Page 18 of The Heartless Archer

At first thought, she wanted to go to the farm, until she remembered that she fought with Lukas, who apparently thought she was not worth it as well. Maybe she should start writing a list.

A guffaw travelled through the dim light of the forest, Noora not flinching at the sound. The familiarity was soothing to her screaming body.

Her steps slowed down as she heard the steady flow of river av Livet.

Stepping through the thicket, the river came into view. She dug her heels into the ground and squatted down, her hand dippinginto the water. It felt different. Its usual warmth was gone, not soothing to her blistered skin.

She looked up to the sky to see the moon slowly rising, greeting her softly with the glow of its light.

Soaking it in, Noora closed her eyes to somehow make sense of the chaos in her head.

She needed a new plan. There must be another way for her to leave this damned kingdom when she turned eighteen in a matter of weeks. She may not have the necessary materials to make it a comfortable journey but maybe she could shoot another wolf, and sell it to van Dijk but this time not for gold. She could sneak out with Lulva and have van Dijk bring them onto a ship, where she could work with the crew to gain their stay on it. It would at least bring them away from Oy Frossen.

A scream tore through the evening air.

Noora was on her feet in a matter of seconds, drawing her bow as she turned to see something running towards her, with flailing arms. What in the world?

She drew her arrow tighter, the muscles in her back crying as she watched that something turn into a young man, another panicked scream tearing out of him.

“A BEAR! RUN!”

What?

But Noora had no time to decipher his words and make meaning of them as a raging shadow burst through the forest.

The blood drained from her face.

A grizzly as tall as a small building was running straight at her.

“Hel,” she whispered until her body reacted.

She turned on her heel, breaking out into the sprint of her life. She was already low on her energy but she still burst through the river, soaking her boots until she came onto land again, running for her life.

Why did she not pack her knives? Her bow was nothing against this growling shadow of death.

In no time she reached the man still running, his golden locks flying in the wind.

He was still screeching like a girl until she reached his side and he blanched in fear.

“It’s just me you imbecile. I’d advise you to tone down your damsel in distress screeches so we could outrun this thing!” Her legs burned as she charged beside him. His head turned, his eyes widening.

He stumbled over his feet, his boot catching onto a stray tree root. His body was falling quicker than she could’ve imagined.

A roar of triumph settled from the bear, who was advancing at high speed.

Noora cursed before she clamped her hand around his arm, pulling him back to his feet.

“Move!” she barked at him and they both stumbled together, as a shadow grew over them. Fuck.

Holding her breath, she indicated for him to stay where he was, slowly turning their heads.

She was staring into the soulless eyes of the grizzly, who towered over them. Its teeth gnashing dangerously.

“Do. Not. Move,” she whispered to the boy beside her.

“You think I could move right now?” he bit back.

The bear was watching them, palms raised.

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