PROLOGUE

ORCADIA

  

Freyja’s eyes snapped open.

What was that? She shot up, alert. Had she heard something?

Allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkness, Freyja saw a shadow pass under the door. Leaping out of bed, she dashed to it, pressing her ear against the wooden panels, listening intently. Was it the night patrol? No, their boots would make more noise on the stone flags, she thought. Who was it then? Herdis?

Slowly, Freyja opened the door. Peeking out, she saw a tiny figure quickly disappear round a bend in the corridor.

“Herdis?” she whispered, but there was no response.

Freyja threw on some breeches and boots before venturing into the corridor. She raced down winding passageways like her sister and saw a figure after turning a sharp bend.

“Herdis!” she whispered again, more urgent this time. Her younger sister turned, flashing a mischievous grin. “Herdis,” Freyja scolded. “What are you doing?”

Herdis ran off giggling.

What was Herdis doing? Where was she going? Freyja paused and shook her head. Why couldn’t she catch her?

Up ahead, she heard the clump of the palace guard’s boots. Freyja slowed, waiting for them to stop Herdis and escort her back to bed. The guards didn’t stop; the relentless thump of boots on stone got louder and louder. Freyja was about to confront them when she stopped. Something was wrong. Why hadn’t they stopped her sister? Surely a princess out of bed at night would have alerted them?

She slipped into the shadowy recess of a doorway and waited for the guards to pass before continuing her pursuit.

Around her, the torchlight flickered and ghostly shadows danced on the walls, as a cool breeze rushed down the corridor engulfing Freyja.

“Oh, no!” She sprinted along the stone passage.

Up ahead, she saw her sister looking out of an open window.

“Herdis!” she yelled, coming to a halt. “Come away from the window, please.”

Herdis turned to her sister and waved, before clambering onto the sill, wobbling as she straightened up.

“Herdis, please come down. You could fall.” Arm out stretched, Freyja edged towards her sister.

Ignoring the plea, Herdis slipped through the opening onto the ledge. Freyja shot down the corridor and lunged for her sister. She was a second too late. Herdis was gone!

“Herdis!” she screamed, leaning out of the first-floor window. The silvery moon shimmered across the gardens below. Freyja saw her sister’s small shape move and stand up. She placed her hand on her heart. “Thank the gods you’re all right!” she exclaimed.

Herdis looked at Freyja, but the sneering face wasn’t that of the younger princess. Staring at her was a short, powerful looking creature, covered in a bushy tangle of dark hair. Its cold black stare locked with Freyja for a moment, before it turned and slipped away, melting into the shadows. Freyja stared for long seconds into the darkness, but the creature was gone.

If that wasn’t Herdis, then…?

Freyja set off towards her bedroom. “Guards!” she shouted, sprinting down the corridor.

Up ahead, a guard stepped into the passageway. “Have you seen Princess Herdis?” she called.

“No, Princess Freyja,” he answered from the shadows.

She looked up and down the corridor. “We have to make sure she’s alright. Come with me.”

“No, Princess Freyja.” A threatening hiss punctured the silence as he drew his sword. He stepped from the shadows, sword flashing in the firelight, his body bristling with menace. Freyja backed away from the black clad soldier.

“What are you doing?” Freyja’s stomach twisted and knotted.

“You are my hostage.” His dark eyes, the only part of his body not covered, narrowed as he stepped closer. “You will come with me.”

“There’s just one slight problem,” Freyja said, backing along the corridor. “I don’t want to go anywhere with you.”

The soldier sprang forward, grabbing at her. Freyja dived under his grasping hand, rolled forward and sprinted, hurtling away from her would be abductor.

“Guards!” she screamed. “Guards!”

Arms and legs pumping, she sprinted down the empty halls while her pursuer followed with heavy footsteps

Why was no one answering her?

Freyja chanced a glance back. She yelped as a black-gloved hand groped for her; the fingers brushing the tips of her long, flowing hair. How much longer could she keep going? She needed help, or risk facing the stranger. Freyja dodged left and hit a narrow offshoot wall to catch her breath. She heard the soldier skid past. Pulling one of the flaming torches from its wall bracket, she hefted it in both hands, waiting for her assailant.

The soldier emerged, sword in hand. Freyja pushed the firebrand towards his face. A flash of metal swept the torch aside.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” the man said, edging forward.

“Nor I you, but if you don’t let me go…” Freyja lunged again, aiming for his face.

An explosion of sparks erupted as the torch hit the soldier’s helmet, raining spots of fire onto his shoulders. The acrid, tangy smell of singed cloth and hair swirled through the air and it distracted the soldier for a moment.

Freyja seized her chance, thrusting the torch straight into his face.

 As his mask and hood ignited, he screamed, his head swallowed by flames. Freyja barged through him and sprinted away.

She reached her sister’s bedroom and burst through the door. The bed was empty with the sheets flung back.

“Herdis, are you in here?”

Silence.

Her eyes scanned the room. It was empty. Her sister wasn’t there. Searching, she saw a small fragment of dirty cloth caught on the door's edge.

“Trows,” she murmured, turning the material over in her hand.

Freyja ran from the room, heading further down the corridor. Grabbing a torch from the wall, she burst through an enormous set of doors, startling the guards beyond. Before they could react, she ran across the room and entered the bedchamber.

“Father,” she called. “Trows have taken Herdis.”