The Obsidian Arrow

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

The wind was cold as it blew across Arria’s face. She treaded forward swiftly, yet silently. She went out of her way to dodge every dry leaf and twig. Mostly dried pine leaves, but there were plenty of maple trees around as well. The weather was between seasons, as if undecided whether it was still summer, or early fall. Dead leaves covered the ground.

She looked through the trees, but saw only blackness. The stars were dull, covered in clouds. She smiled at her luck, or was it more than luck? She could see better at night than anyone else, even kheshlars. Her vision was like an owl’s at night, including seeing in infrared. She could see in daylight, but she preferred the night.

Sudegam was a league away, but that didn’t keep Arria from being careful. She had to evade their guards, and since they were kheshlarn, she kept careful. She’d learned a long time ago to never underestimate the kheshlars. If she were evading humans, she could run at full speed without worry.

It had been a long time since she traveled freely through the forest. She’d spent many years in hiding, training, awaiting the moment she could strike again. Once, she came out of hiding, but she saw something she didn’t expect … humans. She didn’t know what her sister would be doing with a human.

She knew the old wizard, Zergiel, was having trouble with the kheshlars, and knew it would only be a matter of time until he sought her out. A smile sprang upon her lips as she realized how dependent he would be on her. She would play along with his game for now, but sooner or later, she would grow bored of his … games.

She noticed a kheshlar, perched in a tree, keeping an eye on the surroundings. The kheshlar wore only leather armor. Arria smiled as she threw a small pebble behind the kheshlar. The beautiful female kheshlar turned around, searching for the noise. Arria dashed forward and climbed the tree. When the kheshlar spun back around, there was already a dagger against her throat. Arria looked into the eyes of the blonde kheshlar. Her eyes filled with fear, and Arria smiled as she slit her throat. The kheshlar’s body collapsed. Arria caught the body and gently perched it on the branch.

Arria found a quicksand trap in front of her and smiled. She threw the dead kheshlar into the quicksand, watching her disappear.

She continued on, not wanting to waste too much time before completing her mission. The thing Zergiel had asked her to do brought a smile upon her face. She knew the old man possessed cruelty, but his request surprised her. It was dangerous, but well within her abilities.

She knew where every kheshlar guard would be on the way to Sudegam, and she planned to eliminate them all. Every fall of a kheshlar made the land a better place for her. How dare the kheshlars cast her out … they didn’t understand. The kheshlars were scared that magic couldn’t be controlled. How foolish of them—Arria was well in control of it. At first the magic had overwhelmed her, but later she learned how to use it. Since her mother was no more, all that remained was revenge on the kheshlars who took her away. She remembered too well what happened during the war.

In the distance, she spotted two male kheshlar guards wearing full armor blocking the only path leading to Sudegam. She hid behind a tree and used her black magic to create a loud noise well past her. The two guards unsheathed their swords and ran along the path. They searched cautiously, as if expecting an army. As they passed her, she sprang from the tree and ran to their guard post. Before she continued on, she poured some black powder in their canteens.

She knew the forest around her remained quiet, but she began to hear noises. Hummingbirds fluttered in her mind. Dragonflies fled from her, and she got the urge to chase them, to play with them. She pulled out her canteen and took a sip. The liquid seep through her veins, giving her control again, control over the body she resided in. She would stay in control, always.

She felt more powerful, not as weak. She kept the black magic elixir with her. Whenever she felt weak, she would take a drink. No matter how much she drank, she could not get rid of the weakness of her sister. No matter how hard she tried to forget her, the love for her sister grew stronger with each passing day.