C. Bryant - Broken

Kira gripped the hilt of her knife and slowly pulled it from Shandira’s body. She went to the water, but as she washed the blood from her knife and hands, her body began to tremble. Visions of all the injuries she’d healed flashed through her mind as she healed their wounds: Luka with an arrow sticking out of his shoulder; Octavion covered in blood with a deep cut in his leg; Cade with a knife sticking out of his back, struggling to save her life; and Altaria, risking her life to save hers. Their blood was on Kira’s hands. Their very lives were now in her trembling blood-soaked hands.

A deafening scream rang out through the meadow. It took several seconds for Kira to realize it came from her. She slid her knife back in its sheath and tried to calm the spasms as adrenaline flowed through her exhausted body. The vivid images kept bouncing around in her head, sending her hopelessly into madness. She had to gain some control. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she let it out, the images slowed. Another breath-then another. Finally, she could push the memories away.

Kira turned to look over her shoulder at Shandira’s lifeless body covered with blood, her hair and clothes askew. Someone would come for her and take her back to her father. For him, the least she could do is make her presentable-but it would never erase what Kira had done.

Since her shirt was already cut by Shandira’s blade, Kira tore off the sleeve and soaked it in the stream. When she returned to Shandira’s side, an overwhelming sensation of calm surrounded her. Her hands grew steady and her pulse slowed.

Kira gathered Shandira’s long black hair to one side of her head, taking extra care to brush the leaves and grass away. She washed the blood from her mouth and a small streak along the side of her neck. Kira retrieved the heart pendent from her pack and placed it in the palm of Shandira’s hand, closing her fingers around it. She laid her hand over her chest wound-across her heart.

The long shadows Shandira so poetically spoke of in her note, stretched across the meadow. It wouldn’t be long before it was too dark for Kira to find her way back to the castle. As she stood, she heard something moving in the trees. Althros. His brilliant white coat stood out in stark contrast to the darkness of the forest. He watched her, waiting to take her home.

Kira carefully returned her unused arrows to her quiver and slung it along with her bow over her shoulder. She sat on the fallen log, Shandira’s last words echoing through her mind.

If you live, they die.

In her heart she knew Shandira’s words were true, but she couldn’t help thinking she was wrong. She had to be. After all, Shandira didn’t know about the meeting with King Tyrious. If Octavion was able to convince him that Kira’s death would not heal his heart, then everyone would be safe. She needed to have faith it would all work out.

Althros grazed a few feet away, struggling to chew with the metal bit grinding between his teeth. When she stood, his head shot up, flipping the reins in the air.

“You ready to go home, boy?”

He responded by coming closer and nudging her with his head. She had to smile. Octavion had just lost himself a good horse.

She gathered the reins, used the fallen log so she could better reach his back and hefted herself up onto his back. He stood completely still, letting her adjust to the saddle and find the stirrups.

“Thanks, buddy,” she said, stroking his mane. Then nudged his side with her heels.

At first, the setting sun spilled over the forest through tiny spaces between the leaves and branches, giving her enough light to find her way through the trees that separated the meadow from the road that led to the castle. Soon the shadow of the mountain blocked the sun and Kira found herself making her way through a long dark tunnel filled with strange animal sounds and eerie noises. The hair pricked the back of her neck as she rode deeper and deeper into the trees.

A twig snapped ahead and a flock of tiny birds scattered into the air. Althros threw his head to the side in protest, but kept going. She pulled her bow from around her shoulder and loaded it with an arrow. She held it firmly in one hand as she held the reins in the other.

Kira’s senses came alive with the sounds and smells of the forest. When something moved in the shadows, she took in a deep breath. She could smell them now, but she had no time to react. Two Royals leapt into the air, landing a few feet in front of her. She drew back her bow and took aim, her increased heart rate making her eyes burn cold. She’d forgotten about how the Crystor and Octavion’s blood had given her the ability to see in the dark, so was surprised when her night vision sprang to life. It was as if millions of tiny fireflies lit her way.

Althros came to a halt and clawed at the dirt with his hooves. Nostrils flaring, he lurched forward, warning the attackers to get out of his way. Kira tightened her legs around his belly to keep from falling off.

“Well, well. What do we have here?” She recognized them as the same men who’d attacked her before-Draego and his brother. Draego sported a long thin scar on his cheek where she’d scratched him. Their presence brought her future into focus. Octavion had failed.

“It appears we get a late snack,” the brother said. “The king will be pleased with our flawless hunting skills.”

Kira leaned into her bow, making sure she had a good strong aim at the brother’s heart. “I don’t suppose you boys would consider postponing our little play date?”

In the time it took them to take in one quick breath, they transformed into ferocious beasts. “Not even in your wildest dreams,” Draego said.

Octavion and Luka spent most of the day waiting to see King Tyrious, only to find he’d had a change of heart. He sent word through an advisor that only the death of the red haired foreigner would satisfy his craving for revenge. It didn’t matter that his son joined forces with Shandira and entered Kira’s world with evil intentions, or that his only heir tried to kill Cade, a Morganstar Royal. His singular focus was avenging his son. He had five armed guards and three Royals escort Octavion and Luka to the main gate with instructions to never set foot in Kazedon again.

Luka suggested they hunt before returning to Xantara in hopes of satisfying some of Octavion’s rage, but Octavion refused. He knew Kira would worry about the outcome of the meeting-and knowing the Kazedon Royals still sought her death made the urgency of their return critical. She would not be out of his sight again, even if that meant spending every night camped out on her balcony.

As the Royal guards threw the bolts to the castle gate, a familiar voice enter Octavion’s thoughts. The urgency of her tone seized his heart.

Octavion! Come quickly , Altaria shouted in his mind.

“We must go. Something is wrong with Altaria,” he told Luka. They both appeared in the king’s chambers, only to find it empty.

Altaria, where are you?

On the main floor, in the sitting room. Be quick, something has happened.

Before she’d finished her thought, he appeared at her side. Luka entered seconds later to find Octavion kneeling in front of his sister.

“What happened? Are you all right?” Octavion asked.

Altaria’s fingers pressed against her forehead. “They cannot find her, Octavion. I heard her thoughts in my head and now they cannot find her. She will not answer me.”

Mara sat next to her, one arm around Arela, Ethan cradled in the other. The only women in the castle Altaria could share thoughts with sat next to her.

“Altaria, who are you talking about? Who is missing?” Octavion asked impatiently.