Chapter three
My eyes fluttered open as I heard ear-piercing screams coming from outside the cottage windows.
It took me a moment to remember where I was.
I blinked back the blurriness that came from my interrupted sleep and pulled myself from Fenrah’s cot in the apothecary.
I had a few moments to spare in between mixing herbs and tinctures because today had been, oddly enough, much quieter.
I didn’t hesitate to take a little cat nap.
Before I reached the window, I could smell the smoke that seeped underneath the threshold of the cottage door.
It was so dense that it masked the lavender and rosemary-filled jars that I prepared earlier this morning.
It now filled the cottage with an acrid smell.
My feet moved on their own to the window, the glass fogged with that same smoke.
Cautiously, I pulled the thin cotton curtains back so I could see what the commotion was about.
The smog was so thick in the air, I could barely make out anything.
Until a young woman—Brijet—darted by with a man in hot pursuit of her.
My trembling fingers clamped my open mouth to quiet the shriek that begged to be let out.
I nearly forgot to breathe as I watched with wide eyes while Brijet was flung back when a savage man grabbed the back of her hair.
A man I’d never seen before, in a strange soldier’s uniform.
The village was in chaos.
I saw more and more villagers running for safety from soldiers—soldiers that were not from our lands.
They were grabbing women and hauling them away to gods knows where.
A horse dashed by my window, galloping with drool dripping from his large white foaming mouth.
My eyes darted to a townsman brave enough to fight the horseman before being slaughtered— helpless as his wife and children were taken in front of his fading eyes.
“Edward, no!”
the woman screeched, frantic tears falling.
All I heard were the desperate screams.
A shiver ran down my spine.
Everything was in flames.
My eyes were pulled towards a large, tan man on the white horse who barked orders to the soldiers.
He towered above the chaos, wielding a sword as long as I was tall in one hand and covered in swirling black tattoos.
Leather straps crisscrossed his large chest that held several more weapons.
Left and right he swung his deadly, clashing sword, pointing at the building across the street from where I kneeled hiding behind the curtain.
Metal meeting metal, the screeching sound filled the musky air.
My world stopped spinning and focused on the rider.
I couldn’t peel my eyes away from the tattooed man as he thrust a knife into one of the farmers that I’d come to know in the last few years.
My heart pounded inside my chest.
I barred the entrance by sliding a large shelf in front of the door.
It was small and barely holding up.
Like that will do much, I thought to myself. My body trembled, but I reminded myself that I was prepared for this. I’d dreamt about it almost every other night. Nightmares had plagued my mind of a dark figure attacking me, and I wasn’t able to move no matter how hard I tried to wake; all I could do was wait until it left.
I closed the curtains and blew out the candles.
Quietly, I hid under the cot, my back pressed up against the dirt and straw.
I clutched a small knife to my chest that was used for our herbs, squeezing it until my knuckles turned white.
I wondered for a moment where Fenrah was.
If she was safe and hiding or if she was dead somewhere on the cold, muddy ground…A warm, bitter liquid burned in the back of my throat.
No, no, I couldn’t think about that right now.
Okay, breathe.
I knew that my time had probably come.
I was ready, ready to fight and ready to die.
I knew I wasn’t strong enough to withhold and protect myself from bloodthirsty, primal men.
More ear-shattering screams sliced through the air.
I was ready.
With my eyes slammed shut, I took another breath to try to calm my nerves.
There was nothing I could do but breathe.
I looked at the barred door.
It was the only door to come in and out of this place.
There was nothing else I could do to protect myself. I had to stay put.
I clutched the knife tightly, praying to the gods above, even though I wasn’t much of a religious person.
Hugging my knees to my chest, I rocked myself gently, my hair falling in front of my eyes, obscuring my vision.
Stupid hair.
And there was so much of it.
I considered for a moment shaving it like my brother did…but then I’d really get more stares.
There were fewer screams now.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed.
That happened a lot.
My mind often wandered, lost in my thoughts.
Time and space became obsolete. Nour, my sister, would laugh if she were here. She always did the talking, and I always did the thinking. We were the perfect pair of sisters. A small smile formed as I thought about her, and my chest tightened.
I didn’t hear any more screams.
Maybe the soldiers left and continued their rampage in other villages and towns? Maybe they overlooked this place.
Maybe I wouldn’t need to die today.
I rose just enough to peer through the cotton curtains.
Thick, dark smoke had filled the town, no sun or blue sky in sight.
All was quiet.
As my hopes grew—
CRASH!
The wooden shelf exploded, and the door came along with it.
Crashing into all the precious vials, tinctures, and potted plants.
A towering, ominous man crossed the threshold while splinters of wood were still falling to the ground, blood trailing from his thick sword.
Through the haze of smoke, the cold amber of his eyes dropped my heart to the floor.
He saw me, and I scrambled to the furthest part underneath the cot.
But he was faster, and his rough, large hand wrapped around my ankle, yanking me from the floor so fast I couldn’t even let out a scream.
My head snapped back and hit the cold stone floor.
I only saw darkness enveloping my existence.