: The Horse's Warning
The horse spoke truthfully.
"We were attacked by ravagers, but his daughter fled—she wasn't taken. I followed this path because she headed this way. And this place is their primary destination."
The horse lowered his head and whispered a dark secret:
"The man's real reason for coming here isn't holidays or peace. He's after the diamond hidden beneath the Mother Tree in the forest. He got this information from his elder brother—but he tied that brother to a pillar inside his own house to take the diamond for himself."
The horse shook his mane in disgust.
"Taking his daughter for holidays is a lie. He has a hideous plan. This species is cruel and wicked—no matter what he says, it's better to kill him and find his daughter. She's very kind, just like Tharlor. She's my friend. She always offers me apples."
After hearing this, the group decided to give the man a second chance—on one condition: he would help them find his daughter.
Tharlor looked at the man.
"As much as I'm glad to see you, if you try to steal the diamond, we will kill you. Let's go find your child. She might be exhausted by now."
The man nodded silently.
They set off together.
Curious, Tharlor asked the horse the girl's name.
"Elizabeth," the horse answered.
As they journeyed, they called out her name, hoping she would hear.
While the others searched and played, the man trailed behind, pain and bitterness growing in his heart.
He made a cruel decision.
When he found the diamond, he would make all of them pay—especially Tharlor, his brother's son with the fairy woman. He planned to sell Tharlor to slave traders, convinced even his own father would do nothing to stop him.
His brother's intentions might be unknown to him, but the man knew this boy was special.
He also knew that soon, Tharlor would have to choose—whether to stay in the land of men or return to the fairy realm
with his mother.
© 2025 Azubuike c obiora
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author.