Masterful Trickery

The chill of the Dark Forest clung to Alex like a second skin. Her mare, Siege, snorted nervously, her breath pluming in the predawn air. Days on the run, a lifeless body clutched to her, and the relentless pursuit of Town Guards had left her bone-weary. She adjusted her grip on Siege's reins, the rough leather chafing her calloused hands.

“Bleedin’ hell,” she muttered, glancing over her shoulder. The sounds of the Guards’ horses had faded, but the memory of their lamps bobbing through the trees was seared into her mind. She'd led them on a wild chase, deeper into the forbidden heart of the forest, a place even she usually avoided.

“Hush, Siege,” she whispered, patting the mare’s neck as they navigated the dense undergrowth. The dying woman’s last words echoed in her ears: “Get Nick… Nicholas… Everard… help 'em… my baby… please…” It was a plea Alex couldn’t ignore, a heavy burden that weighed more than the woman’s body.

Ahead, a faint, unnatural glow pierced the darkness – the promise of Meriwether, her home. But first, she had a message to deliver, a dangerous truth to unveil to a man she didn't know, a truth that could either save a life or condemn her to a hangman's noose. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a drumbeat of defiance and determination.