Leaves268Please respect copyright.PENANA7G9eSo3j5B
fell from trees and branches danced lightly as a light figure raced through the268Please respect copyright.PENANAZM663q6o4T
trees of the Wyrmwood, it was swift and sure, anyone looking up into the trees268Please respect copyright.PENANAZV5rdacBOi
would have seen nothing but a blur, maybe even the hood that concealed its268Please respect copyright.PENANA0aNlpdCwLe
head. Not that anyone else was foolish enough to venture this deep within the268Please respect copyright.PENANAY2U6isd2tt
woods. This person however, had a reason and as it pranced from limb to limb268Please respect copyright.PENANAJP0iVa4ArG
its hood came loose, revealing the soft facial features of a woman in her early268Please respect copyright.PENANAWBF8SD3x3a
twenties, her long white blond hair flowed along behind her giving away her268Please respect copyright.PENANAFTeC3mBoBy
soft pointed ears. She smiled as she saw a small clearing ahead, knowing she268Please respect copyright.PENANAd83HhRzpdH
had finally reached her goal. She landed with a soft mildly perceptible thud on268Please respect copyright.PENANAqjJtLfyfLu
a tree branch just at the edge of the glade she looked around the clearing but268Please respect copyright.PENANAXvELYzAzd1
saw nothing. The elf girl stared in disbelief at the glade for a moment before268Please respect copyright.PENANAqAwqzOhWUe
silently cursing under her breath, she quietly reached into a small pouch at268Please respect copyright.PENANALUVwaJMdV6
her waist and took out a small glass vial containing a swirling silver liquid,268Please respect copyright.PENANALG1TG1nX8K
then with one fluid motion she removed the stopper and downed the liquid.268Please respect copyright.PENANA2MS5P5Wive
Suddenly her natural blue eyes changed to a swirling rainbow of colors, and she268Please respect copyright.PENANAOJGLctMsP6
finally saw what she wanted. The clearing was filled with a variety of woodland268Please respect copyright.PENANAEGvQfnFZSI
creatures munching on the grass that grew there, yet although the sight was268Please respect copyright.PENANAetOgfDn3r6
stunning in its own right, her attention was grabbed by a single white deer268Please respect copyright.PENANAXPT1d3Y6hz
that stood in the center of the glade, its eyes trained on her “I’ve got you268Please respect copyright.PENANA0UKZnn3WZ8
now” she smiled as she removed an intricately carved bow made of bones from her268Please respect copyright.PENANAIaE4xmcfyz
pouch and pulled the drawstring, as she did so an ethereal arrow formed in her268Please respect copyright.PENANAqBYe8b929C
hand. The elf trained the arrow on the deer it268Please respect copyright.PENANA2sFSeT4SJA
definitely sees me, so why doesn’t it run? She thought to herself doesn’t matter I suppose, once I claim this268Please respect copyright.PENANADGyziAFkUo
kill the others will have to start respecting me she took a deep breath and268Please respect copyright.PENANA7STtjIIHvE
steadied her aim “Princess Andraste, you do know that those of the royal268Please respect copyright.PENANA9vQrMsyQME
bloodline are allowed in the Wyrmwood right?” a harsh voice sounded beside her,268Please respect copyright.PENANAxktC2CNqCQ
she screamed as the voice startled her causing the elf to jump and fire the268Please respect copyright.PENANAxrKd0eekvv
arrow into a nearby tree. Andraste fell from her perch and landed with a splash268Please respect copyright.PENANAvvxFWMQNb1
as she fell into a patch of mud “such a fitting place for you, your highness”268Please respect copyright.PENANAC0ugdy5YMP
the voice sounded behind her this time and Andraste jumped to her feet to face268Please respect copyright.PENANA1fOeA0sccH
it “you really should learn not to sneak up on people, master Brinn” she smiled268Please respect copyright.PENANABN0YB6G13N
at the hooded figure before her
“And268Please respect copyright.PENANAHDDvCxl5un
you should learn to keep your cool under stressful situations, my pupil” Brinn replied,268Please respect copyright.PENANAWIGfvrutGH
a cheerful note to his voice this time “and the last time I checked, sneaking268Please respect copyright.PENANA8MYLV162n0
up on people was my job”
Andraste268Please respect copyright.PENANA3DR34InBQu
smiled at the man, he could be cold and cruel at times but she knew he was a268Please respect copyright.PENANAQYbjMENDHL
good person deep down in the darkest crevasses of his soul. “Why are you here268Please respect copyright.PENANA1T4PSBzrUA
then?”
“His268Please respect copyright.PENANAHy9yHxtcKz
majesty is holding a special meeting, he expects all the nobles and councilors268Please respect copyright.PENANAQEhSf1VJ5G
to attend” he replied, disgust painting his voice
“Why?”
“I do268Please respect copyright.PENANAOXk8cSeLH4
not know, and that troubles me” he looked away from her and sighed “I do not268Please respect copyright.PENANAtxRdUkg8V0
like not knowing things”
“Well268Please respect copyright.PENANATZLKim7xGv
then, we’d best get a move on shouldn’t we?” she stepped forward and removed268Please respect copyright.PENANAjaiT4RhOFM
her dirty hooded cloak revealing the tight fitting brown leather pants that268Please respect copyright.PENANASAbvHg0QSY
wrapped her legs as well as a matching corset which hugged her chest leaving her268Please respect copyright.PENANAKXbheqVZyk
belly bare. She stretched her curved lithe body and motioned to her master268Please respect copyright.PENANAAUZRcLsTsH
“Race you to the edge of the woods?”
“All268Please respect copyright.PENANAXRe7PiLrMv
these years and you still fail to understand the difference between racing268Please respect copyright.PENANAKNgAfwoWNk
someone and following them” he laughed as he vanished in a blur
“Hey,268Please respect copyright.PENANAw7wolz2QDr
no fair!” she shouted as she took off behind him.
Princess Andraste shifted268Please respect copyright.PENANApybNJlL6hB
nervously from foot to foot, she stood in a large throne room, the high walls268Please respect copyright.PENANA96rrLXzbp3
were adorned by portraits of the past rulers of the kingdom. The room was268Please respect copyright.PENANAFOffZJxJLR
currently filled with all the noblemen and women of the land who were all busy268Please respect copyright.PENANAMq1KEG6WfS
chatting amongst themselves, seemingly forgetting they were in the presence of268Please respect copyright.PENANAZvy4yCqCGL
their princess. They were anxious to know what this was about, and so did she.268Please respect copyright.PENANAJFoyNmjdGc
She glanced at the empty throne behind her and sighed, she spun on her heels268Please respect copyright.PENANA7tfVwVkGoC
and exited the room through the door behind the large imposing throne. She268Please respect copyright.PENANAFspGBmF5cP
Stumbled as she almost collided into Brinn “Not like him to be late…” he said268Please respect copyright.PENANAoc2j7uVOqA
as Andraste stormed past him, she paid him no attention as she continued down268Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2lOUAYqmj
the narrow corridor. She passed by tens of doors along the268Please respect copyright.PENANA6VCf3mOIhp
sides, until she came upon a door at the end of the tunnel, she gently eased it268Please respect copyright.PENANAlWuzZQprL0
open and entered into a small study from behind a large bookcase. Andraste268Please respect copyright.PENANATjDqUdxfn3
looked around the room, there were books strewn across the floor then her eyes268Please respect copyright.PENANAoCzbgTwxXc
rested on the only chair occupying the room, on it sat a large man wearing268Please respect copyright.PENANAMMZqif5Mu6
exquisite golden robes, he held a golden jeweled crown in one hand and a piece268Please respect copyright.PENANAvHhUqbMY8W
of paper in the other, he looked at her and despite the haggard expression the268Please respect copyright.PENANAeu3kFPyzHi
man wore on his face he somehow still managed to look intimidating. “Hey there268Please respect copyright.PENANAP3T6A6J2Ux
little sis” he smiled weakly
“What268Please respect copyright.PENANAwKrzto99aM
is the meaning of all this?” Andraste gestured at the room her voice was268Please respect copyright.PENANA0IxEneRIQz
tainted with worry, in all her years she’d known her brother she had never seen268Please respect copyright.PENANA1jq2GX5fit
him so weak, and vulnerable. The man waved the paper at her and she walked268Please respect copyright.PENANAKakMdzToOo
slowly over to him and took it and read silently. “Oh no!” Andraste gasped as268Please respect copyright.PENANAosEKKD9AhU
she fell to her knees and clutched the letter. She closed her eyes as they268Please respect copyright.PENANAaJ1SEYVluW
started to stream tears.
“He268Please respect copyright.PENANAw7qYNJGfQb
killed her” she heard her brother say, his voice was strangely deadpanned “that268Please respect copyright.PENANAKL2t39Q6DZ
monster murdered her, he and I had a deal”
Andraste268Please respect copyright.PENANAeNbWjJ0BLU
stared up at him as he spoke, her face written in confusion “what of the knight you sent to secure her safety, what happened to268Please respect copyright.PENANAHLOV0eLHB3
Lucien?"
The king268Please respect copyright.PENANAYzqkWbfdxo
sighed heavily as he lowered his head into his palms "No word. The last268Please respect copyright.PENANAHaqSPTPzRK
letter he sent said he was on the outskirts of Avrym's domain......that was268Please respect copyright.PENANAMAK5U42KU0
five days ago"
"We268Please respect copyright.PENANAnJmrLvSp9r
need to ready or armies." Andraste's voice cracked as she spoke "This268Please respect copyright.PENANAt3Wqy4D50X
bastard has toyed with us enough."
“No, it268Please respect copyright.PENANA7WVjmOYajG
doesn’t matter anymore” he replied coldly as he stood and placed his crown in268Please respect copyright.PENANADFNYTYKAdX
place, brushing away some of his hair revealing his small rounded ears. As268Please respect copyright.PENANASuh1i3Kv1E
Andraste looked at him she thought she saw a look of fear, but she quickly268Please respect copyright.PENANAkjQWNJ9gYB
banished the stupid thought
“What?” she268Please respect copyright.PENANASATpMbQbx7
choked "YOU'RE JUST GOING TO LET HIM GET AWAY WITH MURDERING YOUR268Please respect copyright.PENANAf6qcmy5CP5
DAUGHTER?" The king completely ignored her words as he walked towards268Please respect copyright.PENANAO3vKQ2PBwi
the exit. She couldn't see it, but his face was riddled with worry. Andraste268Please respect copyright.PENANA65hQy8knqj
took one last look at the letter in her grasp before crumbling it and following268Please respect copyright.PENANAg62JSGEkuN
after her brother, swearing to herself that they were going to have a proper268Please respect copyright.PENANAtQC4hOUGhE
talk whether he wanted to or not.
The king sat upon his throne and268Please respect copyright.PENANA9ICFuZL1je
glared at the nobles gathered in the room, he felt a hand grip his shoulder and268Please respect copyright.PENANAHa7SW0LZwO
he looked up to see his sister smiling at him, her tears were gone and she had268Please respect copyright.PENANAa5Uh3x70H3
an air of confidence about her. Though the two weren’t siblings by blood, they268Please respect copyright.PENANAihhRuYOdKd
had always had each other’s backs, for nearly thirty years they have been268Please respect copyright.PENANAxMQE8raLlg
inseparable, and now he felt that was about to change. He smiled back at her as268Please respect copyright.PENANA3s90a6ktZk
she made to walk away to join the nobles, but he grabbed her hand “stay” he268Please respect copyright.PENANAUjP5F1ZlZ6
whispered. Andraste nodded without looking at him and brushed off his hand,268Please respect copyright.PENANAcuBWdFScAd
that was when he realized he was right, she would not be with him this time, if268Please respect copyright.PENANAisDUbk6tgH
his nobles didn’t kill him now………his sister would. The king gulped as he268Please respect copyright.PENANAyLkZ7p7PUO
cleared his throat to address his people, he severely doubted he could best the268Please respect copyright.PENANAEtRyHIuDy9
nimble Elf in a fight. “First of all, I thank you all for answering my call” he268Please respect copyright.PENANAfMxpxlamRq
began, watching as they stiffened and stared dumbly at him. He had taken268Please respect copyright.PENANAzK7MUK6LVc
advantage of all these people, and he knew he would pay the price today.
“I know it268Please respect copyright.PENANA8QsoMMAmzx
was a bit short notice, but the matter was too urgent -"
"What268Please respect copyright.PENANAkuc4NFGvn3
the hell is the meaning of this, Roland?" A voiced cried out from the268Please respect copyright.PENANAKM0buepll6
semicircle of nobles, cutting him off "I had important matters to attend268Please respect copyright.PENANA8AgShTuFEH
to and not only do you call me here at such a time, you also have THE FUCKING268Please respect copyright.PENANA8bPGiuX8Qo
NERVE -"
There was a268Please respect copyright.PENANA3lHajSI56W
flash of silver as something raced through the air cutting off the voice. It268Please respect copyright.PENANAPLRX6xgqY5
was then followed by shrill scream. The nobles looked at the old man who was268Please respect copyright.PENANAoyMchR9WPK
now clutching his face. He opened his mouth to speak but was instantly cut off268Please respect copyright.PENANALsDAyI0HaQ
by Andraste.
"The268Please respect copyright.PENANA9z7Qr5OSei
next person to interrupt this meeting will leave this room missing a268Please respect copyright.PENANAOdcCflyqaj
tongue." The gulped as he heard her words. He rose his hand and spoke once268Please respect copyright.PENANAM0q6Qni2IF
more "As I was saying, I'm terribly sorry for calling you all here at such268Please respect copyright.PENANAGcGR5L89x0
an hour, but I'm afraid I had no choice. As I'm sure you're aware, there have268Please respect copyright.PENANADbYsXgcDUy
been rumours circulating the kingdom for the last six months, stories about how268Please respect copyright.PENANAoi3hQCyhsg
you nobles have been sending the kingdom assassins to villages on the edges of Lanatheas268Please respect copyright.PENANAM3sqiziPoe
to kidnap young girls from their homes."
"Permission268Please respect copyright.PENANA5dE7rMkvEn
to speak, sire?" A young man spoke up from the group
"Granted"
"Those268Please respect copyright.PENANASwIvQOHlKT
rumours have been nothing other than, well......rumours." he paused before268Please respect copyright.PENANA04CNdr0141
continuing "you had us all investigated by your Spymaster, Lord Brinn that268Please respect copyright.PENANAGxi2wjumWH
is, and as I'm aware....those investigations yielded no results268Please respect copyright.PENANALAB3ynUsHJ
whatsoever"
"I'm268Please respect copyright.PENANA8Z69WclwX6
afraid that's simply because Brinn was ordered to not carry out an actual268Please respect copyright.PENANAlPvxLySBu1
investigation....."
"Pardon?"268Please respect copyright.PENANAezacaOZk2C
His confusion was echoed by everyone else in the room, including Andraste.268Please respect copyright.PENANAUrcHC39rc3
"What do you mean by that brother?" She asked as she looked down on268Please respect copyright.PENANAHJUcxdo9vB
him. The king looked at her and shook his head, her eyes were cold and he felt268Please respect copyright.PENANAdaWqvCWWQJ
like she was going to cut open his throat after his next words "I'm268Please respect copyright.PENANA1rWsqtRMLJ
ashamed to admit the rumours are indeed true" he paused and then continued268Please respect copyright.PENANAHoptQwxvHu
before anybody had the chance to react "In fact.....those assassins were268Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZsC7amD1W
sent out by me, and were led by none other than Brinn" before he had even268Please respect copyright.PENANA33hHeaFXvT
finished talking, the nobles were shouting and demanding answers. They wanted268Please respect copyright.PENANAo05si2ZCXT
to know what he had done, as well as why. In the uproar they had all forgotten268Please respect copyright.PENANAiQX3K61CE1
Andraste's threat, all but one man who was trying to leave his seat before she268Please respect copyright.PENANA4HrGfa2uh3
noticed him. The nobles, realising that he had no intention of answering them268Please respect copyright.PENANAYT0Io5lV2o
then started to rush towards him on the throne, but before the got close268Please respect copyright.PENANAK4ibSLdX7m
Brinn's cloaked form fell Infront of them from the ceiling. He stretched out268Please respect copyright.PENANAXTyFsaKYES
his hands, showing the throwing knives between his fingers "Who dies268Please respect copyright.PENANAC9aeFOyZMU
first?" He asked sneering. The nobles gasped as they backed away slowly,268Please respect copyright.PENANAW3PU9JB43h
Brinn glanced behind him and saw Roland running through the back doors. Brinn268Please respect copyright.PENANAj4oYXIUMJu
knew the king wasn't afraid of the weaklings before him, so he figured he must268Please respect copyright.PENANAzJtTsilRa8
have been running from his sister. Brinn might have been the one to teach her268Please respect copyright.PENANABXi3GXcy6Q
everything she knew, but even he wouldn't be able to inflict injury on her268Please respect copyright.PENANAykU8gAWH9t
before his head rolled. Without looking at her he sheathed his knives and went268Please respect copyright.PENANAWEAwjA8ZAp
after the king.
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All of this268Please respect copyright.PENANAlhK1i6B9dn
had happened before the princess had even finished processing the information268Please respect copyright.PENANAAACSIOlme2
she was just given. She didn't notice any of the events that had just268Please respect copyright.PENANAUc25coHwVw
transpired.