The Shadows in the Mist

CHAPTER THREE - JOURNEY

The steady, repetitive sounds of the snow crunching underfoot were a stark comparison to my heart's erratic nervous beating, as I was compelled to follow the high-fae back into the night-covered woods, where his companions waited.

As I re-entered the clearing, my eyes were pulled to a figure laying on the ground, seemingly peacefully asleep if it weren't for the arrow that protruded from his chest.

It was then I remembered the ash-wood arrow I had released earlier, while I had run for my life. Ironic how the thing I had hoped would save me might lead me to my downfall instead, if the look upon the high fae next to me was anything to go by.

His gaze flickered between the injured fae and me, barely contained rage swirled in his dark eyes. My throat went dry, it was clear that harming one of their own was not an effective way for me to be in their good graces. At the very least if they killed me here, I would never have to step foot in Prythian.

In quick succession my mind raced from possibility to possibility as he closed his eyes and appeared to regain control of his emotions, then beckoned the others closer.

His velvety soft voice rang out to the gathered fae in a language I couldn't understand, though I desperately wished to, as I knew they were determining my fate when some of their eyes drifted over.

Soon after, one of them grabbed my arm and before I knew what happened, had relieved me of my remaining weapons, while simultaneously tightening the chains around my wrists.

"You will go with Noruan to be taken to my kingdom in Prythian, while we deal with your actions." The high-fae almost growled while motioning his head for the fae that was currently holding me to travel north.

Though I felt relief at being kept alive, that relief was very quickly replaced by an all-consuming dread.

-

Every step that I took was too fast, too soon taking me towards whatever pain and agony that awaited in Prythian.

Prythian. The land was a death knell that reverberated through me, each time spiking my adrenaline, forcing me to clench my hands to prevent them shaking.

I had absolutely no idea of what the northern lands would be like, apart from the ancient legends I had heard as a child, however those tales of grandeur, magic, as well as terror, power and cruelty, would most likely be quite different from what I would experience.

I would probably be kept in a dungeon as a prisoner, or worse I would be enslaved like my ancestors before me, that was what I was most afraid of and if it turned out that was to be my fate, I would rather escape or die trying. 

Perhaps it would be best to escape now as only one fae stood between me and my freedom. Noruan was his name, not that it mattered, but from the tension in his shoulders and the hand that rested lightly on a wicked looking sword I probably would be the one to lose in a fight.

As I studied him further, I noticed that his slightly pointed ears moved almost constantly, directed towards any sounds that undoubtedly had escaped my mortal hearing.

Yes, I would definitely lose to him in a fight, even if my hands weren't currently bound and I wasn't weaponless.

New tactic, I thought. Perhaps if I struck up a conversation, he might become distracted enough for me to escape, or perhaps he might develop sympathy to my situation. I doubted it as it was a long shot, but it wasn't like I had anything else to lose.

"Your name's Noruan, correct?" I delicately questioned.

Silence. Though from the twitch in his ears I knew he had heard me.

"Look, the journey to Prythian will at least take a day, you might as well talk to me." I continued.

Again. Nothing.

"Fine, I'll just talk to myself." I sighed in defeat.

Though as I thought about it further, perhaps he couldn't understand what I was saying, as I had only heard him speak in the fae language.

"You know, from memory, I remember that there are different types of fae, I'm guessing you guys are from the night kingdom, or whatever it's called, considering you're all wearing black and that other guy literally looked like the night sky." I rambled, not expecting a response.

"Busana."

"What?" My head whipped around to him as he finally spoke.

"Busana, is the name of the night kingdom ... and 'that other guy' is Alaric." He answered, briefly looking over to me.

"So, you are night kingdom fae?" I queried.

He hesitated before slowly nodding.

"Does that mean that others have different powers, like Alaric does? If they're from different kingdoms, I mean." I couldn't help my curiosity and perhaps it would help me escape if I learnt more about the land I was soon to be entering.

"Yes, but only some fae have power like that, and prae of course." He remarked while still staring straight ahead.

"Do you?"

He stilled and turned back to me.

"Why do you want to know?" His eyes narrowed shrewdly.

"I'm just curious, that's all, I mean I want to know more about the place I'm being forced to go to." I defended, hiding my anxiousness at having been caught out on assessing him for any weaknesses.

He grunted, while responding to my question, "no, I don't have any power like that."

My shoulders imperceptibly relaxed in relief.

"But before you get any ideas, I could still kick your ass if you try and escape." He smirks.

I roll my eyes.

"Wasn't planning on it." I murmured.

"Sure."