Chapter 48

He moved towards her, never losing eye contact. He was close enough to where she could now see his face clearly. He was a very handsome man, but just the thought of what he has done made Arriana sick to her stomach. She shook with anger as he circled her small group. His brown eyes piercing into her soul, she wanted to claw them out. She tightened her grip on her sword ready to fight at a moment's notice. He had a wicked smile on his face as he stared at her. He was planning something in that evil brain of his.

"Surrounding yourself with these unnatural, filthy beasts," Lucas spat at Cartra, Edgar, and Arion.

"The only thing unnatural in this land is you, Lucas," Cartra hissed at him.

"Ah, Cartra, and I presume you are Edgar? The mighty guardians of the royal family. You two did a marvelous job protecting the previous king and queen. Didn't they, Arriana?"

"That was your fault Lucas and you know it!" Arriana shouted at him. "I do not hold them responsible for you murdering my family."

"They could have stayed in the castle with them. Died along with them, like the dirty mongrels that they are!" he snapped.

Edgar screeched and slashed at Lucas barely missing his face which made one of his guards fire an arrow at them. It flew through Edgars feathers and whizzed past Arriana's face, catching her in the cheek.

"Watch yourself, Edgar. You don't want to end up as dinner now do you?" Lucas laughed.

"Two months, Lucas. That's all I'm giving you. We will meet in the clearing near the eastern meadows."

"I'm going to enjoy finishing what I should have finished years ago, dear princess," he replied.

"That is Queen Arriana to you and once you are dead I'm going to enjoy living in my castle wearing my crown. I will get revenge for my parents Lucas." As she finished Cartra and Edgar began to take off into the air, staying close. Arion turned and jumped over the guards who had started to close in on them.

"Pull up the drawbridge! Don't let them out of the courtyard," Lucas yelled to the guards nearest the bridge.

The two men began to crank it up but weren't a match for Arion's speed. He quickly ran up the rising wood and leapt over the moat landing safely on the opposite side. The arrows came flying next. Arriana looked back as the once magnificent castle shrank into the distance. Arion traveled back at a slower pace.

"Did I screw up Arion?"

"What do you mean?"

"The two months. What was I thinking? That isn't enough time for everyone to be ready," she pondered.

"Arriana, things will work out. Everyone has been working hard sixty days is plenty of time."

"I'm not so sure, Arion."

"Don't worry, Arriana.

She couldn't help but worry. In two short months they would all be fighting for their lives and the lives of the Coresovans and she would be leading them. Her, the simple girl from the small town. If they lost, all that was precious and wonderful about Coresova would be destroyed. So many people would die though. Those who were not killed would have to live in fear and poverty. Failing was not an option.