Chapter Six: The Hunt Begins
1153 Words
CHAPTER SIX
The Hunt Begins
Dawn broke over Mooncrest beneath a sky the color of molten silver. The first rays of sunlight spilled across the palace towers, but there was no peace to greet the morning. The castle courtyard buzzed with soldiers fastening armor, sharpening swords, and preparing horses. Every face carried the same expression—determination mixed with fear.
News of the attacks on the western villages had spread throughout the kingdom overnight.
Princess Lyra stood on the palace steps, dressed not in a royal gown but in fitted black leather armor trimmed with silver. A crimson cloak rested on her shoulders, and the royal sword hung at her waist. She looked every inch the warrior princess she had trained to become.
Captain Rowan approached, carrying a rolled map.
"The scouts are ready, Your Highness."
Lyra nodded.
"We leave immediately."
"You should stay behind."
She looked at him.
"You've said that three times already."
"And I'll keep saying it until you listen."
Before Lyra could reply, another voice interrupted.
"She's going."
Kael walked across the courtyard, fastening the straps of his own armor. Unlike the polished silver armor worn by the royal guards, his was dark and scarred, bearing countless marks from old battles.
Captain Rowan sighed.
"You aren't helping."
Kael shrugged.
"She won't stay here."
Lyra folded her arms.
"At least someone understands."
"I understand because you're stubborn."
She glared at him.
"I'm not stubborn."
"You rejected your fated mate in front of an entire kingdom."
"I had my reasons."
"So do I."
Their eyes locked for a long moment before Rowan cleared his throat.
"If the two of you are finished..."
Lyra looked away first.
"We're wasting time."
Within minutes, twenty elite warriors rode through the palace gates.
Captain Rowan led the front line.
Lyra rode beside him.
Kael remained several paces behind, refusing to ride close enough to invite another argument.
The journey toward the western villages was quiet.
The forests surrounding Mooncrest were unusually still.
No birds sang.
No wolves howled.
Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Kael noticed it first.
"Stop."
The entire group pulled their horses to a halt.
Captain Rowan frowned.
"What is it?"
Kael slowly scanned the trees.
"They're watching us."
Several soldiers immediately drew their weapons.
Lyra narrowed her eyes.
"I don't see anyone."
"You won't."
"Then how do you know?"
"They always watch before they attack."
Captain Rowan exchanged a glance with Lyra.
"You've fought them before."
Kael nodded.
"More times than I wanted."
A twig snapped somewhere deep inside the forest.
Every soldier turned toward the sound.
Nothing.
Then another snap echoed from the opposite direction.
Captain Rowan's grip tightened around his sword.
"We're surrounded."
Before anyone could react, black arrows rained from the trees.
"SHIELDS!"
The soldiers raised their shields just as dozens of arrows struck with deafening force.
One horse screamed before collapsing.
Its rider barely rolled free before another arrow buried itself in the ground where his head had been.
"They're everywhere!" someone shouted.
Figures dressed in black cloaks emerged from the shadows.
Their wolves were enormous, their eyes glowing an unnatural crimson.
"The Black Wolves," Lyra whispered.
One of them charged straight toward her.
Without hesitation, she drew her sword.
Steel clashed against steel.
The impact sent sparks flying.
The rogue was stronger than she expected.
He swung again.
Lyra ducked beneath the blade before slashing across his shoulder.
He staggered backward.
Another enemy rushed toward her.
Before she could react, Kael appeared between them.
His sword moved so quickly she barely saw it.
One strike.
The rogue collapsed.
"Focus," Kael ordered.
"I was handling it."
"No."
"I was."
"You almost died."
She glared at him.
"I don't need your protection."
Another rogue lunged from behind.
Kael grabbed Lyra's arm and pulled her aside just as the blade sliced through the air where she had been standing.
The rogue missed.
Lyra spun, driving her sword into his chest.
He fell instantly.
Kael released her arm.
"You're welcome."
She frowned.
"I had that under control."
"You keep telling yourself that."
Before she could answer, a deafening howl echoed through the forest.
Every Black Wolf froze.
Then, as suddenly as they had appeared...
They retreated.
Captain Rowan looked around cautiously.
"They're leaving?"
Kael shook his head.
"No."
"They're being called."
A larger wolf stepped from the trees.
It was nearly twice the size of the others.
Its black fur shimmered beneath the sunlight.
A silver scar crossed one glowing eye.
The creature stared directly at Kael.
Neither moved.
The wolf tilted its head.
Almost...
As if recognizing him.
Then it disappeared back into the forest.
The remaining rogues vanished after it.
Silence returned.
One of the soldiers let out a shaky breath.
"What... was that?"
Kael's expression had gone pale.
"I don't know."
But Lyra wasn't convinced.
She had seen the look that passed between them.
Recognition.
Captain Rowan surveyed the battlefield.
"We lost four men."
Several others were wounded.
Lyra knelt beside one injured soldier while the healers worked.
She clenched her jaw.
"This wasn't just an attack."
Kael nodded.
"They were testing us."
"Testing?"
"They wanted to see how we fight."
Captain Rowan frowned.
"Why?"
"Because this wasn't their real target."
Before anyone could respond, one of the scouts shouted from farther down the road.
"Captain! Over here!"
The group hurried toward him.
Hidden beneath a fallen tree lay the body of an elderly man.
His clothes marked him as the village elder.
In his hand was a tightly clenched scroll.
Lyra carefully removed it.
The royal seal was stamped across the wax.
"It was meant for the palace," she said quietly.
She broke the seal and began reading.
As her eyes moved across the page, the color drained from her face.
Captain Rowan stepped closer.
"What is it?"
She handed the scroll to him.
His expression changed just as quickly.
"This can't be..."
Kael reached for it.
Captain Rowan hesitated before passing it over.
Kael read every word in silence.
When he finished, he closed his eyes.
"I knew it."
Lyra looked at him sharply.
"You knew what?"
"My father..."
His voice became almost a whisper.
"...was innocent."
The letter had been written fifteen years earlier by the former commander of the royal army.
It contained evidence that General Draven had never betrayed Mooncrest.
Instead...
He had uncovered a conspiracy within the royal court.
Before he could expose those responsible...
He was executed.
Someone had hidden the truth all these years.
Lyra's heart pounded.
"If this letter is real..."
Kael looked toward the distant palace.
"Then the real traitor has been living inside those walls."
A cold breeze swept through the forest.
Far away, hidden among the trees, a cloaked figure watched them from the shadows.
The stranger smiled beneath a dark hood.
"So..."
The voice was soft.
"They've found the first piece."
The figure turned away.
"It seems the game has finally begun."
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