Ethereal Burn

The shield

I stayed silent as everyone bustled around inside the castle, locking rooms, servants were arming themselves with weapons positioning themselves in certain areas throughout the castle.

I noticed all of their faces didn't look afraid, no if anything they looked prepared without any fear. In the midst of their hurry they bowed in my presence as Kira urgently guided me up several flights of stairs till we were on the fourth floor. I was out of breath, relieved we didn't need to climb up any more stairs as she opened a set of double doors ushering me to step inside before closing them behind me.

The room was massive, easily the size of the drawing room and my bedroom combined back at my family home.

Stuffed buck heads, hogs and even a bear hung along the wall. The furniture was all the same dark oak with detailed carvings along the sides or down leg posts. A large fur rug lay before a large fireplace, which Kira was quick to bring to life.

It was clearly a man's room if the decor was anything to go by.

"Is this the Duke's chambers?"... I asked, my voice shook from a mixture of fear and still attempting to catch my breath.

Kira's face showed understanding.. "It is, and now it is also yours. The Duke said you could redecorate this entire room to your tastes, he does not mind at all"...

Mine as well?.. Don't I have my own room?... Even my father and mother, stepmother had their own separate bedrooms beside the shared couples room.

"Where is my own room?".. I mumbled out confused

"It is Blackwood tradition to share a room once they are married, If you wish to have your own room I'm sure arrangements can be made, but as of right now no room has been prepared"... She spoke calmly, clearly not out of breath from all those stairs.

Her words linger in my mind, I don't wish to break his household tradition. I knew things would be different, it's only natural to adjust to your husband's way of life. I suppose I will have no choice but to accept and get used to the idea of sharing a bed every night with him.

I glance at the bed directly opposite of the fireplace, a small black couch sits at the end of the bed with a coffee table in front. The bed is spacious, dark green sheets in silk with an all black comforter that I couldn't help but compare to clouds, as it was so thick and fluffy.

I noticed there were two doors within this room besides the double doors we entered. Before my curiosity could get the better of me Kira's movements caught my attention.

She began to light candles throughout the room before sitting criss crossed on the floor with her palms open, eyes closed.

I watched her curiously.

A sudden glow emerged from her body attaching itself to the walls, the window, the ceiling and floors all around us. I gasped at the sight of her gift, the white glow disappeared and with it came absolute silence. When just moments before we could hear the subtle far away noises from shouts of men and screeches of monsters.

Walking over to the large window I gasp at the sight down below and far off into the distance. I can see flying beasts varying in size, flying arrows of fire, small moving dots crowded in several areas outside the first stone wall.

I released a scream as a fanged bat the size of a small dog hit the window, a white glow vibrated at the sensation. To my horror the bat attempted to fly into the window again a second time, its mouth opened but I heard nothing.

"Duchess! Please step away from the window!".. Her shout was polite but urgent.

The sight of her holding a crossbow armed with an arrow has my eyes widened in shock. She held it expertly even though it was quite large for her, she didn't seem to struggle.