Three figures made their ways through the dimly lit halls. It was nighttime. Streaks of dark blue lightning painted the vast canvas of the sky, their roars echoing through the wind-swept corridors.Ellie followed behind the two maids. The silence stretched between them, broken only by the echo of their footsteps against the cold stone floor."Where are we going?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. One of the maid answered, her voice as flat as the endless halls.
"Clan Thunderspine has arrived, princess Zelris. Your betrothed is waiting for you in his chamber."
Ellie's stomach twisted. 'Shouldn't there be a formal meeting? Or... or a feast ?'
Lighting flashed, streaking the walls in ghostly light. Velkan Thunderspine. That was the name of the boy she was to marry. She had never met him before because he was a Dwarph. His people lived far to the south, deep within the mountains and caves. The distance between his homeland and Windshire Fort was at least 3 months of traveling, and young Dwarphs were rarely allowed to travel beyond their territory before their first molding. In fact, Dwarphs preferred to live in seclusion. They preferred the company of ore and stone over people. And yet here she was, being sent to meet one. In his bedroom.
'Like hell I'm going to let that happen. We don't even know each other. How could anyone expect me to—'
A jagged bolt of lightning illuminated the corridor. The door loomed ahead, each flash bringing it closer, its dark frame stark against the cold stone. Ellie's eyes darted around, searching. 'I need to arm myself. Something. Anything.'
Nothing.
'Damn it. If only I had hidden a knife, or even a fork.' Her pulse pounded.
Interspecies marriages were rare. Except among the ruling elite, where they served a singular purpose: turning the weaker partner into a glorified slave. The Saints had outlawed slavery, but the ruling class had found ways to bypass their teachings while still appearing virtuous in the eyes of the Church of Three. The door stood before her now. Too soon. Too close. A few more steps. Another flash. Then, out of the corner of her eye. Ellie caught it, a smirk. One of the maids. A sharp, knowing curve of the lips.
'What the hell is wrong with you people? How can you be so cruel? What have I ever done to you?'
A different emotion surged through her chest, burning away the cold dread. Anger.
'They think I'm just going to walk in like some obedient lamb?' Her fingers curled into fists.
Ellie slowed her steps, lifting her chin. "Wait."
The maids turned, faces blank again.
"Is this really how you want me to meet my future husband? In this shabby outfit? And with not even a proper greeting gift to offer him?" Ellie let out a scoff, folding her arms together, her foot tapped against the stone floor as if annoyed.
"What would happen if the Thunderspine Clan took offense? If they saw this as an insult?" She tilted her head slightly, letting her words settle. "Tell me. Will you take responsibility if the marriage arrangement collapses because of your incompetence?"
For the first time, a flicker of hesitation crossed the maid's face.The taller of the two—Liana, if Ellie remembered correctly—cleared her throat. "Princess, the arrangements were made by the elders. We are only following orders."
"Even if those orders are flawed?" Ellie scoffed. "What do you think the Thunderspine Clan will see when they look at me? A dignified princess? Or a discarded bastard thrown at their feet without so much of a formal welcome?"
The shorter maid, Mira, clenched her jaw. "That is not for us to decide."
"No?" Ellie arched a brow. "If Velkan Thunderspine feels insulted, and his family demands an explanation? Whose mistake do you think will it be?"
Neither maid answered. Ellie took another step, closing the distance.
"Will it be the mistakes of the elders of House Gennan? Or will it be *your* mistakes?" She let the words hang, her tone deceptively soft. "You would be punished, wouldn't you? Maybe demoted? Perhaps reassigned to one of the outer villages, scrubbing floors for the rest of your lives?"
Mira's fingers twitched. Liana shifted uneasily.
"Would you rather admit that a mistake was made now, one that can still be corrected?" Ellie pressed her advance. She allowed a small, knowing smile to touch her lips. "I'm simply asking for a reasonable solution. I will return to my chambers, change into appropriate attire, and prepare a proper welcome for my betrothed."
Liana and Mira exchanged glances. Ellie could practically see the conversation happening behind their eyes. Liana was the first to break. She exhaled sharply. "As you wish, Princess Zelris."Mira hesitated for a moment longer before following suit. "We will escort you back."
Ellie smiled. "Good."
Without another word, Ellie turned sharply and strode down the corridor, moving away from the ominous door. This time, she wasn't following the maids. She was leading them. She held her head high, her steps steady and her gaze unflinching, striking with as much confident and determination to convince the maids that she wasn't going to run away. Soon, she was back in the her room which was softly lit by the glow of scented candles and the gentle flicker of runic lanterns. The familiar aroma of lavender and sandalwood filled the air. Unlike the rest of the castle, Ellie's room didn't face the direction of the wind. The maids trailed behind her like shadows, their eyes flickering with suspicion.
Ellie made a show of inspecting her wardrobe, her fingers brushing over the silks and velvets.
"I need privacy to change."
"Princess Zelris, please, you must allow us to help you get dress. We will ensure you present yourself properly before your betrothed." Mira opened her mouth to protest.
"Why is it now that I am princess Zelris that you insist on dressing me?" Ellie snapped, turning herself sharply to face the maid. "What difference is there between Ellie the bastard and Zelris the princess?"
"Or, did you believe you were, above me before? You, mere servants, daring to look down on me?" Ellie's voice dropped into a low, dangerous whisper.
The maids flinched, immediately bowwing their heads.
"No, we would never, Princess," Mira murmured.
"We would not dare," Liana added, though there was tightness in her voice.
Ellie scoffed. "Then don't start treating me differently now. _Leave._"
The maids stiffened, their lips pressed into thin lines, but they obeyed. Without another word, they turned and withdrew, closing the heavy oak door behind them. Ellie counted to ten, then crept to the door and pressed her ear against it. Muffled voices. Footsteps retreating. She had a few minutes, at most.Moving quickly, She rifled through her wardrobe, pulling out a long, dark cloak with a deep hood. It wasn't her usual style, but it would make her less recognizable. She wrapped it around herself, securing it tightly at her throat, then crossed to the window. She barely noticed the scratchy fabric against her skin.Outside, the courtyard was filled with guards patrolling the castle, their armor glinting.
'Too risky.'Instead, Ellie knelt by the window's base and slid open a hidden panel. Without hesitation, she slipped inside and dropped down. She landed in a narrow, dusty corridor and swiftly navigated the secret passages within the walls of Windshire Fort.
Ellie held tightly to her cloak, covering her mouth to to avoid breathing in too much of the moldy air. The existence of this secret passages filled her with mixed emotions. She was grateful for them—without them, her mother could never have visited her in secret all these years. But the thought of someone sneaking into her chambers while she slept… that was terrifying. And then, there was the question of their origins. How many knew about them? And why?
'Let's focus on escaping.' Ellie was heading toward the east side of the castle.
On the second floor, above the laundry room, were the servants' living quarters where her mother was staying. The escape plane must be carried out sooner. A sudden scuff of footsteps made her freeze. Ellie held her breath, pressing herself against the cool stone. She feared the faintest sound would alert the guards. She waited. Luckily, they passed by quickly. She exhaled softly and pressed on. The musty air burned her throat, but she kept her breath steady. She had nearly reached the east side of the castle when the walls trembled.Footsteps. Heavy. Urgent. Fast.Another. Then another.
'Something is wrong.' Ellie halted.
A deep, bone-rattling boom echoed through the corridor, and then—BANG! The stone wall ahead exploded inward, shards of rock hurling through the air along with a guard of House Gennan.He slammed into the opposite wall with a sickening crack, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He slumped forward, unmoving. A sudden coldness swept through her body, sinking into her very bones. She didn't know if she had stopped breathing but her lungs felt empty. There was something so difference between seeing a dead animal and a dead person. When she had gutted an animal before, she had only associated it with a full belly, her mouth bathed in delicious taste. But the sight before her reminded her of her own mortality. Tears swelled in her eyes. She pressed her hands over her mouth, fingers digging into her cheeks, using the pain to keep her from screaming. Her ears drowned out the distant screams and the sharp winds slashing against chitin armor. Ellie crouched lower, trying to ground herself. She didn't need to understand the full situation to know one thing: she had to move.But before she regained her composure, something veiny and bony grabbed her wrist.She gasped, jerking back until she met a pair of familiar emerald eyes.
'Mom.'
"We must move," Alea said in a hushed, urgent tone, yanking her into the shadows, leaving the sounds of battle raging behind them.