𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑘 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑎𝑤𝑛 | 𝐆𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐒𝐎𝐍

33 ⋆☾⋆ The taste of blood

She ran as fast as her legs would take her, through the darkness of the woods, towards those high dark towers. They were so far out of reach, it was as if the forest stretched on endlessly, like there was no end to it. Her mind raced almost as fast as her body. Why and how? She couldn't understand what it was about this church, why was everything happening there? It had never seemed quite significant.

At the gates she decided to sneak in through one of the back doors. The two guards were sleepy and didn't notice her as she slipped past their posts. She was in a hurry, taking two steps at a time as she made her way to the only person she felt would be able to help her. Her heart thundered in her throat as she knocked on the dark oak door. Somehow he was also the only person still awake at this hour as she had been able to see from the light in his window.

The door swung open and the older knight looked at her with raised brows, his bright blue eyes drilling deep into her soul. She squared her shoulders and nodded towards the room. "It's urgent, can I come in?"

Sir David frowned, blinking a few times. "You are not a woman of refined manners," he ran over her hunter's outfit and strange cloak, "or good taste."

If she didn't still need him to listen to her, she would have rolled her eyes, but because she did actually have some kind of manners, she only nodded curtly. "I am decidedly too busy for that. May I enter?"

Finally he opened the door for her, giving a quick glance over the hallway before closing it. His study was a simple one, a large desk, two comfortable chairs in the back of the room near a lit fire, tapestries depicting all sorts of battles and myths and a large table in the middle of the room with a map of the Isles. She frowned, seeing the strange markings on it, but she couldn't take a longer look because Sir David already gave her a dark look.

"I've witnessed a murder, a barman. I have reason to believe that your Scotii friends are behind this and other murders." In her mind she'd connected two and two together, the killings, the strange manner of it. All of it was exactly the same as when she'd gone to Picta with Gilan three years ago.

The tall knight shook his head. "Impossible, you must've been dreaming at this hour young lady," he grabbed her arm with an iron grip and started ushering her towards the door.

She pulled her arm away quickly and took two steps back. "I know what I saw, I recognise the markings and their habits. You've no idea who you've sold your son to, have you?"

"Do not assume me to be a fool," he waved a finger at her furiously, "I will not tolerate this blatant disrespect."

"Well, you'll get it anyways, because this is more important than your fragile ego." She hissed, glaring back at the man whose eyes were dark like a thunder cloud.

"There is a clan in Picta, they operate mostly underground, but they are very dangerous. If you don't cancel this wedding-"

"Oh so this is about your affections for my son? That is why you would accuse me of high treason?" The tall man straightened his back, an arrogant smile forming on his lips.

"No," she shook her head furiously, but of course that's what it would look like, she knew that, "I am simply trying to protect my country, one that they've planned on taking many times already. If you won't take action, then I will."

"What would a commoner like you even do?" He stepped forward, she took a step back, towards the war table.

The female Ranger shot daggers at him with her eyes, but ultimately only walked around the table further. He followed her, she waited until he was on the other side, then bolted towards the door and slipped out. She sprinted down the hallway and made many twist and turns as soon as she could, keeping to the same floor.