Chapter 30: Attempt At Escape

“May I ask you a question,” Olisnia inquires to Alma as she slows her horse to match the werebird’s pace.
She nods softly shifting on her steed. She stares at the back of Evyn’s head as the men ride ahead of them, but he does not glance back. The sun has only risen and set once since they left Windwill. She did not understand why they continued to travel, even at night. Her eyes strained to see where she is going. Both Jasper and Evyn hold up torches for their horses to be able to navigate.
“Has it always been difficult for you to shift forms?”
Alma’s eyes widen as her gaze snaps back to the Drulian. Out of the corner of her vision, she can see that Evyn glances back as well, but only for a moment. Heat bursts up into her neck at the embarrassment.
“Uh, yes, I have never been able to completely shift.” Alma tightens her grip on her reigns and moves her gaze to the neck of her horse, trying to block out how ridiculous it is that she would not know how to transform.
Olisnia’s voice becomes soft, “You are sixteen, correct?”
Nodding, she says, “In two weeks’ time I will be seventeen.”
“It is normal, is it not, that a werebird is to be mated between the ages of sixteen and seventeen?”
She winces, images of her home on Pyrion flashing in her mind. It is true, even if one has not found their soul bond by the age of seventeen, they are forced to mate the nearest compatible individual. Alma’s thoughts begin to form the image of a thin framed man, his silk blond hair shoulder length. She fights the urge to smile as she remembers his own large grin.
“Yes, if I had not been enslaved, I would be officially mated. I have a lover back in Pyrion. He is waiting for me to return.”
Evyn’s shoulder tremble, but he refuses to look back at her. Alma’s chest aches, her throat clenching tight to obstruct her flow of oxygen.
“You must want to go home very badly.” Olisnia stares forward, her long platinum hair swaying with the movement of her horse.
“Yes, I do.”
Olisnia smiles softly, “It is heartbreaking, leaving the one you love. In the end, when you meet him again, it will have you promising never to leave again.” Her gaze beings to glisten, her features dancing in the light of the flames.
Alma watches her for a moment, deciding not to inquire more on that subject. Instead, she brings up what has been bothering her.
“May I ask, how you know that I cannot shift?”
Breathing in deeply, controlling her emotions, the Drulian huffs, “It is my magic. I can sense the auras of others. Those two men are surrounded by the ebony hue that is the Pivurlion race. Humans on the other hand usually have a white aura.”
“What about me?”
“You have a very faded aura. One that it is difficult for a normal Drulian to see, but I can sense the dense shade to it. It is trying to be released.”
With Olisnia’s gaze now locked with hers, Alma’s body is wracked with a hot shiver. Can she really see that? This woman is able to see so much and use her magic for countless things. She truly is a terrifying being.
Alma breaks eye contact first, looking forward, “I do not believe I will ever be able to shift.”
“You will, trust me.”

>><<

Eliana waits as Junet reappears within the tent, untying and taking off the armor that still adorns the Prince’s body. The pieces clank together as she leans them against the table. He now stands in a long tunic, blood still staining the fabric.
The maid now approaches Eliana, gently running her hands across her wrists, unlocking the restraints. The Princess holds back the sigh of relief as the metal falls away. The open air stings her wounds slightly, but she breathes in, controlling her reaction.
Once Junet leaves, Drake speaks.
“You are not alone anymore,” he insists softly.
“I am more so now than I was before. I am surrounded by my enemy, in my own homeland.”
“I promise you, Princess Eliana, I did not bring you here to harm you.”
She glowers up at the enemy Prince, “Do you expect me to believe you? Your people have murdered hundreds of my citizens. You are residing in my country, destroying my kingdom.”
Drake winces, “I understand how it appears, but I am only following the orders handed down to me by my father.” He sighs, “That is why I originally proposed this marriage. It will tie our families together and force the king’s hand into halting this barbaric war.”
Eliana does not know what to believe. She allows herself to fall into her anger, her hand placing over the nail. “Is that why you sent those Xefol to attack my caravan? To kill my men?”
His brow raises in disbelief, “Eliana, I would not do such a thing, especially after I just made a deal for your hand.”
She bites back her own growl of outrage before seething, “The soldiers that attacked me outside of Viptan told me that you were the one that sought my presence. You sent them.”
“No, I did not. It was my father. He has heard of my offer to King Daniel and wants to stop the agreement from going through.”
“I don’t believe you.”
As Drake sighs and turns his back on her heading for his chair, Eliana takes the chance to slide out her weapon. She creeps up behind the Prince, gripping the nail tightly. With both hands, she thrusts the sharp metal point up at her enemy a grimace contorting her features.