True North [True North series book 1/3]

It took a second for my eyes to adjust to the darkness outside, but when they finally did, I stumbled back in shock. Thoridor’s tent was all but gone. The cloth had been torn to shreds, the log walls had come apart and were scattered around the camp, and the chests had all been blown to pieces. Right in the center of the mess, there were two… beasts… fighting. They were the most terrifying things I had ever looked at — as if pulled straight from my nightmares.

The first beast had no fur, just sleek, bare skin, that almost seemed scaly, like that of a lizard. It was on all fours, and had seven toes on each foot, from which long, curved talons grew. Its head was curved, and it had a short snout, with deep slits down each side, emitting clouds of steam with each breath it drew. It was baring its sharp, pointed teeth at the other creature, but seemed to have more of a defensive stance, as opposed to its component, which seemed to be the attacker.

The other beast was about twice as tall as the first one. Even on all fours, it still towered over the it dangerously. Its muscular body was covered in smooth, velvety fur, with a ridge of rough, longer hair down its spine. Its head was covered in longer manes, and two large, twisted horns protruded from its skull. Its snout was elongated, like that of a wolf, and it bore several rows of razor-sharp teeth. The creature had large claws on each of its paws, which ended in curved, black nails. It had two huge, black-feathered wings flanking its sides, neatly tucked into its body.

The beasts got back to ferociously fighting each other, each already covered in deep, bleeding gashes and bite marks. My eyes scanned over the rubble around them, looking for a sign of Warrian.

Suddenly, I was knocked back by a flying piece of broken wood, and slammed into the ground with a dull thud. I slowly sat back up, rubbing my sore shoulder, and noticed the beasts had stopped attacking each other, and their attention was now on me. I swallowed thickly as I contemplatedmy next move. Fight them, run or play dead?

Both of the creatures slowly started stalking toward me. I scrambled to my feet, and slowly stepped back, keeping the distance between us. The scaly beast let out a low noise, seemingly shaking the larger one out of its trance.

The beast shook his head aggressively, flaring its manes, and jumped toward me, knocking me back. It then pressed its snout up to my chest, and sniffed. I lay on the snowy ground, my eyes squeezed shut, and I pictured my brothers. Tears leaked from my eyes and my chest shook with silent sobs as I waited for the beast to attack — to rip out my throat, or simply bite off my head.

It didn’t. Instead, the beast blew its hot breath into my face, and then its tongue ran over my face. It licked me — it was licking away my tears. It was like its saliva was laced with something venomous, leaving my cheeks feeling numb and tingly, like the feeling of pins and needles I sometimes had after having sat on my knees for too long.

The beast finished licking me and jumped over me, and darted into the forest. I was left stunned, my heart pounding in my chest. I glanced down, toward the remnants of Thoridor’s tent, and much to my relief, found that the other beast had disappeared too. I slowly sat back up, and then scrambled to my feet.

Morai was the first one to appear by my side, soon followed by the Queen.

“What was that?” I breathed, wiping the beast’s saliva of my face.

“Something… very powerful,” Morai said, glancing sidelong at her mother.

“I need to find Warrian,” I said, sprinting toward the rubble.

“I’m here,” Warrian called out from behind me. He was dressed in fresh clothes, royal leathers, I now recognized them as.

“Are you hurt?” I asked, scanning him for injuries.

“I’m fine,” Warrian said, “I heard them coming. I left the tent before they got there.”

“What were they?” I asked again, looking at Morai over my shoulder.

She had obviously just woken up, her hair was down, cascading over her shoulders, and her eyes were still a little puffy.

She shrugged. “Thoridor won’t like seeing his quarters destroyed,” she mumbled, “Warrian, go fetch some servants, and help them fix it.”

“Now?” I asked, “surely that can wait until…” Dawn, I was going to say. I realized there would be no dawn here, not for a long time at least.

Morai’s eyes widened and then quickly narrowed. “Finish your sentence, Calenti,” she hissed, “it must be very important, considering it’s worth interrupting a royal.”

I swallowed. “I didn’t mean—”

“Finish,” Morai blazed, “your sentence.”

I bit my lip. “I was just going to suggest Warrian could perhaps get some rest first,” I whispered, mentally preparing for my beheading after all. “It’s been a long day, and a lot has happened. I thought maybe he’d be able to work more efficiently after some rest.”

“And where would Thoridor sleep in the mean time?!” Morai yelled, stepping closer to me.

I furrowed my brows. “In… the Aquatic Palace?” I asked confusedly.

“That seems a little inconvenient,” a low, rumbly voice called out from behind me.

I turned, and stared straight into Thoridor’s face. My breath hitched in my throat, as I was —once again— completely caught off-guard by his looks. He was breathtaking — in a rough, unpolished sort of way. His hair was still braided, but looked a little disheveled, and his eyes appeared darker — more animalistic. I narrowed my eyes, and widened them as suddenly, it clicked.

“That was you?!” I yelled, taking a few large steps back, until my back hit Warrian’s front. I ducked under his arms, and backed up until I stood behind him.

“You were that… that beast, weren’t you?”

Thoridor laughed. “Did I scare you, love?” he asked, slowly walking closer to Warrian and I. “Do you feel safe, with him? Safe, from me?” he pressed.

He kept walking closer, until he was right in front of us. I shrunk, and now fully stepped behind Warrian, hiding myself from Thoridor’s burning eyes.

“Are you sure that’s justified, Serin?” he asked, smirking darkly, “considering he’s the beast I fought?”