Dreamcatcher - Nimra Series - BOOK ONE

The Betrothal

I decided to hide out in a small cave just south of the cottage, I didn’t think I was being followed but I wouldn’t take the chance. It was near daybreak when I stepped out, carefully checking my surroundings so I wasn’t pounced on by something or someone. I hadn’t slept much that night for fear of being pulled out from there by the Kings Guard or Shadowbane. He had obviously followed me from the inn or at least tracked me, it concerned me if he knew where the cottage was and if Ayla and I should leave. Perhaps now was the best time for us to relocate so no one can find us again.

   Rushing back through the forest I ran, keeping an eye on everything around me. Jumping over fallen trees and running through shallow streams I felt the need to get home as quickly as my feet would take me, no matter how exhausted I was. I knew Ayla would either be searching for me or having a panic when I didn’t return home. When I finally reached the stream near the cottage I watched as Echo come running across to greet me, I was breathless and almost ready to collapse when Ayla came rushing out.

            “Where have you been?” She shouted as I reached her with Echo.

            “I’m sorry, the ranger… He found me in the clearing last night and attacked me, I had to get away and hide quickly. I’m sure he knew who I was.”

   I had never lied to Ayla before so it cornered me a little how easy it was for me to lie to her about meeting Shadowbane. I didn’t want to worry her but judging by the look on her face it wasn’t that hard for her to worry. She took one of my arms and put it over her and helped walk me into the cottage supporting me.

            “Are you alright?”

   We had sat down at the table, a jug of water placed in front of me and some bread and butter waiting for me to eat but my stomach was tied up in knots for me even to think about food. Shadow’s face was all I could think of, his smell still lingered on my skin and it was as if I could still feel his arm around me.

            “Giselle?” Ayla’s voice broke my thoughts. “Are you ok now? Please tell me what happened to you, did you kill him? Does he know who you are?” She was panicking.

            “I managed to escape, he was very strong but I lost him in the woods. I don’t think he’s that good of a tracking.”

            “He must have some skill if he followed us all this way from Crystal Deer.” She sat down opposite me drinking her own jug of water. “I was about ready to come out and look for you when I realised you hadn’t come back last night. I thought perhaps you had just lost track of time or Seniya had called for you.”

            “I’m sorry you were so worried. I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with all of this.”

   Ayla had never asked for me to come into her life, I was dumped on her by Seniya when Lanwe found me in the forest, still in my wedding dress stained with the blood of my mother. Lanwe knew who I was the moment he saw me but he didn’t pass any judgment just took me to Seniya and she saw the truth of what had happened to me. Poor Ayla was just dragged into the equation, she didn’t want to harbor a fugitive but Seniya made it very clear she had no choice.

            “Why on earth are you sorry? It’s not your fault that your life is now filled with something you never did. These are your people Giselle and sooner or later they will learn the truth.”

   She always knew how to perk me up sometimes and she was right. The truth always had a way of coming out and even if it took a little bit longer than that was fine, we would stay hidden and safe, away from the eyes of the world.

            “Do you think I should contract Seniya, let her know what’s happened?”

            “I’m think she already knows.” Ayla gestured to the front door and there Seniya stood.

   Seniya was a beauty creature, almost human and Goddess alike. She was created by the very last magic the four Goddesses had for creating the world. She processed the same power as the Goddesses but Guinevere had put an almost ball and chain on what she could do as very long ago Aithne used Seniya for her own personal gain and took control of her powers. When Aithne was banished Guinevere allowed Seniya to protect several elements of the world while locking away some of her powers. One of these elements was the pendent I had been given, another the spell book of Nefret, the wand of Fenalla and the looking glass of Aithne. Her appearance spoke for itself, she had beautiful long red hair that dragged across the floor, it could almost be mistaken for fire, her completion a pale pink tone, her eyes were ice blue and she would always be wearing what looked like a loose fitted dress and black cape.

            “Seniya.” I stood up at once and watched as she glided into the room.

            “A young man saw you, did he not?” Her voice was light but assertive.

            “Yes but I got away.”

            “You know this man… Why are you questioning your feelings for him?”

   She never explained anything and only ever really asked questions. I watched Ayla’s face turn quickly towards me with a curious look, I hadn’t been given the chance to tell her who the ranger was or that I knew him.

            “He’s someone from Minwed, yes.”

            “No, he is someone from your past. You long for him.”

   I was confused by what she was implying, I did not long for Shadowbane, and I barely knew him. We were children when we met and only until my teens did I meet him again. Mother had only mentioned an hour before the wedding it was Shadow I was to be marrying. Saniya moved closer to me and then pulled out the looking glass from under her cape and handed it to me, indicating for me to look inside it. I had only ever used the looking glass once and that was when I arrived, I dared not use it now.

            “What do you see?”

   I looked hard into the glass, hoping to picture something other than Shadow or my family, perhaps a simple image of my mother that would do kindly and ease my anxiousness. As I looked the glass began to ripple and glow yellow, it started to blur and then Shadow appeared, he was on a road to somewhere and I was unsure of where, he looked tired and wary, his body looked like it weighed a lot more than it did last night. My heart began to pinch again in my chest, I tried to ignore it, I wasn’t about to have feelings for anyone or even think of anyone else. My mind was too busy being occupied with keeping Ayla and I safe.

            “What do you see Giselle?” Ayla’s voice broke the silence.

            “I see him… Shadowbane, he’s headed somewhere I do not know.” I quickly put the looking glass down on the table and looked away, my body felt as if it was on fire.

            “Who is he?” Ayla asked.

            “He’s…” I paused walking over to a window of the cottage. “He’s my betrothed.”

            “And you met him last night?” She asked me.

            “Yes Ayla, I managed to get away from him quickly and he didn’t follow me. I don’t know what he wants or what he wanted, I didn’t plan on sticking around to find out.”

   Saniya placed her hand on my shoulder and turned me around to face her, I could never read her emotions and what she was thinking but I always knew that whenever Saniya gave you the looking glass it was also to discuss your destiny in this world. I just nodded back at her knowing what she was going to talk about. My destiny to be the savior, to rescue this world from the hatefulness of my father but also to stop a great and powerful evil that wished to reign on Nimra.

            “It’s time you started facing the path that has been set out for you.”

            It’s all she had to say, Ayla knew it and I knew it. We were both there the day the Goddess Fenella came upon us to tell us the game had been set and my father had made the first move. It was now my turn and with Shadowbane finding me it was only a matter of time until the Kings Guard did the same. We had to move and we had to find Shadow before anyone else did, especially my father.