Looking Glass

Prologue

Jax picked the wrong day to assist in patrols.

"Your Highness, look out!"

Jax ducked, burrowing his face in Ebony's mane as a sickening crack sounded from behind him. He whipped around, catching sight of a six-inch spike embedded into the trunk of a fir tree.

What in Delphi's name was that?

"Are you okay, Your Highness?"

Jax glanced over at Mori, his most trusted friend and bodyguard, and nodded his head.

"How is this possible?"

Jax followed the sound of Astrid's voice and caught sight of a monster that made his blood run cold. A large, prickly goji stood ten meters away from the troop, its jaw unhinged and large black eyes darker than night itself. It hobbled toward them on its uneven legs as the spike in its right arm began to lengthen, readying itself for another attack.

What was it doing here? How could it possibly be here?

"Zahki," Jax yelled as the youngest recruit readied his arrow, "aim for the eyes."

The boy gave a grunt of acknowledgement as he pulled the arrow back and aimed. With a flick of his fingers, Zahki let go of the string and watched as the arrow hit its mark. The goji dropped to the ground with a hissing moan and sunk into a pile of ash.

"Where did it come from?" Astrid asked as she brought her horse up beside Jax and Mori. "I thought they were wiped out during the Red Dawn."

Jax tightened his grip on the reigns and watched as the gentle morning breeze scattered the goji's remains. "I thought so too."

"Shall we inform her majesty?"

Jax nodded and turned Ebony around. "Astrid, Mori, come with me to the castle," he announced. "The rest of you finish the patrol and keep an eye out for any more goji. That couldn't have been the—"

A low growl sounded from behind them, silencing Jax's voice as he turned and watched a dozen more goji appear from the shadows. Ebony whinnied and stomped her hooves in uncertainty.

"Everyone draw your swords," Jax said as he tugged his blue-gemmed ring off of his middle finger. "It's going to be a long morning."

The ring in his hand morphed into a long steel blade with jewel crested hilt. He held it out in front of him, ready to give his command, but as soon as the words formed on his lips he froze. Instead of catching his reflection in the side of the blade, he saw a girl with bright green eyes and vibrant red hair. When she stretched out her hand, it exited the blade for a moment before being tugged back in.

Jax blinked, not understanding what was going on with his sword. He felt the gaze of his comrades as he brought the blade closer to him, but before he could examine it further, the girl toppled out of the blade and pushed him off his horse.