The Untold Forest by Elisa Menz (web ebook reader txt) 📗

them, they had built the castle thinking of avoiding an invasion. It lacked measures to prevent escaping prisoners.

It was easy to find external access to the underground, thus eluding a walk through the castle during the night. A crumbling gate, which after some minor struggle, gave way and led to a section of the wall that promised to be easy to climb. Maeve hoped his wound recovered enough to make the effort.

That night the moon waned. This gave him a better chance of slipping through the bushes surrounding the castle, all the way into the Forest. The doubts harassing her the night before disappeared. Now she trusted she was doing the right thing. No one had the right to kill or imprison a Forest being. While accusing Kieran Callum’s crime in court remained troublesome, the plan for saving one of his victims was in motion.

No one would ever know she released him, and life in the castle would return to its depressing normalcy. But not even the bleak perspective spoiled her excellent mood. Maeve was having fun like never before, and all the secrecy made her feel she was living the last adventure of her life.

Once a little calmer, lord Callum and his family met for dinner in the dining hall with their guests. A certain nervousness still hung in the air, but at least nobody burst into tears or rubbed their hands in panic. The lord of the house huffed and muttered he would hunt down every treacherous servant in the morning.

Lady Callum made some feeble attempts to start a conversation. Most of her noble ladies fled to their families, and she looked a little lost. Maeve almost pitied her.

Kieran, on the other hand, scowled at everything and everyone, gobbling one glass of wine after the other. Half through the dinner, he lost any hint of manners and focused his foul mood on Maeve.

“I’m waiting to receive some gratitude for my gift. Do you think it’s easy to hunt all those wolves? At least you should recognize my efforts!” Perhaps because of the wine, Kieran failed to remember the events of the previous evening.

She clenched her teeth, not meeting his eyes. “You are right, Kieran. Tomorrow I will thank the hunters for your ‘gift’.”

Perhaps it was wiser to agree with him, but her body rebelled against her better judgment. I will have to marry this idiot, but I will not let him treat me as he pleases. Her courage found its way back.

The good mood that accompanied her since dawn vanished in front of the sad reality. This would be her life from now on. Without hearing Kieran’s harsh reply, she got up from the table and excused herself, heading to her room with her head held high.

With no maid to help her bathe and comb her hair that night, Maeve enjoyed a little time alone, taking care of herself like she used to. She went to bed, pretending to sleep, attentive to the voices and other sounds coming through her door.

Several hours passed until Maeve deemed safe to leave her room. Like the night before, she put on her leather boots and covered herself with her coat. She made sure she had the hairpin for the cell lock and her knife.

She walked the same path. Surveillance relaxed, and her investigation during the day gave her more confidence in her route. Maeve reached the underground and lit the lamp, causing the half-breed to rise and smile at her. The fear from the previous night no longer slowed her down, and Maeve approached the cell door with two swift strides.

Hakken

From his bunk, Hakken smiled with pleasure at the sight of the girl. She came back. He still did not fully trust her good intentions, but at least she didn’t lie to him. Whatever she planned, he’ll deal with it.

He enjoyed watching her focus and open the gate with impressive speed. She crossed the threshold and rushed to his side, kneeling in front of his injured leg. Are you not afraid anymore? He wondered.

They had only met once, and she already willed to trust him. I’m still considering if I’ll let you live, little one. While she checked the bandages, he took off the shackles of his wrists and stood. The wound in his leg was nothing but a faint scar and a dull ache now.

He saw her cower a little now he had no restraints, so he remained motionless, looking at her as if asking ‘now what’? The difference in size was amusing. He rose high above her, her hooded head barely reaching his chest.

The girl let out a shaky breath and made a sign to follow her, guiding him through the narrow underground corridors to a small door leading to open air. She slipped out first, and he followed with caution. Despite his corpulence, he moved without making the slightest sound. Hakken followed her to a low and crumbling section of the wall.

“Over there.” The girl said, pointing up. “The guards are away, and you can reach the Forest without being seen.”

He knew he wouldn’t find anyone else around. His nose didn’t fool him. Most humans were sleeping in the castle or the surrounding cabins, and only a few guards moved on the walls. Eyes and ears focused on the Forest, in the opposite direction.

But another scent caught his attention. One he looked forward to sensing hours ago.

It surprised him his first reaction had not been to run to meet the origin of the familiar aroma. Instead, he turned to the cute girl who pointed towards the wall with insistence. She was yet to ask for something in return.

Didn’t she know she was about to die? Why not plead for her life now when the end was so near?

No one sensed the danger until it fell on them, fast, relentless, and with devastating force. The first to die were the guards on the walls. Some of them did not even have the opportunity to understand what happened. Their necks, broken by the strength of the merciless