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Chapter 17; My Ball Partner
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A Cruel Fate Chapter 18; Eye On The Prize
ARWYNThe training square bustles with Embers honing their skills, some practicing strikes on bags tethered to trees, while others engage in duels.My gaze shifts to a group cheered enthusiastically for an Ember attempting to lift a rock with a single hand—a terramancer. A wistful sigh escapes my lips. Dropping my satchel to the dusty ground, I hastily tie up my hair with a hair band and begin flexing my arm.But before I can savor a moment of solitude, Ahvi emerges unexpectedly, her smile bright as ever. Yet, beneath the facade, I know there's more to her. People like her often harbor the darkest pasts, but definitely not darker than mine.My upbringing was a mix of abandonment on my father's part, witnessing my mother's murder, and navigating a moral compass that often wavers into gray areas. But in the midst of all that turmoil, rebellion became my refuge. "Morning," Ahvi greets as she settles onto a nearby rock, her hands flexing. Practice sessions offer a break from formality, a
A Cruel Fate Chapter 19; A Letter From Ketel
LEIGHSweat pooled on my forehead as I worked the old rag over the worn-out wooden counter of the rustic, dimly lit pub, scrubbing away the sticky ale stain.It’s always like this every evening. The smell of ale thick in the air. Clean, serve. Engage in meaningless conversations with intense regulars who just want to talk about the weather to sneak a peek at my cleavage.I’ve been working at the Glory Rivet for years now. While the routine fueled my determination to work well and earn good money, for the past three days, all I could think about was Arwyn's absence.Arwyn was taken away to the palace. I can’t stop replaying that night in my head, merging it with the night my parents were taken away from me and Lilith.Arwyn's leaving was less gruesome because she's still alive. My parents fought to stay with their children and lost their lives doing so. For all I know, Arwyn is probably living it up in the palace.Has she made new friends? Is she excelling? Befriending a guy? No, she wo
A Cruel Fate Chapter 20; I Will Unravel You
THRYSTAN"Your coronation is barely a week away, son. We cannot afford any misbehaviors," Father grunts, his hands gripping the arms of his throne as if the world itself rested beneath his feet.I stand a few steps away, my hands clenched behind my back, eyes locked on him."You must comport yourself in an orderly manner," he continues, repeating the same old lectures he’s given since Nerys died and I was named heir. Before that, he barely spoke to me at all. "Set a good example for the Embers. Like it or not, when you take the throne, they will be at your every whim and command."He sighs. "Your little army."To him, that's all anyone is: a tool to achieve the unachievable. His ambition knows no bounds, and it's all I've ever known. I wasn’t raised with love or anything that would make one look back and smile. It's quite the opposite."Are you understanding me?" The King's dark eyes pierce into mine with an unyielding gaze."Yes, sir.""You cannot afford to be weak, or people will ma
A Cruel Fate Chapter 21; You Want Something
ARWYNBlend in. The plan is to blend in until the opportunity to leave this place presents itself at the Sun Ball. The palace will be crowded with royal guests, the festivals will capture everyone’s attention, and no one will notice one tiny Ember missing.My eyes stray to Thrystan, who fixes a steely gaze on me. He might be the only problem, always so interested in my affairs. But hopefully, everyone will be relieved with me gone, especially Sora.I could sneak a horse from the stables, arrange everything beforehand, and then ride out of the palace, back to Wyrm, and then to Ketel to meet Kale before anyone realizes I'm gone. They won’t be able to trace me again.The Sun Ball will be a swirl of opulence and distraction—glittering gowns, flowing wine, and conversations laced with intrigue. The perfect cover. I imagine the courtyard teeming with laughter and music, the air thick with the scent of exotic flowers and spices. Amidst the chaos, I'll slip away unnoticed.In the stables, I c
A Cruel Fate Chapter 22; Den Of Wolves
ELARIA Father and Uncle conversed in monotone as I entered the dining room for lunch. Mother sat poised at Father's side, her hands delicately cradling her fork and knife as she picked at her roasted meat.Thrystan was absent from the table, off to the Dragon Spire with the other chosen Embers under Brax's supervision. I remembered how I had asked him to include Arwyn’s name on that list; if she was there, Thrystan would likely want to be present and attentive as well.I didn’t know who this girl was or why Thrystan was so captivated by her. I had never seen him this dedicated to pursuing something—or someone—not even with Sora. He could have anyone else, yet this felt like more than just a game to satisfy his desires.The sound of my chair scraping against the floor drew the men's attention."Father," I greeted softly with a bow. "Uncle," I added, turning to the spiked grey-haired man, who nodded at me sternly.I always admired how, despite being a man with legitimate claims, my uncl
A Cruel Fate Chapter 23; Twist Of Fate
THRYSTAN It was as if the Ember herself had granted me this moment as an act of providence. A divine twist of fate, giving me the sheer will to ask whatever I want from the very woman who had haunted my thoughts relentlessly, day and night. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner—Arwyn was always there, a constant presence in my mind.Her face looked as though she had just struck a deal with the devil, a detail that inexplicably brought a gleeful smile to my face. If you had told me an hour ago that I’d have this opportunity, my mind would have raced through a thousand things I wanted from her. But now, standing here and staring into those ocean-blue eyes, I was rendered speechless, my smile fading.“Well,” she said, wrinkling her nose, “what do you want?”I blinked rapidly, my hands slipping from her waist as she pulled away almost instantly, as if I were a vermin. Maybe I was.“Allow me a minute to savor this moment, would you?” I covered up my speechlessness with a wry smile. Pushing away fro
A Cruel Fate Chapter 24; Hunch
THRYSTANWe reached Wyrm after several exhilarating minutes of racing through the worn-out tracks left by countless travelers. The small town unfolded before us, its rustic charm evident in the cobblestone streets and weathered buildings. Market stalls lined the main square, vibrant with the colors of fresh produce, handmade crafts, and the lively chatter of townsfolk.Arwyn slowed her horse to a trot as we entered the town, her laughter still echoing in my ears. I matched her pace, taking in the bustling scene around us. The scent of freshly baked bread and roasting meats filled the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of the surrounding countryside."We made it," Arwyn declared, her eyes sparkling with triumph and a hint of mischief. "Looks like I beat you, Prince."I chuckled, shaking my head in mock defeat. "I let you win," I teased, though the truth was, I enjoyed every moment of watching her unbridled joy.As we dismounted and tied our horses to a nearby post, an elderly fruit ve
A Cruel Fate Chapter 25; An Outlaw
THRYSTAN We pull our horses to a stop in front of the Wreath, a modest tavern with weathered wooden walls and a sign creaking in the wind. The stable boy, a scrawny lad with dirty blonde hair, scurries over to collect them. Arwyn grips his shoulder, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Up to no good, are you, Willy?"The boy giggles and squirms under her arm until he finally breaks free, or she lets him go. With a mischievous grin, he hands her a small brown pouch, which she quickly slips behind her back, tucking it into her belt. As she adjusts her cloak, I catch sight of my dagger tucked there as well.She's been carrying it around this whole time?"Haven't seen you in days," Willy says, his eyes twinkling. "Thought the goons got you, but you look well." His gaze shifts to me, and he gasps, eyes wide with excitement. "And you came here with Death-roll! Are you two friends?" He bounces on his toes, as if he's just uncovered a grand revelation."What?" Arwyn asked, her eyes narrowing i
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