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The adrenaline flooding her body with her rage soon ebbed and the pain intensified from her movements.

Frozen for a moment, the remaining shadows then flew away into the darkness, lost without their leader. The three kingsmen stood still around the fire watching in silence as the man gurgled and drowned in his death. Siobhan was the first to move, her steps quiet in the gloom of the diminished flames. She lifted Vahlia up.

"Hector burn the corpses, Justin ready the horses we will be leaving." Siobhan took Vahlia over to the water's edge and began cleaning the girl of the blood she had spilled. "Foolish girl...Does the blood sing so deeply within you?"

Cleaner than before Siobhan carried Vahlia to her mount. "Holga, Lady Dark. Your child is lost without and within. Pray she finds her way that she may serve you. Keep her safe..." Siobhan mounted awkwardly with her as a burden then wrapped the wool blanket about her. Darkness claimed her once more.



Birds twittered near a tree close to the inn. Their song a sweet melody entwined with the spicy fragrance of cinnamon apple pie wafting from the inn. The dusty ground spread the grains of dried earth in the summer breeze while greedy chickens seeking any mere morsel of seed left from breakfast fought each other. Snores from the mistress who remained within the inn sleeping the morning away in her comforts escaped from the window above. Whistling of the master accompanied his sweeping inside the inn.

Vahlia sighed and breathed in the peaceful moment as if it was her last.

The peace of the day was then broken by the young master's shout. "Rider!"

She looked up to the barn where the young master stood looking and pointing to the northern road to the village. Following his gaze she saw a lone shape coming towards the inn.

A faint scent of blossoms overpowered the dream, the birds heralding a tiny warning. Are you listening? Vahlia's heart began to beat faster.

The rider fell from the lathered horse, his body contorted in pain due to three arrows protruding from his back. Blood was splattered upon his leather jerkin while his linen tunic was torn, stained, and soaking the red blood from a number of wounds.

From the barn ran the young master, his young face full of concern. Stray hay stuck out from his tousled brown hair. He reached the body and gasped in dismay. "Lia, Help! It's the Kingsman!"

Dread crept up her spine. Spurred by his cry, she leapt forward towards them and the snorting horse. Her heart raced in fear and her eyes began scanning the road sensing more to come. Dropping herself next to the fallen figure and the young master, Vahlia looked at the bruised face of the rider.

Fear clenched her mind seeing the damage done upon him recognizing the contorted figure. This man had come to the inn a few nights ago enquiring about the region. A plain honest man who looked as tough as the local metalworker, and yet he behaved like a commoner to the local villagers and to her master.

"Fadadra...Kael!"

The young master looked to her, fear in his brown eyes.