Page 5 of Oath of Rebellion

Still her mind wandered as she stared through the trees to the sky above. Stories of old told of humans flying dragons and even turning into dragons. Helga had tried to dissuade her from fantastical children's books, but it was one of her favorite obsessions.

Stories were so much better than reality. Realistic facts were dry and boring. And sometimes sad. One fact stood out among the others, and she asked, "Do you think my parents died around here?"

Helga's banging quieted, then she popped her head out once more. Her eyes were serious and a frown marred her forehead. "If you come inside, I promise to tell you when we get to the site of the accident."

Eirwyn sighed and looked through the treetops once more, and then she stood and waved a hand imperiously. "Well, open the door then."

Helga harped on her even as she obeyed. "Don't you dare swing in here like a heathen. You're a princess, and it's high time you started acting like one. You're twenty, for gods' sake."

Eirwyn swung a leg over the railing and used the window as a ladder to get to the door. Helga was still ranting when Eirwyn landed inside, closing the door behind her.

The driver had insisted on no stops along the way. They went straight through, steady and sure. It was the only way she'd gotten him and the guards to agree to take this route. That and triple the normal pay.

The guards were on high alert. The Glathen royal escort had left them in a small village on the edge of the forest next to the Lone Road. They'd stopped for a few days to stock provisions, pouring over maps and planning for the dash through the forest, meeting with experts and hiring more guards.

Not that they were racing per se. That would've been fun though, to sit on top of the carriage and let the wind rush over her face.

"Eirwyn?" Helga asked, pulling her back into the moment.

Eirwyn blinked and sat back on the well-cushioned bench, immediately picking up her sketchbook. She smoothed her features and looked up at Helga serenely. "Alright, I'm ready. You can continue berating me."

Helga rolled her eyes and picked up her long-forgotten embroidery. "You're riding the carriage like it was a jaunt through the countryside. You have to be more careful, Eirwyn. It's time to grow up now that you're of marriageable age."

Eirwyn's parents had died in this god-forsaken forest. It's full of untold monsters and strange magic, yet Helga was right. She had just been daydreaming and playing around. Guilt stabbed her, twisting her stomach.

Eirwyn sighed and sketched the treetops and leaves, the light filtering through. Light and shadows had always fascinated her since we tied her magic to it.

She was almost finished with the picture when a shout rang outside the carriage. Screams followed, and the carriage bounced.

Eirwyn threw her notebook into the corner of her seat and pulled back the curtain. She was about to stick her head out of the window when Helga grabbed her arm and jerked back.

"No, you don't, your highness. You'll stay right here, safe where you belong."

Eirwyn rang her hands, light and shadows swirling around her in the dimmer light of the carriage. She reached out with her senses to see what the birds thought. Perhaps they could tell her what was going on outside.

She gasped, feeling their alarm as the vines jerked riders off their horses. The carriage jerked as the driver yelled.

They began to barrel along the road, screams and cries flitting from the left and behind them. The carriage swerved, and Eirwyn's heart raced with adrenaline. She gripped the window's edge as she slid over the seat and slammed into the other side.

The road became much bumpier. Eirwyn's other hand went to the roof, trying to protect her head as she bounced. If she could see where they were going and what they were doing, perhaps she could use her magic to help. But she was at the mercy of the forest now.

She gritted her teeth and took a deep breath, praying to the gods for safe passage through the forest as Helga cried and bounced on her seat.

****

Knox neared the section of the forest where the road almost met the river. They had left the game trail some time ago. The Lone Road was wider so he and Scarlet rode side by side toward Glathen, following the winding path.

Different areas of the road were more dangerous than others. They passed the loudest part near the rushing river, and he sat up straighter as they neared one of the more perilous sections of drive.

Screams drowned out the peaceful sounds of nature. He kicked his heels and his horse shot forward.

He rounded a bend and saw body parts of men and horses lining the ditches in a trail of bloody gore and guts. Vines wrapped around the bigger pieces as they pulled the dripping twisted torsos and severed heads into the dark underbrush.

He let the forest take them. There was no helping the guards now, and he felt no remorse about it. The princess should've requested safe passage from the Robins in the village at the end of the Lone Road and paid the toll first. The guards' blood was on her head.

He inspected the road and listened for sounds of struggle. He pointed. "Carriage tracks."

Scarlet followed him as he waved his hand, the forest parting before them. He followed the tracks and trail of body parts to an overturned carriage. The front wheel had crashed into a tree, shattering into pieces.

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