The branches cast dappled shadows on the ground as Tim rode uncomfortably on the horse he had borrowed from one of Erwyn’s men. Eric, who was riding next to him, had annoyingly taken to riding a horse like a duck to water.

“I’m sorry your adventure has taken a bit of a detour, boys,” Emily offered apologetically as she rode behind them.

“Oh, it’s quite alright,” Tim replied, trying to put on a brave face. It had been a day and a half since they had parted with Horatio and Arthur, and the first time she had spoken to them. Up until then, she had spent her time brooding as she stared off into the distance, while Nina provided directions as she rode by her mistress’ side. “This is a good opportunity for us to see the kingdom. We’ll get to the capital eventually.”

“So, princess, what is it we’re going to do in…” Eric stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment. “Wherever it is we’re going?”

“We’re going to Estport, the place of my birth and my father’s seat of power,” Emily replied. “As for what we’re doing…”

Tim turned around as the princess’ voice trailed off. She was travelling openly now with her hood pulled back, and her bright red hair shone like a flame under the evening sun. She was looking at the trees with her deep green eyes before she turned them on Tim, who looked away and felt the blood rush to his face.

“Well, I suppose there’s no harm in telling you now,” she sighed. “We’re going to seize the Guild’s ships that are moored at Estport.”

“Guild ships?” Eric repeated slowly.

“The Mariner’s Guild controls all ships from Carthus to the Central Kingdoms,” Emily explained. “And as a result, all seaborne trade between us goes through them. Estport is the only port they will call at in our kingdom.”

“Your father must be a rich man,” Tim mused.

“He is the richest man in the kingdom,” Emily said matter-of-factly. “However, the Mariner’s Guild are devout worshippers of the Three and have refused to set sail until the war between us and the Hulvans stops.”

“Did they stop trade after the Hulvans attacked?” Tim ventured.

“They did not stop their trade with us,” Emily replied. “And they didn’t trade much with the Hulvans to begin with.”

“So, your father wishes to seize their ships,” Eric mused. “To cut out the middle man?”

“The Central Kingdoms gave the Guild their monopoly,” Emily said. “They won’t permit stolen ships to land at their docks. Or if they did, they would probably capture them and turn them back over to the Guild.”

“Then why bother?” Eric ventured.

“Because Father believes that if we conquer Hulva, the Guild will cease all trade with Carthus until we relinquish control, which will never happen,” Emily replied. “So he thinks that if we seize control of a few of their ships, we can bypass Gosport and trade with Enris to the north.”

“Aren’t the Enrisians heretics?” Tim blurted.

He turned around slowly when Emily didn’t reply, and saw that she was smiling slyly at him. “You could have asked Lord Carver. He’s Enrisian, you know.”

“I didn’t think it was polite,” Tim mumbled.

“Well, to answer your question, some of them are, and some of them worship the Three,” Emily replied. “But our king believes that trade with them is important and is tolerant of their beliefs.”

“That’s one of the reasons we think the Hulvans attacked,” Emily added softly.

“Say princess, how come you can conjure fire?” Eric asked.

Tim shot his friend a glare, and Eric shrugged back, giving him a look that said, “Well since she’s in a talkative mood…”

“We called it the Awakening. A handful of young ladies woke up with these powers one day, and I was one of them,” Emily said softly after an uncomfortable pause. “Some say that it was a curse for permitting the Dark One’s heresy in our lands.”

“Why do they say that?” Eric blurted, unable to help himself. If Tim was a more confident rider, he was sure he would have kicked his friend in the shin.

“Because our powers awakened shortly after King Storian permitted trade with Enris,” Emily replied. “Some say that our powers are a reward from the Dark One and that the Awakening was the true reason the Hulvans attacked.”

Tim nodded thoughtfully. “After seeing your abilities, I’m surprised you aren’t on the battlefield. It sounds like they could use you out there.”

“We underestimated the Hulvans in our initial invasion plans and are now paying for it,” Emily said darkly. “King Storian won’t make that mistake again.”

Tim looked to the horizon, and his stomach turned when he saw a plume of black smoke spiralling up to the sky in the distance.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“There’s a small village up ahead,” Nina remarked. She was a slight girl, still in her teenage years, but she had a strength of spirit about her. She carried with a spear across her back and Tim did not doubt that she knew how to use it. “You boys are farmers, aren’t you? Don’t they use fire to clear new fields?”

“Then there would be a lot more than that little plume of smoke,” Tim pointed out.

Emily set her jaw as she watched the smoke worriedly. “Let’s go see what’s going on.”

“We’ll be in Soren lands once we clear this forest,” Nina said.

“Good point. Boys, raise my colours,” Emily ordered.

Eric fiddled with a banner the messenger had left with Erwyn’s men and soon, the white wolf of House Soren fluttered from the red banner overhead. Tim clung on for dear life as they urged their horses on, and soon, a small collection of ramshackle buildings came into view. Standing in the heart of the village was a wooden structure with six sides tall, spire roof. A group of people stood outside, using their bodies to prevent a larger group of people from reaching it. Both sides were armed with farm implements, but for now, they seemed content to hurl insults at one another.

“What in Mernes’ name is going on here?” Emily demanded as they approached.

The villagers turned around to see the newcomers and some fell to their knees at once upon seeing the banner in Eric’s hands. However, most did not hear her, and she raised her voice. “I am Lady Emily, daughter of Lord Ferdinand, the master of these lands, and I demand to know what you are doing in my father’s lands!”

Emily spoke with the practised authority of a noble, and almost at once, the shouting ceased. The mob and the defenders of the hexagonal building alike fell to their knees.

“You,” Emily said, pointing at a heavyset man who was part of the group defending the circular building. “What’s going on here.”

“These louts from Carsbye suddenly showed up this morning and demanded we raze our temple,” the man replied.

“That’s a temple to the Dark One and you’re all heretics!” a frail old woman from the larger mob shouted. “We should be burning you at the stake!”

“Enough!” Emily bellowed at the top of her lungs, cutting the budding argument short. She set her green eyes on the heavyset man. “Is what he says true?”

The man turned pale, and his lips quivered. “Lady Emily, King Storian has not forbidden Her worship in his lands.”

“Enrisians are free to practice their faith, in our lands” Emily corrected the man sharply. “However King Storian’s subjects are forbidden from adopting it.”

There were shouts from the villagers surrounding the circular building as a group of men barged their way past them and entered the temple. They re-emerged moments later carrying the statue of a woman that had been carved out of a piece of ash. She was smiling demurely and had a hint of arrogance in Her eyes. Tim was not particularly religious, but he felt drawn in by the statue. It felt as though it was about to speak to him.

A gasp of despair came up from amongst the larger mob, breaking Tim out of his reverie. He glanced at Eric and Emily and was surprised to see that both of them had looks of disgust and revulsion on their faces. He knew Eric’s family were deeply devout followers of the Divine Three. Perhaps Emily was the same.

“I’ve seen enough,” the princess’ voice trembled as she issued the order. “Toss that filth back into the hovel.”

There was an undercurrent of fury in her voice that raised the hackles on Tim’s neck. The man carrying the statue was quick to obey. The crowd gasped as an orb of swirling green fire appeared in Emily’s hand. Moments later, she hurled it at the building, which promptly burst into flames, drawing cheers from the mob, and wails of despair from the villagers who had been protecting it.

“Restrain them,” she ordered. “Send word to the Order in Carsbye that these people have been apprehended under my authority. They will know what to do with them.”

A chill went down Tim’s spine. The Order of the Three Divines were the ultimate authority in matters of the faith, and there was only one punishment for heresy as severe as this: burning at the stake.

“The Order may want you to testify,” the heavyset man pointed out.

“I’m afraid I’m on an urgent errand from my father,” Emily replied. “But if they need me, tell them I will be in Estport and happy to lend my full cooperation once my errand is complete.”

The man bowed his head. “Of course, My Lady.”

“Unhand us, you sheep!” one of the heretics cried as members of the mob moved to restrain them.

“You will surrender yourselves to them,” Emily threatened as an orb of green fire appeared in her hand. “Or I will administer summary justice here and now.”

Reluctantly, the villagers slumped as they watched their temple burn, and Tim found himself feeling uneasy as he watched the townspeople bind them with rope. Once it was done and the villagers, twenty two in all, were gathered in a circle close to the burnt remains of their temple, Emily nudged her horse into motion. Tim quickly set off after her, happy to put the disquieting scene behind him.

“Can you believe it?” Eric said out loud as they rode away from the village. “Bloody heretics in our kingdom.”

Tim grunted noncommittally.

Emily took a deep breath and sighed heavily. “That was an unpleasant surprise.”

“Do you think there are any other villages in our kingdom that worship the Dark One, My Lady?” Eric ventured.

“Three forbid,” Nina blurted.

“As distasteful as we may find it, I fear this is an unforeseen drawback of permitting Enrisian traders in our land. They are free to spread their filth in the quiet corners of our kingdom,” Emily said. She paused before adding quietly. “Perhaps the Hulvans had good reason to invade after all.”

“Being the princess will not save you if the wrong person heard you say that,” Nina warned.

“You can trust us, princess,” Eric piped up.

“Are you saying we should stop all trade with Enris?” Tim ventured.

“Perhaps,” Emily allowed.

“Then maybe we should call off seizing those ships,” Tim suggested hopefully.

Emily turned around and smiled wryly. “Unfortunately that isn’t my decision to make.”

She took a deep breath before turning to Nina. “How long until we reach Estport?”

“Another two days, My Lady.”

“I fear that will be another bit of distasteful business,” Tim remarked.

Emily did not reply and nudged her horse to speed up slightly.

“I think you’ve upset her,” Eric whispered.

Tim shrugged and tried to shrug off the nagging feeling he had in his heart. He had a bad feeling about this entire trip and wished they had remained with Horatio. The Goddess’ face then flashed in his mind’s eye, and he felt a seductive voice whisper in his ear, “Open your heart to me.”

A chill went down his spine and he looked around frantically. He then noticed Eric giving him a strange look. “Are you feeling alright there, Tim?”

Tim mopped the sweat from his brow and suppressed a shudder. “I’m fine, it’s just that…”

“It was the carving, wasn’t it?” Eric said and shivered dramatically. “I know how you feel. Just remembering it gives me the chills.”

“Yes, it certainly was something,” Tim admitted.