Love & War
Prologue
Smoke rose from the battlefield. The smell of blood and charred flesh hung in the air. Across the field a man could be seen falling, on his shoulder was a distinct crest. The battle was coming to an end. Bodies lie everywhere, but she couldn't take her eyes off that one…that one man. An arrow whistled by, but she paid no heed to it. She slowly crossed the field and when she went to kneel beside him she could no longer move. Something was preventing her from getting any closer to him. The crest was so familiar. She wished she could see it better. Another arrow came whistling out of the bushes. It headed right for her and just before it made contact with her chest…she woke, to something landing on her.
She sat up with a start only to see that one of her sister's cats had gotten into her room and jumped on her. "Damn cat." She said to herself. She pushed the cat off her bed and flopped back down on her feathered pillows. She lay there for a moment. Lost in thought…
That crest…I know it…could it be him?
She got up and walked out on her balcony. The sun was rising. It was a deep shade of scarlet. Her expression became serious.
Blood has been spilt this night.
She quickly turned on her heel and went back in to change. Something urged her to leave. Something urged her to find out if she was right. Once she was dressed she ran down the stairs and out the palace doors. She ran out to the stables where her horse ShadowStar waited. His coat was dark and his eyes bright. She jumped on his back and rode off into the morning light.