---
The forest grew darker as Lass made her way through the dense woods, guided only by the notes in her mother's journal. The trees loomed overhead, their twisted branches forming a canopy that let in very little light. Shadows danced on the ground, and the air felt thick and cold.
Lass shivered, clutching the journal close to her chest. "It has to be here," she whispered, reading the page again. The journal described a hidden glade, a place where the witch who had cursed her family once drew her power. According to her mother's writing, the glade was marked by a circle of ancient, white-stone pillars.
"Come on, Astra," she said to her horse, her voice shaking a little. Astra snorted in response, as if sensing the unease in the air. Lass led her carefully over roots and fallen branches, her heart pounding with both fear and determination.
Suddenly, the forest opened up, and there it was: the glade. The circle of white stones stood tall and proud, though vines had started to creep up their sides. The air inside the circle felt different, almost electric, and a low hum filled the space, as if the very ground were alive with old magic.
Lass took a deep breath. "This is it," she said softly, tying Astra to a nearby tree. She stepped forward, her boots crunching on the dry leaves. The closer she got to the center of the circle, the louder the hum became.
---
A cold wind swept through the glade, and suddenly, the air shimmered with a ghostly blue light. Lass stumbled back, her eyes widening in shock. A figure appeared, half-real and half-made of mist. The witch's form was old and twisted, her eyes glowing with a cruel light. Her hair floated around her like dark smoke, and her mouth twisted into a mocking smile.
"Ah, a child of the cursed bloodline," the witch's voice echoed, sending shivers down Lass's spine. "Have you come to beg for mercy? Or perhaps to break the curse?"
Lass took a step back, fear gripping her, but she clenched her fists to keep from trembling. "I came to understand," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Why did you curse my family? Why must so many suffer?"
The witch laughed, a cold, bitter sound that made the leaves rustle. "You think I will answer your questions? Foolish princess. You are just like the rest of them—thinking you can escape fate." She floated closer, her ghostly form flickering. "You wish to break the curse, but the path ahead is full of lies and pain."
Lass swallowed hard. "I don't care how hard it is," she said, her voice stronger. "I will save my kingdom."
The witch's eyes narrowed. "You speak with such hope," she sneered. "But hope is a fragile thing, easily broken. You will be betrayed, dear princess, by someone you hold dear. The people you trust will turn on you, and your heart will shatter."
Lass's breath caught in her throat. "You're lying," she said, though doubt crept into her mind. "You're just trying to scare me."
The witch's smile widened. "Believe what you wish," she whispered. "But remember this: love and loyalty are illusions. When the time comes, you will know the pain of betrayal."
Lass's hands shook, but she clenched her teeth, refusing to let the witch see her fear. "I won't let that happen," she said. "I won't let you win."
The witch's form began to fade, but her laughter lingered. "We shall see, princess. We shall see."
---
The blue light vanished, leaving the glade silent once more. Lass fell to her knees, her heart pounding. The witch's words echoed in her mind, filling her with doubt and fear. "Betrayal," she whispered. Who could possibly betray her? Her parents? Ilara, her loyal maid? Captain Rhys, who had taught her to fight?
She buried her face in her hands, feeling the weight of her mission pressing down on her. For a moment, she felt small and powerless. But then, she thought of the people she had met—the hungry children, the old man who had thanked her for a single coin, and the boy named Thomas who dreamed of being a knight.
"No," she whispered, lifting her head. "I can't give up." She stood slowly, her legs still shaky but her resolve growing stronger. "The witch wants me to doubt myself. She wants me to be afraid. But I won't let her win."
Lass walked back to Astra, who whinnied softly, as if sensing her distress. She stroked her horse's mane, finding comfort in the familiar feel of Astra's warmth. "We have to keep going," she said. "No matter what."
Astra seemed to nod, and Lass smiled, feeling a small flicker of hope. She mounted her horse, taking one last look at the glade. The witch's warning lingered in her mind, but she refused to let it break her spirit.
---
As Lass rode away from the glade, the forest seemed darker, the shadows deeper. The witch's words haunted her, but she knew she couldn't let them control her. "I'll protect my kingdom," she whispered to herself. "I'll find the one who can break this curse. And I'll prove the witch wrong."
The path ahead was uncertain, and the threat of betrayal loomed over her like a storm cloud. But Lass held her head high, determined to face whatever lay ahead. The fate of her kingdom rested on her shoulders, and she would not let fear stop her.
Somewhere deep in the woods, a pair of eyes watched her, hidden in the darkness. The witch's warning had set things in motion, and the shadows waited for the right moment to strike. But for now, Lass rode on, her heart full of courage, ready to face whatever came next.