The day of departure arrived swiftly. The castle buzzed with a mix of anticipation and tension. Word of my mission had spread, though the true nature of it remained a secret known only to a few trusted souls. I walked through the grand halls, each step echoing with purpose.
In the armory, I selected my weapons carefully—a pair of daggers, a long sword, and a hidden blade strapped to my thigh. Each weapon was a reminder of my training, of the lessons Yachee had drilled into me. I was no longer the sheltered princess. I was a warrior on a mission of vengeance.
Maansa met me at the gates, her eyes filled with a mixture of pride and worry. "Remember, Zamanth, you are more than your quest for revenge. You are a beacon of hope for our people."
"I won't forget, Maansa. I carry their hopes and dreams with me," I assured her, my voice steady despite the storm raging within me.
With a final embrace, I mounted my horse, a strong steed named Ashen, and set off towards Berserk. The journey was long, and the path fraught with danger, but I was determined. Every mile brought me closer to Lykos, closer to the justice my mother deserved.
The landscape shifted from the lush, green fields of my homeland to the rugged, hostile terrain of Berserk. Each night, as I set up camp, I found solace in the stars, imagining my mother watching over me. Silva, true to her word, followed discreetly, her presence a comforting shadow in the night.
Days turned into weeks, and the journey wore on my body and spirit. But the thought of Lykos, the image of his smug face, fueled my resolve. I trained relentlessly, honing my skills, preparing for the inevitable confrontation.
It had been 2 weeks since I left my palace and my people. My voice had started to revert to its natural tone; the effects of the herb could only last for so long. I needed to find more, but according to my map, Berserk was still a day's journey away. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of red and orange, and my horse and I were both hungry and exhausted. I had to find refuge for the night, a shelter where we could rest and gather our strength.
Not far off, two lights gleamed through the encroaching darkness. I turned my horse towards them, my heart beating with cautious hope. The lights led me to a small, weathered house standing lonely amidst the dense woods.
Berula was stretching out from the corners of the cracked wood of the house with other weeds, I bended slightly from Ashen and plucked the herb carefully and tugged it inside.
The house had smoking coming out of its chimney.
Though it seemed strange, I had little choice but to approach. Maansa had given me a protection charm, and I felt no immediate danger.
The scent of freshly baked bread lingered in the air, a comforting, homely smell that put me slightly at ease. I knocked on the door, which creaked open halfway to reveal a man with weary eyes and a tired voice.
"Who are you? What do you need?" he asked, his tone flat and unwelcoming.
"Hello! I am Zamanth, a traveler. Could you be kind enough to let me spend the night here?"
"No, go away!" He started to close the door, but I quickly wedged my foot in the gap.
"I have coins. I can pay you." Thank the gods for Maansa, who had given me a pouch of sapphires and gold coins. "Can you please let me stay here just for one night? I won't ask for anything more."
"I don't need any money." his voice was distraught and stiff
"Please, I beg you..."
Something shifted in his eyes, and he reluctantly opened the door wider, allowing me to step inside his rustic home.
" you can take the room upstairs in attic, I don't expect you to roam or steal anything"
"I assure you" I smiled at him and handed him the pouch of my coins.
It was past midnight. I chewed a bunch of berula to thicken my voice again. The dense clouds blanketed the night, and the moon was in its full glory, casting an eerie glow through the trees. My necklace shone brightly, the cool hue a constant reminder of Leo and my longing for his embrace.
I imagined him wrapping his arms around me, stroking my hair, and whispering that everything would be okay. His hazel caramel eyes that looked like sun melted in them, the browns of his humility and kindness.
My reverie was interrupted by muffled voices growing louder and multiplying. Curious and cautious, I slipped out of my room beside the attic and peeked through the staircase. Below, three men, including my host, sat at a large wooden table covered with maps and plans.
I strained to hear their conversation. They were discussing an ambush, planning to burn an area about 25 miles away, dangerously close to the city. My heart pounded with a mix of fear and determination. Even if I wasn't the queen, I was still a princess of this kingdom, and it was my duty to protect my people from danger.
I crept back to my room, formulating a plan. I needed to warn the area, but I couldn't leave without drawing suspicion. I decided to gather more information before making my move. Silently, I slipped back to the staircase, listening intently to their plotting.
"We need justice and this the only way he said we can get it" my host said.
"It was not your fault, Keesha. You did all you could do" the other one said
" They just hate frites, they know we have something they can never have"
"At what time did he tell you to arrive, sehrii?" the third man with broad shoulders and deep voice asked. "he would help us right? He assured ?"
"yes, it was him that proposed this idea, he would be there to help us" Keesha apparently my host replied.
The ambush was not only external, wherever they were planning to attack, a traitor would aid them. A spy. A betrayal.
I needed to be quick and get out of here to warn them, I eyed the map from above the staircase and the ambush area was just near the city itself. It can be a village with all the innocent women and men.
"we attack on sunrise" another replied. "get some rest before that"
I just needed to wait for them to go away to sleep so I could escape without suspicions and save many.
The hours slipped and silence haunted the wood cottage.
That was my cue.
I rushed out of door as silently as I could, grabbed my horse and ran as if death was chasing me, the nights were dangerous times tor roam in woods.
Unspoken creatures lingered everywhere and without my camp, anything could get me and vanish me from the globe as if I never even existed.
Light was scared of Lykos but I am sure what ventured in the dark shadows of the night haunted lykos too.
I didn't have much time, I just focused on rushing my ride, sweat dripping from my face. The heavy armor heaving through my chest and my heart galloping in my throat.