Chapter Seven

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Tabitha

Soft voices stir me awake. When I open my eyes, I find Theodas and Kozzanth standing not far off, talking to one another. I look up to find Raisi watching them, listening intently to what they are saying, but still by my side. He glances down at me, and our eyes meet.

"You are awake," he says, leaning down to kiss my forehead.

I blink a few times, then sit up to stretch. Kozzanth and Theodas move closer.

"My apologies if we woke you," Theodas says. His hair is pulled back into a messy knot, and I must say, he looks extremely handsome like this.

Out of the three of them, his looks could be described as more beautiful than the others. Softer. Kozzanth is certainly the most rugged out of them.

"You didn't. But you can help me up." I offer my hand, and he takes it with a small smile, helping me stand. I stretch my arms up, and my back cracks a few times.

"The ground is no place for a queen to sleep," Kozzanth says, staring at the ground as if it has offended him.

"I've slept on worse. Besides, soon enough, I will have my old bed back. The mattress is very soft."

"We will make sure of it," Raisi says, running his hand up and down my back.

"Speaking of. How did everything look?" I ask, turning back to Theodas and Kozzanth.

"There are more guards than we expected, but—" Theodas begins.

"It's nothing we can't handle," Kozzanth finishes.

Theodas shoots him a glare, not appreciating being cut off.

"You're certain?" I keep my gaze on Theodas, who stares at Kozzanth as he answers.

"Yes, we can handle it. It will just take more time, as someone must stay with you."

"I can fight," I offer.

"It's unsafe," Theodas says, the same time Kozzanth barks out a "No."

Hmm, protective is right. I know if I argue, they will listen to me. Listening to me is what they must do. But it is also his duty to protect me, so I can expect conversations about my decisions at times, and this I am okay with.

"We know you are capable of fighting," Raisi adds, now looking at Kozzanth with a similar expression as Theodas. "It's just that these guards are not regular guards. They are some of the best and with magical abilities. Since you already have a target on your head, it would be unwise to put yourself in that situation. We don't want to let them know where you are in case they communicate that back to your father."

"But I want to fight for my people," I say, raising my chin.

Raisi steps in front of me, placing his hand on my cheek. "And you will, when the time is right. Fight for them when they need you. For now, let us handle this so you will be in tip-top shape later on."

I don't like it, but I can't help but agree.

"Fine," I say. "But only as long as I can kill that foul creature, Mullo."

"We would have it no other way," Kozzanth says with a smile.

"When will you leave?" I ask, looking between the three of them. I swear I will not get used to standing beside the three of them. They are so tall. I feel like a mouse. "And who will go?"

"Theodas will stay with you while Koz and I go."

"How will we know when to meet you?"

"I've found a safe place closer to the house that we will travel to. Once the guards have been taken out and one of them has Niles, the other will come to us," Theo explains.

"If you insist this is the best way…" I say with a sigh.

"I do," Theodas says adamantly.

"Then off you go," I say to Rai and Koz. "Be careful, but hurry back. I'm eager to sit on that throne."

They smirk at me as they head off, then it's just Theodas and I. I'll admit I'm happy to stay with him instead of Raisi, who is usually with me. I'd like to take one-on-one time with each of my Dravens to get to know them properly.

"Shall we head to the other location?" Theodas suggests.

"Yes, I think that's wise." Theodas gathers all three packs, getting them over his shoulders with ease. "Would you like me to carry one?" I ask.

"Absolutely not." He looks at me with a stern expression, but then winks and starts to walk. I hurry to his side, not wanting to be out of his sight. I do not want to be lost in these woods. Not in any woods, but especially not in Demtra, where I am wanted. Not that I think he would leave me, because I know he wouldn't.

"How is it you are so good with maps?" I ask as we walk, though I keep my voice quiet.

"We are given time to study things that interest us, and reading was one of my favorite things to do. Well, not just reading, but books in general. Any books, including atlases. After looking at them, I can picture them clearly in my mind. There isn't much more to it than that."

"That is a wonderful gift."

"I'm glad it is more than just a hobby. That it has been helpful for my queen."

"I am fortunate to have chosen the three of you. Your skills are precisely what I need."

"We are proud to be by your side in this. Lucky, too."

"Lucky how?"

"How many Dravens will be by a queen? There are only eleven realms. Therefore, eleven queens. I do not know of any who have Dravens, other than you."

"I hadn't thought of that."

It's silent as we make our way through the trees. They are thick and so close together that it is hard to see and navigate. We move slowly and carefully.

"Take my hand," Theodas says, offering his hand to me. "So you do not get lost or fall."

I take it, and we continue on, squeezing through trees and stepping over roots that are sticking up through the dirt. I trip a few times, but because of Theodas, I don't fall flat on my face and make a fool of myself. Though, it seems I may have overestimated my abilities out here. I am confident in fighting, but it seems walking through the woods is a struggle.

"It's not much further," he says as he holds a branch up for me to go under. "If I didn't have these packs to carry, I could carry you on my back instead."

"A queen should not be carried," I joke.

"My queen will be carried whenever she needs." He winks again as I walk by, then takes my hand.

The trees thin out and it gets easier to walk, but still, he holds my hand. I have no complaints about this.

"Here we are," he announces, pointing to a pile of fallen trees. There is a good mixture of small and large, almost piled on top of one another.

"This is interesting," I comment, stopping beside it.

The pile is above my head by a few feet, even taller than Theo. So many trees lie on top of each other, and it looks almost unnatural, but the amount of growth around it, the way the weeds and grass have formed, it could only be natural, right?

"Must have been a storm, or for some reason, this particular spot grows weak trees," Theo explains, taking a look around.

"I'll say." I move closer to the pile, noting they make a shelter beneath, but I won't crawl in there and I don't think he expects me to anyway.

The way they are bunched together looks as if it could be home to an animal. Like a bear. Or something else piled them this way to live inside safely.

"We can wait here for Kozzanth and Raisi, and when it is time, you can have your kill." Theodas drops all three packs by the fallen trees and takes another moment to look around.

I sit beside the packs, needing to rest and stretch my legs again. I wonder if Theodas will massage them the way Raisi did? It wasn't a far walk, but they are still sore from all the walking we've done so far. And to think, we still have so much further to go. The best thing about being back in the castle is the hot baths. I do not have hot water in my home unless Dahlia is there to heat it for me. Of course, I could boil water, but it takes much too long to fill the bath one pot at a time. And by the time it is full and I am in, the water is cool again.

I close my eyes and listen to Theodas's footsteps. A sense of unease washes over me, and I open my eyes to look around. Theodas is a short distance away, and I don't sense anyone else here. It's more like the air is different now that I'm allowing my senses to relax.

I get to my feet, wanting to look around as well. I walk around the fallen trees, taking in the strange formation of them, the roots all tangled together, and the way the sun filters through the canopy of trees above us, shining down on it almost purposefully.

Maybe these aren't fallen trees at all, but bushes that grew together in an odd way and have since died. Theodas's footsteps grow louder, his boots crunching on the fallen leaves and twigs.

"Doesn't this seem odd to you?" I ask, turning back to the gigantic pile that, the more I look at it, doesn't seem as natural as I first thought.

"Odd? How do you mean?" He moves to my side, his gaze shifting to where mine is focused, toward the center of the pile.

"Look right here," I say, pointing to a specific spot toward the center. "It's almost as if every broken branch is pointing at the same spot. It's hard to tell, as it's dark, but…"

Theodas moves around a few steps, trying to get a better look.

"Hmm… You may be right. Let me get a closer look."

"Are you sure that is wise?"

"If this is something unnatural, it means we must move, but I only want to do so if it is necessary. We've been walking only a short time, which is not enough for Kozzanth and Raisi to get rid of the guards. If we move, they will not know where to find us."

I nod as he crouches down to move a few branches out of the way, then squeezes beneath a large branch with his stomach on the dirt. I crouch down to get a better look. He is smart, and knows much about a lot of things, but if this is some kind of magic, I may recognize it before he does.

"What is that?" I point to a spot on the ground that is almost directly where the branches are seemingly pointing.

Theodas homes in on it and leans forward to get a better look. It's harder to see inside now that he is in there, his large body no longer allowing the light to pass through as many spaces.

"Let me check."

He slides deeper, and I move to the side to watch what he is doing. He brushes his hand along the area I am pointing to, wiping the dirt and debris away, uncovering a stone stamped into the ground with symbols carved all over it. As his fingers run along the stone, the symbols burn a bright orange. The ground vibrates beneath us with no warning. Theodas turns toward me with wide eyes, and he reaches for me as the lights grow so bright I have to close my eyes. A whoosh of air releases in front of me, and I fall backward.

I brace to hit the ground, but it never comes.

I tumble and tumble and tumble until I feel I'm going to be sick.

I wave my arms around, trying to find Theodas, but don't feel him anywhere. My throat burns as I scream, but there is no sound coming from me. There is nothing around me. No trees. No ground. I'm afraid to open my eyes, so I hold them closed. I try calling Theodas's name, but still, there is no sound.

As quickly as it happens, it is over. I land on the hard, cold ground with a loud thud, the air leaving my lungs. I cough, and try to suck in a breath, but it takes a few tries before my lungs allow the air in.

"My queen!" Theodas calls, and I feel his hands on my arms, pulling me to sit. I blink my eyes open and brush the hair away from my face. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," I tell him, brushing the dirt off my clothing. Theodas helps me to my feet, and I take a moment to catch my breath as I look around. There is an ache in my hip, but I'm sure it'll be nothing more than a bruise.

It's dark, damp, and cold. As I breathe, my breath comes out in white smoke. There are tall, jagged mountains off in the distance, the sky a strange foggy shade of orange as if there is a sun hiding behind thick clouds.

"Where are we?" I whisper, an eerie feeling crawling over my skin. I wrap my arms around myself.

Theodas takes a deep breath as he, too, looks around.

"White trees, red leaves. It smells of rot and the air is cold. We are in the Oedaeth realm."

I slowly turn toward Theodas and whisper, "The ogre realm?"

He nods as he takes my hand and looks around at the ground.

"Do you see our packs anywhere?"

My hands tremble as I look all around. "I see nothing."

"It's okay."

"How is it okay?" I hiss. "We are in the most dangerous of realms. I have no allies here. No one makes allies with the ogres! We have none of our things, and Kozzanth and Raisi are back in Demtra."

Of all the places to be, this is the last one I would choose. Ogres are dangerous. They accept no one except their own kind. It's been said they've done deals with demons and vampires, but it's only hearsay. At least in hell I'd be accepted by some, thanks to my vampire blood.

"I understand that, but we will find a way home. There is a way out of here."

"They've probably already been alerted of someone entering," I argue.

Theodas shakes his head. "I have a feeling that is untrue. The way we came in? That is not a normal portal. I think it is a hidden entrance into this realm, therefore it will likely not alert anyone."

Well, that's good—if it's the truth.

"So, what do we do?" I ask.

Theo continues to look around, a determined gleam in his eyes. He can look as much as he wants, but he won't find anything. There is nothing here to see!

"We walk until we find a way back."

"Tohr doesn't have a bakery here. It's the only realm he—"

Theodas turns toward me, taking my cheeks in his palms. His blue eyes blaze. "My queen, do not fret. This is a daunting situation, I understand that, but I promise you with my life that I will protect you, no matter what. I will find us a way back. To Demtra or Belva—anywhere that isn't here."

"What about Koz and Rai?" I ask quickly.

"I am unsure what it looks like back there after traveling, but probably the same. They will find our packs, investigate the area and either end up here with us, or go back to Belva. They can take care of themselves."

"But two Dravens without a master in Demtra… what if they are caught?"

There are different rules in different realms, and Demtra does not take kindly to Dravens walking around without their master close by. In fact, the law states if they are not within earshot of their master, they will be taken to the castle for discipline.

"They can take care of themselves," he repeats firmly. "For now, let us worry about getting back home. I need you to trust me."

I nod, placing my hands over his and closing my eyes, forcing the tears away.

I have been in a lot of terrible situations throughout my life, but this is by far the worst imaginable.

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