Eza had been in the back of a rickety carriage for hours. She'd barely been given an explanation before she'd been pushed into the carriage, after having spent hours being dressed up and make up caked on her. She sat in the back of the carriage, by herself, her gown folded up around her as she mulled over what she'd been told. She was to be given to a demon lord as the year's tribute. She was an honored virgin, she was told, and she was to marry him and bare his half-demon children. Part of her believed that this was just some sort of sick joke, but how could that possibly be true?
She lived in a small village far from any major city. She guessed that she was being taken to the mountains towards the north, where it'd always been rumored the demon lord lived. Some said he had an enormous palace there, filled with infinite treasures and built entirely out of glittering stone. Some said he had a pet dragon, but she didn't think dragons were real. It was possible though...she'd never been outside her small village.
She sighed and leaned her head against the side of the carriage, peeking out the bamboo flap that covered the window slit. She'd been right, they were headed towards the mountains. They were nearly there, so far as she could see, the mountains were towering above them. She shifted uncomfortably in what she now knew where her wedding clothes, a deep green gown with traditional long draping sleeves and crossed bodice, though it wasn't exactly a kimono. Then suddenly the carriage stopped. She sat up rigidly and held her breath. The door opened and the hand of the driver reached in. She took it and stepped out, her eyes cast down as she'd been ordered. This was the moment.
She lived in a small village far from any major city. She guessed that she was being taken to the mountains towards the north, where it'd always been rumored the demon lord lived. Some said he had an enormous palace there, filled with infinite treasures and built entirely out of glittering stone. Some said he had a pet dragon, but she didn't think dragons were real. It was possible though...she'd never been outside her small village.
She sighed and leaned her head against the side of the carriage, peeking out the bamboo flap that covered the window slit. She'd been right, they were headed towards the mountains. They were nearly there, so far as she could see, the mountains were towering above them. She shifted uncomfortably in what she now knew where her wedding clothes, a deep green gown with traditional long draping sleeves and crossed bodice, though it wasn't exactly a kimono. Then suddenly the carriage stopped. She sat up rigidly and held her breath. The door opened and the hand of the driver reached in. She took it and stepped out, her eyes cast down as she'd been ordered. This was the moment.