by Alice Ivinya
People got their hearts broken all the time. It was part of growing up. I had to move past this, beat it. But I’d never imagined it would hurt so much. I clenched my fists. Pain became numb with time, and until then I would distract myself. This wouldn’t break me, just become part of who I was. Like Elyanna’s barrel. The pieces of me would just fit together differently afterwards.
But how I wished I could turn back time.
I turned the key with numb fingers and stumbled out into the snow. The door led straight out into the fields that hugged the town wall in the shadow of the rising slopes of forest. I turned to close the door and saw a silent figure detach himself from the side of the wall closer to the town gate.
I squinted but would recognize those brown curls anywhere. My heart warmed.
“Jeremiah, you shouldn’t be here. You should stay with her.” I couldn’t bring myself to say Elyanna’s name.
He scratched the back of his head as he stopped in front of me. “I’m pretty sure she wants me dead, actually. Thinks I understand too much of the truth. Prince Jian hinted you would be here.”
I squeezed his arm. “I’m sorry I never told you who I was.”
He shrugged. “Queen Geraldina sent me to guard you without question, so I shall. It was you she said was her daughter, not the other Elyanna.”
I smiled warmly at him and a pressure built behind my eyes. “Thank you. I don’t want to face this alone.”
He adjusted his sword hilt and shifted his feet. “Well, I never thought Prince Jian was right for you, anyway. He was rude and arrogant.”
I held up the palm of my hand. “I know you’re trying to make me feel better, Jeremiah, but can we just not talk about him? Not at all?”
He grinned. “Every memory of him has gone from my mind.” He turned in the snow. “But you might struggle to erase him from theirs.” He nodded back towards the castle. Two men dressed in black were riding through the snow towards us, each leading a second horse. Cai Hong and Hai Rong.
“What are you doing here?” I gasped as they approached.
Hai Rong shrugged. “Prince Jian didn’t relieve us of our guard duty. We’re still under your command.”
Well, he had promised always to protect me. I decided not to overthink the words with my emotional mindset. “Thank you. I’m grateful for your company.” I could have hugged them both.
Cai Hong passed his spare horse to Jeremiah. It had two loaded saddle bags and a bow and arrows on its side. “Lady Brianna, I don’t know what your plans are, or where you are headed, but I must beg your leave. This is not a time to leave my wife alone with her baby, and I suspect you do not plan to return anytime soon.”
I nodded to him. “Of course, Cai Hong. Thank you for guarding me. I wouldn’t want to take any of you away from here against your will, no matter what Jian says.”
The guard smiled, nodded in his quiet way, and headed back to Stonekeep. I was amazed his loyalty to Jian ran so deep, he would have abandoned his family to come Spirits-know-where with me.
Hai Rong adjusted his grip on the reins, looking around. “So, where to, Lady Brianna?”
I mounted the unfamiliar horse and gazed at the endless forests of pine, the snow dusting their branches. I took a deep breath of fresh, chill air. This was what I had always wanted, wasn’t it? True freedom. I had always tried to please others, going along with their goals. Elyanna, Queen Geraldina, Jian. I had bowed to their wishes in everything against all of my instincts. And still they hadn't protected me. That ended today. I would choose my own goals and learn to protect myself.
I focused on the positive train of thought, longing to suffocate the pain and emptiness inside me. Shoving down my fear and hopelessness was something I had years of training in after all. But now there would be no more scraping and bowing. I would even be able to write openly to my parents. I placed the Queen’s earrings in my ears. I would be as strong as the women of Stonekeep. Able to scare away monsters merely by showing them their own reflections.
Shame it didn’t work on Elyanna.
I forced a smile but couldn’t resist a glance back at the castle and the bitter ache in my heart at the sight of it. I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood. That future had never been mine. Jian had been Elyanna’s, not Brianna’s. Our love had been a fantasy built on deceit. It was never going to last.
Now I was nobody but me. Completely and openly me. I would find my way.
‘Briaaaana…’ called the child’s voice, faint on the wind. ‘Come, daughter of Thrum’ban.’’
I turned to face it, surprised by how familiar the voice had become. I had nowhere else I could go. It would be death to show my face in Sybera. I wanted answers, and I wanted to understand. Maybe I could be the one to find out what had happened to Prince Han after all. Tama’ha had said I would be the one to know. It would be dangerous, but I badly needed a distraction right now. So much about the Spirit-Beasts was unknown.
I tied my pack to the saddle, nodded to my guards, and rode off in the direction of the call.
Feathers of Blood
Brianna and Jian’s adventure continues in ‘Feathers of Blood.’
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US:
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Other Books by Alice Ivinya
The Flawed Princess
Queen Avan
Silent Melody (First published in the Enchanted Kingdoms box set)
Slipper in the Snow (Christmas Short Story Series)
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my fantastic editor, Claire Staley, and my proofreader, Carolyn Gent. I couldn’t do this without you.
Thank you so much to all the authors who have supported me while writing this. Astrid V.J, Sky Sommers, Elena Shelest, Sarah Hill, Jennifer Kropf, Lyndsey Hall, Sydney Winward, Nicolina Diana, and Jenni Sauer. I love you guys!
Special thanks also to my husband, Sam, for freeing me up to write and beta reading for me. I am one lucky chicken.
Elena Lawson, your covers are incredible! I love them so much!
Finally, thank you reader. I am so happy that you are coming on all these adventures with me.
About the Author
Alice lives in Bristol, UK, and has loved fantasy all her life. Her favourite author is Brandon Sanderson. When she's not off gallivanting in other worlds, you can find her looking after her young son, working as a small animal vet, hanging out with her church family, or walking the best dog in the world with her husband.
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