Read Online The Assassin Princess (The Legacy Novels Book 1) by Blake Rivers - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Blake Rivers
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as the dark figure moved closer in shadow and light, his ragged breathing a chant in the night.
“Where are you?” Hero called. “I have come to you!”
The dark figure was in front of him, his white skin shimmering green as the sick lightning struck nearby.
Hero screamed and fell back against the ruins—but the man had gone, as had the storm, the sky now a calm twilight.
*
Hero looked around him, a dim forest, raindrops clinging to branches, falling to the ground. Woodland animals scuffled close by and through the treetops the first few stars could be seen, straining against the true black of night. His steps led him across the carpet of needles once more to the outer edge of the fire. The crackle and snaps from the wood beneath comforted Hero only a little, the red sparks flaking and flying as he knelt and addressed the dark girl, hidden.
“Was that Adam?” he asked.
“Yes, Adam is with you. His storm of power infects your princess, though he does not see you as a threat,” the girl said, her voice soft. “And that is the only reason you live, Hero of the Guard. You do not feature in his plans.”
“What is happening to Ami?” he asked, his fear and anger rising. “Do you know? Why can’t we wake her? How does the storm infect her?”
“You can do nothing for her,” she said. “You have brought her this far, but you are to lose her.”
“Lose her?” Hero was incensed. He gripped his sword and rose from the ground, meaning to round the fire and confront her, but as he did she also moved, the north to his south, remaining his opposite across the flames as if the world revolved around the fire.
Hero relented. “Why are we to lose her?”
“You must realise, Hero of the Guard, our time is limited here. Know that events I guide you to come to pass.”
“You said I would lose and succeed,” he said, “and this is what you meant?”
“I did,” she said, her voice a smile, “but if I’d have told you that you’d lose that which you sought to protect, you would’ve tried too hard to keep her safe, and everything would’ve been lost.”
“How do I lose her? To Adam? Will she die? Who are you to make these predictions?”
“I am your guide, Hero of the Guard,” she said, and once more thrust her hands into the fire. As before, the flames changed to a purple-jade. “Do not despair. Your strength is your duty, and your love. You cannot help Ami, and you must allow events to unfold. When she wakes, she’ll be lost to you, and you must let her go.”
Hero watched the purple chase the green, the flames licking and fighting, both colours winning and losing. “If this is the truth, then what is my purpose? I’ve been tasked with bringing the princess back to Legacy, the heir to our lands, and I’ve already failed.” Hero didn’t want to believe her, this tribal stranger of mystical magic, yet he trusted her, if only because he was with her and had not been destroyed by Adam’s hate—but Adam was there with Ami. He had to get back to her.
“Do you remember what happened after my last visit, Hero? Look into the flames and remember.”
Hero’s eyes burned with images, flashes of memory in the flame. He saw the unicorn ride through the tunnel pass and up to the city gates. He’d led the creature up to the castle with important news: the existence of an heir had been discovered, and she was in danger. Hero had been readying to ride out to Solancra with the unicorn when Lady Grace had asked him to her chambers for conference.
He saw her room in the flames, large and dark, her one solitary candle burning at the windows in remembrance of her lost family.
“If there is a chance that my flesh and blood lives—and she is unaware of her history—” she’d said, “please bring her back. If it’s also true that Adam is alive and intent upon her capture? Then I want you to stop him. Defend her. Bring her back to Legacy, please Hero, my most trusted and loyal, Hero. Find a way
“Where are you?” Hero called. “I have come to you!”
The dark figure was in front of him, his white skin shimmering green as the sick lightning struck nearby.
Hero screamed and fell back against the ruins—but the man had gone, as had the storm, the sky now a calm twilight.
*
Hero looked around him, a dim forest, raindrops clinging to branches, falling to the ground. Woodland animals scuffled close by and through the treetops the first few stars could be seen, straining against the true black of night. His steps led him across the carpet of needles once more to the outer edge of the fire. The crackle and snaps from the wood beneath comforted Hero only a little, the red sparks flaking and flying as he knelt and addressed the dark girl, hidden.
“Was that Adam?” he asked.
“Yes, Adam is with you. His storm of power infects your princess, though he does not see you as a threat,” the girl said, her voice soft. “And that is the only reason you live, Hero of the Guard. You do not feature in his plans.”
“What is happening to Ami?” he asked, his fear and anger rising. “Do you know? Why can’t we wake her? How does the storm infect her?”
“You can do nothing for her,” she said. “You have brought her this far, but you are to lose her.”
“Lose her?” Hero was incensed. He gripped his sword and rose from the ground, meaning to round the fire and confront her, but as he did she also moved, the north to his south, remaining his opposite across the flames as if the world revolved around the fire.
Hero relented. “Why are we to lose her?”
“You must realise, Hero of the Guard, our time is limited here. Know that events I guide you to come to pass.”
“You said I would lose and succeed,” he said, “and this is what you meant?”
“I did,” she said, her voice a smile, “but if I’d have told you that you’d lose that which you sought to protect, you would’ve tried too hard to keep her safe, and everything would’ve been lost.”
“How do I lose her? To Adam? Will she die? Who are you to make these predictions?”
“I am your guide, Hero of the Guard,” she said, and once more thrust her hands into the fire. As before, the flames changed to a purple-jade. “Do not despair. Your strength is your duty, and your love. You cannot help Ami, and you must allow events to unfold. When she wakes, she’ll be lost to you, and you must let her go.”
Hero watched the purple chase the green, the flames licking and fighting, both colours winning and losing. “If this is the truth, then what is my purpose? I’ve been tasked with bringing the princess back to Legacy, the heir to our lands, and I’ve already failed.” Hero didn’t want to believe her, this tribal stranger of mystical magic, yet he trusted her, if only because he was with her and had not been destroyed by Adam’s hate—but Adam was there with Ami. He had to get back to her.
“Do you remember what happened after my last visit, Hero? Look into the flames and remember.”
Hero’s eyes burned with images, flashes of memory in the flame. He saw the unicorn ride through the tunnel pass and up to the city gates. He’d led the creature up to the castle with important news: the existence of an heir had been discovered, and she was in danger. Hero had been readying to ride out to Solancra with the unicorn when Lady Grace had asked him to her chambers for conference.
He saw her room in the flames, large and dark, her one solitary candle burning at the windows in remembrance of her lost family.
“If there is a chance that my flesh and blood lives—and she is unaware of her history—” she’d said, “please bring her back. If it’s also true that Adam is alive and intent upon her capture? Then I want you to stop him. Defend her. Bring her back to Legacy, please Hero, my most trusted and loyal, Hero. Find a way
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