Hellion's Reckoning

“We saw you,” a deep velvety voice called out from the shadows of their camp. Ashryn shivered as a shadow moved across a tree. She saw the wide-brimmed hat and red eyes peering at her, and she gulped. Terror gripped her as she knew who watched her behind those eyes. The Magistrate shouldn’t have been able to extend his magic past the Ravenmoon borders. “I clung to you,” the shadow explained, as if reading her thoughts. “When you stepped beyond the wards, I gripped you tight and followed you in.”

Ashryn took a cautious step back, her fingers instinctively seeking the reassuring weight of her dagger at her side. “We were riding, got lost,” she fibbed, her voice strained, her gaze unwaveringly locked on the sinister figure. The shadow chuckled, the sound reverberating through the dense forest. “Do you believe I could not hear you, my little firebird?” His taunting mockery ignited a flash of anger in her, her lips curling into a snarl. “What do you want?” She asked, hoping he would just get to the point.

“Just a cordial update,” the shadow purred, its voice oozing with menace as if it could strip her with a mere glance. “It’s a pity about your infernal lineage. You could prove quite valuable to me.” Ashryn recoiled in revulsion, wrapping her arms protectively around herself. “Nothing of note,” she replied, her voice wavering with a thread of fear, her eyes downcast to the forest floor. “I did as you asked. He’ll never read the diary of Rhalyf.”

The shadow purred again, “Excellent, can’t have him knowing all that,” A shadowy hand was waving carelessly on the tree beside it. Rhalyf had seen his son’s growing hatred for the hellions towards the end, but it was too late. “The king won’t allow me to kill him,” The shadow broke the silence, catching Ashryn’s attention, “Not unless I feel threatened.”

Ashryn wasn’t sure what he meant by that, exactly. She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, waiting for him to explain. “I was just thinking how unfit those dungeons are to house your dear grandmother,” it continued. “Inias is bound to visit me soon. I need someone with a fiery spirit. Someone who would terrify me into beseeching the king.” Her face twisted in horror at what he was asking her. Get close to him, mold him to their will. She could play along with that. “No, his life wasn’t part of the deal.” She spoke. Her voice was a mix of fear and defiance.

“Oh no no, it’s not about him,” it tried to assure her, waving another careless hand. “Varen will never see me, and I need a reason to siege his forests. If you can help with that, I’ll move your grandmother to a comfortable place outside the city.” Outside the city meant she could find her, rescue her. He would never allow her that chance. It was a trap, dangling her grandmother, hoping for an excuse to kill her. Then use her betrayal as an excuse to attack Keira and her family.

Ashryn felt a surge of cold determination wash over her as she locked eyes with the shadowy figure. She knew she had to play along for now, biding her time until the perfect moment presented itself to strike. With a forced calmness in her voice, she replied, “I understand your concerns, your honor. I can see the possibilities in your plan and how it could benefit us both. With Keira out of the way, Inias will be ours to mold.”

The shadow’s red eyes gleamed, “Good, good,” it purred ominously. “A wise decision. Together, we can achieve great things. Your clan will be proud to see the world we build.” Those velvety words stung, but she kept her anger buried deep within. Just a little longer. She told herself. “When he arrives, let that hatred you have for me show, just a little. And remember, whatever happens to me, will be done to your dear grandmother tenfold. Is that clear?”

Ashryn’s body shook as she lifted her eyes to him again, “Y-yes, your honor.” She said through gritted teeth, knowing at any moment that shadow could touch her, kill her with its venom. “And as for your boyfriend, no more dallying. I want him to be ready by spring’s end. Is that clear?”

“Yes, your honor,” Ashryn repeated, heaving a sigh of relief as the shadow faded away. It couldn’t linger long, eventually Varen would sense the foreign entity and dispatch knights to eliminate it. There was a sense of safety in that, but she refused to ever leave the forest again.