She didn’t have to wait long before her door was crashing open again. This time, she recognized the shape of the male coming into her house, and she had a plan to make him talk to her. 

     She stood in the middle of the room, holding her knife and pan, braced for battle.

     When he stopped to take her in, he laughed but there was no humor in it, and she could see that his left eye was bandaged. If she had to fight him, maybe she could use that injury to her advantage. She still hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

     “What do you think you’re doing?” he growled at her.

     “Defending myself in my own home, obviously.” she snapped back, sounding much braver than she felt.

     “You surprised me last time, little girl. Don’t expect it to happen again.” he steps a little further into the room. “If you just come with me, it’ll be much easier for both of us.” 

     “Go with you where? Why?” she asks, standing her ground.

     “To Mivagra, because Queen Nola summons you.” he states, as if that explains everything, and then takes a couple more steps towards her.

     “I don’t answer to Queen Nola. I’ve never even been to Mivraga. What does she want with me?” She inquired, refusing to back up even though there were only a few feet remaining between them. If he came any closer, she’d have to raise her knife in defense.

     His cold, dark eyes were watching her so closely. she felt like he would notice even the slightest twitch of her fingers. She tried to keep her face from betraying any hint of the nerves that had her heart racing. For a moment, they just stood there facing each other.

     “You will answer to her,” he sneered, “and since I am here in her stead, you will answer to me for now. So drop your pathetic weapons and let’s go.”

     “It’s a pity I already have other plans.” she says, with a mocking attitude, “more important things to do. Actually, I need to find my mate. Nicolai. Maybe you know where he is?” 

     Nicolai isn’t truly her mate - not yet anyway, but unless this guy had met both of them already, he wouldn’t know that. She strongly suspected these two strange events were related, and she was hoping to get this asshole to admit it.

     It worked. 

     He laughed cruelly. “You’re mate refused to take me to you last dimming. I decided to teach him a lesson. I sent him with my companions to Jardal… to be executed.” he said, staring intently at her face.

     His words slammed into her, leaving a stillness in their wake. Her heart stopped racing. Her hands stopped trembling. Her thoughts stopped in their tracks. 

    There was nothing but those words. To be executed.

     Jardal was just over the border, in the Mivragran kingdom. This male might truly have the authority to make such an order. 

    “When?” she demanded.

     “I told you, last dimming.” he replied, as if speaking to a child. 

     “No, I mean when is he to be… executed?” She nearly choked on the word. This couldn’t be happening. She had to get to him, to put a stop to this insanity.

     “Tomorrow, at midsun. Even if I let you go, you’d be too late. You don’t even have a horse.” he laughed again. “Not that I’m going to let you go. My Queen is waiting for us.”

     Kaeda panicked. 

     She lunged forward and slashed her knife across his face. It happened so fast, he didn’t even see it coming. She didn’t even see it coming. He snarled as blood ran hot over her hand and the knife handle, but she didn’t stop there. She swung her heavy pan at the side of his head, but it was a weak hit with her non-dominant hand. She tried to bring the blade up into his ribs, but he grabbed her wrist in a crushing grip. 

     “You bitch.” he growled, his breath hot on her face. “If I could kill you, you’d already be dead. You’re lucky my Queen wants to use you.”

     She would think about those words later, but right then she’d heard enough. Her heart felt like a caged bird trying desperately to escape the confines of her chest. The roaring in her ears was nearly deafening. 

     She was not going to let this asshole take her. She was going to save Nicolai. 

     She threw her head forward into the male's face so hard even her neck hurt and lights danced behind her eyes. It was enough to loosen his vise-like grip on her wrist. He cursed and stumbled back a step. She took advantage of his shock and finally stabbed her blade into his ribs. The first thrust of the blade hit bone, but she quickly yanked her hand back and shoved it forward again, sinking it in until the side of her hand was pressed against the leather of his tunic.

     She pulled the knife back, and he tried to take it from her as he coughed and wheezed, but she stabbed him again - higher this time, angling the blade upward to where she thought his heart was. 

     Both his hands gripped her wrist as he coughed a fine spray of blood across her face. She only stared at him in shock. It felt like an eternity standing there as his grip grew weaker, and she began to hear a faint dripping sound. Finally his hands dropped and he stumbled backwards. 

     “You bitch.” he said again, weakly, as his large body fell to the floor in my open doorway.

     “You rutting bitch.” he wheezed out.

     She’d never killed anyone before, but she was fairly certain she had just killed this stranger. She didn’t feel bad about it. He deserved it.

     She stared at him until his rasping breaths stopped. She didn’t know how long it took..

     She continued staring at his lifeless body, until the roaring in her ears began to fade, and she remembered Nicolai. 

     Her panic, once again, sent her flying into action.

     She somehow had the presence of mind to throw some things into a pack. Maybe somewhere in the back of her mind she realized she wouldn’t be returning home. She grabbed some of her stuff, mostly clothes, and a few things for Nicolai. Enough to get them by while they figured out what to do. 

     She took one last look around, then hurtled over the body blocking her exit and raced down the street. Panting, she headed for the stables between the inn and the tavern, where travelers kept their horses while they rested. She was not above stealing, especially not when Nico’s life depended on her traveling as fast as possible.

     She skidded breathlessly to a stop in front of the first occupied stall, grabbed the gear off the wall, and saddled up the gray mare while whispering frantic apologies. She promised she'd bring the horse back here to find her owner after she rescued Nicolai, even though she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to keep that promise.. 

    When the mare was ready, she hopped into the saddle, and directed her west towards Jardal - urging her to move faster and faster.