Ariel Slick writes original fiction including short stories, novels, and memoirs to spread the joy of imagination and creativity. She also helps clients achieve their fiction writing goals with her ghostwriting skills on Upwork.com and Guru.com. Although she has  worked as a freelancer for three years, she has been dedicated to the craft all her life. Her fiction focuses on themes of love, justice, and magic, and her most popular works include romance and fantasy romance. 

What would make a girl, terrified of everything, go into the woods? Knights chasing after her, for starters. All Elaine wants is to stay in her small village forever, baking bread with her family. All that changes when she discovers that she is one of seven girls with the gift of magic. Elaine must leave behind her family and flee into the deep, dark woods where anything and everything can happen. Only guided by a talking fox, who may not be who he says on the surface, Elaine battles thieves, murderous plants, and magical creatures of all sorts. She will discover her powers and why they matter: to dethrone the evil king.  Will she be brave enough to embrace her powers?

Valient

Elaine and Alicia stared at Maria. The only sound was the steady clop, clop of the horses' hooves on the ground. No one said a word for a long time. 


Trees and shrubs flowed into fields, which gradually eased into more forest. Finally, Elaine spoke up. 


"I understand why you hate the royal family so much," she whispered. "I am so sorry that happened to you."


"It is done now," Maria said sharply. "I cannot change it, no matter how much I want to. It is not surprising, given the royal family and their cruelty. I simply must live with it."


Alicia said nothing for a moment. Then, "They must be stopped," she whispered softly. "No matter what."


Chapter 32