Hellan
It was chilly and very uncomfortable. The dew hadn't left the grass, and the birds were still asleep cuddling in their nest for warmth. The fog did its best to hung closer and the mist refused to lessen. The sun woke up at its own pace slowly pushing back the dark.
'Why did we have to leave so early?' I groaned as the rickety wagon hit a misplaced stone on the road. 'I feel like we are thieves' I lifted my head up a little from the side of the wagon I had claimed and looked at Shin who was on the other side pretending to be asleep. I leaned my head back recalling how Shin had been waiting for me at our manors gate. It was still dark and I still had a few more hours of sleep left but I still followed him out. I couldn't understand what all the sneaking around was for. It was fun at first, but an hour in this wagon and I was ready to rain check this date.
'It was a fool proof plan in my head' Shin spoke for the first time since we boarded this wagon. I glared at him then noticed he still had his eyes closed. We had left the roan hills and we were now on a rocky path heading northward to the Brand territory. The last time I used this road I was running for my life.
'What are you even planning on doing once you get there?' I groaned again as I shifted to a more comfortable spot. Shin looked at me and again I couldn't resist those eyes.
'I don't know actually' He chuckled and I resisted a face palm. The wagon rocked again and my butt stared to protest.
'Couldn't we have gotten a nicer carriage?' I complained inaudibly. The norther part of our continent was difficult terrain it was where the rest of the continent met the world's end mountain, a volcanic behemoth that claimed one third of the land. The brand clan was next to the Nurr's territory squeezed between the roan hills and a dead zone. The rocky path was how one left the roan hills. with a good carriage one wouldn't feel the vibrations or the rapid descent. I sighed and shin looked up.
'Don't worry about it too much, anyway we have no idea where and when were going to meet them' He smiled, he was taking this very lightly. I wanted to follow his example but I had almost died here I didn't want to lower my guard. He stretched his legs, he had worn black trousers, a grey shirt and had covered himself with a trench coat. 'Speaking of which, do you know how to read?' His question caught me off guard. My facial expression went from, What? to no, to are you serious?
'You don't know how to read?' I laughed loudly. 'Your royal highness, king of millions of people, Master of the Keel's households' I laughed with every word I said and he became embarrassed. 'how do you not know how to read?! I thought that was something we were taught as kids' I had tears at the corners of my eyes.
'I was blind until a day ago. You cant read with no eyes.' I felt bad for laughing, but still it was quite funny knowing a king couldn't read his own name. Wait, can he write? I started cracking up again.
'So you don't know how to read, or write then what, all state agreements will be done verbally?' I asked.
'That's where you come in' My smile faded when he said that. He didn't have to explain more. Marring him was more work than I thought. I was supposed to do his paperwork. 'The first chosen of the lady Erise, my queen, becomes the administrative head.' He locked eyes with me and I could see a smirk on his face. 'congratulations you get to sit behind a desk and write my letters' This kingdom was doomed to fall, I am not known for my hard work, I'd rather laze all day.
'I can teach you to at least write your name' I said and his smirk vanished as I scored another point.
'I'll take you up on the offer' he said and avoided my eyes. 'How much further should we go?' I shook my head, I didn't even know where we were. we turned a corner and I saw the barn I had taken refuge in. The little falling apart building brought back memories. I could safely say we were out of Nurr's territory.
'We should get off here' I suggested not wanting to take the main road into a viper's den.
'Are you sure?'Shin was reluctant to leave the wagon. He looked around then looked at me. 'Brand lives here?' I face palmed again. I took his hand and jumped off the wagon. The sun had finally shown its face sending pink rays over the horizon. The wagon driver went on not bothered his passengers had ditched the ride.
Shin dusted his trousers and put on his black trench coat. 'Where to?' I stated towards the barn. it was up hill from the road, five minute walk from our current position. For today i had ditched the party dresses my sisters dolled me up in. instead I wore tight stockings and a miniskirt. I had paired it with light armour then a normal grey top and a black overcoat. it was neither tight nor loose to become a hinderance. And of course I had two daggers and a bow at my back, I wasn't stupid enough to wonder around Edith's place unarmed. Even if we were here for a party I'd still bring my weapons with me.
'This place still has your scent' Shin sniffed the air. 'And blood a lot of blood' He was spot on about my scent and blood but we weren't here for that. if there was a barn here, it must be connected to a house which must be in a sort of village. I walked out of the barn and looked at the other side of the hill I never got to see when I was here. I followed shin down to the house where the barn owners must have lived. As we got closer an eerie feeling kept climbing up my spine.
'Shin? It's quiet' I started as I reached for one of my daggers, it wasn't the weapon I used efficiently but they always did their purpose. Shin didn't stop, he only glanced at me and lead me ahead into the house.
The smell of blood Shin told me about, wasn't just from when I bled in the barn, down the hill, in the simple house, there were bodies spread across. it was as if the tried putting up a fight but the ultimately lost. I now understood why it was quiet earlier, even their animals were not speared. My heart rate spiked, my knees started giving in. Not because of the blood or bodies, I was already used to battle, but of what the three bodies had in common. They were all hollow and lacked a head.