Chapter 3

Elena sat quietly in the empty carriage as she watched unfamiliar scenery pass swiftly by the open window. Her predictions had come to pass and she had been packed up, along with a small, beautifully crafted mirror, and sent on her way to present herself to the new King. She accepted her fate philosophically, even though there were tears as she bade goodbye to the only world she had ever known and set out for her future with a company of guards. She wore the homespun dress of a peasant, wanting to put off donning her formal robes and having her hair looped and curled until they had nearly reached the royal city. She was not nervous to meet the new King, because she had already become familiar with him in her mind's eye and knew he would become a wise and beneficent ruler in the years to come.

The fallen tree around the bend came as a surprise to everyone and brought the coach to a sudden halt. They had stopped a mere field away from the Forbidden Forest and Elena felt dark shapes crowding at the corners of her mind as she tried keep her eyes averted. A sudden shout from outside caught her attention and she looked out the window to see that men were descending on them from a neighboring copse of trees, looking big and dark and dangerous.

"This is an official convoy on a mission to greet the new King," one of her guards called in warning. "Stop now or there will be grave consequences." Her guards were not afraid to fight the ruffians, though they were clearly outnumbered three to one. It was only fair to warn them before they engaged.

An enormous bald man leading the pack leered at the guards and replied, "We've come for the Oracle, so hand it over or we'll fight until every one of us is stone dead."

Elena furrowed her brow in confusion as the men clashed. Suddenly, the door to her carriage was ripped open and a large, dirty hand preceded a very ugly, dirty head. "'ello there, girly. Jus' give us wot we come for an' we won't hurt yer."

He reached toward the box in her lap and she lashed out at him with her feet, kicking him in the head and stunning him as she scrambled out the far door. She fell to the ground, clutching the box to her chest as she picked herself up and ran. Behind her, she heard shouts of confusion and anger as the leader roared at his men to follow her. As if on strings, six of his men took off in three different directions, only two of whom were racing after her.

Elena reached the deathly quiet of the woods and didn't hesitate as she dove in, the two men at her heels. She dodged around bushes and trees, darting like a hare as the men did their best to follow her. Branches reached down to claw her hair and clothing, drawing her back with yelps of pain and impeding her progress as she pushed resolutely farther into the tangle.

Though her mind screamed for her not to, Elena turned to gauge the distance between herself and her pursuers. Immediately, her feet became tangled in a tree root and she fell forward with a scream, rolling in the soft moss and hitting her head sharply on a rock. The package fell from her stunned fingers as she lost consciousness.

Jame lifted his head as the stillness of the woods was broken by a series of sharp screams. He furrowed his brow in confusion as his silvery eyes sought to penetrate the gloom and his sharp ears absorbed the sounds of pursuit. Against his better judgment, he lifted his staff and shot through the thicket, running so quickly it seemed as though his feet didn't touch the ground. No one ever came to the Forbidden Forest and he was curious to get a look at the trespassers firsthand.

One of the bandits reached down and grasped Elena by the hair, pulling her upright to look into her face as the other one picked up the discarded wooden box. Casting a leering grin at his companion, he reached up and traced a dirty, blunt finger down her pale cheek. "She's pretty. Seems a shame to let this one go to waste. Whaddaya say we have a little fun before we take care of her?"

The smaller man smirked at his friend and nodded. "You go first. With any luck, she'll wake up and I'll get to hear her scream."

The big bandit chortled and reached down to pull up her skirt. Branches bent back and an inexplicable wind shot through the small clearing as a young man appeared. He was smaller than the biggest thief, but tall and lean, his body corded with muscles as he held his staff parallel to the ground behind him. His light brown hair was slightly shaggy and incredibly untidy, yet every move he made spoke of power and control.

"You're not supposed to be here," he informed them in a low growl and the trees around the clearing moved agitatedly in the improbable breeze.

"You gonna do something about it, kid?"the smaller man challenged, raising a fist and taking a menacing step toward him.

Elena woke with a fuzzy start at the sounds of combat surrounding her. The big thief who had lifted her had tossed her away to charge at the young man, only to be knocked back with a flick of his staff. She looked up to see the young man standing above her, staff held readily at his side and eyes lit with delight as he waited for the two men to come at him again. Instead, they turned and ran, certain he was a demon guardian of the forest.

Disappointed, he looked down and found her regarding him with wide, serious eyes. "Don't worry. I won't hurt you," he told her in a gentle voice as he reached down to offer her his hand. She hesitated before taking it and went rigid as a series of images flashed before her eyes. Oblivious, the man pulled her to her feet and smiled at her.

Nervously, she returned the smile before a rustle above made him look up. Without a word, he pulled her to his chest and leapt to the nearest tree, putting his free hand against the bark and leaning over her protectively as he watched a dark shadow pass silently overhead. She held her breath and waited for nearly a whole minute before he eased back.

"Someone is looking for you," he told her ominously, his silver eyes glowing with a strange light. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

He straightened and helped her stand once more and she caught back her hand before answering. "I was on my way to the castle to deliver my Lord's coronation present when our caravan was attacked. The bandits chased me into the woods."She shrugged as she completed the simple explanation and he stared at her.

"Was the present in that box that thief just ran off with?" he asked with the barest of smiles.

Elena's face fell. "Well, mostly. I was also being sent for the King's use."

She missed the look of disdain that crossed his features. "What was in the box that was so important?"

Elena felt her cheeks go pink with embarrassment as she searched for words. "It was a mirror. A mirror that helps tell the future," she told him honestly.

"Well, you certainly can't go back the way you came," he told her cheerfully as he turned away, his sudden mood shift setting her back. "All of your men are dead."

"How can you possibly know that?" she asked as she followed after him.

"I can smell them." She stopped and stared. It took him a moment to realize she wasn't following him. "Are you coming?" he finally called, the barest hint of impatience tingeing his voice. Seeing she had no other choice, she trailed apprehensively behind him as he set off between the towering trees.

After several minutes of walking, he switched directions and leapt off a boulder before turning and putting up his hands to support her. She sat and reached down for him, but pulled back when she saw him glowering at her feet. She looked down and was surprised to see that her feet and legs were covered in lacerations, trickling blood down the boulder.

He frowned up at her and asked, "Where are your shoes?"

"I forgot them," she replied, her face glowing in mortification. She hadn't even noticed the pain until now.

For his part, Jame was angry and baffled. He had spent time around girls in the past and had learned that, if women were good at anything, they were good at complaining. The girl remained oddly silent as he examined her feet before lifting her down from her perch. He was surprised at how light she felt under his hands as he set her down beside him.

"I'll have to carry you," he sighed before smirking at her startled look.

"I can walk."She took a step away from the young man, her notoriously unflappable composure abandoning her as her face continued to burn. Something about him seemed familiar and unsettling and a hot, unpleasant feeling burned in the pit of her stomach.

He gave her a measuring look before sweeping her up into his arms and carrying her effortlessly across a small creek. He ignored her protests and trudged stubbornly through the trees until she finally fell silent, wrapping her arms around his neck and staring around her with intense interest.

"What is your name?" she asked suddenly, turning to him and blushing once more as she realized how close he was to her face. Outside her father, she had never been so close to a young man before and she felt distinctly uncomfortable when he turned his silver eyes on her.

"Jame," he replied simply.

"I'm Elena," she said softly, studying the side of his face while he stalwartly ignored her.

Without warning, he suddenly released her legs and allowed her to swing to her feet, her hands clinging to his shirt to steady herself before she looked around. They were standing in a small clearing beside a rough-looking cottage. There were two windows visible beneath the thatched roof and a stone well sat just beyond the front door.

Catching her hand, he pulled her inside and sat her on a rickety chair. She glanced around the sparse room and took in a low bed and cubby holes filled with dishes beside a dark fireplace. Without a word, he set a large bowl at her feet and went outside. He returned with a full bucket of water and knelt, gently smoothing up her dress until it rested on top of her knees before leaning forward to splash the icy cold water over her legs and feet. She grit her teeth and fisted her hands inside the folds of her skirt as he firmly wiped her skin clean, smoothing away the blood and dirt with the water.

When he was finished, she looked down in surprise to see that her lower appendages were once again flawless. "Thank you," she told him humbly.

He shrugged, turning his eyes away."Don't mention it."He busied himself wiping her down with a towel and she stared at the top of his head.

"Jame? Would you help me?" she asked softly, leaning forward.

"With what?" He raised his eyes to meet hers and sat with his face mere inches from her own. He sounded weary, guarded.

Suddenly embarrassed, she began twisting her fingers in the folds of her skirt as she stammered, "Well... the- the coronation is in three days and I- I am expected to present myself to the k-king on behalf of my Master."

He raised an eyebrow and stared at her incredulously. "And let me guess: You want me to take you there?"