Chapter Two (Tyr)

I knew my father was angry with me, but sending me on a scout mission was a slap in the face. My mother's sins are not mine, yet he treated me like they were. To be fair, the new Queen, my stepmother, fabricated the sins they accused my mother of. I loathed her and her son. Her lies had my mother imprisoned in the castle and forced to be his mistress, stripped of the title of Queen. My mother was grateful because she should have been beheaded, but my father could not sentence her.

The Crown Prince should lead armies, not sent on spy missions; it was as if he wanted me to meet my end. He would be disappointed if he expected me to die on this mission. He has always underestimated me. I didn’t even have a full scout team, he just sent me and my two guards.

I could read minds, but it varied by person. My father, I couldn’t read at all, but my mother was an open book. My abilities strength depended on the person I was trying to read and their own will, mental blocks and their connection with me.

News reached my father of the Goblin army’s movements. Led by Prince Rehan. They had burned down multiple villages a few days from our Kingdom. The next on their list was the only remaining Pixie village. They had demolished the rest, they also attacked other kingdoms in their path as well.

“They are up ahead. It looks like they are preparing for an attack. My guess is they are waiting for nightfall.” My guard and friend Mohan informed me as he walked back to our campsite, we were downwind from the Goblin army, careful to stay close enough to watch their movements but far enough not to be caught.

“What do we do now?” Ezryn, my other guard, asked.

“We wait and see what they do. We are to observe and report back.” I reminded them. “My father thinks they are looking for something. We are supposed to find out what that is.”

“You never did say what you did to piss off the King.” Mohan hinted, as he took out his sword and began sharpening it. His eyes focused on the blade as his blonde hair fell over his shoulder.

Mohan wasn’t built like the other guards in the castle with their bulky frames that towered over you. He had a slight frame, although he was strong, he didn’t look it.

Ezryn was the complete opposite. Although a lot older than us, he was built and had broad shoulders and was one of the tallest soldiers in our army; it annoyed my father when my mother made him my guard. His salt and pepper hair were cut short, and a scar covered the right side of his face. He was the father I wish I had.

Mohan and Ezryn have been my guards and my only friends ever since I was little. My mother had appointed them to protect me, from enemies and my father, if it was needed. She was aware of his betrayal and the new young prince was a in your face reminder to my mother of his indiscretions. He favored my half brother and often treated me as an inconvenience.

“I wish I knew. He’s just always angry with me.” I frowned. “I just think it has to do with my mother.”

“The Sins of the parent pass to the kid, kind of deal.” Mohan stated.

“Pretty much.”

“It will be dark soon; we can follow behind.” Ezryn shared as he dumped a pail of water on the fire.

Grabbing our gear, we use an artificial masking scent so they couldn’t use their heightened sense of smell against us. Dressed in dark camouflaged clothes, we headed towards the Goblin camp.

When we could see and hear them clearly, we climbed up into the tallest tree we could find and observed what happened below.

When we approached, we could see they were already making their move as they stood at the entrance of the village. A woman with White hair and a slight frame lay at Prince Rehan’s feet, her husband a man with black hair and broad build lay beside her in a puddle of blood.

Prince Rehan’s blade dripping with the substance, he walked over them dismissively, as he headed into the village, yelling orders.

“Find their daughters!” he ordered as they swarmed the village, overtaking everything. Soon buildings went up in flames and ash was thick in the air, the pixies screams echoing throughout the valley between the trees.

I moved to help them, but Ezryn stopped me, “We are outnumbered, we can’t help them.”

“It’s a massacre,” I spat under my breath, thinking of the families being destroyed right in front of us.

“We can’t help them.” Mohan stated with sadness in his voice.

After the Goblin army had entered the village completely, we climbed down from our observation spot and checked on the man and woman. The woman was still alive, although barely. I knelt beside her as she tried to speak to me.

“They are after our daughters...” she struggled to speak. “The prophecy… help them.”

“Where are they?” I asked, but she stared back at me with lifeless eyes. I closed her eyes before I stood up and scanned the village. The Goblins were going house to house, killing any survivors.

“I see movement on the other side of the blaze, lets go investigate.” Mohan suggested, pointed to the other side of the village.

“We have to be careful not to be spotted by the army.” Ezryn warned us.

Nodding, we made our way through the burning houses and weaved through the bodies that littered the streets until we came to the other side.

The army had gathered on the other side as well and Prince Rehan yelled, “Kill them all!” As he pointed to five figures far in the distance. As the army charged, the five figures ran.

Those must be the daughters of the dead couple. I looked at my guards, who nodded as we made our way through the forest, hoping the distance would be shorter, following the figures and hopefully catching up to them before the Goblins do.

If that is who the Goblin army is after, then I must bring them back to my father. We were able to get closer, but they were fast. I could make out glimpses of their appearance. Each one looked so different from the other.

A woman with long white hair was yelling at them to keep going. She looked like a ghost the way she moved and drifted through the trees.

“The Goblins are closing in. What do you want to do?” Ezryn asked as he assessed the situation.

“We need to lead them away from their target.” I ordered, veering away from the target's trail making noise, purposely breaking branches and stepping into crunching leaves to lead them in the direction I wanted.

Ezryn and Mohan followed, making as much noise as possible, leading them away from the five pixie women. We would have to lose the Goblins and come back and track them after.