The Death of a Tyrant's Concubine

CHAPTER 10 - Friend

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My heart thundered, each beat so loud I feared it would wake the whole of Dornhold Castle. I stood before the vylnir, every inch of my skin prickling with terror. I had faced death before, countless times perhaps...

But I was still no less terrified.

The vylnir let out a low, rumbling growl. Its teeth shifted as if sprouting anew, each fang sharper than the last. Its black fur rippled in an unnatural way, and its bones moved beneath, twisting strangely.

"I ɯαɳƚ ƚσ ʂҽƚ ყσυ ϝɾҽҽ," I murmured carefully, gesturing toward the dark vines that rose from the cave floor. Their cruel thorns buried deep in its flesh. "Tԋҽ ραιɳ ιʂ σɳʅყ ϝσɾ α ɱσɱҽɳƚ..."

I dragged the burlap sack closer, spilling the dried plums at the creature's massive feet. The vylnir's growl deepened, its shadowy fur bristling as it eyed the offering.

"I αɱ ԋҽɾҽ ƚσ ԋҽʅρ ყσυ..." I continued, my voice trembling. "I αɱ ʂσɾɾყ ϝσɾ ყσυɾ ʂυϝϝҽɾιɳɠ..."

Its long, serpentine tongue flicked out, testing the air. Then it inched forward. My breath stilled as its twisted snout drew close. Its hot, foul breath washed over me, thick with the scent of decay.

"Dσ ɳσƚ ԋυɾƚ ɱҽ," I whispered.

 The creature hesitated, its reflective eyes gleaming as it blinked slowly, studying me.

Then, it looked down at the scattered plums, flicking its tongue toward them. I held my breath as it lowered its muzzle, snapping up a few pieces.

Is my plan... working?

I snuck toward one of the vines ensnaring its hind leg, fingers trembling as I grasped Raincatcher.

The creature remained preoccupied — its attention lost in the feast of dried plums. I began to slice at the thick, gnarled vine. The dagger, though meant for the traditional dance of Drakfjord, was still as sharp as any blade.

My gaze never left the vylnir as it devoured its morsels. Each cut made my heart race. And when I finally severed the vine, my stomach turned at what was to come next.

"Tԋҽ ραιɳ ιʂ σɳʅყ ϝσɾ α ɱσɱҽɳƚ," I whispered, my voice quaking.

Sucking in a shuddering breath, I yanked the massive thorn from the vylnir's leg.

A deafening screech wrenched from its throat, reverberating through the cave. The creature spun toward me, a whirlwind of muscle and fury. In an instant, I was swept off my feet, my body crashing against the cave wall.

"Ack!" I gasped, pain lancing through my spine as I crumpled to the ground.

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes, and I instinctively clutched my shoulder, sensing something was terribly wrong.

My bone sat awkwardly in its socket. With a shuddering breath, I forced my shoulder back into place, a sickening pop echoing. I bit down hard on my tongue, stifling a cry as I struggled to steady my ragged breathing.

When I dared to open my eyes again, I froze in place.

The vylnir crouched before me, its jagged teeth gleaming, poised to shred me into pieces. The agonizing throb in my shoulder blurred my vision, tears spilling down my cheeks.

Would I truly die again? How many more times would I endure this torment?

"I αɱ ʂσɾɾყ ϝσɾ ყσυɾ ʂυϝϝҽɾιɳɠ," I stammered through my sobs. "I αɱ ƚɾαρρҽԃ ιɳ ƚԋιʂ ρʅαƈҽ ʝυʂƚ ʅιƙҽ ყσυ."