Chapter 1 - Mari

The sun burned Mari's neck as she trudged through the woods. Her horse whinnied as they walked. She scowled in its direction, "Oh hush," she said, pulling the lead along with her, "If you hadn't been so stubborn earlier, we wouldn't have fallen into that river," the mere mention of the river brought the sensation of wet clothes back onto Mari's skin. The sun had done well to dry the majority of her person, but the slight dampness of her shirt clinging to her shoulders left her feeling uncomfortable. She sighed, "We would've been farther along." She kept her eyes forward and continued to walk farther along the trail.

The night before was filled with endless riding away from the city. Her escape from the palace left her ragged. Anthony had advised not to stop even for water, as the queen's guard would soon realize she was missing. "I'll try to distract mother as long as possible," he had said; Mari placed her hand on her shoulder just as he did to her, "but try not to get caught," he smirked. She shook her head with a smile remembering last night's conversation with the prince. She definitely heeded his warning, but she didn't expect her horse to as well. Their fast pace riding had made it excited and unwilling to listen to the rider when they approached a river.

"This scholar better be worth it," she muttered. A rumor had surfaced in the king's courts of a scholar taking refuge in an abandoned manor. The manor was said to be situated far from villages in the mountains near the border. Scholars were said to be ancient, wise, and powerful; they had lost knowledge and abilities that seemed almost inhuman. Mari only hoped that this scholar was real. The country had executed many after the revolution, "To cleanse the nation of its sins," was the king's reasoning, or rather, the queen's religious zealous. Any scholar that survived the inquisition was either a foreigner of the east or a fake looking to fool passing tourists, but any real scholar had to be stupid enough to advertise in public.

The horse whinnied again, this time tugging at the lead in Mari's hand. She jerked backwards from the tug stumbling a bit. "What is the matter with you, today?" she asked the beast angrily. She pulled the lead hard then walked towards the animal. Its eyes darted around as if wary of the growing tree shadows. Mari petted its face, effectively calming it down. The sun was beginning to set, and the night beasts would soon be upon them. They were close. She glanced at the sun. A large building just below it loomed over the trees in the distance. Mari held in her gasp and jumped into the horse's saddle. It made a noise, but not enough for her to stop from riding closer to the structure.

Soon the sun was just barely visible above the treetops and the moon slowly crept in its place. "Just a little farther," Mari whispered to herself. The path began to widen and soon they had arrived. Mari gazed at the castle before her. Vines crept up its walls and over the stained-glass windows that were scattered across the front of the building. She got off the saddle, eyes plastered to the sight before her. "So the rumors were true," she said to herself. She approached the door slowly lifting her hand to the knockers. Her eyes scanned over them: iron-sculpted heads, but it was unclear what animal it was. The sound echoed over the door frame when she knocked.

"Hello?" she called, "I've come seeking the scholar." She turned around at her darkening surroundings then turned back to the door, "I mean no harm," she said. A rustling sound came from behind making Mari turn towards her horse. Its eyes were darting again. "Please," she called out from the door, "Is there someone here?"

A growl answered her from behind. Her gazed slowly drifted as she turned around. It prowled out from the brush; Mari's horse let out a scared whinny. The beast lunged at the horse bringing it down with its front legs. She dared not make a sound. She was lucky the first night that she did not have to deal with a night beast, but being farther in the mountains, closer to the east, they were always roaming. She backed up against the door, but it creaked when she touched it. The beast looked up from its meal turning its head towards her.

Mari's heart had quickened: it was larger than any bear she had seen before and yet that's what it looked like. Its fur glistened with horse blood around its mouth as it approached Mari baring its teeth. The door was locked, and the beast was just far enough for her to run into the woods. With a deep breath, she took off towards the trees. The beast roared after her. It might be fast, but she was still quick enough to escape. She turned her head to check where it was but stumbled landing at the shore of a pond. The beast let out another roar, as it barreled through the forest. Mari splashed in the water trying to stand but her legs froze. Sweat ran down her temple as she continued to struggle in the water, "Ack!" a sharp pain ran through her ankle as she stood, but the beast was already there. It snarled at her; Mari stared into its eyes. They were clouded over as if it were blind, but it seemed to see her clearly.

Before the beast could lunge at her, an arrow struck its head. The creature roared, and Mari turned in the direction of the arrow. A figure across the pond held another arrow aimed at the beast. "Move!" they said releasing the shot. Mari ducked into the water; when she lifted her head again the second arrow had made contact between the eyes of the beast. It stumbled forward but then slumped over to its side. She turned back to the shooter but was grabbed from behind. What felt like a rock struck the back of her head leaving her body to slip into the water again.