Leaves135Please respect copyright.PENANAuR71VWfzDo
fell from trees and branches danced lightly as a light figure raced through the135Please respect copyright.PENANAbdPbhpO512
trees of the Wyrmwood, it was swift and sure, anyone looking up into the trees135Please respect copyright.PENANAlHpxKVLJQP
would have seen nothing but a blur, maybe even the hood that concealed its135Please respect copyright.PENANAbnEW8cT9Tf
head. Not that anyone else was foolish enough to venture this deep within the135Please respect copyright.PENANArqfaqMISZB
woods. This person however, had a reason and as it pranced from limb to limb135Please respect copyright.PENANACKsJf1mI6p
its hood came loose, revealing the soft facial features of a woman in her early135Please respect copyright.PENANABSVfo442Yy
twenties, her long white blond hair flowed along behind her giving away her135Please respect copyright.PENANAwDs9wLUC6l
soft pointed ears. She smiled as she saw a small clearing ahead, knowing she135Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9SvuHnAsM
had finally reached her goal. She landed with a soft mildly perceptible thud on135Please respect copyright.PENANAUDNVAcVzu7
a tree branch just at the edge of the glade she looked around the clearing but135Please respect copyright.PENANA9qjdtRbsJs
saw nothing. The elf girl stared in disbelief at the glade for a moment before135Please respect copyright.PENANAwhDidOMGjQ
silently cursing under her breath, she quietly reached into a small pouch at135Please respect copyright.PENANAQTGwCJoPV3
her waist and took out a small glass vial containing a swirling silver liquid,135Please respect copyright.PENANASVQaSkuC0H
then with one fluid motion she removed the stopper and downed the liquid.135Please respect copyright.PENANAxIVuIQ3LTK
Suddenly her natural blue eyes changed to a swirling rainbow of colors, and she135Please respect copyright.PENANAfiSN67OFbQ
finally saw what she wanted. The clearing was filled with a variety of woodland135Please respect copyright.PENANArYLuGHgNt6
creatures munching on the grass that grew there, yet although the sight was135Please respect copyright.PENANAowc8lpf617
stunning in its own right, her attention was grabbed by a single white deer135Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZfCMvKcJB
that stood in the center of the glade, its eyes trained on her “I’ve got you135Please respect copyright.PENANAsQPg7cw4wK
now” she smiled as she removed an intricately carved bow made of bones from her135Please respect copyright.PENANAOn2gP7lMVK
pouch and pulled the drawstring, as she did so an ethereal arrow formed in her135Please respect copyright.PENANAbNY6e6eZ0n
hand. The elf trained the arrow on the deer it135Please respect copyright.PENANAVZQ6gykt00
definitely sees me, so why doesn’t it run? She thought to herself doesn’t matter I suppose, once I claim this135Please respect copyright.PENANAhWK6LOc1fA
kill the others will have to start respecting me she took a deep breath and135Please respect copyright.PENANABli9UUkIrz
steadied her aim “Princess Andraste, you do know that those of the royal135Please respect copyright.PENANAakQSM00cyg
bloodline are allowed in the Wyrmwood right?” a harsh voice sounded beside her,135Please respect copyright.PENANAuPa2VfMGZT
she screamed as the voice startled her causing the elf to jump and fire the135Please respect copyright.PENANAdQu07Rgi4i
arrow into a nearby tree. Andraste fell from her perch and landed with a splash135Please respect copyright.PENANAQUasPwAUAR
as she fell into a patch of mud “such a fitting place for you, your highness”135Please respect copyright.PENANAD1vdMdxyYC
the voice sounded behind her this time and Andraste jumped to her feet to face135Please respect copyright.PENANA8S2XP6fh6d
it “you really should learn not to sneak up on people, master Brinn” she smiled135Please respect copyright.PENANA3VOJFmS8MF
at the hooded figure before her
“And135Please respect copyright.PENANA6ifPnFG0fJ
you should learn to keep your cool under stressful situations, my pupil” Brinn replied,135Please respect copyright.PENANATJoUbSKdok
a cheerful note to his voice this time “and the last time I checked, sneaking135Please respect copyright.PENANAc9uZSI1S5C
up on people was my job”
Andraste135Please respect copyright.PENANA0pnXxdFkNp
smiled at the man, he could be cold and cruel at times but she knew he was a135Please respect copyright.PENANAIsf10QqArE
good person deep down in the darkest crevasses of his soul. “Why are you here135Please respect copyright.PENANAwalkjTDLkd
then?”
“His135Please respect copyright.PENANAZpG2kINMc5
majesty is holding a special meeting, he expects all the nobles and councilors135Please respect copyright.PENANACtDL15OIjs
to attend” he replied, disgust painting his voice
“Why?”
“I do135Please respect copyright.PENANAlAW5EgnPxn
not know, and that troubles me” he looked away from her and sighed “I do not135Please respect copyright.PENANATTErynCp7K
like not knowing things”
“Well135Please respect copyright.PENANAPx4op7Z6Be
then, we’d best get a move on shouldn’t we?” she stepped forward and removed135Please respect copyright.PENANAqgvxGc9FtO
her dirty hooded cloak revealing the tight fitting brown leather pants that135Please respect copyright.PENANABLPctkd4kg
wrapped her legs as well as a matching corset which hugged her chest leaving her135Please respect copyright.PENANAH6Dug4zAWj
belly bare. She stretched her curved lithe body and motioned to her master135Please respect copyright.PENANANu2TgfpMCP
“Race you to the edge of the woods?”
“All135Please respect copyright.PENANAoIc3F5EcQz
these years and you still fail to understand the difference between racing135Please respect copyright.PENANAmKPwR98V8Z
someone and following them” he laughed as he vanished in a blur
“Hey,135Please respect copyright.PENANAYXYdQ2AhUz
no fair!” she shouted as she took off behind him.
Princess Andraste shifted135Please respect copyright.PENANAAJulOiNqgK
nervously from foot to foot, she stood in a large throne room, the high walls135Please respect copyright.PENANAD14qkf4aim
were adorned by portraits of the past rulers of the kingdom. The room was135Please respect copyright.PENANAnqxQBdq7H8
currently filled with all the noblemen and women of the land who were all busy135Please respect copyright.PENANAn9c60RiU6M
chatting amongst themselves, seemingly forgetting they were in the presence of135Please respect copyright.PENANAaVIv7kacbp
their princess. They were anxious to know what this was about, and so did she.135Please respect copyright.PENANA5TbtgE2Euf
She glanced at the empty throne behind her and sighed, she spun on her heels135Please respect copyright.PENANA9Dq6X6V4Py
and exited the room through the door behind the large imposing throne. She135Please respect copyright.PENANAxB9bPBnHMV
Stumbled as she almost collided into Brinn “Not like him to be late…” he said135Please respect copyright.PENANA2qV7f3cnT8
as Andraste stormed past him, she paid him no attention as she continued down135Please respect copyright.PENANAz0DeYVmlWu
the narrow corridor. She passed by tens of doors along the135Please respect copyright.PENANAuf5M5xgedE
sides, until she came upon a door at the end of the tunnel, she gently eased it135Please respect copyright.PENANAs7ulxGbIDd
open and entered into a small study from behind a large bookcase. Andraste135Please respect copyright.PENANAnPgArOIxry
looked around the room, there were books strewn across the floor then her eyes135Please respect copyright.PENANABteh888qvv
rested on the only chair occupying the room, on it sat a large man wearing135Please respect copyright.PENANA0TbYEsQnIt
exquisite golden robes, he held a golden jeweled crown in one hand and a piece135Please respect copyright.PENANA9QrxZ6kg2z
of paper in the other, he looked at her and despite the haggard expression the135Please respect copyright.PENANAxdLZdNO8a6
man wore on his face he somehow still managed to look intimidating. “Hey there135Please respect copyright.PENANAQogRlVb8Um
little sis” he smiled weakly
“What135Please respect copyright.PENANAEFRUOP9zAV
is the meaning of all this?” Andraste gestured at the room her voice was135Please respect copyright.PENANAsbf3sWHVKM
tainted with worry, in all her years she’d known her brother she had never seen135Please respect copyright.PENANAbZbCYo84kk
him so weak, and vulnerable. The man waved the paper at her and she walked135Please respect copyright.PENANATtfhIChQRx
slowly over to him and took it and read silently. “Oh no!” Andraste gasped as135Please respect copyright.PENANAQPj6n6GvVL
she fell to her knees and clutched the letter. She closed her eyes as they135Please respect copyright.PENANA83W4M0wIxx
started to stream tears.
“He135Please respect copyright.PENANAk81W7lwzup
killed her” she heard her brother say, his voice was strangely deadpanned “that135Please respect copyright.PENANAbd5CItOzVL
monster murdered her, he and I had a deal”
Andraste135Please respect copyright.PENANA1SIxchOnMo
stared up at him as he spoke, her face written in confusion “what of the knight you sent to secure her safety, what happened to135Please respect copyright.PENANAt4iYZfFRs3
Lucien?"
The king135Please respect copyright.PENANAYX4yH9gx7z
sighed heavily as he lowered his head into his palms "No word. The last135Please respect copyright.PENANAwS987otFW1
letter he sent said he was on the outskirts of Avrym's domain......that was135Please respect copyright.PENANAZWvt62X3oW
five days ago"
"We135Please respect copyright.PENANAzjz5a0ywP1
need to ready or armies." Andraste's voice cracked as she spoke "This135Please respect copyright.PENANAf4JmAYMXnA
bastard has toyed with us enough."
“No, it135Please respect copyright.PENANAhpOUddWiVw
doesn’t matter anymore” he replied coldly as he stood and placed his crown in135Please respect copyright.PENANA0yJYCZfF0r
place, brushing away some of his hair revealing his small rounded ears. As135Please respect copyright.PENANA5G16YLSRub
Andraste looked at him she thought she saw a look of fear, but she quickly135Please respect copyright.PENANAnBVHamDAUA
banished the stupid thought
“What?” she135Please respect copyright.PENANAWSYqaXhgId
choked "YOU'RE JUST GOING TO LET HIM GET AWAY WITH MURDERING YOUR135Please respect copyright.PENANA5rxGgNmJAn
DAUGHTER?" The king completely ignored her words as he walked towards135Please respect copyright.PENANA8lii8iwAhA
the exit. She couldn't see it, but his face was riddled with worry. Andraste135Please respect copyright.PENANAh0YgY7HuaP
took one last look at the letter in her grasp before crumbling it and following135Please respect copyright.PENANA5OO3UfSw4D
after her brother, swearing to herself that they were going to have a proper135Please respect copyright.PENANAfxuBSzzXvO
talk whether he wanted to or not.
The king sat upon his throne and135Please respect copyright.PENANAjUeepSVpK3
glared at the nobles gathered in the room, he felt a hand grip his shoulder and135Please respect copyright.PENANAtvwZbtlYj8
he looked up to see his sister smiling at him, her tears were gone and she had135Please respect copyright.PENANAsI1nCCDLUR
an air of confidence about her. Though the two weren’t siblings by blood, they135Please respect copyright.PENANAJT5hVgMNPL
had always had each other’s backs, for nearly thirty years they have been135Please respect copyright.PENANAK4GaNhoC0M
inseparable, and now he felt that was about to change. He smiled back at her as135Please respect copyright.PENANAPHv2VUY2Rj
she made to walk away to join the nobles, but he grabbed her hand “stay” he135Please respect copyright.PENANAQoiGwTmQLT
whispered. Andraste nodded without looking at him and brushed off his hand,135Please respect copyright.PENANAGFTyLuTJEO
that was when he realized he was right, she would not be with him this time, if135Please respect copyright.PENANAT1RkXgd8zI
his nobles didn’t kill him now………his sister would. The king gulped as he135Please respect copyright.PENANAl4CGjs8hpl
cleared his throat to address his people, he severely doubted he could best the135Please respect copyright.PENANA4izrl8GXkt
nimble Elf in a fight. “First of all, I thank you all for answering my call” he135Please respect copyright.PENANAL94PkDTeoH
began, watching as they stiffened and stared dumbly at him. He had taken135Please respect copyright.PENANA21sVSThdaf
advantage of all these people, and he knew he would pay the price today.
“I know it135Please respect copyright.PENANAEEaVYOUgtN
was a bit short notice, but the matter was too urgent -"
"What135Please respect copyright.PENANAGU9FkJpXKP
the hell is the meaning of this, Roland?" A voiced cried out from the135Please respect copyright.PENANALO9nx8Ywav
semicircle of nobles, cutting him off "I had important matters to attend135Please respect copyright.PENANACSsaWmA5sT
to and not only do you call me here at such a time, you also have THE FUCKING135Please respect copyright.PENANAFNjzez6Jgv
NERVE -"
There was a135Please respect copyright.PENANAWdbB8nH08N
flash of silver as something raced through the air cutting off the voice. It135Please respect copyright.PENANAjLEkeMNtVS
was then followed by shrill scream. The nobles looked at the old man who was135Please respect copyright.PENANAOoJN1rGRuG
now clutching his face. He opened his mouth to speak but was instantly cut off135Please respect copyright.PENANA5CYeAh5JpU
by Andraste.
"The135Please respect copyright.PENANAkxugykJUWJ
next person to interrupt this meeting will leave this room missing a135Please respect copyright.PENANAgBz9lyB6vs
tongue." The gulped as he heard her words. He rose his hand and spoke once135Please respect copyright.PENANAiPUsHmTwCO
more "As I was saying, I'm terribly sorry for calling you all here at such135Please respect copyright.PENANAdrqE0m9m5U
an hour, but I'm afraid I had no choice. As I'm sure you're aware, there have135Please respect copyright.PENANAKCItnK2B8P
been rumours circulating the kingdom for the last six months, stories about how135Please respect copyright.PENANA4RjYYKH6cd
you nobles have been sending the kingdom assassins to villages on the edges of Lanatheas135Please respect copyright.PENANAje2qaRGL2X
to kidnap young girls from their homes."
"Permission135Please respect copyright.PENANAnuqS5eNj5y
to speak, sire?" A young man spoke up from the group
"Granted"
"Those135Please respect copyright.PENANAYfGtoTpee4
rumours have been nothing other than, well......rumours." he paused before135Please respect copyright.PENANAlL2VUnUpaX
continuing "you had us all investigated by your Spymaster, Lord Brinn that135Please respect copyright.PENANAIpvaGaLdEN
is, and as I'm aware....those investigations yielded no results135Please respect copyright.PENANAeKvICTw8Hl
whatsoever"
"I'm135Please respect copyright.PENANArpEcOrqdQB
afraid that's simply because Brinn was ordered to not carry out an actual135Please respect copyright.PENANAdWnB42xISF
investigation....."
"Pardon?"135Please respect copyright.PENANAIrSEHJ1jF7
His confusion was echoed by everyone else in the room, including Andraste.135Please respect copyright.PENANAhHUsAMhayQ
"What do you mean by that brother?" She asked as she looked down on135Please respect copyright.PENANAAfTNJuPXAS
him. The king looked at her and shook his head, her eyes were cold and he felt135Please respect copyright.PENANAUfLGSsE9cK
like she was going to cut open his throat after his next words "I'm135Please respect copyright.PENANA1knwXdNuBR
ashamed to admit the rumours are indeed true" he paused and then continued135Please respect copyright.PENANABKudoEWMLx
before anybody had the chance to react "In fact.....those assassins were135Please respect copyright.PENANAiPE65HUIfR
sent out by me, and were led by none other than Brinn" before he had even135Please respect copyright.PENANAZOQ94CNW8Y
finished talking, the nobles were shouting and demanding answers. They wanted135Please respect copyright.PENANABh53sBAH0y
to know what he had done, as well as why. In the uproar they had all forgotten135Please respect copyright.PENANANYBxFOuh9v
Andraste's threat, all but one man who was trying to leave his seat before she135Please respect copyright.PENANAwKPXbsdgfL
noticed him. The nobles, realising that he had no intention of answering them135Please respect copyright.PENANAwi1Rl1wxog
then started to rush towards him on the throne, but before the got close135Please respect copyright.PENANAUkvw1yD6Ux
Brinn's cloaked form fell Infront of them from the ceiling. He stretched out135Please respect copyright.PENANAJdi8JhLmbN
his hands, showing the throwing knives between his fingers "Who dies135Please respect copyright.PENANAn8FKPlwQ8U
first?" He asked sneering. The nobles gasped as they backed away slowly,135Please respect copyright.PENANA3eIUyDZKIb
Brinn glanced behind him and saw Roland running through the back doors. Brinn135Please respect copyright.PENANAW8BnkYk6VD
knew the king wasn't afraid of the weaklings before him, so he figured he must135Please respect copyright.PENANA9c0D4IInn4
have been running from his sister. Brinn might have been the one to teach her135Please respect copyright.PENANARIjSEfWJHx
everything she knew, but even he wouldn't be able to inflict injury on her135Please respect copyright.PENANACmAYWEj1Y3
before his head rolled. Without looking at her he sheathed his knives and went135Please respect copyright.PENANAluvMIwap9C
after the king.
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All of this135Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5byuRbB2X
had happened before the princess had even finished processing the information135Please respect copyright.PENANA8uhksuCkDD
she was just given. She didn't notice any of the events that had just135Please respect copyright.PENANAVYTEaWXDQy
transpired.