Golden Swords

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She woke up as strong arms lifted her up, and a familiar horsey smell wrapped around her. "Ebony," she murmured, clinging to her horse's mane. "Hush, Mycena," Torin's voice came from behind her, and she drifted into sleep.

When she woke next to a roaring fire in a tiny cave, she wondered if she was in heaven. But she was pretty sure you didn't hurt this much in heaven, and she was pretty sure she belonged in hell anyway. She tried to lift herself onto one elbow, but screamed as her blanket brushed her ribs. Panting, she managed to claw her way upright so she could see her surroundings. She was in a small cave, a fire bubbling merrily beside her. It looked pretty rough and basic, only the bed she was lying on and some pots by the fire, a sack with what looked to be food leaning against the wall. And Torin, smiling slightly as he stirred a pot sitting in the flames. "Torin," she croaked, her throat as sore as the rest of her. He passed her a bowl of stew and she painfully scooped stew-juice into her mouth. She fell asleep before she'd even finished the bowlful.

"So how did you find me?"

Torin smiled. "I found your horse first. I knew something had to be wrong, so I followed her. She led me down to the sea. Clever horse, I don't know how she found you." Mycena knew. It was because Ebony was the best horse in the world, and still she chose Mycena to ride her.

"Dastar," she said. "He...he...killed." There it was, the word that wrecked pain and horror across her life. "He killed Bethany," Torin looked at her, steady green eyes unfaltering. He took her hand, gripping it tight. "She lives on, Mycena. She would want you to take her mantle as the female who shows all the men what you can actually do." She closed her eyes, letting memories of Bethany Kyle sweep through her.

She managed to get up the next day, early in the morning, and they walked up the small hill behind the cave. She was better, she thought. Bethany's death would never leave her, but she was alive now. If anything she had more purpose, she was determined never to let anyone control her. Three of her ribs were cracked from the impact of hitting the water, and her body was bruised and tender, but she was alive. Her body and soul were broken but healing.

She and Torin reached the summit of the hill, and, even though it was only less than two hundred metres above sea level, it felt like the whole world spread out before her. Forest stretching away across much of the land, the sea sullen and pewter, the outlines of mountains sitting haughtily in the distance. The coastline was jagged and small waves splashed white onto the beaches; and in the distance the silhouettes of islands could just be made out. A small town sprawled across a flat plain, the main street thin as a thread from this distance, surrounded by square fields dotted with sheep and cows. Torin took her hand softly, stepping up next to her, "It's all out there, Mycena. The whole wide world, rivers and lakes and mountains, just waiting for you to come and explore it."

THE END!!!!!!!

Sorry for such an abrupt ending. But there will be more books, they just won't come out for at least a year because I am sick and tired of writing (Although there needs to be another one because there's an unresolved romance and it ends too unhappily, and with a promise of more adventure...lol) Anyway, thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed!!
Cassie <3