3. Chapter Three

Whispered voices breach the edge of my consciousness as warm flickers of firelight play across the skin of my face.

"She will be fine. She's breathing," Aramis comments nonchalantly. I keep my eyes shut and my breathing in check to make sure they don't realize I am awake. A pounding headache is overwhelming my senses, but I try to keep my ears peeled.

"We pushed her too hard. She's too delicate, and no' used to the rough pace. Females." Nero argues, and it seems as if the last word was said with exasperation.

Well, at least Nero gets it.

"You know we are on a deadline. The shifters must be stopped or Shadowvale will be ruined," Aramis replies matter-of-factly with a cold, hard tone fitting of his soul. What does he mean by Shadowvale will fall from ruin if the shifters aren't stopped? What is going on in their northern kingdom?

"Look at her Aramis," Nero protests. I imagine his arms waving around me, trying to get Aramis' attention. I'm surprised he even cares as much as he does. "Do you really think she's organizing the rebellion and orchestrating attacks? She appears to be rather weak for a leader; she can't even make a short journey. This shifter is nothing but a weak bairn as far as I am concerned."

"Nero, it doesn't matter how old or young one is. Don't let these shifters fool you, we don't know how strong she is in her creature form." Aramis answers, nonplussed. "And you've heard the story of her parents, what they did and destroyed."

"The only things we ken are rumors." Nero continues to dispute Aramis. "We searched the entire house from top to bottom for evidence, and we found nothing but ointments, herbs, and copious amounts of books. Everything I'd expect to find in a healer's household. Nae signs of the rebels or their plans. No signs of anything even slightly suspicious."

My parents? They have heard of my parents?

"She must have been hiding the evidence. We can't have come all this way just to retrieve some silly girl.' Aramis retorts, his voice full of disbelief and a fury that's disproportionate to the situation. As the two men bicker, I begin to slowly exhale, counting to ten, and running through a wellness check of all my moving body parts. I slowly open my eyes and see Aramis' hateful gaze boring down on me. Not wanting to give him any power over me, I stare back just as intently. Why would I shy away from him if I have nothing to hide?

Aramis snorts, noticing that I'm conscious. "Looks like our damsel in distress is finally awake." Aramis's voice is loud above me, interrupting the guards' conversations happening around the fire. I attempt moving towards the sound of the voices, but a small cry of pain leaves my lips. Every muscle in my body aches, and my temples keep throbbing as I push myself to a sitting position. Reaching up to touch the source of my pain, I am surprised when my fingers do not come in contact with drying blood. I prod the laceration, which is shallow, but it appears as though someone cleaned away any blood. I don't bother asking who did it, only noting that maybe it's a kindness I can take advantage of, should I need it.

I try to recollect my last memories before everything went black, but my mind fails me. What happened?

One of the younger guards' with a mop of dirty brown hair and kind green eyes leaves Nero's side and shoves a canteen into my face. I chug the water with enthusiasm. But my wretched body betrays me the moment I finish half of the bottle and I immediately turn away, retching the precious liquid into the dirt. I should have known better. Next time, pace yourself, Sybil.

"Whoa, steady there. Ye had a nasty fall and hit yer head." Nero crouches in front of me, studying my face. "Ye need to take it slow. Have ye not ridden a horse before? If you injure yourself, it won't do ye, or us, any good."

"What do you think? Of course I've never ridden a horse. I'm a unicorn." I scoff, then snort with laughter. Honestly, the idea is laughable, and incredibly insulting. "What use would I have to ride a horse? Plus, I've never had a reason to leave my village." I scrub the back of my hand across my mouth before gingerly taking a small sip of the water. Well, I would have had one reason, had I heard from Nova Esther, the renowned healing academy of Kallistar. My parents had been professors there before I was born, training aspiring healers in biology, herbology and the healing powers of magic. They were esteemed unicorn healers, some of the best Nova Esther had ever seen, and not a day goes by where I don't miss them with all my heart. After their death, I swore I would join the academy to continue their legacy and become a great healer for Kallistar, my kingdom. But Nova Esther never responded to my letters, and I was too afraid to leave my home and embark on a journey full of unknowns. Countless times, I had packed my bags and reached the edge of Bellenau with Lemon in tow, desperate to make the most of my life, only to return to my family home. Too anxious to abandon the comfort of what I knew and to leave all the memories of my parents behind. So I stayed in Bellenau, helping the villagers with the few skills my parents had taught me, wondering if that adventure I had always longed for would eventually come and get me.

Turns out, it did. But I wasn't wholly convinced this was the adventure I had dreamed about.

Nero offers me a piece of bread he's torn off once he sees I won't hurl again. I take it gratefully as my stomach grumbles loudly and gingerly nibble at its edge.

The smell of meat permeates my senses as I survey the camp. One guard turns a makeshift spit with two small creatures cooking over the flames. My stomach growls as I watch the fat sizzle and pop as it hits the flames below. While I preferred a variety of vegetation to my diet, adequate protein was required for all shifters due to the vast energy expenditure required to change forms. I try not to move as Lemon squirms around in my pocket before poking his nose out to sniff the air. Aramis reaches into the fire and grabs a single stick, and I take the moment to shove Lemon's head back into the recess of the fabric. Aramis swiftly rips off the leg of the poor creature and hands it to me.

"Eat. We will rest here for another hour, then we will be off again." His eyes look over my shoulder, refusing to make contact. Bastard. He could at least have the decency to look at me when he offers me food. "I suggest you relieve yourself."

Does he think I signed up for this? I scoff internally.

I will my body to shift and take over my form–just to see if I can, but nothing responds to the pull. I bite my inner cheek in frustration, glaring at my captor. If only I knew any kind of defense to save me from this mess. I need to be smart if I want to get out of this mess. I might not know a lot about self defense, but I have my wits.

After staring at Aramis' outreached hand, hunger wins over my resolve, and I reluctantly take the meat. I tear off a small piece and shove it nonchalantly into my pocket where Lemon immediately grabs it and stuffs it in his cheek, making small noises of contentment. I stare at the food in my hand, amazed I'm about to eat with my kidnappers. Who, to my disgust, discusses my parents like they're criminals. I tear off another small piece for Lemon in protest, then sigh. What good will an empty stomach do? I take a bite, emitting a small groan of pleasure. Food is my comfort language, but consenting to eat this meat does not mean I trust them.

I eat faster than I care to admit–starved for the nutrients that will support me through this journey. There's not enough for a second helping, so I try to savor every bite.The dizziness settles, and my mind is less foggy. Aramis and his men sit on the other side of the fire and ignore me, comfortable in their conversation. Flashes of the conversation I overheard between Nero and Aramis come back to me. The accusations of me partaking in a rebellion is ludicrous. Shifters have been living peacefully amongst most kinds all over Craeweth. Or at least that's what I heard from the traveling fae, humans, and other shiftersthat cross Bellennau from time to time. News of a rebellion would have surely reached the village if it was true, wouldn't it?

"And what exactly makes you think that I'm part of some rebel group?" I question, keeping my tone light, friendly even. I attempt to make eye contact with Aramis, Nero–anyone as I continue reluctantly look at the now bare bone in my hand.

No one deigns to respond, and I'm ready to scream my frustration at them. Who the hell are these men, and why are they acting like I don't exist when they sought me out for capture in the first place? My blood boils under my skin. Fine, the more they ignore me, the more I can work it in my favor. Every inch of me aches with bruising as I push myself off the forest floor and head towards the pool of water at the border of the clearing.

I reach into my well of magic once more, almost screaming when I can feel the depth of its suppression. Kneeling at the water's edge, I can see my reflection in its silvery surface from the light of the full moon above. Dark circles bloom under my eyes, cheeks wind chapped. I dip my hands into the frigid water and splash my face, clearing my head. Careful not to let anyone see, I allow Lemon to come out from the pocket he is hiding in so he can have a sip of water. "We need to find a way to escape" I whisper to my ferret as he merrily dips his paws in the pond.

"Talking to yourself now, are you?" Aramis's sarcastic voice interrupts my thought and sends Lemon running back into his hiding spot. His figure towers behind me, his head curiously tilted to one side, studying me.

"I wouldn't have to if you'd give me some damn answers," I respond as I push myself up and clear the dirt from my dress. "Rebels?" I shout, "You think I'm… a rebel? And my parents?" I scoff in amusement.

Aramis moves towards me, his hands gripping my wrists and forcefully tugging, making me stumble and nearly topple into him. Whispering in a language I can't decipher, the rope unties, sliding across my skin before it falls loosely into his palms. He sneers with disgust as he releases me, shocking me when he grabs my chin, the rough calluses of his finger and thumb scraping across my skin. The hardness of his fingertips is just as rough as my hands, and the similarity is too much to bear.

"I am going to say this one last time, " he replies gruffly. "Stop demanding answers you won't receive. We've wasted time waiting for you to wake up since you've been out for nearly six hours."

I raise my brow in disbelief. Taking a step back, I abruptly move my face to get his hand off of me. But Aramis follows my lead and steps uncomfortably close in my body space to continue his tirade. His seething anger curls around me, and I shiver with discomfort. "This journey to Shadowvale will take us a fortnight, if we travel in fit weather. These horses that you scoff at are true-bred stallions from the Brimdwell mountains and will make the journey without tiring."

What, I'm supposed to be impressed with that?

I glance at the horses, who are, in fact, fine specimens. The horse Aramis forced me onto acknowledges my glance. He snorts with derision, and I scoff. Yes, we're on the same page.

Aramis puts his fingers on my face once more and makes me look at him. "I don't know if your little fainting episode was a terrible attempt at escaping, but we carry on. " My body recoils from his touch, but he holds tight. "Now, I expect you to be a good little unicorn and ride well with us–on a horse–because we cannot afford to waste more time." His hand falls from my face and we both take a step back, conscious of how close we were.

"We wouldn't need to waste time putting me on a horse," I muster, full of my own rage. "If you let me transform–"

"That is out of the question." Aramis yells, and my body stiffens at his hatred and the way he steps back into my space. I'm so angry that I nearly attack him with outrage. But my head begins to pound, reminding me that I'm in no fit state to move against him. As outrageously enraged as I am at Aramis, I've gleaned important information: this is taking a fortnight.

And the horses are from the Brimdwell mountains. I furiously catalog all the maps in my head that I studied with my father. One of the most prominent peaks in Craeweth, located in the northeastern corner of Shadowvale, these mountains were famous for their steep inclines and the perpetual snow that covered them throughout the year. This means that if I manage to steal one of the horses I can rely on it taking me far away from these brutes until I can get this goddess damned cuff off my wrist. The handsome lines of his face are callous and cold. He turns on his heel and almost walks away until he decides there is something else worth saying. "As for what will happen to you, that is up to the king and queen to decide, so stop fucking asking." His tone offers no room for argument. "Now go and relieve yourself. Don't wander too far, or try to escape. I don't need to touch you to hold you captive, and you don't want to know what happens if you try escaping." I wrap my arms around my torso as Aramis makes his way towards the horses.

"Ugh! You are so abhorrent!" I growl between clenched teeth, but loud enough for him to hear. Aramis turns around to lock eyes with mine and we have a battle of wills until another curl of wind sweeps against my hair, causing my breath to catch. Then another gust pushes me back and I fall, landing on the ground with a thump. Aramis smirks, and I huff with anger as I push myself back on my feet, standing tall, heat burning my cheeks. I turn on my heel and head beyond the edge of the forest, opposite the pool of water. I can hear the males chuckling behind me. One of them mimics my outrage and stumbling, and I have half a mind to tell them where exactly they can put their spoons. As soon as the shadows of the forest start blocking out the flickering light of the fire, Lemon climbs out of my pocket up to my shoulder and nuzzles my cheek.

"Oh, Lemon." I sigh, running my fingers through my tangled dark brown hair. "What are we going to do?" He whimpers and climbs down my arm to inspect the simple iron bracelet that I was absently spinning around my wrist. He looks back up at me with concern.

"I know, boy. I don't know what it is, or why it's dampening my powers." I sigh, furious at what has been taken. "I can't heal or shift. My power is like a dead weight in my chest." Lemon nudges at the cuff once more with his nose, places his paws on it, looking for a release catch, but fails. He chitters with annoyance. I smile ruefully at his indignation, feeling it in my bones. "Don't worry–we're going to escape somehow. I promise you." I sigh and lay my hand on the tree next to me, bracing my weight when the familiar texture of moss brushes my fingertips.

Moss! It prefers to grow on north-facing surfaces because it favors the darker, more humid environment. I squeal in delight as one of my mother's lessons springs to mind. It isn't a solution, but at least, it gives me a sense of direction.

And where there is moss, there should be yarrow.

I search the ground away from the roots of the trees where the sunlight would filter in during the day. I have little time before my captors come looking for me. But just as I am about to give up, I spot what I'm looking for. The plant is small with a distinct cluster of small white flowers. They have faded and dried, but they will have to do. Settling myself on the ground, I make quick work, plucking as many leaves as I can grab and stuffing them in my spare pocket. The feathery leaves crush under my ministrations, filling my nostrils with a spicy, aromatic scent of fresh pine needles mixed with rosemary and oregano. Yarrow is one of the most common herbs for healing, and one of the first I learned how to use from my parents. This unexpected find will be able to help me with my wounds, and I'm grateful that perhaps someone is looking out for me.

I hear the crunch of feet from the direction of the camp and a deep male voice calling out my name. I lament not having more time to myself, but I gathered enough to help heal my wrists and temple and prevent infection. Standing up, I quickly look around.

Can I escape? Where can I go?

We are in the middle of the forest. My magic is dampened and my hands are bound, but this could be my only chance. I nimbly head away from the voices, weaving between the trees. My palms are slick with sweat and I pick up my pace. The undergrowth is thicker the further I move from the path and thorns tug at my skirts. Sweat beads along my brow, but I don't have time to cover up my tracks. I only hope I'm fast enough to outrun them.

"Balderdash!" I lose my balance as my foot is caught on a raised root. My body hurls down a small hill. I land sprawled at the bottom near a small stream. Panting, I make a quick mental note of my body as I gingerly push myself up to a crouch. My ankle aches in protest as I place weight on it, but nothing appears to be broken. Small scratches cover my arms and my hair is a wild mess. Lemon pokes his head out of my pocket and my heart floods with relief that I did not crush him with my fall.

The sharp crack of wood snapping echoes, and the birds fall silent. I hold my breath. The sound of my heart pounds in my ears as my gut clenches. Even Lemon stops his chattering, curling into a ball in my pocket. Moments tick by.

The moon is already high in the sky, but I pray to the Goddess that it is still too light outside for the shadow beasts to be roaming the forest. Perhaps it was only a deer, spooked by my fall.

I cannot risk waiting any longer. I have to put more distance between myself and the camp. Rinsing my hands quickly in the stream, I wince as the ice cold water stings at the fresh scrapes. A shiver of apprehension runs down my spine as the memory of last night comes back to me. The power of his wind magic pinning me to the bed, unable to move. If only I had access to my powers, I could canter faster and further through this forest. "Oh, come on," I utter as I push and twist at the iron band, trying to slip it off without luck. Sighing, I quickly glance behind before stepping over the stream and continuing.

This far away from the path, and deep into the forest, it all looks the same. My ankle aches dully with each step, hindering my progress. If I can only find somewhere to hide. I no longer hear the pursuit of my captors. Have they given up their chase that easily?

I duck under a branch. Exhaustion weighs heavily on me, but I push myself. I freeze as a loud crack echoes around me. Lemon hisses from my shoulder, his claws digging through the fabric into my skin. I close my eyes tightly and inhale through my nose. I had to have imagined it. The woods creak and groan all the time at home.

"As soon as we get back home, we're packing our bags and heading to Nova Ether," I whisper to Lemon as I step over a fallen log. "I'm going to find a way to train with the great healers of Kallistar, even if I have to beg at the Queen's feet for acceptance. After everything mother did for her, it's the least she could do."

A flicker of shadow catches the corner of my eye and I pause, my breath catching in my chest.

Moments of silence tick by before I slowly continue my path. It must have been a figment of my imagination.

A deep growl precedes the scraping of claws against wood. I spin, my heart racing, but all around me the forest is empty. And quiet. It's all too quiet. I can't even hear the faint chirping of birds. I reach towards my belt, but my hand comes away empty. Damn them for taking my dagger.

I back up against a tree, my eyes darting around for any sign of movement. Suddenly, a pair of glowing yellow eyes materialize in the darkness. As I stand frozen with fear, its monstrous form materializes, causing my heart to jump to my throat. Dark shadows surround its massive frame, curling and whipping around it. The creature possesses the head and forepaws of a lion, but it has cloven hind hooves. Its barbed tail whips around, and each spike drips as it fixes its deadly gaze on me.

A shadow chimera.