Dreamcatcher - Nimra Series - BOOK ONE

The Flashback

I had spent the night in one of Lady Adela’s most expensive rooms in her inn, free of charge of course. It was wonderful to sleep in a real bed for a change and not on a stone cold floor or bits of straw. I thanked my hostess in the best possible way I could think of and that was supplying her with as much wine as she possibly could imagine and promising her when I was able to find Ayla I would hand her to Lord Terrell and she would get a small token of the money in providing me with the information I had needed.

We talked long into the night before we went to bed. Like old friends we caught up on everything from the past to the present and even discussed the future. Adela was someone I had confided in so many times she had become a great friend and confidant, I valued her friendship and knew she would take my secrets to her grave. I had told her about my duty to find the Princess and how I had almost caught her back in Crystal Deer, I had not mentioned about seeing Giselle in the forest as if Xandious was to find out Adela knew something that important he would do everything he could to get her to talk and knowing how much she cared for me, I knew she would have herself tortured to death before she uttered a single word.

I had decided I deathly needed a wash, I had gotten to the point that even I couldn’t stand the smell of me. I ordered one of the tavern wenches to sort me out a bath in one of the bathing rooms and Adela was kind enough to give me her private room so I was not to be disturbed. The waters heat eased my aching joints and soothed me, it had been a long time since I could relax even if it was only for a few minutes. My black hair had become matted with dirt and washing it felt wonderful, I began to feel like myself again before I left on this tireless journey.

********

“Shadow you are the only person I can trust most with this task.” The Kings voice drew me in closer to the balcony of the great hall as he over looked his burning city. “She needs to be punished for what she did to my beloved Enelya.”

I had only ever met the Princess a couple of times since visiting the palace, once when I was a young boy for a ball of her birthday and the other times when I had been requested to court by the King. It was no surprise to me he had asked me to bring her back, after all she knew me, she knew my face and I was sure I could handle any situation she would put me in. She was a Royal princess and unable to do anything other than be that.

“You have my word your majesty, I will bring her back.” I said as I got down on one knee lowering my head. “Even if I have to kill her myself.”

He placed his hand on my head and sighed deeply, I knew at that moment it pained him to speak to what his daughter had done. The Queens body had only just been removed from the great hall when Xandious’s men managed to barricade the main city gates. They had moved her body into an old room within the palace, I had not asked where or what was to happen afterwards. Xandious had slowly become like a father to me while he trained me to be the fighter I was today.

“I have no doubt you will fetch her but try not to take too long. After all the people will become to blood thirsty for me to handle and they will want to see the murderer of their beloved Queen trialed and hanged, even if she is the Princess.”

He raised me up from the floor and handed me a dagger, on its handle were two emeralds and then a sapphire at the top creating the shape of a triangle. He then clicked his fingers and a ward came rushing in holding a sack filled with supplies and handed it to me.

“This dagger Shadowbane, it is made of a special kind of steel. Dragon’s fire heated the metal and in it left a small part of the dragons’ magic. Should you run into that creature of the forest, the one who speaks with the Goddesses use that on her, it’ll wound her until she can no longer use her magic. Do that but do not wipe the blade clean, her blood is magic and I wish to add it to my collection.”

I didn’t ask questions as to why the King had a collection and neither did I wish to know, I just nodded and slipped the dagger under my belt before swinging the sack over my shoulder and pulling my hood up with my free hand. I was the greatest fighter in Nimra and I knew I could take anything that lurked in the shadows.

****

My thoughts were broken when a loud knock came from the bathing room door, I lifted myself up from the tub and quickly grabbed the towel to wrap around me. Another knock came this time louder than before and full of frustration.

Sighing as my only ounce of peace destroyed I opened the door and standing in front of me was Giselle. How she found me I did not know. Her hair was in a loose plait to the side of her face, her eyes perplexed as they scanned me up and down, her cheeks showing a small blush and her lips were pressed in a small pout. She pushed passed me and walked into the room, her bow in her right hand and in her left was an arrow. I guessed she had either come to kill me or to speak with me, I was weaponless but I knew I could disarm her if I had to.

“The lady didn’t tell me you were bathing.” She dared not look at me again as I shut the door, we were now in a small in-closed room together, with me defenseless and in a towel.