Kingdom of Shadows and Dust by Sherry D. Ficklin

Author:Sherry D. Ficklin [Ficklin, Sherry D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TrueType Press
Published: 2021-09-14T04:00:00+00:00

***

THE CARRIAGE PLODS along through the night, and though I'm weary to the core, I fight against sleep. From the window, I catch sight of something moving in the shadows, and while I’m almost certain it’s a black wolf, Callan doesn’t return my thoughts. Just as the sun rises, the carriage pulls to a stop, and I peek out again.

“Ava,” Callan says finally. “I’m close by. The soldiers are talking—if anything happens, run and I’ll find you.”

“All right,” I say, stretching even as I strain to hear the conversation outside.

One of the Taurel soldiers rounds the carriage and opens the door. Beside him, another man stands, my father’s sigil emblazoned across his shield.

“Princess Ava, you are released into the custody of the Ankaran army.”

I step out, carefully looking around. Behind me, soldiers on horseback sway nervously; in front of the carriage, a line of my father’s soldiers stand waiting.

“Thank you,” I say, moving onto the dirt road. The soldier ushers me away, and after a few more words, the armies part ways. As the carriage rumbles off, I see that a single white flag has been affixed to the roof.

“Your Highness,” the soldier offers, bowing. “We have guards ready to take you back to the palace.”

“Thank you,” I say, my eyes scanning, and finding, Callan in the distance, his black fur tucked beneath a thicket of wild berries. “I, uh, I’d like a moment first. I need to use the privy.”

“Oh,” he says, blushing. “Of course.”

“I’ll just duck behind those bushes for a moment.”

Nodding, he turns, motioning for the others to do the same, as I wade into the brush. When I reach the berry bush, Callan is gone and I turn to look for him. His hand clamps down on my mouth as he smiles.

“Shh, it’s just me.”

Throwing my arms around his neck, I hold him, the warmth of his skin seeping through my dress. He strokes my hair gently.

“It’s all right. You’re safe now.”

“Aldin let me go. He didn’t have to. Ulmer wanted to kill me and blame the Turnskin,” I say in a rush.

“If King Aldin kept you safe, then I owe him a debt I can never repay.”

Pulling back just a little, I sigh heavily.

“My father’s going to kill me for this.”

“Don’t worry, little princess. If any man, father, or king ever lays a hand on you again, I’ll swallow them whole.”

“I’ll tell him what you did, how you saved me and protected me. I’ll try to make him understand. But I don’t think he’ll listen.”

He lays a hand on the side of my face and I nuzzle into it. “It doesn’t matter now.”

“It matters to me.”

“Everything all right, Your Highness?” a soldier calls.

“Yes, just a moment,” I call back before stretching up onto my toes and pressing my lips to Callan’s. For the briefest moment, safe in his arms, a bubble of hope rises within me.

Far too soon, I pull away, touching his chest as I pass, and make my way back to the soldiers.

“I’m ready.

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