31 Collateral Damage

Lord Viktor raised the screen covering the small window to the right. "Why have we stopped?" he asked one coachman.

It was only today that he and his lady, Mireth, decided to travel back to Springriver Manor after the celebration of Vysela's birthday. The King personally requested him to stay for several days. There were a lot going on in the castle and he needed a little helping hand from his nephew.

"Will anyone care to answer me?" he asked to no one in particular.

One guard sauntered his horse forward, just enough for the lord to see, and removed his visor, "The forest, my lord."

Viktor waited, certain that could not be the extent of his explanation.

Beads of sweat gathered above the soldier's lips. He opened his mouth to speak, but the clatter of approaching hooves stole his attention.

"My lord," another soldier reined his stallion beside the carriage, "We were informed by the villagers that there are movements of rebels in the forest."

His forehead creased, "Rebels?"

The guard nodded, "Yes, my lord. This area was said to be where the princess and the prince were attacked before the celebration."

"And I am supposed to fear that?" he scoffed and laughed in a mocking tone, "For all we know, that traitorous daughter planned the attack to intimidate the castle."

His wife, Mireth, bobbed her head, "She had the audacity to bomb the castle during her sister's birthday. How is this any different?"

"We have enough foot soldiers to guide us out through the forest," Viktor added. "Stop pissing in your pants and let us pass."

The guard paused, doubtlessly noting his interruption. "They also claimed a carriage has been attacked two days ago."

"They claim?" a line appeared between Viktor's brows, "Or was it all made up to scare us into discovering the illegal trading happening in this part of the country?"

The guard stuttered and couldn't bring himself to answer one of the questions. He was just assigned to protect House Chauvethier after all.

"Come on, don't act as if you know nothing," the corners of his mouth twitched. "Besides, they are merely claims. They wouldn't be dumb to attack convoys on plain sight especially if I am the King's close relative."

"But..."

The lord gave the guard a hostile look, "If we are forced to go into the woodlands, it will add a full day to our journey. We need to be there at first light."

The perplexity must have been obvious in the guard's face when the lady burst a sarcastic laugh, "Of course you wouldn't understand. You're not a lord. So if you could just kindly give us passage."

The guard hesitated. This wasn't the first time people have heard rumors about the Boucherree Forest. It was one of those places which had no palpable reason to exist. It was a creaking shack created by nature to serve as a reminder that things could always be much, much worse. But the warning didn't seem to alarm the Chauvethiers, they weren't frightened at all.

Lord Viktor raised a brow, "Well?"

"As you wish, my lord," The guard gave his respectful bow and trotted towards the soldiers following the carriage.

"The lady and lord have spoken, we will enter the forest," he announced, and the carriage started moving.

The lord heaved a sigh of relief. He would have given them a good scolding if they refused to follow their orders. The travel was already stressful enough; he didn't want stubborn soldiers to add to the burden.

Ever since the tragedy at the castle happened, everyone has been uneasy about the current state of the country. The castle has already doubled its patrols, but they couldn't seem to capture the runaway daughter.

'The only black sheep among the family'

Allyria has caused enough disorder among the people. Other royal families are starting to have doubts whether the Aleshkovskys are still apt for ruling. They couldn't even contain their child from doing such things.

This was the sole reason they had to leave as soon as possible. They were losing support from other countries, which was why the King sent him in a diplomatic mission to Satzer Neico for a month and get into their good graces. In fact, the castle has many plans; this is only the first out of the hundreds.

As dusk fell and the convoy made its way deeper into the forest, the scent of fresh, wet air took on a life of its own. The trees lashed and crashed against each other like drum sticks in the hands of a giant, spiking into the sky - no sign of life to be found anywhere.

It was so dark you could barely see where you were going. There were only small sounds of rustling bushes and the howl of the wind.

The narrow path which was made uneven by the knotted roots that crossed it, branched at intervals. There was no map to follow, but even if there was, the perpetual dark would prevent you from using it. Only the torches carried by the guards served as their source of light. The moon seemed wary enough to shy away from the clouds.

The lord shuddered, a chill taking root in his bones. He could feel the darkness drawing closer to him and pressing down, suffocating him slowly as they entered carefully through the thick maze of woodland.

They almost jumped into their seats when the horses around the carriage neighed as if in response to an unseen threat.

"What's happening?" Lady Mireth asked, her face tense and confused.

"Maybe a wild boar got lost in the tracks," he explained, his lips in a thin line, "It's nothing to be worried about, darling."

But he was definitely worried.

'Perhaps we should have taken the other route.'

He quickly dismissed these thoughts and focused his attention on the screen window but it was too dark, he could scarcely see the guards on convoy.

The rustling of the branches became louder as the gathering of shadows shifted outside.

He broke into a sweat, his hand beginning to feel clammy against his bouncing knee. He turned to his wife and gave a sweet smile, "It's just the wind."

Mireth nodded but even her husband's words didn't calm her down. She whirled her head around, her eyes skimming through the path. They might never get their well-deserved sleep if this continues.

The convoy was now covered in a blanket of trees. The thick air left no sounds of life outside—not even a hoot of an owl, a caw of a crow or a chirp of a cricket, only the hooves of the horses and the carriage's wheels.

All of a sudden, the carriage stopped again. This time, it left them not enough second to brace for the impact.

The lord grumbled as he lost his balance and slid on the chair, his hands grabbing the side window, "What do you think you're doing?!"

Silence.

He slid the window screen upwards and looked outside, "What is happening out there?"

The horses whickered once again and began to stomp their hooves on the muddy trail.

A loud clang of steel vibrated from the distance, followed by a scream of one of his men.

"Something's wrong, Viktor," Mireth started to panic, scanning the surroundings as they heard sounds of shouting and struggle, "We need to leave."

"Stay here. I need to check what's happening outside," he held her hands and stared at her straight into the eyes, "If ever I don't come back, run for the nearest stallion and ride back towards Windamere Castle. Call for help."

Mireth pulled his arms as he was about to open the doors to the outside, "Don't."

"I need to go," he took off her hand and gently opened the door.

Viktor's skin went pale as soon as he stepped outside. The sounds suddenly died down as if nothing happened and the guards disappeared as if they weren't there at all.

Stepping into the forest robbed him of one sense and heightened the others. He could barely see anything, but it seemed as if the whisper of the wind was enough to feel what's happening.

Viktor crept into the back of the carriage and when he finally got an obvious sight of the road; he ran as fast as he could, not turning back.

A horse neighed close to him.

He darted towards it, the ecstasy in his system brimming over.

'I'm just going to ride towards the nearest town, ask for assistance and come back for Mireth. I'm not doing anything wrong. This is okay. I am okay. We will escape.'

He heard a scream. Mireth.

He squeezed his eyes shut and never looked back.

'I'm sorry'

His pace became quicker, panting for air. Viktor was about to mount on the saddle when a man from behind hit his head with a vicious thud.

He staggered backward, his mind swirling, his breaths shallow.

He held his head, trying to find the person despite the blurry sight.

Another thud and Viktor was swallowed into a void.