AN: My newest story! Its set sometime after the Immortals but the timeline is a bit AU. Enjoy!
Chapter 1: Strange Eyes
Thayet and the Riders burst through the last line of trees and into the clearing that the bandits used as a base. All that was left seemed to be a few chickens. But nonetheless they searched the camp.
"Your Majesty? We found someone!" One of the Riders called, crouching behind a crate. Thayet came running and to her surprise found a small girl of no more than 8 huddled there. Thayet called for a blanket and one was draped around the young girl's shoulders.
Thayet crouched in front of the girl and asked, "What's your name, little one?"
The girl looked up and Thayet and the Riders gasped. One of her eyes was deep purple, just like Alanna's, and the other was an electric blue, like that of the Conté line.
The girl stared at her and whispered, "My name is Annabella. My mama calls—called—me Annie."
Thayet saw the sadness in the girl's eyes and smiled sympathetically.
Then she said, "Annabella, could you – only if you want to – tell us what happened?"
Annabella took a deep breath and said, "Last night, just after supper, they came and attacked our village. They burned a lot of buildings and started taking people. They took me, my mama, and my older sister. The k-killed all my little brothers and sisters. And-and they cut off my daddy's head. Everybody was screaming and there was fire everywhere. Then they brought us here. They-they hurt all the women they took, and-and made me w-watch." Annabella couldn't say another word. She hugged her knees and sobbed.
Thayet reached out and put her arms around the sobbing girl.
"Shh, everything's going to be fine. No one's going to hurt you now." She stroked the little girl's hair and murmured soothing words.
Then she looked up at the Riders and said, "Let's go home." She picked up the sobbing girl and mounted her horse. She put the girl in front of her and led the Riders back towards the palace.