Malvolia looked down at her youthful hands, the hands of Helen. She smiled as the magical beast continued to tear. She hadn’t infected him, of course, but she had found him wandering a more secluded part of the woods. The intelligent beast had realized his affliction in the early stages and retreated far into the mountains, where he could do no harm. She’d brought him back after Sioni had fled.

She walked away, unafraid of the alphyn behind her, still involved with his… meal. She could use the alphyn, definitely, as soon as she could get medicine from the unicorn’s glade. She needed to heal him, cure him of his wretched afflictions. The prince would attack an intelligent, healthy alphyn, and be soundly defeated.

She would then ask the alphyn for a favor, to take her to Sioni. She didn’t need Sioni anymore. She could cure her, of course, but why bother? All she wanted was to get to Eva, Sioni’s mother. It was her witchery that began the cycle, this was all her fault.

Her stride was quiet as she set off.