The wind smelled of terror and threat. As Larice and Raeherys sped up, she could feel her heart striking faster and faster against her chest. The third bastion was only a few minutes away, and she suspected that there would be more hunters, including Grand Hunter Lorath, waiting for them. But then she thought; they couldn’t just storm the bastion head-on with no plans. So she tried to think of the best way to pull this off.“You’re joking,” Raeherys said after hearing out her plan.“Do I look like I’m joking?” she replied. “I’m well aware of Grand Lorath’s sword style. I’ve seen him fight in a tournament before in Shavath.”He looked at her with worry. “But your arm …”“I can still move it a bit,” Larice said, though the pain would severe, she had to endure. “I can hold him off while you go and save them. The problem now is t

The pain burned deep in her chest, even until now. Larice couldn’t remember the last time she had this kind of hurting—it could be from the death of Riqui, or the death of her family … but this one felt so different … so new … and the worst pain she’d ever dealt with.How could she trust that beast? She became more stupid than ever. She should’ve known his identity the first time she saw his golden eyes. It’d been stated in a lot of books in Librad. How could she forget?  This damn feeling she had for him … only shattered her more.That night when she witnessed how he became a monster … the same monster that burned her village—her world stopped and grew darker and darker and darker. She hadn’t even noticed the fire he blasted anymore. She only saw a raging beast … a liar … a devil. Those moments when they were alone together kept on flashing ba

The Sun Palace was like three keeps combined in size. One would easily get lost walking inside without a guide. The bright-painted ceilings of the halls rose high as the left windows let the afternoon sun kiss the floor of quartz.There was only silence as Councilor Hakim led Arch Estes and Grand Lorath to another long hall. Larice and Sevyh followed with several Palace Guards marching behind them. They walked between the two columns of rounded pillars, and over the velvet carpet path.Larice tried to pull herself together. Her heart jumped faster and faster as they traveled closer to the throne room. She swallowed hard, but her throat was too tight. Seeing the Palace Guards passing by only made her recall herself running away from this city before. That moment when the ice covered every inch of the place at the inn, with blood dripping on the clear surface from the impaled men—Larice saw the shock and fear in Faran’s eyes. The innkee

The Sun Palace was a place full of eyes—either it was from the guards patrolling on the ground, walls, and towers, or from the servants and gardeners outside, or from the slaves building pillars and walls using mud bricks. Wherever Larice went, she could feel she’s being watched, or even followed as she walked outside, trying to pretend that she’s having a stroll. She needed to find some ways how to escape. But the high curtain walls and towers had the palace completely sealed.Larice sat on the lip of a stallion fountain. The clear waters spurted above and then sprinkled down on the pool surface. She found the sound of the splashing water quite therapeutic. But her thoughts were too clouded by what had happened earlier from the throne room. If the Emperor was indeed lying about her question, then she had to figure out the truth, and why he lied about it. Estevan might know something about the Emperor. She couldn’t trust anyone e

The Right Wing was the place for all laborers and non-lord guests. Larice walked through the ground halls, passing by doors after doors. Sevyh’s chamber could be found on the third level, she knew, because hers was on the fourth.Maids, cooks, bakers, tailors, cleaners … all took notice of her and watched as she went past them. They must’ve known her as the hunter who had captured the last hyborn. But Larice ignored. She never considered herself as a dragon hunter—and she had no plans of serving this dark empire, ever.She reflected on the Emperor. All people had been so stupid of believing him—but not Larice. Did he really think he could fool her just like everybody else? Even Estes was so afraid to mess up with the Emperor. She hated him … she hated Emperor Sargan … and all these stupid people here in this palace—and Quarth, especially Quarth. She swore he would be the first one whom she would