A tale of shadows

3

Chapter 3

Nyrrea

Today was a good day. So I thought it would be a good idea to read my favourite book. One that was about Hatroda. I took my book and went to the forest. I like walking there alone. I can't really describe it but I feel connected to the forest and to everything about our people, its history and its present. It's probably just a weird thought. I walked to my favourite spot in the forests, I always go there if I need quiet time or just whenever I feel like going there. It was a beautiful day to be outside as well. Everyone went outside with their Raxi. To see people with their Raxi made me feel like I am weird, that I was invisible to the goddess Miasa, that I was not good enough for it, but I was not going to let that thought ruin my day. So I walked further with a smile on my face and a happy thought. I found my spot and took out my book and started reading.

~

The time did fly. I could spent a day reading and not even realising the sun went down. Well... that just happened. I finished my book and putted it away to realise it was already dark outside. So I walked back home. While I was walking home everyone looked like they were in panic. I ignored it and went home. I probably missed dinner as well. My mother is going to be mad again, she doesn't like when I am alone outside in the dark. She was still thinking I was 10 years old. I walked pasted the doors, to find no one in the rooms. I checked the last room, my parents were there. "Where were you, you know I don't like it when you are outside in the dark alone". Just what I thought my mother was going to say. "I know mom, I was reading a book. I didn't notice the time". She gave me a look like she was saying "I don't believe you". Wouldn't be the first time. "Nyra, sit down". My father looked worried. He looked like everyone else who I passed by on my way home. I sat down and looked at my father. "What's going on, everyone outside looked worried". My father paused to look at me before he began to speak. "When you left this morning, Axe left with his horse to ride for a while. He was gone very long, but we just thought he needed some time alone. His horse came back an hour ago. It was covered in blood and looked scared, we don't know whose blood it is. We already searched around the kingdom, but he wasn't there. Nyra, your brother has gone missing". I thought I lost him yesterday. And today again. I am going to find my brother. Whatever it takes." What are we going to do". I asked my father. "We are going to ask for warriors, from Fitgo. We need them because we are going to look for Axe. We don't know what to expect so we need extra strength". My father explained the plan to me. The king of Fitgo couldn't come so he would sent the prince to arrange everything the next day. And that today we couldn't do anything. I didn't like that I couldn't do something about it yet. But the rest was a good plan. I went to my room, I needed to be at my best tomorrow so I could better get some sleep.

~

The prince of Fitgo was coming today, so I had a lot on my mind. I needed him to help us. Or else the plan was not going to work. I went for a walk in the forest to calm my head. The sun was shining. The birds were singing. I feel at home here in a way you can't describe in words. I was here for quite some time already. So I walked back home. I heard a noise. I couldn't see where it was coming from. I stopped walking so I could hear the noise better. Then it went quiet. Weird. I looked around but I could not see anything that was not normal. I turned around to look behind me. Suddenly I felt a blade pressed against my throat. It was a man. Who did this person think who he was. He did put his blade away. So I grabbed mine. But he stopped me by putting his blade back on my throat. "Wouldn't do that if I were you", he said. "Why not? Who even are you?" He put his blade away. "You do not know who I am? I am offended". He said the last part clearly as a joke. He thought this was funny. It was not. I didn't have time for this, I needed to welcome the prince. At my best behaviour like my mother told me. For once in my life I was going to listen do my mother. I needed to find Axe. So I didn't have time for this bullshit. Who even puts a blade on someone who doesn't even do a thing? "You do not know who I am? Now I am offended". You want to play. Let's play. "Go back to your village girl. You shouldn't walk alone in these woods". Seriously. Who does he think I am. "Have a good day". I said it with not such a smile on my face. I turned around and walked away. I came home and walked straight to my room. My mother stopped me. "The prince is here". She walked away. Well, she couldn't say that any shorter. I followed my mother, I have heard people gossip about the prince. Like how good a warrior he is. That he fought against people since he was ten years old. That he killed his first man when he was eleven. That he fought a wild bear and won. Probably just some rumours. I heard my father talking already when I opened the door and I walked inside the room. I saw my father and a man, shit... It was that man from earlier. The man who had put a blade to my throat was the prince who was going to help find my brother. I thought the situation couldn't get worse, well it just did. I walked over to my father. "Hello, I'm Xavier. The prince from Fitgo". So he can be nice, how lovely. "Hi I'm Nyrrea". "She is my daughter", my father added. Xavier didn't look surprised at all. "So Xavier, what is your father's price for the warriors". My father continued their conversation. "You don't need to pay us anything, you were loyal to us in the past. Now let us be loyal to you". I remembered my father helping the king of Fitgo a couple of times in the past. But I don't know why. "How many warriors do you need?" "As many as you can spare. We are going to find my son. We just need some extra strength". My father told Xavier the plan to find Axe, just like he told me. "We can spare 5000 warriors, including me". "That would be great". My father was very happy about the amount of warriors who were going to help us. I was too, but I was just not happy about the last part. You never now. Maybe he will put a blade against someone else's throat. Someone who we need.