When the sun had finally fallen below the horizon, our bodies were finally freed from Mace's magic. Trik's technique of massaging the spell out of us only worked so much, leaving us frozen once more after a certain amount of time. The time that we spent trapped on the main path meant Sabre had been getting further and further away, deeper into the clutches of Icrodeia.

While me, my friend, and my future wife waited for night to arrive, Lord Crowe and his guards headed onward toward Icrodeia to try to find Sabre and Mace. Trik tagged along, wanting to help his daughter as soon as possible. Though, after everything he had told us before Lorella's father arrived, there wasn't a drop of blood in my veins that trusted him.

As soon as I was able to move again, I rushed to my horse and climbed into the saddle, urging it towards Icrodeia. The lord had suggested we headed back to the castle to recuperate and gain our strength back after such a long journey already, but I ignored the insane advice. So did Auron and Lorella.

We were going to get Sabre back whether drove us to exhaustion or not. If it ended with my life being taken by the hands of the enemy, so be it. I wouldn't leave Sabre at the hands of Mace.

Even at the horses' full speeds, it still took us all night to catch up to Lord Crowe and Trik. While Lorella's father and his guards were surprised to see us, the blacksmith looked like he knew we would have joined them at some point. It irritated me further.

How could he be so calm at a time like this? His son had just been trapped using the power of an Idaphite shard and his daughter had been captured to be tortured for information. He should have been furious.

"I thought I told you to go back to the castle," Lord Crowe began. His gaze fell to Lorella but then flicked to meet my eyes. "The High Fae Queen won't be happy with this."

"My mother can wait until I return to lecture me on leaving the castle unguarded and without warning." I urged my horse to move faster, everyone else nudging their steeds to do the same. It pained me how we had to leave Cirrus — Sabre's steed — behind, helpless and alone in the forest, but her owner mattered more to me.

"Wait up, kid!" Trik called out to me as I sped up even more. The quicker I got to Sabre, the less hurt she would be. "I know what you're thinking, but we're not headed to the border just yet."

"What?" Auron questioned, his voice demanded an answer. "Why not?"

"We're headed to my manor first so I can send word to my soldiers about what is happening and station them where they're needed." Lord Crowe pushed his horse to sprint faster and cut in front of mine, forcing me to slow down. "As the heir to the throne of Racaea, we can't let you attempt to get this girl and catch these spies all by yourself."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Then send one of your guards over to make those commands and let the rest of them help. I'm not leaving Sabre."

"Not all of us are like you, your highness. As the commander of my soldiers, I need to be there to give their orders. Delegation doesn't work in desperate times like this." From all of the horses' movements, the slower pace the lord had given them all was much needed. They were being pushed past their limits, especially after running all night.

"Well, if you actually cared about-" I was cut off by a cry from Lorella.

"Stop!" She cried, forcefully pulling at the reigns of her steed as she motioned ahead of them with a fearful expression.

Standing in the path, bringing up their hands to protect their head from the impact they knew was coming their way, was a child dressed in a black cloak. It concealed their appearance, just like those from the ball that was only a week ago. They had to be one of Mace's lackeys, even though they were most likely a child.

Before any of our horses could hit them, another cloaked figure rushed out from the trees and charged down the child, tackling them out of the way so they wouldn't get injured. Where had they even come from? Had they been watching us this whole time? The realisation hit me. If Mace's group were here, then he could be nearby. Sabre could be nearby.

I jumped off my horse, drawing the sword that I had stored in the saddlebag, ready to follow the two cloaked figures to question for information. There was no time to waste. My plan was going to be successful until Auron grabbed the back of my shirt, stopping me in my tracks.

"Kayne! Look!" He pointed to further up the path where several horses were making their way towards us. Only, these weren't ordinary horses, these steeds glimmered and glittered in the sunlight, a faint golden dust coating them as they moved. It was as if they were enchanted. If you stared at them long enough, their bodies appeared to be translucent, like they weren't really there.

When my attention switched to the riders, I got my explanation as to how that was even possible. At the front of the group surrounded by several more cloaked figures was Mace with his usual smug smile. He waved at us, as if he was hoping he'd run into us on his journey. Why was he even headed back towards Racaea when he was desperate to get Sabre back to Icrodeia? What in the forest's name was going on?

As I stared them down further, my eyes caught on one rider in particular. Around her shoulders was a black cloak, and yet she wore her hood down, revealing the familiar face I had stolen secret glances at for years. Strands of her raven-dark hair were caught in the cloak and her hands gripped nervously onto the reins she held.

"Sabre?" All the fight that had fuelled me moments ago left, kicked out of my chest.

What was she doing? When I scanned her from head to toe over and over I found no sign of her being held against her own will. The ropes she had been carried away in were gone, there was no sign of hatred or fear on her face, only an unreadable expression. It was cold as she stared us down.

"Good morning!" Mace beamed from ear to ear. The only joy that could cause such a smile could only be from something terrible. "I was hoping I'd catch somebody from Racaea, but it's even more wonderful that I've run into a lord and a fae."

"Hand over Sabre at once! What do you want in return for her? Name it and it's yours." I had to tighten my grip on my blade to stop my hands from shaking. Why wasn't she leaping off her horse to join us? Why wasn't Sabre coming back to us when she was free to move around? Sure, there were a lot of Mace's lackeys surrounding her, but we had almost as many guards. She would be protected.

"No, Kayne." Those were the first words that left her mouth, her voice trembling. A warning was hidden in her tone.

"Ah, I'm not here to make any bargains." He looked down on me as if I were the scum underneath his shoe, like he knew something we didn't. It was as if he thought he had won the war already. "Sabre and I actually decided to make this journey for an announcement."

"Did you fall off your horse and get trampled over your head? What are you talking about?" Auron joined my side with his own blade in hand. He was ready to fight to get Sabre back if he needed to.

"Sabre? What are you doing?" Trik questioned, also getting off his steed. As soon as her eyes landed on the blacksmith — though it was only for a moment — Sabre's expression broke.

"Why don't you tell them, little traitor?" Mace motioned her to move her horse closer to the front of the group.

"I'm not coming back." She swallowed the tears that were beginning to form in her eyes, the tears she could never hide from me. "I came here to ask you to not attack Icrodeia. If you do, we won't attack you either."

"What do you mean by we?" Lorella asked, picking up on her choice of words. The same words that made my heart drop in my chest, that made bile rise to my throat. This couldn't be happening.

Sabre looked to Mace for some sort of confirmation and his nod in response was the only sign she needed to continue. "I'm not coming back to Racaea. I've... decided to stay where I'm meant to be." It was clear the words pained her to say. "Icrodeia is my home and always has been."

Lord Crowe's guards climbed off their horses with caution, moving forward to surround their prince.

"It would be in your best interest to lie low. If you attack, we won't hold back from not only taking the border, but we'll take the castle and everything in between as well." Mace's hand found its way to her shoulder, squeezing it as a congratulations on a job well done.

"What have you done to her?" I cried. This wasn't the Sabre I knew. Our Sabre had decided to remain on the side of Racaea when the first pieces of war were being laid out on the table. She wouldn't just suddenly change her mind. We were her home, her family. Sabre wouldn't just abandon that. She couldn't.

I charged forwards, raising my sword high up into the air to strike into Mace's horse, but a large arm wrapped around my torso held me back. Trik stopped me from foolishly running to attack the Icrodeians before us.

I watched as Sabre's throat bobbed, her lips twisting in sorrow. "Let's go," she said after taking a deep breath, turning her horse around, ready to head to Icrodeia.

On command, the rest of the cloaked figures followed her. Everyone but Mace.

"It would be wise to do as she says, otherwise, who knows what chaos we will send your way." He shrugged as he gave us all one last look. "It's your choice." Mace nudged his horse into a canter to retake the lead position of the group, leaving us in the dust of their steeds.

As they vanished into the distance, all words left me. I fell to my knees in defeat. She was gone.

Sabre was gone.

To be continued ;)