Chapter 1
Syravak POV
In the middle of the night, while others slept in their houses, I knelt beside my sister, Minag. She wasn't moving. There was a split on her lips, her neck nearly severed—almost decapitated. Blood was everywhere.
It felt as though I were in a dream.
"Please wake up," I whispered, hoping she would open her eyes.
She hadn't been dead when I left the house with our uncle. She had bid me goodbye and asked me to return on time.
I must have heard the bell ringing in the distance. They had rung the same way when our parents were killed. I knew the killers would come for me soon.
Khyravak was dead. She was really dead. Dead. Dead. Dead...
Tears streamed down my face.
The gods were cruel. They had allowed my sister to die, even after I had prayed and begged them.
I stroked her beautiful brown skin, wondering how much pain she had endured before she passed away.
My handmaiden, Mira, watched from a distance, the sound of her cries filling the room. The death of Khyravak touched everyone in the castle.
Just then, the door opened, and in came my uncle, Dymivak.
"Uncle Dymi," I cried out. He was the only family member who had stood by me and my sister when everyone else tried to claim the House.
"My sweet little cousin, I have come. Do not shed tears anymore."
"They killed her... They slit her neck..."
"Hush now. You do not want people knowing about your presence here," he said, stepping closer. "Come. We must flee. They'll come for you soon."
"But Khyravak," I said, "she needs a proper burial."
"I will have men take care of that," he said. "I heard men murmuring about your presence here."
I wiped my tears and turned to Khyravak. I had been cuddling her body for hours. Her body was growing cold, and soon she would begin to decompose.
Stroking her hair one last time, I let go of Minag and stood up. Glancing at her again, I followed Uncle Dymivak.
My handmaiden rushed toward me with my veil, placing it over my head.
I nodded for her to come with us, and she followed. As I walked downstairs, I began to think of the time when there was peace in this house—when I still had my father, my mother, and Khyravak.
"Uncle Vhyailvak is behind this," I muttered, as if no one already knew. He had hated my father—jealous of his position as Lord of the House.
"Hush, sweet thing," Uncle Dymivak said as he led me downstairs. "Once we are outside, you must say no word. Make sure not to lower your veil."
I slowly nodded.
Within a few minutes, we were outside the house. I kept my head lowered as he led me through various corners.
"Why are we not taking a horse or carriage?" I whispered.
"Be quiet," he scolded. "No more questions."
One more turn took us to a different gate.
I was shaken. I thought of Khyravak, wondering if it was cruel of me to leave her there. I wondered if the men would prepare her body for burial. I was burdened with so many thoughts.
"Be strong, Syra," I told myself. "We are almost there."
Uncle Dymivak opened the gate and led us out. We ran for a while until we reached a carriage.
"Where are we going, Uncle Dymi?" I asked.
"No talk," he muttered. "The walls have ears."
"Come in," he said, helping me into the carriage. I sat down.
I saw my handmaiden standing there, holding a small bag. She must have gathered some of my clothes in it. How sweet of her.
"Mira" Uncle Dymivak said, surprised.
"How did you get here?"
"I followed my lady," Mirasaid.
"Mira will need to come with us," I said, taking off my veil.
"Aye," Uncle Dymivak nodded, closing the distance between them.
Before I could react, his hand was around her neck, strangling her.
A scream tore from my throat but was silenced by a hand clamping over my mouth. I struggled as I watched Uncle Dymivak strangle her. She fought until she could fight no more, and then he laid her on the ground.
My eyes widened as Uncle Dymivak looked around, then stepped inside the carriage and closed the door.
The hand remained over my mouth. My eyes were wide in shock.
The carriage started moving, and the hand slowly slipped away.
"You... you killed her," I stuttered. "You killed my maiden."
Clutching my veil, I trembled in shock.
"Syra" he murmured. "Don't waste your tears on her."
"But she was my maid. She had been with me since I was twelve." And now I was eighteen.
"We could not take her along. Moreover, she was a lowborn. A small bribe from anyone could make her betray you."
I felt sick to my stomach.
"Do not worry yourself. Soon, everything will be over."
"Where do we go from here?" I asked.
"There is a dragonborn waiting for us near the border. He will take us far away from here."
I clutched my veil even tighter.
"Put Vhyailvak from your mind, sweet cousin. Put your father away, your mother, Khyravak—everyone. For you'll have nothing but a mind full of worries if you continue thinking. You are safe now."