We’re going to die.
“Benedict, Julian, Yelena.” Ragnhild’s voice was low. “I want you to slowly get down off the bull-horses. We’re going to charge, and when we do, I want you all to run. You don’t stop till you get to the castle, and you don’t look back. Do you understand?”
“I-I-I understand.” I trembled, looking over at Benedict and Yelena. Benedict gave me a small nod.
“Hurry, boy!” the guard whispered. “Save yourself, and tell the others what’s coming!”
I scrambled down from the bull-horse, grabbing Yelena and Benedict by the hand as they rushed toward me. We stood by the edge of the encroaching shadow, waiting for Ragnhild’s command.
“On my mark!” Ragnhild called out. “CHARGE!”
The guards stormed forward, the circle of shadow moving from where we stood and racing to meet the oncoming army. I heard the first scream.
“Now!” I yelled, dragging Benedict and Yelena behind me as we rushed into the forest. My legs felt like jelly as I ran, falling and sliding, and then pushing myself up again, terrified of slowing down for a second. The howls and cries of the guards echoed through the forest—not just cries of pain, but of sheer, complete terror—sounds I’d never heard before in my life, and never wanted to hear again.
We kept running. I obeyed Ragnhild to the letter, not looking back once as we headed in the direction of the castle.
“They’re gaining on us,” panted Benedict a few moments later, “I can feel it.”
“I know,” I replied, running faster than I thought was possible. “I know.”
I sensed the change in the air. It became stale and rank. Horrible goosebumps rose at the back of my neck, turning my blood cold.
Then the whispering started.
Ruby
I looked around me. I must have dropped off to sleep at some point, but I had no idea how long I’d been out for. I walked through to the bathroom, splashing my face with the icy-cold water from the faucet.
Everything felt dream-like, and for a few moments, staring into the mirror above the sink, I wasn’t sure whether I had dreamed the proposal or not.
I smiled.
It was real.
Which meant I had something important to do. There was no point prolonging my answer to him. He’d told me to give it some thought, that he didn’t want my answer right away, but why wait? I had no idea what the next hour, the next day, would bring.
Rushing out of the room, I slammed the bedroom door shut behind me, wondering where in the castle he’d be.
“There you are!” Hazel was a few doors down, and came hurrying toward me. “Have you seen Benedict, Yelena and Julian? I spoke to Jenney and she hasn’t seen them…have you?”
“No, I haven’t seen them since yesterday…”
Actually, I hadn’t seen them since we arrived. Where the hell were they?
Hazel rubbed her forehead in agitation. There were blueish circles under her eyes, and I got the impression she hadn’t had much sleep.
“Don’t worry, we’ll find them.”
Ash could wait. I didn’t want the boys wandering around. I didn’t know how effective the borders were —having them too far from the castle just wasn’t safe.
“When was the last time Jenney saw them?” I asked.
“She said it was when we arrived.”
That isn’t good news.
“Okay, let’s try the kitchens and work from there.”
We thoroughly searched the castle for over an hour, calling out their names. We were both getting increasingly desperate. None of the villagers had seen them either, and the guards standing at the entrances to the castle all said the same thing—that they hadn’t seen them since we arrived.
“Let’s try the scary hound things?” I suggested. The likelihood of the boys being fascinated with the deadly-looking wolf creatures seemed pretty high.
We walked over to the stables, and found Ash and Tejus talking to a few of the ministers.
“Hey,” I interrupted, “have you seen Benedict and Julian, or Yelena? They seem to be missing…”
Ash and Tejus both shook their heads.
“The human boys?” one of the ministers asked.
“Yes! Have you seen them?”
“They left with the recon army,” he replied, his face paling as both Hazel and I glared daggers at him. “I thought they’d been requested on the mission. They rode out at the same time as the lieutenant!”
“They’re OUT?” Hazel erupted.
No, no, no!
“How did this happen?” I exclaimed. “Why would you think that three young humans would be sent on a mission like that?”
The minister looked to Ash and Tejus for support.