Page 232 of Golden Queen
The entire Kingdom seemed to be burning from coast to coast.
The pair raced the burning godsgrass north for another full week before they reached the Long Fork River.
There was no bridge in sight. They were trapped. The flames were so close she could see them flaring to life in a breeze kicked up by the appearance of steel gray clouds in the sky.
Etreyiu huffed and snorted, throwing his head back and dancing around on his feet, agitated.
Franca looked up and down the shore, trying to decide which direction might lead them to safety.
Without warning, Etreyiu launched himself from the riverbank and plunged into the cold water.
Franca held on tightly. She was a lady and had never been swimming a single day in her life.
The Artaxian stallion was strong, though, as he carried her safely across the river. When they reached the far bank, Franca clutched his mane in her fists and leaned forward as he pulled himself up from the water.
They dared to slow their pace a little after that, not only because of the river's barrier to the flames, but because the rain had come shortly aftercrossing. The distant flames winked out of existence leaving only those dark clouds of smoke on the horizon.
For weeks, Franca and Etreyiu wandered across the plains, having no clear idea of where they were going. Franca thought the stallion might be taking her to the horse lords. Since she had no destination in mind, she thought that might be as good a place as any.
She thought about going to Nightfall to find Aelia, but it was too far into the season. She knew the mountains would be nearly impassable for a girl with no warm clothes and a horse that would likely freeze to death before they even reached the Iyridian Valley.
And even if she did reach Nightfall, she would need to take a ship through Khobrid Bay to reach Orin. She didn't know if three gold pieces and twelve copper pennies would even be enough to book passage on a ship—not only for her but for the horse that she would never leave behind her no matter what came to pass.
Etreyiu was the only friend Franca had in the entire kingdom. Along with the sword on her back, he was all that mattered to her. Even though Aelia was the closest thing she had left to family, she would not leave Etreyiu behind even for the chance to rejoin her queen.
Franca let Etreyiu lead her wherever he would go. They lived on godsgrass and river water and slept under the stars as they crossed the plains, now angling north eastward towards what she thought was Artax.
The source of the black appearing on the horizon one morning when Franca woke to see the first light dusting of snow on the ground, was not immediately obvious to her. She thought it was more burned godsgrass until she realized it was growing, seeming to edge closer even though there was no smoke or flame.
It wasn't until she heard the clang and rattle of metal armor and weapons that Franca recognized it as an army.
Heart racing, she climbed on Etreyiu and nudged him in the other direction. Some of the men at the head of the column had begun running toward her, their harsh cries reaching her over the field.
Etreyiu started to run the opposite way, but he drew up short. Another identical smear of black on the horizon told her the army was coming at her on two fronts.
The first group of men were close enough by then to make out their dark armor. They looked rough and unfamiliar.
They had to be Penjani elves, she thought, with dread coiling her insides.
Etreyiu ran the only way he could, galloping north as the soldiers streamed toward her from both sides, closing in.
The shrill, unearthly sound that rent the sky in two caused Etreyiu to halt, rising off the ground and pawing the dirt as though he would fight.
Black wings came into view as a creature crashed down into the godsgrass before her.
It was horrible and wet-looking. Its skin was made of bumps and ridges running down its back. Its front legs were two massive, folded wings it used to crawl across the ground in her direction.
Its wide, snapping jaws were filled with long teeth already coated in red.
Franca's bowels turned to water and her stomach cramped in terror.
A man sat atop the wyvern's neck. He shouted down to her in a language she didn't recognize.
The soldiers were closing in on all sides by then, coming from north and south as well, hemming her in.
Etreyiu backed up, snorting and pawing the ground again. Franca readied herself for the wyvern to pounce and rip them both apart.
But suddenly, a new dark shape cast the entire field in shadow.
