Page 14 of Barbi and the Villain

Tears stab at the corners of my eyes as my fate suddenly flashes before me.

“Get her!”

“Don’t let her get away!”

Their voices are loud, but they are drowned by the beat of my heart drumming in my ears. Fear spurs me further. Fear also shows me another potential danger if they should catch me.

I get to the hill, but the ground is muddy and hard to maneuver. One glance behind me to check how far the men are is all it takes for me to lose my footing and fall, rolling down to the base of the hill.

And right at the feet of one of the soldiers.

“Kill her! We can’t risk it!”

My eyes widen as I tighten my hold on PomPom, hiding her. I can’t take any chances that they might harm her too.

“Please don’t!” I shout. “I’m not infected, please.”

“That’s what they all say.” He laughs, pushing a mask over his face.

The sky is downcast. But the sun, buried underneath a mountain of clouds, resurfaces enough to shine light upon the sword that is about to end me.

“Please! I just need to find Sir Damien and Lady Jocelyn,” I say in hopes the names might be familiar to them. They’re some of the most famous mages in Akkaya, and their names should carry some weight. I may still be conflicted about this being Akkaya, but at this point, I’d try anything as long as it saves my life.

The sword comes down with a swoosh. But it doesn’t cut me. Instead, the soldier sheaths it, pulling his mask off his face and regarding me curiously.

“You know Sir Damien and Lady Jocelyn?” he asks as he narrows his eyes at me.

His other soldier buddies stop next to him, assessing me with skepticism.

“Uhm, yes.” I nod, plastering a smile on my face. “We’re old friends.”

The soldier, I suppose he’s the leader, tilts his head to the side.

“Good try. Everyone knows them.” He guffaws, and his friends join him. “I doubt a nobody like you would be friends with our rulers.”

My eyes widen. Rulers? When did that happen?

“No, no, I swear. I know them.” I nod. “Ask me anything about them and I’ll tell you.”

The soldier frowns.

“Lady Jocelyn has a mole here.” I point to the spot under my chin. “She also has one on her back, under her right shoulder blade. How could I know that if I hadn’t seen her in person?”

“Lady Jocelyn does have a mole under her chin,” one of the soldiers whispers from behind. “I’ve seen it. Swear I’ve seen it.”

“When would you have seen that?” The boss rolls his eyes as he jabs his shoulder into the man’s gut. He moans in pain.

“At the parade, sir. After the coronation. Her dog ran off and I caught it.” He pushes his chin up, proud of his achievement.

A lightbulb goes on in my mind.

“Yes! Her dog! BonBon,” I burst out, opening my arms to reveal PomPom. “If you’ve seen BonBon, then you should recognize my PomPom, too. They’re the same breed.” I hold up my pretty baby for his inspection.

Okay, so I may have gotten the same dog as Lady Jocelyn, in the same color. But BonBon is male, while my PomPom is female. I did intend to get a male and name it BonBon, too, but I fell in love with PomPom first, and she did not look like a BonBon.

He chews his lip as he assesses PomPom. She lets out a hiss before she bares her teeth at him.

“Oy, sir. It’s the same!” he exclaims. “It even sounds the same.” His eyes widen as he takes a step back. “He bit me, that dog. More than once,” he mutters under his breath.

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