171 Darkbringer (1)

'This can't be happening!' Iris thought. She wondered if this was yet another figment of her imagination. Was she still stuck in her nightmare? Was someone out there intending to make her feel horrible? Has she fallen under some kind of spell? However, hearing Cal's next words proved that she wasn't imagining things.

"Stay here for a moment. I need to see the guards that Lord Kieran ordered to camp nearby." Cal had a bad feeling that Queen Heloise's words had been true all this time. His sensitive nose could still pick up the faint scent of blood within the cabin. He had a bad feeling that they had arrived too late.

Iris looked around. The fireplace was disheveled. Several unfinished clothes that were made by her sister, Junifer, laid on the floor and looked as if someone had trampled on them. Who could be so mean to her sister that they would ruin her creations like this?