Chapter 135 FOREST SPIRITS
Chapter 135 FOREST SPIRITS
The iron carriage bounced over the uneven dirt road, and the harsh movement rattled my tired bones. The dark metal chains clamped around my wrists felt incredibly heavy, and they rubbed my bruised skin raw.
The southern magic forged inside the locks smothered my silver fire, so I felt very cold and weak. My muscles ached from the long fight in the canyon, but I refused to let the silver guards see my pain.
I leaned my head against the cold iron wall of the moving cage, and I thought about Vladislav. He was bleeding from a poisoned wound when I left him, and the dark worry filled my mind.
He promised to follow me to the southern palace, but he needed time to heal his deep cuts first. I knew he was stubborn enough to track the royal army, and I prayed he would not do something reckless.
The carriage rolled for many long hours through the dark night, and the outside air grew much warmer. The thick pine trees of my northern home faded away, and the barren southern dirt took their place.
I could not see out of the tiny barred windows, but I smelled the sulfur and the dark magic in the wind. The royal guards rode their heavy horses right outside my door, and they talked loudly about their victory.
"The King finally captured the northern mutt," one of the silver guards laughed through the small window. "The royal court will reward us with gold for bringing her back alive."
"Do not speak to the prisoner," a senior knight commanded him, and he hit the side of the carriage with his heavy spear. "The High King wants her kept in silence until we reach the main palace gates."
I ignored their cruel taunts, and I focused my thoughts on the survival of my pack families. I surrendered to save the innocent children, and I knew Elder Silas would lead them to safety.
They were alive because I wore these heavy chains, and that simple truth gave me the courage to keep breathing. The sun rose and set twice during the brutal journey, and the guards never stopped the carriage to give me water.
My throat burned with intense thirst, and my lips cracked from the dry southern wind. The carriage finally slowed down on the third morning, and the large iron wheels hit smooth cobblestone streets.
We reached the capital city of the southern courts, and the loud noise of the crowded streets filled my ears. The heavy horses pulled the iron cage up a steep hill, and the massive wooden gates of the royal palace groaned open.
The carriage rolled into the main courtyard, and the drivers pulled on their leather reins to stop the tired horses. The heavy iron door swung open, and the bright morning sun blinded my tired eyes for a brief moment.
Two silver knights grabbed my chained arms, and they dragged me down the metal steps onto the hard stone ground. I stumbled over my own boots, but I quickly caught my balance so I would not fall in front of the enemy.
The High King stood on the top step of the grand palace entrance, and he wore his heavy gold crown. Hundreds of wealthy southern nobles and dark shadow-weavers gathered in the courtyard to see his new prize.
They wore expensive silk clothes, and they pointed their pale fingers at my ruined leather shirt and my dirty face. The High King raised his hands to quiet the loud crowd, and a cruel smile spread across his lips.
"Behold the great Wolf Queen of the north," the High King announced, and his voice echoed across the tall stone walls. "She tried to defy our empire, and now she wears our iron chains."
The southern nobles cheered loudly at his words, and they clapped their hands to celebrate my capture. The loud noise hurt my ears, but I kept my chin raised high to show them my strength.
"Bring her inside the throne room," the High King ordered his guards, and he turned around to walk through the giant wooden doors. "I want the entire court to see her kneel before my royal seat."
The two silver knights pushed me forward, and they forced me to walk up the tall stone stairs. We entered the massive palace, and the dark stone walls were decorated with ancient weapons and stolen banners.
We walked down a long hallway lined with tall glass windows, and the bright sunlight warmed my freezing skin. The rich nobles followed right behind us, and they whispered cruel insults about my wild hair and my torn clothes.
"She smells like wet dirt and pine needles," a vampire lord sneered as I walked past his position. "The northern wolves are nothing but wild animals playing dress-up."
I turned my head to look right into his dark eyes, and I did not hide the anger on my face. "This wild animal broke your anchor stone and destroyed your vanguard," I reminded him with a strong voice.
The vampire lord stepped back in surprise, and he did not offer another insult. The guards yanked my heavy iron chains, and they forced me to face forward again.
"Keep your mouth shut," the guard on my right side warned me, and he squeezed my bruised arm tight. "You do not have the right to speak to the royal lords."
We reached the end of the long hallway, and two giant iron doors opened to reveal the main throne room. The room was massive, and a long red carpet led straight to a high platform made of solid black stone.
The High King sat down on his dark throne, and he rested his pale hands on the carved armrests. The southern nobles filed into the room, and they lined the walls to watch the spectacle unfold.
The guards dragged me down the red carpet, and they stopped walking when we reached the bottom of the black platform. The High King looked down at me from his elevated seat, and his dark eyes burned with intense greed.
"Force her to kneel on the floor," the High King commanded, and he leaned forward in his large chair.
The two silver guards kicked the back of my knees hard, and they tried to push my shoulders down to the ground. I locked my leg joints, and I used every ounce of my remaining energy to resist their heavy weight.
"I only kneel for the forest spirits," I stated clearly, and my voice carried through the quiet throne room. "I will never bow my head to a coward who threatens innocent children."