Page 14 of A Broken Promise (the Freckled Fate #1)

14

W e were deep in the Evergreen Forest. The summer air was cool, filled with thick mist. Tall peaks of pine trees gently brushed the passing clouds. The Destroyer General rode on a large black mare ahead of us, Inadios following him on his wide draft horse. Behind us, perfect lines of soldiers silently marched on.

I was grateful to get a horse—more grateful than I was willing to admit—and yet when Orest hopped on right behind me, my stomach twisted, making me a little queasy. I had no desire to share a horse with anyone, let alone a Destroyer soldier. Though, that dreadful feeling quickly went away, replaced by a surprising wave of comfort as his large arms wrapped around me to grab the reins.

I had to fight a small smile when he whispered close to my ear, “If you promise not to bite, I’ll promise not to knock you off the horse.”

At first, I resisted the urge to rest my back against his stiff armor, but after hours of horses climbing the rocky path, I gave in, resting my sore body against his. He didn’t say anything, and I wasn’t going to participate in small talk. Instead, I eyed the long, black cape of the General. Small gusts of wind occasionally lifted the edges, exposing two large swords, crisscrossed on his back.

I hadn’t seen the General since the garden incident. He hadn’t visited me in the room, or even said a word this morning as he eyed me getting on the horse.

It bothered me. Whatever game he was playing, whatever his plan was… he was winning. And while Fate was benevolent enough to keep him out of my bed at night, I was nowhere closer to figuring out why he was waiting.

After riding all day, we were finally approaching the Crystal bridge. The clicks of the hooves and almost silent march of the soldiers was now completely replaced by the sound of the gushing waters. With a quick whistle, the group came to a complete stop, soldiers halting with one large step. Orest got down first, before helping me to the ground.

The view was breathtaking. Two tall peaks of the Rocky Mountains were cut sharp by the mighty Dniar river. There were two majestic waterfalls, one above the bridge and one below it, connected by a short section of bursting water. Right in that section was a half-finished bridge made from pure crystal.

Only when my eyes inspected the curved bridge did I realize that it was indeed made of untainted glass—Destroyer melted glass. So pure and so stiff that it was almost impossible to damage. All matter of workers and guards bowed, some even dropping all the way to their knees, kissing the ground as the General walked by to the riverbank.

The bridge was unfinished, yet already so magnificent. Small droplets of water from the gushing waters underneath turned it into a walking rainbow, each piece of crystal reflecting large rays of the sun.

I took a few steps away from the soldiers and the worker camp, eyeing the Dniar river. Glacier runoff, strong and unyielding, rushed past us in an unstopping beat. I couldn’t see the lower waterfall, only that it led off the large cliff, exposing the rest of the valley to view. That view alone left me speechless. I had never seen it like that. All small villages and larger towns spread out across the long, green valley with large hills and snug mountains surrounding them, all weaving around the expansive river. Small wheat fields radiated gold, even from miles away.

There were free people there, living their life, working this very second, so unaware of the deadly Destroyer army amidst them or a small slave girl looking upon them all.

I walked closer to the bridge, feeling the cold mist kiss my warm flesh. The riverbank was covered in mossy rocks. The constant gushing of the water was never ending. With each breath, the ferocious flow slammed against the rocks, wearing them down one by one until they became nothing more than smooth pebbles.

I stared at the pathway by my feet. Mixed with summer burnt grass, there were millions of small rocks. Each of them unlike the others. I squatted to pick up a perfectly round and smooth black rock. It was little, smaller than a silver coin.

Between the sea of dust, grass, and multitude of gray rocks, this one stood out the most to my eye. It didn’t belong here.

Neither did I.

Was it a new low for me to relate to a rock? Tuluma would have made fun of me for this. Ollie would have probably laughed. I should laugh at this too.

Finnleah, Daughter of the Dead and the little black rock against the world. I smiled, squeezing the rock in my hand.

“Found anything of value?” the General curiously asked, looking at my clenched fist.

Caught in surprise, I hastily turned to see the Destroyer General near me. Orest was long gone, and the feeling of dread now choked me.

I bowed just a bit and took a deep and slow breath.

“No… my Lord, Great Master.”

“You are not a very good liar.” He reached and grabbed my hand. I refused to open my fist, but the General squeezed my hand tighter until I winced from pain and opened my hand. He eyed a small black rock, now wet from my sweaty palm.

“A little black rock? And they say creativity is dead in Magic Wielders,” he grumbled, completely unfazed as he let go of my hand, letting the rock tumble onto the ground.

No, they say all Magic Wielders are soon to be dead… thanks to you, I wanted to say, but I remained silent .

It was just a rock. Yet why did it feel like he just tore into my soul?

Even after he let go, I could still feel the impression of his ice-cold black armor against my skin.

Rage. So much rage was building up inside of me that my skin boiled.

“Thinking of turning it into a murder weapon, mage ?” There was no fear or annoyance in his tone, almost as if boredom slipped past his put together look.

The General quickly glanced over me, pausing only slightly at my still-bandaged wrists.

“Not very chatty today, I see,” he said, taking a deep breath. “Come.” He motioned with his hand to the bridge. I listened.

Workers made way for us to approach the sparkling glass.

“Do you like it?” he asked, looking at the million rainbows shining around.

“Yes.” There was no point of denying the pure beauty of it.

“It’s quite fascinating, don’t you think?” He spoke as we continued walking up the bridge all the way up until we stopped only steps away from the large gaps of the unfinished part.

Even with the bridge being high, the chill, cool water drops splashing across the bridge foundation dribbled on my feet. “That our fire can take something dull like sand and turn it into pure diamonds.”

“Lord Destroyer General…” Inadios called out for something but was muffled by the loud sound of gushing water beneath us. The General turned to look at him, taking a couple of steps away from me.

I looked down below. The river was fast and deep, covered with rocks of all manner in its path to the mighty waterfall. This was my chance, I realized.

It was a very crappy chance, but a chance, nonetheless.

I knew how to swim; not very well, but I knew how to stay above the water when it mattered.

The heavy, velvet green dress would try to keep me down, that is, if I didn’t bash my head against the rocks upon impact. Then I’d have to be able to swim or at least float far and quick enough in the cold water without the freezing temperatures seizing my body first .

I made a step closer to the edge. A cold breeze of wind went up my skirt, caressing my skin. At least I was wearing new leather boots. Jumping legs first would be my best option, I concluded. I closed my eyes and took a step into the air.

Painfully, I was jerked back by a rough yet familiar touch.

The General.

“Not so fast,” he angrily said as he gripped my hand awfully tight.

No! No! No!

This was it. My only chance. I jerked my hand back, but he held on tight. There was no point in leashing my hatred, no point of shoving down my rage. No point in pausing to think, to plan. The sleeping dragon within me was awake, roaring hungrily for retribution.

“You. Sick. Bastard! Let go of me!” I shouted at him. I could feel all the dams that I had carefully built up through the years inside of me to reel in my utter rage breaking up with one big gush.

His jaw tightened, but he was cool and collected.

“Let’s go,” the General barked at me. Orest and a few soldiers, noticing the commotion, were making their way to the bridge. I had to get away now. My eyes locked with his. I could see the silver flames reflecting, growing within that darkness.

My heart pounded in my chest so fast until it stopped.

“Burn in Hell,” I yelled as I let my fury take over me, blinding me as I threw all my strength at him as I yanked my hand out of his grip.

Shocked, he abruptly let go.

Unbalanced, I fell through the crisp summer air down to the ice water, my back taking the brutal hit of the stone-cold surface.