Page 4 of The Soul of the Dragon

And then I was going to find a way to strike back at my stepfather, the king of this realm, for everything he'd done.

But first I had to escape.

I picked myself up and ran. Not blindly either. Because this castle was my home too and I knew it inside and out and better than any person here. Not even my stepfather or his pet dragon, Magnus could find all of the nooks and crannies.

After weeks of being trapped in my stepfather's dungeon I was finally loose, and I planned to stay that way. The bastard was going to be livid when he found me gone, and I'd likely be hunted by his dragon. I stiffened my shoulders. That was a small price to pay, and a risk I was willing to take, for the chance at freedom.

Sliding feet first into the closest tunnel to the dungeon that would lead me out, I disappeared into the bowels of the castle. I moved as quickly as I could, clamping my lips tight so as not to squeal over every little sound behind me.

By the time I reached the kitchen and the drain that led directly outside, I could feel the weight of my world pressing down on me. I had nothing but sheer will to keep me going. And the memory of my mother. I could almost hear her voice in my head telling me to keep going. I couldn’t give up now.

I emerged through the foul mud and forced myself to breathe through my mouth, not my nose. I should have been used to gross smells by now after my time in the King’s dungeon, but just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, it did.

There were other, more pleasant ways out of the castle, but I couldn’t risk the time they would take or the chance that I’d be seen.

Plus, this tunnel led directly into the wooded area of the estate that made it easier for me to disappear in a hurry.

As I ran through the dark forest, I used what little magic I could conjure to light my way. Which meant nothing more than simple spells even a child could do. He thought he was teaching me to toe the line by locking me away, but all I knew for sure was that I hated him for this.

My mother's body had barely turned to ash when he'd arrived in my room to inform me that I would take her place by his side and in his bed.

My stomach revolted, and I choked on my own spit. If there had been anything in my stomach it would be on the ground at my feet by now. No amount of time in a locked, dank cell could ever make me want that man's hands on my body.

I leaned against a tree and heaved for breath. I'd been running for what felt like hours and my lungs burned because of it. But no matter how far I'd gone, it wouldn't be far enough.

Not with my stepfather determined to claim my virgin body and my magic. My stomach churned again as I remembered those words coming out of his mouth.

That bastard could go straight to hell. Right after I wiped the smug grin off his face. For that, though, I would need my power restored and I didn't have the first clue how to go about doing that. Well, I kind of had a clue. Or at least the name of a woman who might be able to help me. I just had to get to her before Magnus found me.

Only then did I stand a chance of surviving any of this.

I looked skyward and prayed to the Goddess that my mother couldn't see me now. It would break her heart to see what her death had led to. Or if she had to see me, then I hoped she could offer me a guiding light. Because I sure as hell needed all the help I could get.

I braced my hands on my knees and took long, deep breaths until I got my breathing under control. Magnus may be big, fast and an asshole, but I probably knew this forest better than he did. And he wouldn't risk flying at night and getting attacked by the imps and their poisonous arrows. So if he was already in pursuit, it would be on foot and I would not allow him to find me like that.

I looked around, my eyes adjusting easily to the darkness the farther ahead I looked. Some powers the king could bind, and some he could not. Short of damaging my eyes, he couldn't take my sight. And since it was a queen he wanted, I doubted he would deform me to get it. Same with my hearing.

Now that I could breathe normally again, I sucked in enough air to fill my lungs and held it.

Like this, I could focus on the sounds around me instead of in me. The leaves rustling in the wind. The branches of the trees swaying, and— Was that—?

Oh my Goddess, yes it was. I could just hear the falls and the faint tinkling of the water as it splashed into the depths below. The falls separated this kingdom from the others, and judging by the sound, they were probably less than ten miles away. I released the air in my lungs and smiled wide. That bastard had thought to put me in a cage and keep me there until I changed my mind. Ha!

Not in this lifetime.

I wanted nothing more than my freedom, and he had no idea how far I would go to get it. Just then a crack sounded behind me. I pulled the knife at my belt, swiveled around, and drew my arms in for an attack. I didn't see anything, but I had not mistaken that sound. Something or someone had stepped on a branch and broke it in half.

I surveyed the area in every direction possible, but could find nothing out of place. Still, the hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end and I knew never to ignore my instincts. If I was being followed, then it was on me to keep moving and do everything I could to lose them.

Keeping the knife at the ready I ran in the direction of the falls. Soon I would have to take a real rest and try to find some food in order to keep up this pace. But until then, I wove back and forth in different directions without ever losing sight of my intended path. And by the time my body gave out and I stumbled to the forest floor, I was pretty sure whoever followed me had to be lost.

I needed food and shelter. And more importantly, water. I was going on twenty-four hours since I'd escaped my prison cell and there'd been no time to grab supplies before bolting from the castle. The forest itself could offer shelter. I would find a tree worth climbing and take rest amongst sturdy branches. Food I could likely find as well, although without my power, it would be difficult to know what was safe to ingest other than a few berries.

I sighed as the frustration of my situation settled coldly into my bones. I wasn't even close to giving up, but what I wouldn't give for my comfortable bed, a meal provided for me, and the warm embrace of my mother's arms...

Wearier than I could ever recall, I pushed back to my feet and quickly found a tree to climb. A tree wouldn't protect me one hundred percent, but it would make it difficult for all but the most cunning predators to find me. Which meant I first needed to do something to hide my scent.

I wandered away from the tree in the opposite direction I intended to travel in the morning. At every quarter of a mile, I scooped up dirt and fallen leaves and rubbed them on my clothes and skin. It wasn't foolproof, but it was better than nothing. I eventually wove my way back to my chosen tree and began to climb.

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