BOOM.
Before everyone could come out of the carriage, another explosion shook the forest.
Bark flew.
Birds screamed.
The carriage, controlled by a coachman provided by the Velmoria Royal family for Prince Lio, halted.
The horses reared and broke free, fleeing into the woods like their lives depended on it—which, to be fair, they did.
Soon, the group tumbled out of the carriage.
Lio barely made it to the ground before his legs gave out.
Jessy pulled him upright, clapping his cheeks. "Focus, your royal frailty."
"I-I'm focused!" He stammered, gripping her arms like a wet cat.
Raven, already out front, narrowed his eyes.
The forest was too quiet.
The wind didn't rustle.
The insects were silent.
Then, from the trees, men in black hoods appeared—blades in hand and masks on.
They looked like they'd all agreed to cosplay together and never told each other when the theme changed from "stealthy assassin" to "unhinged circus troop."
