In a land where power and deception reign supreme, two unlikely heroes find their fates intertwined in a battle against a malevolent force.
Kelvin, a daring thief, gets caught in a perilous mission to steal a prized horse, only to discover that his...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The crisp sound of the arrow slicing through the air was followed by the solid thud of it embedding itself dead center into the target. I nocked another arrow, my breath steady as I pulled back the string, focusing on the rhythm I'd developed over countless hours of practice. The courtyard was quieter than usual, the only noise coming from the distant chatter of servants and the occasional gust of wind that sent a chill through the air.
But no amount of practice could distract me from the ache in my chest, the hollow space where my son should have been. My heart tightened just thinking about him. They'd taken him away, saying "safety" and "necessity," but I knew it was because they didn't trust me to raise him. Not as the daughter of a queen who was labeled as a whore-witch, and not as the mother of the heir to the throne.
I released the arrow, watching it fly straight to the target's center again. A slight sense of satisfaction filled me, but it was fleeting. No matter how many times I hit the mark, it didn't change the fact that I was restless. The courtyard, with its high stone walls and neatly arranged archery targets, had become both a sanctuary and a prison.
I should be grateful I'm still in the palace. If it weren't for Luca, my half-brother, and the Lord Protector, I'd probably be living among the servants, banished to some dark corner of the castle. Or worse, sent to the streets. Instead, my quarters were on the second floor, with a view of the gardens and a door that locked from the inside. It was more than I hoped for, but it didn't make the loneliness any easier. Each night, my arms ached to hold Nicolas, to comfort him. I wondered if he missed me, if he cried out for me in the night, only to be soothed by strangers. The thought was almost too much to bear, and I had to push it down, bury it deep, or I'd lose the fragile composure I'd managed to hold onto.
The sound of footsteps approaching made me lower my bow. I turned to see Vladimir striding toward me, his blonde hair catching the pale light of the overcast sky. He moved with easy confidence, his sword hanging at his side.
"Practicing again, Aurora?" he called out, his voice warm but with an edge of amusement.
I shrugged, gesturing toward the target. "What else is there to do?"
Vladimir stopped beside me, his eyes scanning the courtyard before resting on the target. "Impressive," he said, nodding at the cluster of arrows. "But hitting the middle every time must get boring."
"It does," I admitted, lowering the bow and stretching my arms. "But it's better than doing nothing."
He raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "How about a change of pace, then? Ever thought about learning how to use a sword?"
I looked at him, surprised by the offer. I had watched him and the other soldiers train countless times, envying their skill with a blade. "A sword?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. "I've always wanted to try, but no one's ever offered to teach me."
"Well, I'm offering now; come on, I'll go easy on you."
"Alright," I said laying my bow and quiver on the grass.
