Through the Eyes of a Fae
Chapter 36

Kora and Stella were at the training grounds, Shadow rolling in the snow happily. Making a muddy pile. The women let him play. Kora had her new toy with her, in a scabbard made to be worn on her back, the leather soft as it wrapped around her shoulders. After the event on the river, Stella had asked Kora for self-defense lessons. None of them went without a weapon within reach now. When Ludis had given the knife to Kora, she knew Stella needed it more. Stella knew how to throw a good punch, and to dodge a straightforward attack, and how to fall properly. What she did not know was how to wield a weapon, and everything that came with it. Kora had a large dagger in her hand, the blade was about twelve inches long, and the handle an additional 4 inches. It was a beast of a blade. She was showing Stella how to stab and enemy and where.

“A knife is excellent in close quarters, say-you are ambushed. They are quick to grab, and easily concealed.” Stella gave the huge knife a skeptical look, and Kora laughed.

“You know anatomy from learning healing spells, correct?” Stella nodded and Kora began to indicate several areas on her body.

“Go for the major veins, the neck, inner thighs, and the belly. between the ribs.” She continued, showing Stella how to hold the knife and how to strike with her body weight, and not just shove the knife aimlessly. When she felt Stella’s strikes were true, they moved to a straw dummy. Kora was relentless in her instruction- but she was patient, never losing her temper, and encouraged Stella. Ending the straw dummy with a large cut to his imaginary throat, his straw head and rolled off, Shadow grabbed it and ran, causing the women to laugh and cheer. Stella handed the knife to Kora, who closed Stella’s hand around the handle.

“I want you to keep it, Stella, I can always get another one. This is for you.” Kora showed Stella how to strap it to her thigh, high, so it was partially hidden by her shirt. Kora stiffened and suddenly turned, the knife in her hand. Stella was astonished at her speed as she threw the knife. It went straight into the heart of the straw dummy and Royce, Ben and Malik stopped. Royce, grinning, pulled the knife from the dummy, returning it to the sheath on Stella’s thigh.

“You know, throwing a knife at your Liege can be considered treason.” Malik teased.

Ben laughed and Kora frowned.

“My apologies, I was on edge.” She only meant it as a warning, not knowing who was approaching. The snow muffled sounds and since they were not touching the earth directly - she was unable to sense who was coming. There are shortfalls to every power, no matter how great. She sighed. The men looked stiff. Something had happened.

“Where is Ludis?” Stella looked around.

“We need to talk.” It was Malik. He decided, after the incident with the Men of the Grey, he would no longer hide anything from his sisters. Kora nodded, looking around, and casually spinning in place, everyone felt a breeze start to rotate around them and then disappear. If you looked closely, you could see the air moving, a barrier around them. From a distance, there was no way it could be seen. Royce whistled, noticing that they could not hear anything outside of it. Kora gave Malik the ok.

“That is a nifty trick, would you mind teaching me?” Stella was impressed. Ben nudged her.

“Right, focus. What is up?” Stella looked at Malik, Shadow still running in and out of the barrier, his bark fading and reappearing. The men filled them in on what transpired, and where Ludis and Cade had gone. Stella’s face went white.

“Joseph? We have known him since we were children, this is not possible…” She murmured, doubt filling her heart. He had always seemed loyal, what could cause him to divert? Kora too was thrown, though not as badly as the rest. Kora had experienced betrayal before. She steeled herself.

“Where is Joseph now?”

“We aim to ride for the gates, Cade had sent him out for recon, his location is unknown…” Malik turned, headed for the stables now. The group followed. Upon exiting the air barrier, the wind dissipated, and Shadow came running after them.

“Awful convenient, Joseph gets sent out, soon as his name comes up in interrogation…” Royce whispered softly. Kora agreed, and her heart clenched for Ludis. She started to run, and feeling the urgency, the rest did the same. Malik was yelling orders now, the horses being brought out in a rush, guards gathering. Malik looked panicked, jumping on his horse at a run, the others right behind. Kora and Ben, being the next best riders, were right behind him, snow flying everywhere as the horses thundered out the gate, Shadow barking, Royce, and Stella on their heels.