The Truth Over The Wall

Chapter 36

Dominic was running, hard. There was a popping sound every time the wet earth released Dominic's urgent feet. He had to hurry; he needed to catch up before she could get away.

He came to a sudden halt. The green foliage of leaves was almost dazzling in the early morning sun. Animals, small furry creatures watched his progress with some curiosity. Which way was he going? Why had he stopped?

Dominic closed his eyes and tilted his head in the direction the sound had come from. One deep breath, a second, a third-

SNAP!

Dominic's eyes shot open and sure enough there was a suggestion of a dark cloak by a tree to his left, and then there was the popping sound of the earth as someone started to run.

He notched an arrow and took pursuit, "I'm not one to give up so easily, witch!" Dominic chased her down a slope aiming for the point between her shoulder blades, but missing her all together by an inch. She kept jumping aside at the last moment, as if she knew.

Being a witch, Dominic thought grimly, she probably did. He notched another arrow, and this time aimed for her dark cloak that flapped about her as she ran. The arrow stuck right through, pinning it to a tree.

The witch gave a frustrated groan and yanked it free, tearing the cloth and when she turned around, she found herself facing Dominic having switched out his bow for a sword. He was better with a sword then with a bow, lethal and undefeated.

The witch was quiet young. Almost his age if not younger, with an oval face and dark hair that spilled out over her shoulders from her hood.

She had large hazel eyes that were a fierce warring of green and brown, each trying to claim dominance and the two colors were interspersed with bands of gold, interrupting the fight.

She was beautiful.

All witches are, Dominic rebuked himself. It's all a part of the deception!

"Go ahead, Dominic." Amara sighed, "I expected nothing less."

Dominic did not wait to wonder how the witch knew his name or why. Writing it off as just another trick, he raised his sword,

"A witch deserves nothing more." He struck her in the heart.

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"Amara, NO!" Dominic woke up in a sweat, panting. For a while he just sat there dazed, staring off into nowhere. He looked down at his hands expecting them to be covered in blood, but when he found them clean, he only felt just a little better.

It took him another moment to gather where he was. He was at Neuber, the capital of Marabeck. He had come to help King Matthew recover it from Fiona.

With shaking hands he removed the covers and sat up. Taking his head in his hands, and leaning his elbows on his knees he sank back into the horrific nightmare.

There was a knock at the door but Dominic did not bother to answer. Without waiting for a response, whoever it was that had knocked walked into the room to throw open the shutters.

Dominic shuddered against the cold air as it hit the sweat on his skin, and he held up a hand against the sunlight. Dominic walked over to the wash stand, and poured some water into the basin to splash his face. When he was just a little more awake he asked in a groggy tone,

"What time is it?"

Emery was not sympathetic, "It's time for you to get up. You can't sleep the day away, Your Highness, you've avoided your duties for as long as it can be considered fashionable. I'm here to remind you that you have responsibilities to fulfill. "