Chapter 29: It’s Gonna Be A Cold Winter

A week had passed since Ellie had left for survival training up in the mountains and given Dolores the crossbow named Faith. Even though she knew that Ellie hadn’t left her and would be back in a few days from training Dolores still felt alone. Her life had returned to its former self only with gowns and food. Dolores and her mother's treatment had yet to change, and the two people who accepted her and her mother were gone, or at least one was.

When Ellie told Dolores that she would train in the mountains, Dolores had taken to the forest far beyond the Palace grounds. She was unable to walk the Palace gardens or sit at the bank of the river without thoughts of Jasper flooding her mind.

With her new crossbow faith aimed at an oversized boar, she quieted her mind, inhaled deeply but held her breath, only exhaling when she released her shaft. The boar had spotted her before she fired her shot, charging towards her, his tusks aimed. Her arrow shot true, landing right between his eyes. The wild boar fell to the ground with a loud thump, causing birds to flurry from the tree around them.

"Yes!" Dolores yelled, turning to rejoice with...no one. Her excitement dyed when she remembered she was alone. Kneeling down to expect her to kill, Dolores marveled at how efficient her new crossbow faith was. With her skill and this bow, what was the point in combat training when she could be the best hunter Kequin had ever had?

A howling pounded between her ears, and Dolores winced at the sound. Silva pulled at their linked thread, speaking mind to mind, her displeasure humming through their connection.

*"Hey, Jasper did say that we should use tools, weapons to defend and help ourselves,*" Dolores argued. "*Our bodies have limits after all.*"

Silvia scoffed. *"Relying on tools too much can make your body weak."*

Dolores rolled her eyes at Silvia's bite back, pulling her dagger from the sheath wrapped around her thigh and cutting the boar's neck to ensure the creature's death. A shadow loomed over, and she slowly raised her head to find Daflon standing over her, his arms crossed and his brow furrowed

.

"That was dangerous." His tone was rough and reprimanding, "You could have been seriously injured if you did not have that crossbow with you, Princess Dolores."

"Lo," Dolores corrected. "And I did have Faith with me, so there is nothing to get upset about."

Though your silver bow is promising when facing mediocre rivals, such as this boar." Daflon pulled the shaft from the animal's head with an effortless thrust of his arm, handing the blood stained arrow to Dolores. "Your fancy crossbow would not be enough to defend you against an attack against a real enemy, *Lo.*"

"I doubt that there is an enemy who does not fear an arrow. Especially one aimed at their head or even their heart, *captain*." Dolores matched his sarcastic tone.

"Such confidence for someone who is afraid to fight without her bow or resorting to her wolf." Daflon jabbed.

Dolores said nothing, choosing to tie the board's leg together so she could transfer him from the forest. Of course, she relied on her wolf. What werewolves didn't rely on their wolf for support? Dolores was small and was no warrior, though she wished she could be. She would love to learn to fight even a fraction of how Daflon could, but she doubted that she could ever, being who she is.

"I will show you," Daflon commanded. Somehow hearing her inner fears and hopes.

"Show me?" Dolores stood, locking her eyes with his and raising one brow. Daflon smiled, then walked a hundred paces from where she and the boar were. Dolores squinted her eyes, wondering what the now smaller giant of a male was trying to show her.

"Shoot me!" He shouted.

Dolores huffed a laugh. "Are you serious?" She yelled back. "I could hurt, or worse, accidentally kill you!"

Dolores could hear his deep laugh rumble over the woods around them, his mouth stretched into a teeth grin. "Go ahead and try, Lo."

His arrogance angered Dolores, fueling her to ignore the fact that she should most definitely not shoot her mate's Captain. She lifted her faith from the ground, cocking a shaft into the bedding and taking aim. She saw Daflon sheath his sword from his belt. Taking aim, she fired her first shot.

The arrowhead sliced through the air towards the center of Daflon's head. A sudden rush of panic hit Dolores when she realized she had just aimed a kill shot at one of the best warriors of Kequin. Unable to look away, she watched as Daflon moved faster than her arrow dodging the attack altogether. Shocked, Dolores gaped at the male.

"Again!" He bellowed, shaking Dolores from her stupor.

Dolores pulled another shaft back and shot true. Daflon dodged the arrow with one swift movement, but he began racing towards this time, just as the boar had. She cocked another, shooting one after another. He dodged them all, using his swords to cut them down before the small blade could pierce him.

Dolores reached for another arrow in her quiver but found none. Dropping the crossbow, she pulled at that invisible thread within her as Dflon drew closer to her. A breath away, Dolores shifted, letting Silvia take control, her silver fur glistening against the specks of sunlight peeking through the trees.

Silvia roared, raising a paw to swipe at Daflon. he slid underneath her dodging the mighty blow. Baring her teeth, Silvia snapped at his heels, missing by a breath. Daflon circled her large frame as Silvia tried to follow. A tremendous thump filled the entire forest as Silvia tripped over her paws and fell to the ground. Daflon pounced at the opportunity, pushing his sword into her throat.

"I win." He chuckled, his chest heaving.

Silvia scoffed as Dolores raised his blade from her neck. Shifting back, Dolores shook out her shoulders, pursing her lips at Daflon.

"That was impressive," Daflon admitted, sheathing his sword back to his side. "I hadn't expected to use the entirety of my agility. You are quite fast, your highness. The Sage was right. You are indeed talented, though not quite qualified to..."

Daflon seemed to catch himself, his hand going to the back of his neck, rubbing violently before clearing his throat and looking at the potion of the setting sun. "Let's end here for now and meet back up after dusk, your highness. I must leave you, for now, to attend to some other important issues."

Dolores waited for a beat before grabbing her boar and following the Captain. Her curiosity got the better of her when he had bowed without waiting for her response and leaving. Leaving her prey in a cluster of bushes outside the forest, she silently continued to follow Daflon, careful to keep her distance.

Her curiosity only grew when she watched him enter the vine covered dome of the Pantheon. Moving closer, she heard a voice that now haunted her dreams. The High Priestess Crystal singsong voice echoed through the glass dome.

"You should have not come here, my dear Daflon." Dolores overheard Crystal say.

"Ah, but then when would I see you, my darling Crystal." Daflon's low voice teased. "Crystal… why not come back with me to Erith? Come home to Ivory Tower." Daflon pleaded with a tone that heated Dolores's face and reminded her of Jasper. "I…I hate living like this. I hate being so close to you but unable to hold you in my arms!"

"Captain Ran, mind your tongue," Crystal sorrowfully demanded, "My duty here has yet to be fulfilled, and I cannot leave before I finish my mission."

"How long?" His words were sharp. "We have wasted many years on an impossible mission."

"Soon, my dear, we shall not be apart too much longer. As long as our true heiress is well prepared." Crystal sweetly hummed.

"She is an adequate warrior," Daflon smiled, "But I'm still not sure if she is prepared for the upcoming chaos...or better said the upcoming wars."

Dolores covered her mouth with her hands to silent the gasp that threatened to escape. She heard Crystal's light laugh skidder across the room and turn into a warm breeze blowing through the Pantheon, sending all the candles of the dome to flicker to life.

"Dolores," Crystal sang, and Dolores stiffened at her name. "I know you are here. I know you followed the Captain inside this Pantheon. Did you listen to our entire conversation? I'm sure you have many questions."

Dolores was rooted in her hiding place behind the statue of the Moon Goddess. Embarrassment flooded her veins that she had been caught, perhaps she wouldn’t be the greatest hunter in all of Kequin. Stepping out from her hiding place Dolores twirled her fingers together and apologized, a thick sheet of red across her nose.

Daflon and Crystal shared an amused look before the High Priestess said: "I am sure you have formed some realistic ideas about our relationship. Even so, I would suggest you not tell anyone about this once you leave here." Crystal commanded. "In return, I shall give you an early birthday gift..." Her once stern voice turned to honey as she gave her prophecy, causing dread to wash over Dolores. "*Be warned, be wary, soon your world will change.*"