The Runestone Guardians book 1: Secrets of Sølvefalske

Chapter 6 Owls with Attitude

Ylvana dreamed she was riding a horse, except when the image in her mind faded, the bouncy feeling of a saddle continued. Opening her eyes, she realized her eyelids were the only body part not paralyzed by sleeping potion. In front of her was a horse's head, its mane tickling her nose. But the horse was above the trees, and its front legs were leathery wings.

Her only option was to panic internally as the Crow behind her tightened his grip and directed the Vesper downwards. They glided through a break in the trees and landed near a camp, where a group of Crows cheered their arrival.

As feeling returned in her arms and legs, Ylvana kicked and scratched, but it had no effect on the man who dragged her off the horse and over to a large tree. He stretched her arms around the trunk and bound her wrists. Defeated, she hung her head, letting her hair shield her from the firelight so she wouldn't have to watch her enemies celebrate her capture.

Light footsteps traveled through the darkness. Sniffing the air, she realized someone was hiding behind a tree a few yards away. She tilted her head, wondering why one of the Crows would bother concealing themselves. Before she could puzzle over it further, the camp quieted.

Argo Fenrir had arrived, compelling his warriors to stand at attention as he passed. Ylvana stared the King down, no longer using the frightened girl persona. Orange firelight glowed across his black armor like the metal itself was ablaze.

Squatting down in front of her, he said: "Pleasure to meet you, Princess."

Ylvana planned every breath, movement, and word, deciding which would lead to death, and which to safety. "Princess? I hate to tell ya this, but you have the wrong person. I'm not Miria."

Fenrir's confidence never wavered. "We've sought you for a long time, Princess Ylvana Mikkelson, daughter of Gwen Mikkelson and Prince Aaron Vidkun."

"What do you want with me?" she asked, her smirk fading.

"To offer you a chance of a lifetime."

"What an honor." She flinched when the hot, quick breaths of an animal tickled the skin of her hand. When her nose informed her of a familiar scent, she bit her cheek to keep from smiling. Pine, who had snuck into one of the Vesper's saddle bags, was now secretly chewing on the ropes. Her little knight in furry armor.

"We know what you are, Princess. We know your powers."

"I don't have powers," she replied, hoping that if she convinced them she was mortal, they'd release her.

"You have a strong will." He unsheathed a dagger. "Unfortunately, they never break gently."

As the knife glided across Ylvana's arm, she whimpered, sealing her eyelids shut. Blood leaked down her skin in a warm dribble.

He pressed the wet blade to her jaw. "C'mon, child, let us see your eyes."

Ylvana could fight the pain, but not instincts. When the dagger poked her neck, a growl erupted from deep in her throat. Her eyes flashed open, illuminating the night with sky-blue irises.

As terrifying as her expression was, Fenrir grinned. "There are those shining wolf-eyes."

"You got me, I'm a Shifter, one of hundreds on this island."

"None of them are as powerful as you. A god blessed you with the magic in your veins."

"No, my father snuck me the shifting potion when I was a baby."

"Is that what they told you, Wolf Princess?"

"Why do you keep calling me that?"

"Because that is what you are. You seem smart, and I'm sure you've read your history books. When the Runestones disappeared hundreds of years ago, Skoll promised he'd send your kingdom a hero."

"Well, that's not me. If I had special powers, do you think your minions could have carried me away like a sheep?"

Fenrir reached into his pocket and pulled out a smooth stone. "Skoll's gift is not only a Shifter's strength and speed."

Ylvana felt a pull in her stomach. She credited it to terror, but it followed the stone like a magnet as the King moved it back and forth.

"You have a connection to these stones, and with it, you could do much good. In nine-hundred years, my kingdom has found two Runestones, but you can find the rest."

"You'll destroy my kingdom with the stones the first chance you get!"

"Revenge, dear princess, not destruction. Your kingdom will not fall, it will simply crumble into chaos and poverty like the Sutherlands has."

"The Sutherlands deserve it!" Ylvana snarled.

"Sølvefalske is not as golden as you were tricked into believing. They lied to you about your very existence."

"Like you're not?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"My dear, have you detected any lies since this conversation began?"

His words sucked the warmth from her body, realizing nothing ever sent up a red flag. Nevertheless, she lifted her chin. "It doesn't matter what truths or lies you tell, I'd rather die than betray my home."

Pine's teeth cut the last of the rope fibers. Ylvana jumped to her feet. Before Fenrir could react, a barn owl dug her talons into his face. When the bird flew off, the girl had vanished from the camp.

"Damn," Fenrir cursed, wiping the blood pouring from his wound.

"Sir, would you like us to pursue?" a Crow asked.

To his warrior's surprise, the King shook his head. "This job calls for a specialist."