Kingdom of the Nine: The Princes (II)

Chapter 3

Pinecrest

———Red———
I stand and grab the cloth she dropped, wrapping it tightly around my arm. The sun rises in the distance, casting a pale light over the charred rubble. Villagers gather in the center, their faces a mix of sorrow, disgust, and some faint glimmers of praise. I move through the crowd, every step heavy with their judgment. Then, King Conrod steps forward from his keep, pointing directly at me.

"Red Smith, look at what you've caused here," he bellows.

I clench my jaw. "This isn't my fault, Conrod. Don't even try to pin this on me. I went into the woods tracking a deer and that... thing attacked me."

Conrod laughs, a bitter sound. "You led it here. This destruction is on your hands."

My anger boils over. "Really? You're one to talk. If your guards had done their job—"

"They were up against a werewolf, Red," he interrupts, raising an eyebrow. "What did you expect them to do?"

I point back at him, my voice rising. "And what the hell did you want me to do?"

"You didn't have to lead it straight into the village."

"I led it here so your guards could kill it! And while we're pointing fingers, let's not forget my sister was taken by that thing. My brother left yesterday, and now it's just me. I'm going to rescue her. So you can either sit here on your throne and blame me or do something useful and help find her. Your choice. But either way, your people are the ones who'll suffer."

Conrod's face hardens. He motions to his guards. "Take him. Put him in the prison for endangering the village."

I look around at the crowd. "Is everyone hearing this? A beast ravages the town, and your king blames me, the one who was hunted!"

But no one speaks. They just stand there, watching.

The guards close in, their hands ready to seize me. I step back, keeping my distance. "Touch me, and you'll regret it." My voice is a low growl. "I'm leaving. I'll find my sister on my own. You're all responsible for what happened here, especially you, King Fuckrod."

With that, I grab the silver axe from the ground and strap it to my side. "You'll regret this."

I sprint as the guards rush toward me. Reaching my hidden exit, I slide into a hole beneath the wall, pulling myself through. I hear the guards scrambling, confused.

"Where did he go? How did we lose him?" one yells.

"Keep searching!" Conrod's voice booms from above.

I slip out the other side and make my escape, heading toward Grimhold Peak. Hours pass before I reach the neighboring village of Harrow's Rest, its buildings nestled in the shadow of the towering mountain. The weight of everything presses down on me, but I keep moving.

I enter the village walls, making my way to the inn. I had been here once before with Kylen and everything seemed to be in the same place it was then. Although some of the shops names were different than I remember.

Once inside the Inn, I approach the bar where a man watches me closely.

"How many nights?" he asks before I can speak.

"Just one," I reply, handing him ten crowns. "Which one do I—"

He scribbles something down. "Find a bed, doesn't matter which. They're all pretty crap."

"Could've mentioned that before I paid," I mutter, but there's nowhere else to go.

I find an empty room, placing my gear on a table in the corner before collapsing onto the bed.