Talia wasn’t startled, or frightened, when a hand closed over her mouth and large, strong arms pulled her against a hard, muscular torso.

She hadn’t felt or heard Vincent approach, but the moment he touched her, she knew, without any doubt, that it was he. She let him pull her away from view and was rewarded by a hard, harsh, unforgiving kiss that left her boneless, brainless, putty in his arms.

Then came the lecture. “What the hell do you think you’re doing here?” he whispered, each word full of anger.

Ah, she should have seen that coming. Pretty Man didn’t think women ought to be close to danger, no doubt.

“I felt your Enchantress - you know, the one that I alone have any chance against.”

She’d never actually fought anyone in her entire life, but her magics were strong - perhaps strong enough to counter whatever sorcery came from their enemy.

Vincent looked like he wanted to strangle her, yet he forced himself to speak quietly, calmly. “There are orcs; dozens of orcs, passing through a hole in the wall. How do you propose to get to your Enchantress, when they block your way? Ask them nicely to move away?”

She crossed her arms on her chest. “Actually, I’d planned on freezing them, like I froze you all.”

“Sound plan. Except, you could miss one. Or, I don’t know, you could lose focus on your spell while battling your own enemy. Talia, you’re not invincible, and there’re people who care about what happens to that pretty neck.” He tried a smile, and caressed her cheek. “Next time, you call me. I don’t question your skills, but we all need someone to watch our back. You’re the magics, I’m the muscles.”

His gentle tone got through to her. She sighed. “Alright. Good point. Well, muscles, how do you propose we proceed?” It would be silly to let her stubbornness win out when she could use the experience of a man far more versed in the arts of war than she.

“You had a sound plan,” he shrugged. “I just want to be there to support you if you need me.”

Alright, she hadn’t expected that at all. The gods had been in a very good mood when they’d created Vincent Vasili.

“Let’s move out.”

It wasn’t long before she regretted her decision to let him tag along.

Talia prepared her spell away from the wall, she and her shadow whispering each word, calling to the earth and water in the ground - then she advanced, and cast it with nothing more than a wave. The orcs stopped.

“You’re quite frightening, witch.”

She was certain that ‘witch’ was supposed to be an insult, yet Vincent made it sound like the sweetest of endearments.

“What are we to do with them now? Are you going to slay them all?” Talia asked as they passed their immobile enemies.

The orcs’ flesh was foul, stinking of rot - their features had very little humanity to them, no expression. Back in the day, they’d been called the undead. From what Talia knew of them, their race had been affected by some sort of terrible weapon right after the Last War, the one that created the world as they knew it now. It was said the orcs were simply tortured souls, longing for their death. She didn’t believe that; they were soldiers with a purpose. Someone was, no doubt, pulling their strings.

Still, the idea of slaughtering them when they were unable to defend themselves at all turned her stomach; never mind the fact that they’d probably done the exact same thing to women, old men, and children in the villages they’d encountered on their way. She really did expect Vincent to have a stronger heart, and do what was best for the greater good, but he seemed downright insulted at the very thought.

“Certainly not. If we were at war, and the decision could save thousands, then, perhaps. But there’s less than a hundred of them. Trust me when I say that the guards of Norda will make short work of them - without having to slaughter them like cowards.”

They were, thankfully, soon far enough away from the horde that she could breathe more easily, although there was a lingering rotten scent in the air still. Soon they reached a wood; an enchanting, and, no doubt, enchanted little forest. They left the foul air as soon as they walked in, as though some sorcery prevented it from polluting a sacred place.

Talia needn’t use any magics to know they were in the right place, now. These woods should have sheltered all sorts of creatures, yet there was no sound, no bird, no animal - not even any insects living here.

“We’re getting close,” she whispered.

Vincent simply inclined his head; he looked quite tense, his eyes narrowed, taking in the smallest movement.

Talia parted her lips to tell him how glad she was that he’d accompanied her, for no doubt, without him, now, she would have been much more stressed.

But before any word formed in her throat, Vincent was violently pulled ten feet up in the air, and thrown roughly onto the ground. He lay there, unmoving.

Fuck.

Talia moved to rush to his side, but a creature appeared between them. A woman. That term wasn’t quite accurate; it suggested something soft, beautiful, and far less threatening than the thing she now faced.

No, that wasn’t a woman at all. Golden light emanated from her every pore, making her a beacon in the darkness.

She smiled cruelly and inclined her head. “You’re smarter than I thought, little hick,” said Trudy. Her Trudy. The friend whose coat she’d worn.

At the same time, it wasn’t Trudy at all.

“What are you?”

She laughed. “Isn’t that just the question? Depends on who you ask, sweetest. I’ll tell you, though. Keep it secret,” she whispered conspiratorially. “I’m everything crossing through your mind.”

On that note, Trudy lifted her hand, opened her empty palm, and softly blew on it. Golden sparks flew towards Talia before she could even think on how to counter them.

Within an instant, she was gone, falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.

* * *

She woke up groggy, disorientated, and a little confused for a second. Once her mind cleared up, she tensed, looking around somewhat frantically.

Vincent was there. Her relief didn’t last long: something was wrong with him. He wasn’t moving and his body was too still to be sleeping. No. Just no. Her foolishness had not cost the life of a prince. She rushed to him, biting her lip.

A relieved sigh escaped her when she found a pulse; it was weak, but she found it on his neck.

“Vincent,” she called. The man didn’t so much as twitch.

“Vincent!” she tried again.

Nothing.

“He isn’t going to wake up.”

Talia froze and turned slowly. She wasn’t sure what alarmed her about that voice; it was beautiful, perhaps too beautiful, in fact. Melodious and suave. The woman it belonged to fit it to a T. Trudy had seemed, if not ugly, just rather plain, when they’d first met, but her features had changed a little now. She seemed taller, and certainly prettier. Her longer ears, and delicate features were elvish, but there was an edge Talia recognized. That woman felt exactly like her shadow. A creature who wasn’t evil, per se - but she could be, if she chose to.

“You’ve charmed him.”

The creature was unapologetic.

“I wanted us girls to have some time to ourselves, first.” She took a step forward, hand extended. “Nimue,” said she. Then, she clarified, “That’s my actual name.”

“Oh.” The conversation was too civil and banal, making her feel off balance. Because there was no doubt in her mind that she was now facing her. The Enchantress who’d taken the walls of Norda down. “Well, you know I’m called Talia. Natalia.”

The stranger smiled. “Indeed. You know, I sensed that you had a lot more Old Blood than any of the others back in the Var, but even with the right blood, it’s rare for any of the Descendants to rise. I was very pleased when you became an Enchantress.”

She made it sound like she’d joined her breakfast club. Desperately attempting to stay focused, Talia asked, “Is Vincent going to be alright?”

Nimue wasn’t one to reply with a straightforward yes or no. “I haven’t done any permanent damage.”

She’d certainly heard more reassuring words. Talia had hesitated, but now, the beautiful stranger had landed on her very short list of enemies. “Right. Well, you wanted us to talk. Let’s start with the reason why you’ve attacked Farden.”

Nimue tilted her head. “Attacked?”

She said it with a devious smile. “You destroyed their defense.”

“Yes.” She was admitting to that, at least. “That needed to be done. As for the why, trust me when I say the answer is more than you’ve bargained for. If I was to tell you everything, we’d still be here next winter. Let it just be said that you and I have little choice in the matter. Our roles were written long ago. All we have left is to play the parts.”

That made absolutely no sense. Talia wondered if the woman had lost her mind, but she didn’t seem confused or fanatical, just sad.

“I don’t get it.”

“You aren’t supposed to. I’ve let you come here for one reason. I need to issue a warning.”

“To Farden?”

Nimue rolled her eyes. “I have little interest in any kingdom of your little land. No, it’s you I’m warning. I played my part, and soon - too soon - the game will end. This world is either going to be blessed by the gods themselves or fall into darkness.”

Right. Now she sounded pointblank insane.

“Darkness,” Talia repeated, one eyebrow risen.

“That’s a nice way of saying that you’re all going to die.”

Again, the words were insane, yet spoken with confidence and finality.

“Why?”

“Because you must.”

Right. She tried another technique. “Can’t you help? Save us?”

“That’s what I’m doing,” said Nimue. “When the time comes - and trust me when I tell you, you’ll know when that is - head north. Beyond your little Var, beyond the Highlands - beyond the walls surrounding your world. There’s an island. It’s the only place you’ll be safe.”

Beyond the walls… The woman was talking of that place again; the one her Tutor had referred to, the one Vincent talked of. “You mean, Avalon.”

Nimue seemed pleased. “You’re really well schooled.”

“As though I could convince any dragon to let me ride them.”

Nimue smiled. “You know, one of the many names they gave our kind, back in the day, was Dragonlords. Trust me. You’ll convince any dragon to do anything you please, when you really want to.”

She snorted, before adding, “Well, not everyone will happen to have a dragon friend they could possibly hitchhike with.”

Nimue nodded now.

“That’s the idea.”

She didn’t understand what she meant by that. “What idea?”

“I’ve not brought you here to save the world, little hick. I’ve brought you to save you. You, and your sisters, whatever worthy dragons you can bring in time. If you heed my warning and get ready, you’ll have a chance.”

Talia was getting a serious headache.

“I don’t understand. Please,” she begged, “just make me understand.”