Chapter 44: Vengeance Promised

“Milord, do you need any water,” Junet questions softly, riding up to Drake’s side on her horse.
He shakes his head softly, “No, thank you.”
She bows her head before allowing her steed to fall back.
Drake shifts atop his own horse, before looking ahead. They are making great distance across Drein. In two more days they will arrive in Zaline.
The werewolves run alongside the horses in their animal form. Drake is able to tell which one is Rowan by his pale fur. It is a mixture of gleaming silver and a pale grey. He is unable to keep his eyes off the beast. He remembers the Vojik’s musky scent and wonders why he had to attack Drake in his own tent. Was it to show dominance? Prove that because Drake is a human that he is inferior? Or is there another reason?
Rowan shifts his head slightly, his gaze landing on Drake. The intensity of his stare causes a small shiver in the Prince’s neck. He grits his teeth and hardens his expression as he notices the werewolf smirking.
“I must keep my distance from him. I do not feel at ease when I am near him,” Drake states to himself before focusing on their journey ahead.
Soon they will be in Zaline and he will be married to Princess Eliana.

>><<

Alma’s muscles tighten, exhaustion causing her wings to lock up. She grunts as her body begins to fall from the sky. There is only a vast expanse in front of her, no trees for miles. She huffs, forcing her way through the pain. Squawking, Alma continues to lower down from her altitude.
She strains her vision in order to catch sight of the person she is looking for. It takes another ten minutes before she finally spots the figure on the horizon.
She squeaks, pushing through the lack of energy before she completely hits the ground. She narrows her wing span and soars back up before leveling, swaying back and forth.
Once she nears the figure before her, she caws, swooping low.
“Olisnia,” she cries out once she hits the ground hard, hopping. She begins to shift back, her face reverting back to normal after a moment.
“Alma, what are you doing?” The Drulian yanks on her reigns, sliding her steed to a halt.
The werebird huffs, unable to speak as she slowly returns to her human form. Feathers fall, fluttering to the ground.
“Where is Eliana,” Olisnia questions harshly.
“It was a trap. The city is empty. The rebels have taken over.”
Olisnia slides down from her horse, rushing to Alma’s side. “Where is Eliana,” she repeats.
“They took her,” Alma heaves.
The Drulian pauses for a moment, standing over the werebird. She breathes in deeply before reaching for a spare cloak and throwing it over Alma’s bare shoulders.
“Let’s go.”
“Wait,” Alma clings to the cloth tightly, “Where?”
“Back to the castle.” Olisnia swings her leg up and over the horse. She reaches down for Alma’s hand. “I have enough magic to get her to safety.”
“There are too many. I overheard them say that more of them are coming. Climont soldiers. We need more numbers.”
Olisnia remains silent for a moment as Alma situates herself on top of the horse. “Yes, let’s go find the others.”
Opening her mouth in surprise, the werebird looks back up at the Drulian, “Do you think we will be able to get them to come back with us?”
She shrugs, her lips tightening into a thin line, “We will have to try.”
“How are we going to track them?” Alma looks out at the expanse as the horse changes directions.
Olisnia’s vision pales to white, “I will find them.”

>><<

Eliana shifts inside her prison cell. Her limbs are scraped up from the harsh material of the space. She winces at the pain in her stomach. She has not eaten in a few days. She touches her abdomen as she tries to get comfortable.
“Do not worry, Princess,” Selma chuckles appearing on the other side of the thick bars. “You shall not be in here for much longer. Once the rest of the rebels and soldiers arrive, your execution will commence.”
“Why don’t you just get it over with now,” she seethes.
“Oh, it is much more entertaining to have a crowd. The last werecat; it will truly be a sight to see.”
Eliana bites her cheek to hold her anger at bay. She swallows a sob as she speaks, “Why did you kill my father?”
Selma shrugs, “He was in the way.”
Irritation and anguish swirl together in her chest. “He took you in! No one else in the castle wanted someone with minimal experience. He allowed my mother to keep you on.”
“Do you see what befell them for doing that?” She crosses her arms roughly.
“Because you killed them!” Eliana pushes off the ground and rushes the cell doors, slamming into them. She hisses, sharpening her teeth to those of her feline self.
Selma is unphased by the action, “I never touched them.”
“You are responsible.”
The handmaid only pivots away, walking towards the door. “You should save your energy for your grand appearance, Princess.”
As she is left alone once more, the fury envelops Eliana and she explodes, “I will kill you! You won’t win!”