1st Chapter- A Cold Escape

“Its cold” The young girl was stubbornly set on that fact. The young man beside her sighed, “ of course its cold, its called ice, frozen water”. From where he stood he could see the tinniest of frowns on her face, one that usually meant that she was trying to understand something.

“Adran, can I touch it?”

Adran chuckled, “yes, I believe that ice is usually safe to touch”

The girl put her hand on the smooth cold surface, unable to believe that water had a solid form. She marveled at the beauty of the strange objects that hung from the roof of the inn. She had lived in a land where snow, something she had only seen recently, was nonexistent. Behind her, the four young men looked anxious to go, they were her protectors, these brothers of hers.

Adran the oldest and most well learned taught her many things, Drion her second brother, taught her to fight and shoot like any male warrior, Taerin, her most favorite brother, was her accomplice when she played tricks on scholars, and Rian, a brother whom she could count on for the best advice.

“Lari? Are you ready? We have a long journey ahead of us.”

Lari nodded, she climbed on her horse, Minks and followed Adran. Her other brothers surrounded her, their eyes wary for unwelcome appearances.

Hours went by before the horses and their travelers stopped to rest. Lari walked toward her elder brother

“Adran, I can’t pretend that I am not resentful at my current situation. In fact, I cannot tell you without using inappropriate words that I feel in becoming just another gift to the royal family of Syrlin”

Adran’s jaw clenched, “ Lari, we’ve discussed this many times, I have done all I could to persuade father against using you as a negotiation piece to Syrlin,”

“I deeply sympathize the bloke that will have to marry Lari” joked Taerin

Adran rolled his eyes and continued, “but it is absolutely crucial we are to make this arrangement, Syrlin is a good ally when it comes time to fight the Ramadius, you are cunning and strong, you will be able to charm the court with your wits.

“If she does not first manage to throw the court into turmoil,” muttered Taerin

Lari shot a murderous glance at Taerin and continued, “but why not another girl, Princess Aelia is a great candidate, she would make a great bride for the Duke Taydel, why not her? Why do I have to marry a man whom I’ve never seen before?”

“ Lari, you along are the most attractive candidate for this offer, you are a skilled diplomat, whose head can overpower the heart, and most important of all, you have a brain, can you say the same about Princess Aelia?” inquired Adran

“Yes Lari, I do not think Princess Aelia can compare to you in being wise or cunning, she could not have put cockroaches in dear Aunt Rakila’s wig and in her soup and still be able to blame it on Rian” mocked Taerin

Rian turned around, surprised, “so that was you….”

Lari stole a peek at Rian’s face, which was contorted with anger and vowed Taerin will pay for revealing the secret. He’s going to have a miserable night after I put in a little extra in his soup tonight, yes, something to make sure that he will occupy the outhouse for quite a while.

Adran cleared his throat, “well now that we’ve had that mystery solved, I suggest that we start moving before we are frozen to this place”

Rian was still glaring at Lari as they mounted on their horses, but soon was occupied in keeping his younger sister safe while they traveled through the darkening forest.

Lari opened her mouth to speak, but was hissed to silence by Taerin, Adran shook his head and whispered to speak, “ the forest is too quiet, there is something that is disturbing the animals, we may have company”

No sooner had he spoken, an arrow flew past Lari’s ear, and she was able to duck in time to escape the two arrows that followed. Quickly she grabbed her bow and strung an arrow, shooting at the figures perched on top of the trees. She smiled as she heard her attack cry and fall to the ground.

Suddenly, the attack stopped, a voice thundered through the forest.
“ Ah, the sons of the devious lord Ceshin, young and fierce, a strong resemblance to their ugly father, and who might that be, surely not his daughter too? What a catch, what a catch, clearly he had sent his lovely jewels to me!”

“Rogue! Who are you, and how dare you sully the name of our father, your tongue shall wither from such blasphemy” cried Drion

The voice crackled, “me? Sully your father? He does not need me to, when he has done the job him self, the filthy slob”

Lari was filled with rage, yet she willed herself to concentrate at finding a way out of this mess.


Taerin caught her eye and mutter to her.
“Lari, you need to get to Syrlin, follow the road to Arka and then cross the border, we will try to catch up to you, if we can, you have enough supplies to last you to the border, and then sell your jewels but keep the ring, for without it you cannot get into the court.”

“ No! I will not leave you behind, they will kill you!” She whispered back fiercely, as Drion continued his verbal match with the voice, Taerin gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head, “ they won’t kill us, they just want us for hostage, we’re too valuable for now, but if they have you, then our alliance with Syrlin is gone”

“When I count to three, you ride as never before in you life, we will protect you”

Taerin! I—

“ One , two…”

Listen, it’s too—

“Three!”

Minks was spurred into a gallop and Lari had no choice but to crouch low upon the horses back so as to not fall off.

A sudden sharp pain pierced her shoulder and Lari experienced pain, as she had never felt before. She new that she was hit with an arrow but was helpless as she held on for dear life as she rode out of the forest.