Krista brushes away the tears that slip down her cheeks, she couldn't show weakness. The kingdom cut out the weak or forced them into labor. She had never been one to show weakness but something had begun to change and it terrified her.
Darren drapes his cape over her and leads her back inside. "You should wear warm clothes if you are going to stand there after the sun fades."
She shivered he made her feel venerable and weak which is why she had sent him away. "Darren you shouldn't be back. What happened?"
"Nothing my lady, the trade went smoothly, the roads were oddly quiet but they were clear we ran into no trouble from the elves or the anthronians. We traveled between cities so we saw no dwarves."
She gives a short nod and paces the room. "Quiet is not a good sign, and worse is no attacks. What of the town you traded in?"
"The humans were as they usually are hostile of anyone not from town."
She begins to walk to the exit behind her throne and Darren starts to follow. She spins on him. "No, you will not come with me. And don't you dare follow me."
He hesitates but nods like an obedient boy and watches her go with a pained expression.
He had become persistent and he had made it clear he wanted her hand in marriage. But she was afraid if she allowed that she would be handing over the throne rather than just her hand. Bargaining with her home was not something she was ready to do. She steps into her outer room and her guards spread out; they were in part only for show, they would protect her in a heartbeat but she used them most to show her people that they could live together. Each race could live without war. There was one guard that made her uneasy but as he was a man of little words she had learned to live with him; his name was Tarkus and he was a shapeshifter who chose the form of a man allowing all the scars he had received from humans to show. Krista believed he wore them to scare her and the others that came to her. She glances around the outer room once more before walking into her room and changing into dark pants and a dark shirt. She pulls on her black boots and slips her knife into the side. Krista places another knife in her belt. She pulls out her sheath and begins tightening it to her thigh when a hand snakes around her head and clasps her mouth shut and the other presses a cold blade to her throat. The attacker's breath was hot across her neck. In one smooth fast movement, Krista slips her knife from her sheath in hand and stabs the attacker in the side. He grunts but doesn't react otherwise. The fire in her fireplace bursts into flame and the flames dance in the fire mesmerizing her. She had been attacked plenty of times and had killed many more times. She was not weak and she could care for herself but ever since she had built the kingdom and welcomed all of any kind she had never had any major problems until now. The attacker lowers his hand from her mouth and catches her arm as she reaches for her other knife. She jerks her eyes from the fire and scans the room. "Who are you? What do you want."
An evil laugh bounces around the room making her want to shiver. "Oh, you naive human girl. This room was built so no one outside could hear what was said here. You, darling, are going to be joining me and my, well, charge and we are going to visit a few kingdoms shall we?"
"No, I will not go anywhere with you. You rotten animal, you won't even show yourself." The attacker whom she realized is a werewolf shoves her forward and backs away fading into the shadows. Hearing something behind her she spins and a spell locks her arms two her sides and she drops to her knees in front of the fire. Something brushes against her cheek from behind and fear build in her gut. A shadow kneels at her side and a soothing voice whispers in her ear.
"Oh you darling child, you will go with me. Soon you will have no choice to obey me but don't worry I will not take away your will or even your thoughts. At times I may find the need to take your voice but I promise to always return them to you." She whimpers unable to force herself to stop. "Do not be afraid, I will not hurt you. Now it's time you looked into the fire."
The instant he says it Krista feels her eyes drawn to the fire and she resists. She fights with all the will she can muster and when he turns her head she forces her eyes shut."
"Oh Krista." He whispers. "You will look and it will be the most beautiful thing you have seen. Don't fight it you feel it drawing you." He touches her cheek and she flinches causing him to laugh delighted by her fear. "Oh yes your fear is much too sweet to loose so soon. Open your eyes." As she fights she feels herself weakening. Unable to resist any longer she opens her eyes. The flames dance with many colors blues and greens, reds and oranges, calling her. Her eyelids flutter and she faints slumping into the mages waiting arms.
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