Hesta
Hesta held deathly still in the lower branches of a great oak while soldiers from Feya marched beneath her. She dared not even blink lest one of the men see her movement in the tree above, and with her bright strawberry hair, no one would believe her to be Feyan. Osalyn, her home country, lied but ten miles north-west. This road lead directly to Hanzir’s Point, the keep which guarded the Feya-Osalyn border. The men marched beneath her for nearly an hour. She watched as foot soldiers passed, then archers, then artillery. Near the rear, a full enterage of cooks, squires, and other support followed. No small war party, she thought, this is a full invasion!
Even after the Feyans had left, Hesta stayed among the branches of the great oak. She needed to formulate a plan, quickly, that she might reach her king and warn him of the unexpected attack. But even running full speed through the forest, she thought, I’d never reach him in time. She knew many scouts would be lurking about to take care of spies like herself. No, she would not be able to warn her people in time. And by sunrise tomorrow, Castle Fallbrooke would be under siege. The tiny kingdom of Osalyn was sure to fall. Hesta knew she would have no place to return. There would be no time to warn her mother or her brothers.
After looking about few a few minutes, Hesta climbed down from her hiding place among the leaves. She ran east, toward the kingdom of Pardent to tell Lord Osteen of the impending danger. Since Osalyn was bordered to the north by the Tirimar Mountains and to the west by the Sykal Sea, the Feyan army would surely strike next in Pardent. From there they would travel north into Meriwinn. Osteen must be warned.
For hours Hesta ran. The sun now descended slowly. Light faded quickly under the cover of the forest. Still she ran until she could not see her own hands before her. She decided to sleep in the trees, but her sleep was uneasy as thoughts of her home, of her mother and brothers, raced through her mind. There was nothing she could do to help them. Helpless was not a label Hesta every thought she’d place upon herself, but tonight as she rested in the branches of the trees she felt utterly useless.
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