Page 65 of The Heartless Archer

“Do not ever yell at me like that again. You have no say over me,” she said.

“I am your king. I have every say I want about you. You know more about these animals than anyone, so you should know how dangerous a bite is out of them, god only knows what bacteria could have spread from its oral cavity and infected you.”

“Wasn’t it you who said wolves were harmless?” she spit out now, taking a step closer so the tips of their boots touched.

On a rational level, she knew that he was right, she should’ve gotten the bite cleaned up the second the points of the tournament were announced but she could not allow herself that. What happened today was unforgivable, something so horrific it should not be spoken about.

“That wasmywolf, Spike would never hurt you! You said how territorial they are and how aggressive they get!”

Noora let out a scoff. “You still don’t understand the point, Kai. It was not the wolves who were at fault.”

“I am aware of that.“ If possible he stepped even closer, making his breath brush over her cheek. “And I will make sure that something like that does not happen again and if I have to yell at every member of the palace and set an example I don’t care. No wolf is ever going to get hurt again under my watch. But you have to realise that you still have to fear things and take them seriously.”

Noora shook her head. “It is not the animals I have to be afraid of, Kai, it is the humans that are the real monsters.”

At her words he took a step back, all rage dissipating from his hard features. His shoulders straightened again as he clasped his hands behind his back, all mighty king again. It was as if Noora could see the cold mask slipping over his face, robbing him of any emotion.

“I see.”

And if possible Noora hated this even more than him raising his voice at her. This cold mask enveloped him in a case that lacked humanity.

His eyes did not meet hers again as he spoke up for the last time. “While you were passed out, the remaining wolves were let out into the nearest forest, I have preserved the body of the one that attacked—defendedhimself against Kekoa. If you wish, Raphael will take you to bury its body accordingly, I know you have certain rituals you maybe would like to hold. He will organize a sled that can take you to a place you would like to bury it.”

He waited as if she was going to say something again and Noora felt inclined to do so but then she could not get the words out.

Nikolai nodded before disregarding the office with quick steps, leaving Noora behind with a pulsing hand that somehow turned faster and harder once he left.

As promised Raphael picked her up from the office only moments later and changed Noora into warm wool breeches and a jacket lined with red cashmere. They both took a sled that was provided at the stables and drove over the five-meter-deep snow until they reached the edges of a forest. After half an hour of howling wind and the sinking sun, Noora couldn’t feel her hand anymore, despite the cashmere gloves shackling her hands.

Despite her warm clothes, Noora felt the chill of the weather through her bones, burrowing so deep she feared she would be cold for the whole night.

They had to be quick about their business, as it was only minutes that separated them from the dark night sky. Noora felt too exhausted to fight any creatures of the night, in deep snow and freezing temperatures, which were certainly lurking in the depths of the shadows surrounding them.

The body was wrapped in a white, thin linen cloth, debunked in the intricately designed sled. Noora could not stop herself from rolling her eyes when noticing the gold engravings at the sides of the vehicle. Swirling with ice-blue snowflakes they formed the practical means of transportation, into another display of wealth from the royal family. A practical brown-coloured sled couldn’t provide for such beautiful and aristocratic people.

“We should start or else we might have to spend a night here.” Raphael pulled her out of her bitter musings before he stepped onto the skid and obtained two shovels from under the seats.

Hopping down, he threw one at her and she quickly caught it with her hand before stomping through the cold wind and towards the tree that caught her attention when they first arrived.

The forest stretched over enough metres that Noora could not see where it began and where it ended, so deep that she could not make out the center of all the trees littering the ground.

Most of them oaks, Noora could tell by hard, gray, scaly bark littered with deep grooves and ridges. Moss was covering the bark, crusted with amber-coloured resin that painted small little diamonds along the trees. The ground was frozen a few snowdrops poked their heads out, their necks hanging low as they clustered in small groups along a foot-trampled path.

Raphael grunted behind her as he propped the body over his shoulder, following her into the forest of gray melancholy, littered like gravestones as high as a castle’s towers.

Noora cringed at the heavy steps of the guard behind her, fearing that it might provoke the habitants in the forest. When walking over thick roots that grew out of the ground, she noticed something eerily.

Her steps faltered and Raphael huffed behind her. “What is it?”

She turned slowly, trying to concentrate her natural gift on her surroundings, and the more she focused, the more dread filled her up entirely, drowning the need for warmth.

She turned quickly to look at Raphael, now that they were both enclosed by the many trees and bushes, the low whistling of the wind disappeared.

“Don’t you hear that?” she asked.

“I don’t hear anything.”

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