"Trust me you don't want to do that, Lalia. Come on." Kyera ordered firmly taking the fear struck girl toward the nearest tent.
"Are the other guards gathering the horses?" Lalia asked noticing no one was guarding the tents. Kyera didn't answer, she felt squeezing inside. The smell of blood and Wolf hide met her nose before Lazren walked toward her.
"No Princess. Thank God you have Lalia. Kan is with the other two girls but paddock. He and Cora killed three assassins that were sent to keep watch. We need to move, now." Lazren ordered and Kyera nodded changing course for the tie up area.
"Assassins? Brom and the others…are they dead?" Lalia asked and Kyera nodded.
"Yes. It looks like most the bodies were cold. Brom was the last kill. They slaughtered anyone not royal in camp. Thankfully Cora and I were inside with the Princess and Kan was on guard. Even the Dark Ones fear The Betrayer." Lazren replied honestly relieved. Kyera took a deep breath and regretted it. Unlike Lalia, she could clearly smell the death and decay of the murdered innocents. Thankfully, she kept her own close.
"Lalia come on. I can see the other Princesses." Kyera tugged her gently to their side. Melania was dressed in her night clothes, her gown, hands and hair coated in red in the moonlight. She looked messy, with tears in her eyes. Feya looked spooked, pale as death and her eyes filled with fear.
"Your alive. We thought you both were dead. If you dont mount up we will be." Kyera replied but then she froze. The horses were not there. It was just the girls.
"They freed the horses. Kyera what do we do. We can't outrun them on foot. Kan can only carry one." Cora pointed out and Kyera looked at the three trembling princesses who were realizing the situation at hand. There were no options, they were going to die here in their minds.
"Forest Princess… you, me, and Lazren could do it." Kan whispered and Kyera looked at him. He was right. It was a damable solution and against so many laws.
"I can't…" Kyera began but then the wind swirled around her the scent of fire filled her nose. She sensed the pyre and remembered the spirit's words.
"Queen Kyera." Kan replied and Kyera frowned deeply. There was no other choice.
"Lalia you're with me, Melania you're with Lazren, and Feya get on Kan." Kyera ordered and Feya didn't hesitate to climb on. Once she was ready Kyera glanced at the other two girls and changed form.
In shock and horror the three Princesses watched as the fourth shifted shape. Soon a white Tigress with white fur and silver stripes stood before them. Though the body was unfamiliar, the eyes were the same golden hue they remembered. Lazren stood in wolf form at her side. "Get on, no time to argue. NOW." Kyera demanded as the shadows gathered her things into a pack and Cora picked it up. Heart string and her clothing now nested on Cora's back.
Lalia only hesitated for a moment before climbing onto Kyera while Melania climbed onto Lazren. The wolf adjusted under her weight, mindful of her nervousness.
"Do not stop till the portal and be sure I go through first… I have a portal key." Kyera warned them as they rushed in the direction of the portal. Her long strides were quick and focused, pounding silently through the grass. She could smell the flowers getting stronger… they were close.
"They are moving faster." Kan cried from the rear. He could sense it best. Kyera nodded.
"There must have been a fourth Assassin. If we don't make the portal we will die." Kyera reminded them and redoubled her efforts even as her muscles and bones screamed in protest. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she fought to move faster. Lazren was hot on her heels beside him, Cora ran leaping and bounding over rocks and off trees to stay up with them.
"What happens if we don't make it through?" Feya screamed and Kyera sighed. She couldn't answer that. It could not happen. She would not allow that to happen. She would not lose these girls to those monsters too.