Page 27 of Secrets & Curses of Cerithia

“Where is he?”

“Headed toward Cerithia,” Kaz spoke confidently. “Leading the army to the castle, we believe.”

“Perfect.” I smiled as I put my armor back on and hopped on Kaida, racing toward my father’s land. Kaz and Kai flanked my sides. I would need them. The captain of Crimson’s guard was unstoppable. My men were dying as the man killing them barely lifted his sword to do so. He had to have powerful magic. Perhaps it was elite magic. My power, my magic could outdo his. Of this, I was certain. I would be the end of the Crimson King’s army.

I smiled as I raced through the forests of my homeland. I knew this place better than anyone in this damned realm. I glanced behind me and saw dozens of my warriors following. If I took out the captain, we could push back into Crimson’s land and take it over.

After riding for some time, we came to a clearing. I paused at the silence of the forest. It was not right. Not even the birds sang. I held up my hand, and everyone stilled as my eyes scanned the forest across the field. I smiled when I saw them waiting. Even though the sun was setting, I could make out their silhouettes.

Kai looked at me as I shifted my eyes to the clearing edge. A soft whisper moved through my warriors as they prepared for battle. My eyes narrowed when I saw their captain. He wore all black and stood taller than any of the others behind him. I couldn’t make out anything else, though, with the armor helmet on.

I led my army. I was always the first to ride onto the battlefield and was usually the last to leave. I was not a coward. My horse was faster than most, but I was surprised when the captain of Crimson’s army met me in the middle of the field.

He and I clashed a second before our men did. The sound of swords and armor rang in the cold night air. Magic erupted from some, but not all. My eyes were trained on the captain; he was my only target. My latest mission was to kill him so that I could go about taking the Crimson Kingdom for Cerithia and ending their miserable royal bloodline.

Their captain had struck first, his sword coming down at an angle I wasn’t expecting. What an odd technique, I thought. I struck back just as quick, and we both fell off our horses. Our swords fell out of our hands, but before he could get to his, I tackled him to the ground. Our fists connected against each other’s armor. I grunted in pain when he slid a dagger into my shoulder.

“Fuck!” I yelled at the sneaky little bastard.

I reached up and yanked the dagger out, then turned it and plunged it into his leg before standing. His scream wasdrowned out by the clashing around us. He ripped the dagger from his leg as he stood and held it tightly. Impressive. I didn’t have time to look out at my men, although I desperately wanted to know how we were faring against the best of Crimson’s men.

The captain tossed the dagger at me so hard and fast that I had to use my magic to stop it before it plunged into my neck. For fuck’s sake. When I went to turn the dagger toward him, he ran at me and kicked me to the ground. I swept my leg out and knocked him down next to me. I tried to get him pinned beneath me, but he was too quick and strong.

I went to stand, but suddenly he had me pinned with his magic—shadow magic.

“We have the battlefield, captain,” someone had said next to him. I glanced around and saw a few of my men retreating into the woods. Damn them.

“Have the men start clearing the dead, Kace.” The captain’s voice was deep and pleasant.

His magic held me tightly, but I was just biding my time. I could break free from this. I watched as he lifted my dagger off the ground and stared at the viper handle for a long moment. His armor prevented me from seeing his face, but I could feel his eyes on me. In the space of a heartbeat, I was standing up, and the captain of Crimson stood in front of me. He wasted no time reaching for my helmet and sliding it off.

“A woman?” One of the soldiers looked at me with confusion, then back to his captain.

“Where is Cerithia’s captain?” my captor asked softly.

“I am Cerithia’s captain,” I snapped with as much anger as I could muster. My blue uniform was bloodied and dirty, but I stared at him proudly as his shadows swirled around me.

“Impossible. Armies do not have women soldiers.”

“Well, then the king of Cerithia must win an award for allowing such equality.” My anger was now directed towardmy father for making me do this. He hadn’t even acknowledged how well I had done in the past few months. Now here I was, being sneered at by the enemy.

He whispered something to the large man next to him, who scurried off quickly.

“Take off your helmet and show me your face before you kill me, you coward,” I demanded with as much authority as I could spit out. He laughed. The bastard laughed at me, but his hands slipped off his helmet.

“Is this better?” he asked as he gave me a cocky smirk.

It certainly was not better. I had expected a troll, not—this. His golden eyes held amusement in them as I was trapped against my will in his shadows. His dark hair was chaotic from battle, and his smooth skin glistened with sweat. His jaw was dusted in dark stubble from a few days of not shaving, and my eyes drifted to his strong lips that parted as he gave me a smile.

“Do you like what you see?” His voice held no malice for me. It was more curious than anything. I snapped my jaw shut as I realized that I had been gawking at the enemy.

“Get on with it, prick,” I scoffed.

My attitude only made his smile bigger. He took one step toward me without breaking eye contact. I didn’t fear dying, and I had no one who would mourn me. The realm would continue tomorrow as if I had never existed in it.

“How long have you been the captain of the guard?”

I stayed silent and did not answer him. His golden eyes watched me thoughtfully. Something was unsettling in the way he looked at me, like I was fascinating. Perhaps he was in shock that I was a female captain. I decided to answer him just so he would stop watching me so closely.

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