Men came stomping their iron greaves on the snow, loud and sharp, five wolves scuffed behind them. I need not to look to know Erett was coming, I felt his rage creeping on my exposed and prickled skin. They've chained me in the middle of the courtyard to help me decide, but witnessing how they dragged and piled dead bodies then feeding them to fire couldn't break the broken me. Nine hours of soaking in snow froze my heart and soul, numbed skin has turned blue-gray, frostbite and blurred vision, all these were nothing compared to how I felt deep inside. I couldn't move. The sun reflected blinding light on the snow but darkness surrounded me, fire and blood, gray smoke and ruined towers, dead bodies and hungry crows waiting to feast up above.
I glanced at the statue again, searching for answers from the sculpted gray rock. Olerius Severine, are you really my grandfather? Did winter once froze your heart too? Warm tears trickled down my cheeks. I shivered. Kneeling before him, I watched how melted snow dripped down his chin and on to the red six-petal flower beneath his greaves. Fieras, they indeed bloom in winter.
Shadows of the past lingered, hunting me even in my wake. The snow ceased to fall but the wind lamented for the dead, rustling a sad song South and back, the dead were all fed to fire, the ground covered with once pure white snow now turned bright red with blood, the blocks were charred, the ground dull gray with ashes and dirt. Wisp voices floated in the air calling me many names...vaurg, murderer, traitor, monster, each filled with hatred and anguish. I did these to myself, I am responsible for their horrible deaths.
Finally, Erett paused standing right before me. His dirty metal greaves slightly buried on the snow. Lowering my head, I sat on my folded legs with both hands on my lap, cold fingers bent down into my palms tightly, I contained the impending storm within me.
'Unshackle her,' Erett yelled. His iron breastplate glistening under the sun.
'But Erett...she is a dragon ri---'
'Just...do it!' he hissed.
His men didn't contest any further and tugged my chain, hesitant, the man picked the lock and the heavy iron cuffs thudded to the snow. My arms suddenly felt lighter, skin turned bluish-white. The cuffs marked a thick line around my wrist. I lifted my eyes and gazed at him, cheeks bitten by frost, my lips were numbed and I couldn't utter a word. Instead, I flashed a forced smile to show my thanks but to my surprise, the man whipped his fist to my face and I dropped, face down the snow. I moaned though I barely felt the pain.
'Stop!' Erett rushed to stop the man, another one grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away from me. 'There is no point hurting her.'
The blow dazed me for a moment. Disoriented, I coughed to clear my lungs, spatted blood and wiped it off my lips, bright red droplets on the snow. A chuckle escaped me, as evil as it seemed, the mockery was meant for all of them. Then I forced myself up and sat with my legs folded at one side.
'She killed hundreds of us, destroyed our fortress, why can't we kill her now?' the man grudged.
'Because if she dies, over a thousand more will die with her. We need her alive,' another man said.
'Give her a good beating the least, she deserves it!'
'ENOUGH!' Erett yelled. 'We have no time to argue over what to do with the girl, that bastard king swore he would spare our people if she gives him what he wants, haven't you all have seen enough? Lashing this girl will make her even more unwilling.'
YOU ARE READING
The IRE of Winter
FanfictionAdventure. Action. Romance. Dragons! Once, Gandalf hired a burglar, now he needs a scout! It was a simple task, nothing more than spying upon treacherous lands. But Safirah felt she was meant to do something more. Running away from home she followed...
