Chapter 6: Dondus of the Marshlands
Dondus flew as fast as his tired wings would allow. He cut through the night. Even in his weary state, he could still leave those snarling beasts in the dust. They were more agitated than usual. They normally left him alone but not tonight. Tonight, they turned their cold blue eyes upon him in malice. Dondus knew they did not do this out of hunger. They were following strict orders. She had probably commanded them to do this and it was not as though they could refuse, even if they wanted to.
Chapter 7:Anestra and SableCory saw a patch of green grass in the distance. There was still darkness behind her. She felt as though she were swimming out of a deep ocean of shadows and into a shimmering sea of green. The golden aura had returned to guide her forwards. It pushed her right into the scene. She found herself sitting quite comfortably in the grass. The blades of grass were
Chapter 8:The Omniscient Oak TreeThe walk took just under an hour. The pale blue sky overhead darkened to cerulean and then to ebony. The Moon made her appearance. Full and luminous. she adorned the sky along with the glistening stars. Cory liked to imagine that the night sky was an endless ballroom floor made of dark marble. The stars of the ballroom, who were the dancers of course, all wor
Chapter 9:A Dweller Named SproutCory had incited the Omniscient Oak Tree to provide its tenth answer in the last thousand years and every creature of the jungle seemed to instinctively know this. The moment the burning five-word message had appeared etched into the bark, the jungle sprang to life. Wild cats growled, birds squeaked, the leaves of every nearby tree rustled. The air grew inexpl
Chapter 10: The Fearsome FiveThe lily-white tiger sniffed the tiny man in Cory's open palm curiously. After a few long moments, during which Blaython deliberated and Sprout sweated nervously, the magnanimous tiger decided to befriend the tiny dweller. Blaython confirmed this friendship with an enthusiastic lick that left Sprout drenched but relieved.
Chapter 11:King Magnus and Madame GrosseCory awoke to a sea of deep blue and vibrant gold. The colours danced before her weary eyes twisting around each other forming a kaleidoscope image. She watched the images sparkle. She was in a room where everything sparkled. It took her several minutes to piece the fragments of her memories together.
Chapter 12:The FeastThe feast was held in the courtyard after dusk. The long tables lining the four-sided expanse were draped in blue silk with gold embroideries and overladen with a variety of dishes. The familiar smells of freshly baked rolls, steamed fish and roasted chickens intermingled with the more exotic aromas of spiced wild meat and rare cheeses. An oval table had been placed at the centre of the courtyard. It was a highly visible spot and therefore a place of prominence.
Chapter 13: The FarewellThere was a silence so heavy Cory felt it pressing down on her resolve. She almost wanted to beg Hayden to stay the night now but she fought the urge as that would ruin her plan. Her heart swelled. She was so moved by his gesture. He meant to care for her no matter what, even after death if need be. She waited hoping he would say yes and hold her tonight and also needing him to say no and leave her be.“I want that,” murmured Hayden into her hair.He inhaled her scent deeply and held her close.“I want that more than anything,” he said, chuckling sadly.He pressed his forehead to hers, their noses brushing. He locked eyes with her.“But I don’t want you feeling like you owe me affection in exchange for any of this,” he said, gesturing towards the deed.“I don’t,” she said
Chapter 14: Maiden’s ScentWhen Cory’s barrel was unceremoniously thrown into a horse-drawn cart, she awoke with a throbbing headache. The barrel had been placed on its side so that Cory’s only option was to lie on her side as well, adopting a foetal position. She could hear Hayden’s voice instructing the men to move out. The quest party was small. There were just eight men, including Hayden and Titan. King Magnus had chosen the most skilled warriors he could find. Cory knew each of them had undoubtedly killed dozens if not hundreds of men in battle, but Stormbringers were not men. They were great beasts born of magical means and it would take magic not muscle to eradicate them.Hayden led the men out of the kingdom’s walls amid cheering from the castles residents who had gathered outside to send them off. His father was amongst them. He looked solemn and regarded Hayden with merely a curt nod of approval. On