ECLIPSE
The wall archers' bowstrings did not sing— they snapped collectively like tension released too early.
The silver blade bit deeper against her throat as Ara flinched.
Eclipse did not.
The first volley struck snow. Stone. Flesh.
What they all had in common was that they all missed the mark.
Then a different sound came…the sound of a single arrow splitting air with terrifying precision.
Warm blood sprayed across her cheek. The pressure at her throat vanished.
The silver dagger clattered to the floor. A body followed.
Eclipse opened her eyes slowly.
Ara Zenith's corpse slid to her knees before collapsing face-first into the snow, an arrow buried clean through the center of her skull.
The killing weapon was not the same silver of the fortress wall's archers…it was not any standard issue arrow she had knowledge of.
And yet it was the only arrow that had not missed.
Eclipse did not move… she didn't dare.
