She had been expecting me when I appeared on those sands. I wonder how long she’s dreamt of me since she first arrived in the underworld. My horse stops suddenly. I probe the forest with my power, feeling the shadows of the forest cower as my darkness eclipses even the blackest of matter. My ears ring as I hear the sound of insects clicking. The guardians of the Blood Forest are watching us. Even I have rarely seen the creatures that protect the lost souls here. Their stench is a sour musk that makes my eyes burn with unshed tears.
I raise my hand to stop Briar and Willem from proceeding. They slide questioning glances in my direction. Though they are unable to sense the beings that stalk our movements through the Blood Forest, nothing can escape Death’s notice. I am the thing they fear most and yet they cluster as though they entertain the notion of attacking us. My eyes darken and I feel the inky blackness fill them. I run my tongue along the tips of my fangs and watch for signs of hostility. “Be cautious, but move quickly. We can’t stay here for much longer.”
“What is it?” Briar asks, the shadow lowering from her face.
“Beldroth. No one knows what their true forms look like, but they conceal themselves in the fallen leaves and insects. I’d be impressed if you can hear their clicking. It’s the way they communicate with one another,” I explain.
Briar reaches for her dagger.
I wave my arm, hoping that my betrothed won’t have to use the dagger. “Quickly now, we aren’t far from Yolnheim. It’s another forest, but it’ll take us closer to the Archech without having to double back through the Blood Forest when we return to the castle.”
My ears perk at the sound of her voice. “Why can’t we just cut through the mountains?”
“Yes, Kane, why can’t we cut through the mountains?” Willem asks sarcastically.
He knows Briar will never make it through such a harsh terrain, especially with the hierarchy demons who call the obsidian peaks their home. I shake my head once and lead them along the winding path that cuts through the trees. The Beldroth grow bold, inching closer as we reach the edge of the forest. One moves in front of Briar’s mount. One blink and the creature is out of sight once more. Trepidation gnaws at my insides.
I pause for just a moment and then take off, yelling at the others. “Go! Race for the border!”
“How will I know I’ve reached Yolnheim?” Briar asks, clinging tightly to her galloping horse.
“You’ll see black trees with golden leaves. The Beldroth can’t cross into Yolnheim. Go there and wait for me at the entrance.” As she sped past, I slow my horse, pulling it around in a circle, scanning the forest.
Briar comes to a screeching halt ahead and turns back. “Kane! What about you?”
“Willem take her. I’ll hold them off.” With my eyes a jet black, I begin to muster my powers.
The reaper nods his head and dashes through the forest. He whistles through his teeth and Briar’s mount follows his stallion obediently. Once they’re out of sight, I leap from the saddle and summon my wings. Large, fleshy appendages that resemble the wings of a bat more so than any feathered bird sprout from my back. I stand tall as the sound of retreating hooves disintegrate. An eerie silence settles upon the forest and my eyes search for the Beldroth.
One appears, slithering towards me, but its fear causes my palms to tingle. “You stand in defiance against Death?”
That whirring wave of clicking echoes all around. “Briar, Princess of Ryrn. She knows not of who she is,” the creature says. “But she will soon enough.”
“What do you want?” My teeth grit and anger simmers deep within.
“Allegiance.”
I stand tall, shaking my head in irritation. “Allegiance to whom?”
The Beldroth moves closer still, just inches from my face. Its stench causes my stomach to roil in protest. “Allegiance to her. Power is shifting, lines drawn on the battlefields.”
“You are mistaken. The wars have already come and gone.”
A strange sound builds to a roar and suddenly the Beldroth no longer stands before me. I turn right to left, giving pause for just a moment. I’m conflicted with this meeting, the Beldroth know more than most about the underworld, why would they be so far behind when they are normally two steps ahead? I stand in my place for another couple of seconds making sure that they aren’t returning. When the forest quiets to what it was before, and the thick foul stench diminishes, I climb back into the saddle. My wings and claws retract along with my fangs as I ride toward the border. Briar and Willem wait stubbornly just beyond the stark line that separates Yolnheim and the Blood Forest. The startling change from red to black and gold never fails to amaze me. Briar stares up at the trees with wonder and avid fascination in her eyes.
“Keep your wits about you. This forest isn’t as tame as the last,” Willem warns her.
I clench my hands into tight fists at the sharp bite in his tone, but I say nothing. It’s time Briar learns the truth about the underworld. If the Beldroth know that Briar is here in the forests with us, then more of the dangerous creatures could too. Her life is in more danger than I thought.
Briar watches me as we ride and I can feel the questions. She wants to know what happened, but she fears my answer. Willem rides along next me, whispering quietly. “The Beldroth,
