Page 37 of Red Queen

I set my jaw, the coldness of resolve icing over the sorrow trying to claw its way out. We stand in grim silence, hearts broken, purpose renewed: victory for the fallen, for the living, for the realms.

We are united in purpose and bonded by bloodshed, ready to face whatever horrors await us in the dark corners of Catarina’s reckless ambitions.

Chapter

Seven

Eleanna

The cold bites through my attire as I urge my steed through the gates, darkness enveloping Nadia and me like a cloak. Hooves crunch on the frost-hardened ground as we thread through skeletal trees, their branches clawing at a starless sky.

Nadia rides beside me, her silhouette rigid against the moonlight. Her presence is an assurance of loyalty in this clandestine quest.

I can’t forget Alexandru’s words yesterday; they haunt my every waking moment.

Dante might have provided a way through, and his bravery is to be commended. Catarina’s seemingly unstoppable army, one that murdered Henry, one of the brave, an old and powerful vampire, an army that’s laid waste to so much and stripped the offers of help as other realms fight and fall, has dark magic on its side.

And with that, he exposed her one, lone weakness.

The talisman that gives her strength and protects her from all manner of death, that allows her to destroy is also the dark heart Catarina clings to for her life force.

The one thing that makes her almost unstoppable makes her vulnerable. It’s a chink in her armor, the only leverage we have against her invincibility. If I can find it. If I can find the way to then destroy it. Which I will. There’s no other option.

I don’t allow defeat.

I’ll stop her, make her pay and restore the land. And then…then I won’t need Alexandru by my side. And if I destroy her talisman along with her, I’ll save him. Because while I won’t bow to him the way he wants, I can’t imagine the world without him. And I think he would die in my name.

There’s been enough of that.

So I’m going to stop her. The thought coils inside me, tightening around my chest like a vise.

The rhythmic hoofbeats of our horses are the only sound that accompanies us through the forest, save for the occasional call of a night bird. The moon, barely a sliver, casts its eerie glow on the path ahead, guiding Nadia and me toward the village where the witch lives. Rumors say she holds secrets no ordinary being should know, especially about the talisman that shields Catarina.

I’ll take anything I can get.

“Nadia,” I say, breaking the silence, “if this witch knows about the talisman protecting Catarina, or even the type, we need to find out how to destroy it.”

“Indeed, my Queen. But we must approach this with caution. A talisman wrapped in mystery and dark magic isn’t easily tampered with. Who knows what safeguards Catarina has placed around it?”

Her words are a cold splash of reality. I’ve known Nadia to be not just a maidservant but a confidant. She never speaks upunless she has something to say, and her insight is invaluable, especially now. The thought of confronting such dark magic sends a shiver through me, not of fear but anticipation. To break Catarina’s protection would be to expose her vulnerability, to tilt the scales in our favor at last.

“How do you suppose we deal with the witch? Do you think she’ll be amenable to helping us, or will we need to persuade her in... other ways?” I say, already running through possible scenarios in my mind. “Not threats. Gold? Something else? I won’t be able to pay her until all is restored.”

Nadia’s response is thoughtful, measured. “Threats never work with witches. And the witch will want something in return, my Queen. They always do.”

“Until we win, I’m in exile, so I can’t pay.”

“Yet. But we should be prepared to offer her a trade, something valuable enough to coax the information from her.”

Her advice is sound, a reminder of the delicate balance of negotiation and power plays that comes with dealing with witches.

We ride on, and as the village draws ever closer, and the weight of my quest pushes down on my shoulders and gut. It’s not just about reclaiming power or asserting dominance—it’s about securing a future for my people, free from the threat of Catarina’s reign. And if this witch holds the key to unraveling Catarina’s protection, then I’m prepared to pay any price.

We finally enter the small and quiet village. Humble homes made of stone and wood nestle in among the trees. The moon casts a pale light over the scene as we approach, highlighting the murky outlines of the houses and trees, giving the village an ethereal quality.

The village slumbers under the cover of winter, its buildings simple and quaint. Smoke drifts lazily from chimneys in the coldnight ai. In the distance, a lone dog barks twice, its voice echoing through the streets.

Humans and other supernatural creatures here live simple lives, untouched by the crusades of blood and power that rage beyond their doors. Catarina’s army hasn’t reached its doors.

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