Early in the morning, King Rhobart, together with his Paladins, Milton, Ayla, and Kristoff, went to the barracks to see the war prisoners. Ayla spent many hours on top of Star while thinking about how King Rhobart treated the war prisoners. Many times, she imagined her people in cold cells, without blankets to keep them warm and slowly dying of hunger or because of their untreated wounds. But when she stepped inside the warm barracks and saw beds covered with warm furs and around thirty men that appeared to be in good health, she pondered if she had misjudged the King. Her gaze found his—he stood in the middle of the barracks, next to Kristoff, his black eyes on her. She gave him a curt nod and silently thanked him. He returned her nod as if to tell her, ‘You are welcome.’ The war prisoners sat at tables playing cards or rolling dice. A few of them were reading. “King Rhobart is here to talk to you.” Kristoff said, and the war prisoners rose from their chairs.
“Milton!” No reply. “Tizgar!” Still nothing. “Gorn!” No one shouted back. “Kerra!” When not even Kerra appeared, a sob escaped her lips. “Anyone?” Her voice was barely a whisper. She was panicking, for she didn’t know what to do. Star kept advancing through the blizzard, and Ayla tried hard to calm her nerves. How could she have gotten lost in the snowstorm? She thought she was right beside King Rhobart. What should she do? She did not know where the camp was or how to get there. She was lost and alone in Nordmar. Fear crept into her heart. What if a wild animal attacked her? She had no weapons. It would not matter if she had weapons, for in Myrthana, women were not allowed to touch any. She never learned how to fight. Ayla inhaled deeply until she felt she was in control of her emotions. Star kept walking, and Ayla had no idea in which direction they were heading. Should she stop the mare and wait for the
Strong arms wrapped around Ayla's torso, her back pressed against a man's chest. The hair on the back of her neck stood up and she tried to slam the heel of her boot on top of the man's foot —Drax taught her how to do it when she told him her dream of being free and traveling around the world—but he hit the back of her thigh with his knee, making her hiss in pain. He covered her mouth and nose with a gloved hand, muffling her screams, and something sharp dug into her ribs. “If you don’t want to end up as food for the ice wolf, I suggest you stop struggling,” the man snarled in her left ear. The ice wolf stopped close to where they were standing, sniffing the air, and Ayla stilled. Her heart pounded so hard she was sure the beast would hear it. Ayla had few regrets in life, but she wished she had told King Rhobart that she did not hate him when she had the chance. Sure, she had been angry at him and might have thought she hated him, but he managed to gain her respect when sh
The two men, whoever they were, did not seem honorable. Not wanting to make the man angry, Ayla sat on the log that was across from the man with white hair. He looked at her with curious blue eyes. He had noble features, and, despite his white hair, he was young. “She is beautiful,” he sounded surprised. “There’s a brothel in Davalon that will pay a lot of money for her. And we can finally start a new life somewhere far from here.” Ayla balled her fists. They wanted to sell her to a brothel? Not that she expected the men to help her, but to sell her as if they owned her? The man with white hair studied Ayla for a minute or two. She kept her chin high and studied him back. He tilted his head to the side. “Not gonna lie, she is beautiful. But, Scar, are you sure we will receive that much gold for her?” he asked. “Trust me, Nixx, she is worth a lot. I have been in this business for a long time, and I have seen many women, but none as beautiful as her.” “I am not yo
Ayla looked into Nixx’s eyes and said, “I see you.” Nixx looked at her for a long moment. When Ayla thought he won’t say anything, Nixx opened his mouth, “You do see me.” Once Scar had Ayla pack the things in the satchels, he got on his horse. “Come on, Sweetheart, you are riding with me,” Nixx said and helped Ayla get on his horse. She had never ridden with someone before, and having someone so close to her made Ayla feel very uncomfortable. Nixx put his hands around her, grabbed the reins, and said into Ayla’s ear, “Hold on, Sweetheart!” before nudging the horse to start walking. “My name is Ayla, not Sweetheart!” she said. “You have a beautiful name, but I like Sweetheart more,” Nixx murmured into her right ear. “Bet you taste real sweet too! Tell me, Sweetheart, have you ever kissed someone before?” Ayla blushed and said in an appalled tone, “That’s none of your business!” “Quiet back there!” Scar’s harsh tone reached Ayla’s ears. In a seriou
Nixx stared at Scar and then at the rope. His eyes turned to steel. “You can’t be serious,” Nixx said. “I am very serious. The witch is going to walk today.” Ayla’s blood turned cold. She knew Scar was a cruel man, but she did not expect him to make her walk. Snow was falling from the sky, and a cold wind was rustling the tree’s branches. The clothes King Rhobart gave her for traveling were very warm. At least her feet won’t freeze while walking through the snow. King Rhobart. Even if she stubbornly claimed she hated him, she found herself thinking of the King of Nordmar more than she would like. She shouted in his face that Galian was better than him. She had seen the hurt in his eyes when she spilled those awful words, and she was happy that she had hurt him at that time. King Rhobart was many things, but he was not the monster she believed he was. The monster she was made to believe he was. She was the daughter of his enemy, but he kept her safe, and she did
Nixx looked at the whip, then looked into Scar’s eyes and said in a cold tone, “If that’s what it takes to get sweetheart on the horse with me, I will gladly take a beating from you. It won’t be the first, and I am sure it won’t be the last.” Ayla was shocked. Not only did Nixx get hurt by Scar in the past, but he was willing to be whipped for her. “I don’t want Scar to harm you because of me,” Ayla whispered to Nixx. “It will be alright,” Nixx whispered back. Scar muttered something that sounded a lot like ‘bloody half-elf’ and ‘teach you to respect me.’ He looked a few more moments at Nixx, but in the end, he put the whip back in its place and got on his horse. By now, Ayla did not doubt that Scar was evil. But she could not understand why Nixx, who was a much better person, would travel with someone like Scar. “Why did you help me today, but you told Scar about the plant last night?” Ayla asked Nixx in a low tone when they were moving again. Nixx t
“Yes, yes. But each head is worth a small fortune. Not to mention the spikes.” Nixx narrowed his eyes. “Let me guess. I will do the hard work while you will claim you are the one that did the killing. If you want me to be a Hydra Hunter, promise me you won’t sell Ayla!” “You will do as I say, and what I do with the witch is my problem,” Scar snarled. Nixx said nothing more, and they finished their food in silence. Ayla fell asleep knowing that she had to act fast if she wanted to get away from Scar. She wasn’t sure how late it was when she opened her eyes and saw Nixx still sitting on the log in front of the fire. He had his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes closed. He must have fallen asleep while standing watch. Scar was sleeping under his blankets. Ayla stood up fast. Scar always tied her hands and legs before sleeping, but that night he forgot to do so. This was her chance to get away. She would need food and weapons. And a horse. Since she lo
Hi everyoneThe book is not abandoned, neither is the story, but some things are happening with the story, the world.There is another story that comes before Frozen Heart - no need to read, but I am focusing to finish that one first, before I go back to Frozen Heart. Once Wolf Heart is done, I will finish this story as well.I just ask all of you to be a bit patient until I finish what I have planned.I also want to wish everyone a happy new year.you can find me on FB as well - Amy T Stories is my group and I will post news there pretty soon
His long hair was braided, and he wore not only a cloak identical to that of Rhobart—mottled grey, green and brown but also his tunic and trousers had the same colors, making him hard to be seen in the forest.“Who are you, female?” he asked.Rhobart took out his sword and put the tip against the Elf’s neck. “Put the bow down, or else I will remove your head!” Rhobart growled.But the Elf’s eyes were still fixed on Ayla, and he did not appear to have heard Rhobart. Rhobart nicked his skin, a few drops of blood ran down his neck.“Don’t release more arrows!” the Elf yelled, lowering his bow.Two more Elves jumped from the trees—a female and a male, both blondes—landing close to Kerra before moving closer to Rhobart and Ayla. The male had a sword in his right hand, while the female had a whip on her left hip and a short sword on the right one.“She looks identical to you, Taeral,” the female said. “Except for her ears, which are human.” She sniffed the air. “But she is only part human.”
The forest felt so silent Ayla could hear her heart pounding against her ribcage. Rhobart straightened himself in the saddle, his fingers brushing the pommel of his dagger. Ayla reached inside her to that strong spring of magic—her gift from her mother or father, or perhaps both.Kerra sniffed the air, her two tails whipping violently.“We mean you no harm,” Rhobart said, his voice strong. “We are just passing by!”“Where to?” the man asked from a different tree.Ayla wondered when he moved so fast. Or so silently.“Far away from Myrthana. I advise you to do the same!” Rhobart replied.“You lie! I see you wear the cloak of a hunter while the female has a black one, like those used by mercenaries. You had your chance to leave, but I am afraid your time is up,” said the man. Ayla tried to say something, but he went on, “Release the arrows!”Kerra growled and got in an attack position.A few leaves rustled, Ayla put her right hand in the air, and a magic shield appeared around Runner and
“Runner knows you. Trust him and me. Grab the reins,” Rhobart said before handing the reins to Ayla.Rhobart put his left hand under her tunic, his thumb brushed over her peak, while his right hand drew circles on her stomach. “Rho!” Ayla moaned when his hand went down, two fingers slowly circling and pressing her throbbing core. She felt as if she would melt. Pleasure started building in her lower stomach.“Are you wet and ready for me, Ayla?” asked Rho, his voice coated with desire.Oh, she was. Rhobart’s fingers kept moving, and his lips went up and down her neck. Tension kept building inside her body.“Yes,” Ayla forced the word out of her mouth.“Had you been wearing a dress, I would have ripped your undergarments, spun you around, and have you sit on my cock. I would have Runner gallop fast, and I would fuck you until we reached the rebel camp,” Rhobart said into her ear as his fingers moved faster. Rougher.‘Oh, Gods!’ Ayla thought.“Would you like that, t’xoria? To be fucked o
Rhobart looked at Eluvene, his eyes turning cold as the stark winter. “He will never lay another finger on her again! But I need to know everything about King Amul. He is more cunning than I thought.”Eluvene’s green eyes went to Ayla. “King Amul accepted what Ayla refused,” said the Dark Mage, winking at Ayla. “I don’t know much about King Amul. He mostly spoke with King Galian and with my former Master. But since he accepted the Crown of Darkness, he stopped being a normal human.”Rhobart frowned. “What did Ayla refuse and when?”Eluvene shrugged.Between the prophecy, the Seeker, the forgotten book, and the attack on the Fire Monastery, Ayla had forgotten about her vision with Beliar. When she saw that crown on her father’s head, she hadn’t made the connection with the one she was wearing in her vision. “Nothing important,” said Ayla. And it wasn’t. “I chose you back then, and I will choose you always!”Rhobart’s gaze lingered on Ayla for a heartbeat before turning his attention to
Milton returned from the river and grabbed a bowl of porridge. “Rania is a Fire Mage novice, and Sylvar is a Snow Elf. They are n’alxaes, but the twins fucked Rania. I am still wondering how Sylvar permitted you two to live after touching what is his.”“We did not fuck her!” Eude protested.Rhobart snorted. “You only deflowered Rania... as you did with Skurja! Don’t think I forgot about my cousin!”Ayla had missed the bickering between Rhobart and the twins. When she heard the twins and Rhobart fighting for the first time, she was afraid for the twins, but as time passed, she came to understand the brotherly affection Rhobart, Milton, and the Paladins had for each other.“We might have plucked a petal or two, but nothing more!” Hudde said. “And Skurja had many petals gone by the time she was on top of me!”Rhobart folded his arms. “You mean you ripped all of Rania’s petals! And talk about Sjurka like that, and Ayla won’t stop me again from challenging you to a duel!” He looked at the
After Ayla and Rhobart completed their alxa-lotx, when she remembered the prophecy, Milton had been the first to suggest that Fire, Water, and Darkness could refer to mages. Ayla and Rhobart had spent many hours discussing it, trying to understand everything. In the Fire Monastery, when Ayla found the forgotten book, they searched for clues about Uzriel and the prophecy, but the book had yet to reveal all its secrets to her. The forgotten tome was still in her bag, together with Eude’s sketchbook, which she would burn, sketch by sketch, so that Rhobart wouldn’t get any new ideas from it. Or embarrass her with it.In the Black Tower, when Ayla and Godefray gradually started to become friends, they talked about the prophecy. Ayla had hoped the dragons would appear again in her dreams, but the last time she spoke to them had been before the fight with the Seeker. There were many things Ayla still didn’t know and wanted to learn before sailing to Korinus Island.Milton picked up a flat pe
Hudde pointed at the burning tent. “I was in the tent, sleeping with Eude, Hewe, Tizgar, and Gorn. The tent was not big enough for all five of us, and my ass was almost sticking out of it. I could have slept better, but someone refused to let me use his tent. Anyway, I was dreaming about… never mind that, when Milton set it on fire and burned my ass in the process,” he complained while turning around to show Rhobart and Ayla his burned trousers. Ayla covered her mouth and hid a smile while trying to look shocked. “This was my last clean pair too!” Thick smoke was coming from the burned tent, making Ayla’s eyes fill with tears. She flicked her index and middle finger, and a soft breeze swept through the forest, rustling the leaves of the trees, carrying the smell of smoke away from the camp. Ashes jumped on the two remaining tents, and they caught fire. Kerra came out of Rhobart’s tent with a big bone in her mouth. Drax took out a magic rune, and small grey clouds appeared above them,
Rhobart kept walking, and Ayla looked around the forest. While in Nordmar lived many dangerous beasts, Myrthana’s woods were quieter, and the animals were smaller. Even the shadowbeasts were not as aggressive as those that lived in the cold forests of the Northern part of the continent.“Earlier, when I was hunting with Kerra and Gorn, we stumbled upon a small cave. It hasn’t been used by wild creatures for some time, and furs and blankets are inside. Even some wine. I think the lumberjacks used the cave to wash because there’s a small pool inside. Would you want to go there? And while we wash away the dust from our bodies, we can also spend a few quiet moments.”It did not matter if it was only a lonely rock, as long as she was with Rhobart. Ayla nodded against his chest, his scent soothing her. “I don’t know if I told you, but I’ve missed you terribly,” she said as the sun began to set. Rhobart tightened his arms around her. “I was afraid I would never see you again.”“I will never