Chapter Five
1121 Words
Masks Torn Away
Adelaide Nightvale
Several weeks had passed since the Games of Masks.
The excitement surrounding Annora's wedding had spread throughout the Eyre household. She was to marry Lord Gadric Reed, son of Aldrich Reed, one of the Royal Army's most decorated knights. For a merchant family like the Eyres, having a daughter marry into nobility was considered nothing short of a blessing.
Aunt Sibylla could hardly contain her joy. Gwen had been married only days earlier, and now Annora was preparing to leave for a noble house of her own.
The happiest of them all, however, was Annora herself.
She had only met Lord Gadric twice, yet she spoke of him so often that I could repeat every word before she did.
"He's so handsome," she sighed dreamily. "So kind... so sweet. He treats me like a true lady."
"Because you are a lady, Annora," I teased.
She laughed, cheeks glowing crimson.
Seeing her this happy warmed my heart. At least hers would not be another loveless marriage. Such unions had become painfully common throughout the kingdom.
"You're late."
Eudoria stood with her arms crossed, wearing a deliberately stern expression.
"I'm sorry," I laughed. "My dear cousin dragged me to the temple again."
"Again?"
"For what must be the hundredth prayer for her wedding."
Eudoria chuckled.
"Why so many prayers?"
"She keeps having dreadful dreams."
I handed her the basket of fruit I had brought.
"But I think she's only nervous."
Eudoria accepted it without speaking.
Something was wrong.
Her smile had vanished.
"What's happened?" I asked.
She glanced around before sitting upon a fallen tree trunk.
I joined her.
"Have you ever heard of the White Witch?" she asked quietly.
"Of course."
Every child in the kingdom knew the tale.
The White Witch—the first witch to ever exist.
The ancestor whose sins condemned every descendant to exile, despite none of them inheriting her immense power.
"Rumors have reached the Forsaken," Eudoria said. "They say she's been found."
I frowned.
"I thought she died centuries ago."
"No."
Her voice hardened.
"They couldn't kill her."
"So they sealed her inside an ancient coffin, nailed it shut, and buried her alive."
A chill crawled down my spine.
"That's... horrifying."
"It is."
"But surely she's dead by now?"
Eudoria slowly shook her head.
"She's the White Witch."
"Who knows what magic she cast before they buried her?"
"The royals have found her."
"And whatever they intend to do with her... it won't bring anything good."
Silence settled between us.
Finally she spoke again.
"The Forsaken are planning to rescue her."
I stared.
"What?"
"If she's free, she may be our only chance."
"Our chance to leave this forest."
"Our chance to finally live."
Her words carried years of exhaustion.
"And I'm joining the rescue."
"No."
The answer escaped me instantly.
"Eudoria... please don't."
"It's too dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
She laughed bitterly.
"Dangerous?"
"We live in the heart of Ravethorne Forest."
"Every day we fight venomous creatures."
"We sleep knowing one of us may never wake."
"We drink poisoned water."
"We eat whatever the forest spares us."
"We bury our people because of a crime committed by a woman none of us has ever known."
Her voice cracked.
"And this..."
She looked down at the scars covering her arms.
"...this is called living?"
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"My body is covered in scars."
"I almost died from half of them."
"I don't want this life forever, Adel."
I wrapped my arms around her.
"It's alright."
"If you must go..."
"...then promise me you'll come back."
She nodded against my shoulder.
"I promise."
"And if there's anything I can do to help..."
"I will."
She smiled through her tears.
"Thank you, Adel."
Elissa Duskmere
I sat alone in the royal dining hall of the western wing.
The table was covered in delicacies from every province in the kingdom.
None of them appealed to me.
Avoiding Prince Rhydian had become impossible.
Like a persistent shadow, he appeared wherever I went.
"The prince will join you shortly, my lady."
The butler bowed before disappearing.
Moments later, Rhydian entered wearing that infuriatingly charming smile.
I had come to believe the brightest smiles often concealed the darkest hearts.
"Is there anything you desire?" he asked.
I placed my untouched grapes back onto the silver plate.
"I'm quite full, Your Highness."
"Wonderful."
He offered his hand.
"Then walk with me."
I had little choice.
The corridors were empty.
"I intend to make you my queen," he said.
"We could have the world beneath our feet."
"The world of royalty has never interested me."
"I prefer smaller things."
He laughed.
"You're too beautiful for an ordinary life."
"I must decline."
His smile faded.
"Don't make it difficult for me to remain kind."
His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair away from my face.
My stomach tightened.
The gentleman had vanished.
Only the prince remained.
I stepped backward.
"I should return home."
I turned.
His hand seized my wrist.
Before I could react, he lifted me effortlessly.
I struggled, kicking and striking his shoulders, but the guards simply looked away.
No one intervened.
He carried me into a lavish chamber and threw me onto an enormous bed.
The doors shut behind us.
My heart pounded.
"So," he said coldly.
"If kindness won't work..."
His hand reached for my gown.
Panic swallowed every thought.
Think.
Think, Elissa.
There had to be something.
Anything.
He tore at the fabric.
I cried out.
"You'll only waste your strength."
Then it came to me.
"I'm betrothed to the House of Ravenor!"
The words echoed through the room.
He stopped.
For the first time...
...he hesitated.
"A lie?"
His eyes narrowed.
"No."
"Theoren Ravenor and I have loved each other for years."
"If word spreads that you've dishonored me..."
"...House Ravenor will demand justice."
Suspicion flickered across his face.
He pulled at my gown again.
I reached beneath the hidden pocket sewn inside my underdress.
My fingers found the object.
The Ravenor token.
I held it before him.
Color drained from his face.
He recognized it.
Without another word, I gathered the nearest fur cloak around my torn gown and walked past him.
He didn't try to stop me.
Not this time.
"My lady!"
Leela hurried toward me outside.
She reached for my arm.
"Don't."
My voice barely rose above a whisper.
"Take these coins."
"Find another carriage."
"I'll go alone."
She froze in confusion.
I climbed into the carriage before she could ask another question.
Only after the city disappeared behind me...
...did I finally allow the tears to fall.
The token had saved me.
But in doing so...
I had unleashed a storm that could no longer be contained.......
Omah Chronicles....
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