HEAVY IS THE CROWN THAT IS TORN BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE
One of the powerless among a people who can bend nature to their will, Raelle Mansi will be the first Lucent queen of her kind. She is destined to be the ruler who will unify her people and end a...
I clench my teeth and squeeze the saddle's horn, struggling between following orders and doing what is right. The desire to turn back consumes my thoughts and causes my body to tremble.
A chorus of roars resound through the tranquil surroundings, joined by the clatter of metal. My head jerks toward the cropping of trees, where flashes of fire and blasts of wind explode from the leafy canopy. Two Stigian warriors on horseback race onto the bank of the lake, and the soldiers next to me shout for us to run.
I pull Nortus' reins and draw my sword; either I face my death head-on or die with a blade to my back.
My breath hitches as I take in our opponents. Not only are they clad in black leather and steel, but so are their horses. Dark cloths cover the lower half of the warriors' faces, leaving the proof of their formidable power on display. Their ebony eyes appear soulless as they lift their hands and take aim.
I'm protected by nothing but a sword. There is no telling if my handmade weapon will be enough to defend me from their power. With each second ticking by, my bravery sways. I'm facing more than just the beings before me, I'm facing unknown gifts of the Statera.
The snap of a branch and a crude arrow cuts through the air on a phantom wind. It zips past me, the leafy tail brushing my ear. It punctures the shoulder of one of the retreating soldiers, knocking them from their horse.
Understanding what we are facing, I lift my sword and kick Nortus into motion. The Stigian straight ahead raises their hand. A tidal wave emerges from the lake and crashes upon Nortus and me. I'm thrown from the saddle, gripping my sword as I slam to the ground. Water burns my nostrils and fills my lungs while I fight to break free from its depths. As the wave recedes, it pulls me back with it. I cling to the trunk of a sapling and my vision blurs around the edges. My head pounds and my muscles quiver as the urge to inhale intensifies.
The water rolls away from my face, and I gasp for breath as another wave rushes toward me.
A Lucent soldier lifts his palm and shoots icicles from his fingertips. One icy dagger rips through the Aquatera's throat; the bloody point protruding from their neck. The water relaxes into the lakebed, and the Stigian slides from their saddle, hitting the ground.
The remaining Stigian glares at the retreating horsemen before turning his attention to me. I scramble to my feet, swat Nortus on his hindquarters to follow the others, and charge for the trees. A sharp snap of leather and galloping hooves and the clanking of the Stigian's armor follow after me. I zigzag through the maze of bark and stone while the cries of battle and blasts of power echo around me.
My pounding heart merges with my panting breaths to create the most frantic song in my head. Every step I take is to its rapid rhythm, pushing me forward. The rocks and roots along the ground trip me up and I can't always stay on beat.
A branch swings low, caught in a gust of wind, and I stumble, taking in a mouthful of leaves and dirt before rolling under a bush. Beneath my palms, the ground shudders, and I spit and blink away the debris. The Stigian Pianti moves closer and sweeps his hand through the air. The thorny branches of the bush whip my arms and legs, tearing my clothes and leaving trails of blood. Biting my lips to stifle my cries, I hurry to my feet. Fear and the searing lesions on my limbs push me into a sprint.
A snort and fiery breath fans across the back of my neck, matching my quick pace. I glance over my shoulder, meeting the face of the warrior's menacing stallion. I swat him away, and the horse snaps at my arm, clipping my skin.
I'm not going to make it. I'm not going to make it.
My bloody fingers tighten around the pommel of my sword, and the coppery taste of blood floods my mouth as I lick my lips and take a deep breath. The urge to unleash on the Stigian grows so strong that my muscles sizzle. My feet lose feeling like I'm floating above the ground, and something within me explodes.
My body slams into a wall.
Arms clasp around me, and amber and onyx consume my world.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
