All For Honor

CHAPTER 2

It was cold and dark in the forest. We rode silently on horseback past the borders of Wolhaven and into the Barren Passage with only the light of the full moon to guide us. It didn't matter that we didn't know where we were going. I was sure that they would find us. We were no longer safe outside the walls of our village. We were in the hands of the Fae now.

The Barren Passage was a territory owned by none, serving solely as a barrier between the Fae Courts and humankind. As children, we were warned never to venture into its depths. As we grew older, we became more daring. We couldn't help but challenge each other to step inside, thinking we were brave enough to handle whatever we found. It was thrilling at first, but we quickly learned our lesson: it was dangerous beyond the borders; it was a place where people often did not return.

The forest was unnaturally still tonight, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves in the weak breeze and the rhythmic clopping of our horses' hooves on the forest floor. Shadows flitted between the trees, and I strained to listen, acutely aware of every sound around us.

"Do you think they're already here?" Elara asked, her voice trembling as she gripped the mane of her dappled gray steed.

Mira let out a dismissive snort. "Oh, I'm sure they are. They've probably been looking forward to tonight ever since the last one."

I shivered. We were always reminded how bloodthirsty the Fae were. How they took pleasure in the kill, especially when it were humans on the other end of their claws.

Elara's grip tightened, and her horse let out a nervous whinny, stomping its front hooves in agitation. "Do you think they're watching us now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I shrugged, my gaze shifting between the dark trunks of the trees. "Maybe. They like to play games, don't they?"

Mira threw her head back in laughter, the sound ringing out sharply in the stillness. "Games? That's rich. More like deadly tricks."

"Mira, would you give it a break? If you don't have anything nice to add, shut up," Sylvia snapped, her blue eyes narrowing as she glared at her, the tension thick between them.

Mira smirked, "Fine. Hopefully they'll kill us quickly."

Before Sylvia could respond, a soft rustling pierced the air. It was a sound that instantly silenced us, a subtle shift that seemed to linger, almost as if the forest itself was pausing to listen. I squinted into the darkness, my eyes straining to look past the shadows.

"It could be a forest animal... like a fox or something," Sylvia breathed.

The rustling in the underbrush grew louder. Each sound sent goosebumps prickling along my arms and alerted every nerve in my body. I tasted copper on my tongue.

And then we saw them.

Mira spoke first, "Not forest animals."

From the shadows stepped two figures—a male and a female—each radiating an otherworldly presence that made my breath hitch in my throat.

I'm not sure what I expected them to look like. I had never taken the time to wonder much. From the stories, I had heard they were beastly. Long sharp claws perfect for shredding the innocent, dark evil eyes, and rows of pointed teeth.

But these two—the ones standing before us—looked almost human. Not quite, but almost. As they stepped into the moonlight, the silvery glow highlighted their unnaturally striking features. They were both tall with pointed ears peeking out from beneath their locks of hair. Their faces were of perfect symmetry, the kind that most people could only pray for. Their eyes were deep and knowing, almost swirling with color—darkest of blues, like the oceans that threatened to drown sailors on a stormy night and silvery grays like the slippery bodies of the sharks waiting for them just beneath the surface.