Page 71 of The Heartless Archer

Noora

Noora spent the next three days in the same ordeal. She got up before the sun rose in the sky, Lulva was still cuddling the pillows beside her. Even though they offered Lulva a separate room, both girls decided they wanted to spend it together, they always had and it would feel wrong not to.

After cleaning herself up, Noora went on a run around the palace grounds, which was quickly followed by stuffing herself at breakfast before Pika and her went down to the training chamber. While Pika showed her how to fight with a sword, building muscles by throwing big chunks of logs over and over again, she taught him about various parts of plants, how to quiver a bow and make one’s steps unheard.

Sören often watched the both of them, his eyes as big as saucers when Pika’s blade accidentally grazed her skin, a small trickle of blood trailing over her cheek.

After their training session, they would go to dinner and stuff their starved selves with food. Noora could feel herself becoming stronger, building muscles even though she landed completely exhausted into the soft pillows of her bed every night. Lulva would then tell her about the day she spent with Spike, the wolf, and Josephine.

Even when Kekoa was allowed back to train he stayed mostly quiet, besides a few jabs here and there they were able to coexist.

It was as if the contestants somehow grasped the importance of the tournament.

Noora still waited for the prince to come back into the picture but she knew from Tyra that he was at a congress a day’s ridefrom Oy Frossen and was not to be expected back before the next task.

So while her days were spent in familiar routines, it was a particular afternoon, while she was stuffing herself with meatballs that a horrific scream echoed through the palace walls.

Pika’s and her gaze met over the table and even Kekoa looked up in concern and it was as if they decided as a group.

The contestants got up, butter knives drawn while Sören tried to get up, his legs tangling in the chairs, the table cloth sticking to his tunic and resulting in him ending up on the floor. Pika grabbed his collar and quickly brought him back to his feet before the four of them made their way into the hall.

“Why? Why did you do that?” The voice wailed as it echoed through the hallways and it sounded like it was coming from the royal library.

Knives drawn, they rushed past the library doors and came upon a peculiar scene.

Noora deflated as she saw the queen herself, standing in front of Josephine completely unharmed, the latter having a small smile on her face.

“Your hair! How will you ever go out in public again? You look like a boy!” Queen Euphemia wailed again and this was probably the first and only time Noora saw the queen close to crying.

It looked like Josephine took matters into her own hands and cut all her long golden locks, only leaving a short bob of hair across her crown.

The Queen finally noticed the intruders, her icy gaze sharpening on them in an instant. “What do you think you are doing here?”

They all shuffled, unsure beside Noora.It was Kekoa who was brave enough to speak up, “We heard a scream, Your Majesty, and rushed to come for help.”

The queen shifted her weight slightly, raising a brow. “And what makes you think that you are more qualified to protect me?”

“Maybe the fact that no guards rushed here?” Noora couldn’t help from saying. Now the queen focused on her, a slow smile spreading on her red lips.

“That is because they know I am perfectly able to protect myself. Besides, there is no danger here. I would ask you all to leave now. You come with me.” She took hold of Josephine’s arm, the girl grimacing slightly.

While the other contestants made sure to leave as quickly as they could, Noora took a step forward. “You are hurting her!”

“You don’t have a say about my daughter, orphan.” Queen Euphemia waved her away, trying to drag Josephine away.

“No, please let me go. I’m sorry.” Tears rolled down her cheeks and horror buried in Noora’s stomach.

“This is all your fault! Would you just listen and stop parading in the mud, shooting arrows you would not have to bear the consequences.”

Noora watched them struggle but her body acted on instinct when the queen raised her hand in a slap.

Her hand shot out and grasped the wrist of the woman before she could strike Josephine.

“She is a child!” Noora breathed out, shocked as Josephine finally slipped out of her mother’s hold and hid behind Noora.

The queen’s gaze turned so fiery, that Noora let go of her wrist as quickly as she could.

“Who do you think you are that you can touch me? This is my child and she is living under my roof where my rules count.”

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