Page 2 of Crownless Heirs

How did it hang in the air? How could such a magnificent structure exist? Sorcha thought, transfixed on it, that it defied all natural laws.

However, as they continued their journey, the wonder of the castle gradually faded into the background. Her gaze shifted and landed on a colossal snake coiled around a mountain. Its massive form undulated with each slow movement, its scales shifting from emerald to deep gold, rippling constantly like waves. Beside her, Cat observed the creature intently, his expression focused on its movements. He didn’t look at her when he spoke, yet somehow he answered her questions before she could even ask them.

“It’s the Nathair,” he said. “It usually lives in caves or underground, but I suppose it came up for a snack.”

Cat gave Sorcha a smug wink. She huffed, leaning her weight into a playful hip-bump against his massive shoulder before turning toward the approaching forest.

Initially, the forest was as beautiful as the surrounding landscape. Tall trees with luminescent leaves stretched skyward, their colors varying from violet and blue to a soft golden light that cast dancing shadows on the moss-covered ground. However, as they drew nearer, the scenery changed; the forest’s vibrant hues began to dim, replaced by duller shades of ash and coal. Gradually, the warmth in the air disappeared, and a growing chill started to seep under their clothes. The further they ventured, the more things seemed to warp, as if the forest itself was dictating their path. Creatures materialized and vanished mid-step, as if stepping through an invisible doorway. The drone of insects and chittering of animals disappeared as an eerie silence enveloped the space. Sorcha couldn’t shake the sensation that she was being watched. She glanced at Cat, who was watching the trees and animals.

“It knows we’re here.” Cat said, watching the animals appear mid-step and then gone the next.

Sorcha turned to him, her mind buzzing with confusion. “Who knows we’re here?”

He gestured around them with his paw. “The forest.” His ears twitched as he observed the shifting landscape. “The trees are alive. They walk, they speak, and some feed,” he added.

Kyron’s expression was a blend of skepticism and curiosity. “I knew things about these forests, but no one has ever mentioned anything like this.”

Cat’s tail flicked as he spoke. “I know these woods better than anyone. When this happens,” he motioned once again to the twisting branches and the shifting ground beneath their feet, “it changes everything. The paths won’t be where they should be, landmarks will move, and the deeper we go, the harder it will be to navigate.”

Sorcha was glancing around, trying to find their way back. Everything looked different already, and she wondered how they could tell if it had changed already.

Cat’s voice dropped lower, taking on a more serious tone. “We need to stay vigilant. We won’t be the only ones trying to find our way through.”

With a deep breath and a slightly obnoxious exhale, Kyron nodded and turned to Sorcha. “It’s not like we have much of a choice,” Kyron said, already walking past Sorcha as they ventured into the forest.

As they walked, Cat hummed an unfamiliar tune in a singsong way as he trailed ahead, and it wasn’t long before Kyron was beside him. Sorcha followed a few paces behind, watching Kyron and Cat navigate the terrain. Hours passed this way until Cat paused, his body stilling when they heard the soft singing of a lullaby.

“This way,” voices echoed as a ball of blue light flashed.

One after another, little blue flickering orbs emerged, leading them deeper into the forest. “Sorcha, this way!” they called.

“What’s going—” Kyron began to ask when Cat loudly chomped down.

“Spit it out!” Sorcha screeched.

Kyron’s eyes landed on Cat. He just sat there while the little orb bounced around in his mouth. He looked like a greedy little chipmunk, the blue orb lighting up his cheeks as it bounced from one side to the other.

Kyron’s eyes widened in horror. “Why are you eating the wisps?” he whisper-shouted.

“Spit it out, Cat!”

Cat rolled his eyes, opened his mouth wide, and revealed his tongue, on which sat a small, dimly glowing blue orb covered in saliva.

The orb shot into the air, only to land on Cat’s head with a loud “Wham!” Cat hissed and rubbed his head as the little blue sphere zipped away.

“What was that all about?!” Kyron demanded.

Cat, still glaring angrily at where the orb had gone, rubbed his head and explained, “Those cursed things led Sorcha and me into an ambush on the Bridge of the Forgotten and nearly got us killed. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear they were trying to kill us.”

Sorcha, still staring at Cat in disbelief, muttered to herself. Then, turning to Kyron, she simply nodded and began to follow the wisps. Cat was also muttering as Kyron followed them, moving deeper into the forest.

Reeds began to sprout up as the ground squelched under their feet, the wisps disappearing as they grew closer to the voice. The lullaby began to twist into a mournful melody that rushed over Sorcha; sorrow descended, clouding her thoughts. It was a sound of beauty intertwined with heart-wrenching pain, captivating her so completely that she failed to notice the figure ahead, crouched low in the clearing. A woman with tangled hair shrouding her face knelt by the bog’s edge amidst the reeds. Her shoulders shook with the intensity of the song emanating from her. As the melody swelled, a peculiar numbing calm spread through Sorcha’s body. The woman’s voice held her captive in a way she couldn’t quite comprehend. Every fiber of her being screamed to cry out, to warn the others, but the world around her began to swim as the song echoed in her mind. From the periphery of her vision, she saw movement: a figure stepping in front of her. It was Kyron, his sword already half-drawn, his eyes locked onto the woman.

“Cat,” he whispered. “Do you see that?”

Cat had been observing shadows lurking deeper within the trees, concern spreading across his face, but Kyron’s voice caused his eyes to dart towards the woman. The instant Cat’s gaze fully settled on her, the melody ceased, and the woman’s head snapped up. She wore tattered lace and cloth, and her skin was as pale as snow. Her nails were long and curved; liquid dripped from her hands. Sorcha strained to see what it was at first, but when the women’s hands twitched, she caught the gleam of blood that stained them. The women’s hollow eyes met hers, and it was evident that sorrow had consumed her entirely.

Cat hissed, “It’s a banshee.”