Xemein

The journey to the North was a long and tiring one. The carriage I was in, quivered at every brush of stone against it.

I turned the flap of the window near me. Fresh breeze rushed in, blowing against my face. I smiled. The air around places far away from the overpopulated Capital felt so good.

"That's not why you are here" Eleanor, the head maid in nobleman Lyman Edgar's household spoke. She was hired by King Randall himself. And like every dog Randall owned, she was fiercely loyal to him.

"You don't have time to grin!"

"All you should be doing, is thinking" she tapped her temple "-thinking of how best to serve King Randall" she roared, like the wildcat she often Turned into when she wanted to mutilate or intimidate someone.

"Don't forget. I'll be reporting your every step" she warned.

Reporting. To who? King Randall, most definitely. A man who now felt, he owned my soul. And was entitled to know every step I take from this moment onwards.

The sound of an arrow flying through the air, rang in my ears. I looked out. But before I could see anything, I heard the horses neigh and felt the carriage slowly stop.

"Who dares?" Eleanor yelled. "Step out of the carriage now!" she thundered as she too came down. She glared at me "my eyes are on you".

She started marching towards the horses, while I followed. Standing in front of our carriage, were the four guards of King Randall that escorted me on this journey. Also there, were four other persons I was seeing for the first time. Four males. Though one out of them wore a cloak and a hood, while another, holding a bow and an arrow in his hands, looked feminine.

Glowing dark skin, lovely light-brown eyes accompanied with a smile that had the most charming dimples I'd ever seen. 'A beautiful man', were the best words for his physical outlook.

"This is a royal carriage. Stand back!" Eleanor said, as she moved and stood in front of Randall's guards to challenge the intruders.

I remained where I was.

"I'm here to take the lady" the man covered in hood said as his friends parted so that he could walk through and stand in front of them.

"You won't dare to touch her" one of the guards growled, as he stood at an 'alert' stance with the spear in his hands.

"I won't dare?" the voice under the hood chuckled.

Who are these people? So bold. Highway thieves? Thinking of kidnapping a nobleman's 'daughter' for a hefty ransom? I stepped back. I couldn't afford to lose my life, and my country in that process, all because of the greed of these few men.

Then, Eleanor opened her mouth, with so much confidence ringing in her voice. Confidence that said, she knew her next words would make the intruders back off. After all, who in Armalith, has not heard the legendary tales of the Dark Lord.

"My lady is the bride of the Dark Lord" she announced. "And I'm certain" she stressed each word "you don't want whatever belongs to Him anywhere near... "

"Unless I'm Him" the voice beneath the cloak boomed, as the hood slowly lifted "then, I wouldn't mind".

The hood came off finally.

And I'd be lying if I said at that moment, I was the only one whose heart went into shock.

Gboom. Gboom.

Lightning struck the skies. I looked up. And as if the lightning knew who they obeyed. They raced down from the skies.

We all fled for cover.

Except the man in cloak.

The lightning hit Him. Bolts after bolts of lightning struck Him. I gasped. Who is this? A man or a god? In his hands, the bolts of lightning danced, and then disappeared. Absorbed into his body.

"Mother of Light!" One of the guards shuddered with fear.

Never in my life, have I seen such an awe-inspiring Gift.

I stood up. Moved from where I was. Staring at the 'lightning' man.

His, was a strange face.

A face I had never seen before.

Never ran across in the street. Never seen a portrait of.

Yet, I knew. Just knew.

That he was my husband. The man I have to kill to save my country.