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

away. Astonished, they watched him thrash and scream before his face became once again a reflection of agony.

“No! I didn’t mean to! I’m sorry!” His eyes roamed the village, staring at the dead. “I didn’t mean to... please...” His life was drifting away. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m sorry...”

His pleading voice quieted down until the light was utterly gone from his eyes, and they realized he was dead. Kniv looked stricken, and his pained gaze lingered on the young man. Hakken tensed, holding Maeve tight while she fought to hold back her tears.

Finally, Regn scoffed. “Fucking liar.”

“He didn’t lie, Regn. He meant every single word.” Curled in Hakken’s arms, Maeve’s words came out as a whisper. She was spent, her head hanging from her shoulders and her body molding into Hakken’s embrace. She wanted nothing more than to return to the village, hiding in their cave, and forget everything about that awful day.

“The dust!” Kniv cried. He knelt next to the dead warrior, but the remaining dust disappeared in the dirt.

“Did you get some?” Regn knelt beside him.

Kniv shook his head, pained. “We should keep moving, find Hurtig.” Leaving the appalling scene behind, they walked aimlessly, not knowing what to make of what they had just witnessed. What was wrong with that boy? The night was upon them, and lighting a fire to keep the shadows at bay seemed more necessary than ever. While Kniv gathered firewood, Regn and Hakken piled the corpses near the edge of the village so they could burn them at dawn. Maeve sat next to a hut spared from the fire and dozed off, exhausted after all the taxing emotions.

While he worked, Hakken kept a watchful eye on her. Even half-asleep, she could sense his worry. Feeling bitter, she ignored him.

Why did you bring me here? An unexpected resentment invaded her thoughts. You should have left me at that castle. She knew that wasn’t fair. Hakken had saved her life. But was it worth it? Is this how her life was going to be? All this pain and death.

The harrowing wail that came from the ruins startled her, and she saw Hakken and Regn running to meet Kniv, whose sobs rang loud in the night. He had found Hurtig, and the mighty, beautiful warrior was dead.

Maeve stood like in a trance, her footsteps leading her away from the village, into the darkness of the trees. Blinded by tears and without considering the risks, she walked until she couldn’t tell where she was anymore. She hugged her trembling body and slid to the ground, closing her eyes and rocking back and forth, trying desperately to regain some sense of peace.

Holding back her sobs, she lost track of time until cool hands caressed her arms, and she leaned forward, trying to find some comfort in Hakken’s warmth. She let herself go when he carried her like a child, cradling her with such tenderness, she forgot the bitter thoughts from before.

“Let’s go home,” she pleaded.

“Yesss... yes, beautiful. My lovely bride. Let us go home now.”

Maeve gasped as soon as she caught the unknown voice, pushing back against the chest of a slender man with scaled skin and long, silver hair. His forked tongue caressed his lips while he gave her a loving smile. “So exquisite.”

Now fully aware and terrified, Maeve struggled against his grip, falling and hitting the ground with a painful thud. Without missing a beat, his thin arms coiled around her waist, picking her and forcing her to peer right at his pitch-black eyes.

With a sweet-sounding tone, he cooed her while uncorking a small vial. “Sleep now, my love. You are distressed, and you might hurt yourself.” A sweet, intoxicating fragrance attacked her nostrils. Maeve’s scream died in her throat while the night faded away, and the ever gentle sleep took her.

CHAPTER XXVIII

ALL IS FAIR

Hakken

There was nothing else to be done but to hold Kniv, who had been sobbing uncontrollably for a while. His grief-stricken face showed how much the loss of Hurtig shook him. Every single one of the people they lost during the war was precious, but for Kniv, the death of a young woman brought the worst memories, and it was more than he could handle.

Hurtig’s death served as a painful reminder of how easily they took for granted the people around them. Hakken’s last words to her were probably some silly shenanigans.

I’m sorry, my sister. You deserved better. He sent a silent prayer for the huntress.

“I found the others,” Regn muttered. The two warriors laid dead and as damaged as Hurtig. “They all fought fiercely.”

Hakken and Regn gathered the bodies and placed them next to each other before standing in front of them, heads bowed and hearts full of sorrow. “Farewell, brave Hurtig.” Kniv kissed her forehead and stood next to them, wiping his tears.

In a clumsy attempt to cheer him, Hakken patted his back, and Kniv gave him a pained smile. “We should rest now and finish in the morning. We tried our best.” They walked back in silence to the small fire where Maeve rested. They were all exhausted, looking forward to a light meal and some sleep. Hakken’s mind raced, realizing now the mountain half-breed menace was far greater than anticipated.

He feared they were not prepared, and the thought scared him. After years of not caring for his well-being, for him, the war was only another way to be free of this world. But he had Maeve now, and the will to live returned to him heightened. His loss in the past war had been unbearable, and he wouldn’t have the strength to face the same pain twice.

The events of the day strained his muscles, and dark thoughts plagued his mind, but Regn’s next words made his blood run cold.

“Where is Maeve?”

Maeve

She stirred in her sleep, burying her fingers in the soft material in which she lay. The warm and humid air made her nose tickle. Her fuzzy memories only added to her confusion, and a persistent headache forced Maeve to keep her