to steady my own feet beneath me.
It wasn't until we were a fair distance from the other wraiths that Talon slowed his pace, allowing me to catch my breath and regain my footing
"Care to tell me where you're taking me?"
My question infuriated him and he whirled on me, pulling the chains harshly so I was forced to look at his furious face.
"Care to explain how a healer conjured vines from the ground?"
