Page 28 of Beyond the Treaty
She nodded, tugging the blanket closer around her shoulders as she sat up. “Better than I expected. And you?”
“Well enough,” I lied. Rest was a luxury I seldom indulged in, and last night had been no exception. However, there was no point in burdening her with that, not when far more pressing concerns existed.
Her gaze shifted to the tome in my hands, and the softness in her expression yielded to determination. “We need to move, don’t we?”
“Indeed, we do,” I replied, placing the book back on the table. “The Council will not wait, and nor can we. We must reach the ruins to the east. They are remote enough to keep us hidden for a time, yet close enough to one of the towns in Lunairis to
begin searching for allies.”
Elara steps towards me, her movements graceful despite
the burden I knew she bore. “Do you think we’ll find anyone willing to stand against them?”
“We must,” I said, my voice resolute. “The Council’s strength is built on fear and control. There will always be those who oppose, even in secrecy. We simply need to locate them.”
Her eyes connected with mine, the fire from last night still blazing brightly. “Then let’s not waste any more time.”
I nodded, my chest swelling with a blend of pride and something more profound. Whatever lay ahead, I wasn’t facing
it alone.
Together, we gathered what little we possessed, a few
supplies, the tome, and the unwavering resolve propelling us forward. By the time the sun fully breached the horizon, we were on the move again, slipping back into Lunairis, deftly dodging through the forest’s shadows towards the palace and the uncertain future awaiting us.
The forest engulfed us as we advanced, its shadows deep and sprawling, the canopy above blocking out much of the morning light. The air was moist, carrying the earthy aroma of moss and decay. Each step felt weightier than the last, though not from fatigue; it was the burden of the unknown pressing down on us.
Elara walked ahead, her movements purposeful and quiet, the faint rustle of leaves beneath her boots the only sound she made. I remained a pace behind, my senses attuned to the forest’s whispers, each snap of a twig or rustle of foliage representing a potential threat.
The palace wasn’t far from us now, we had to be stealthy in order to reach the ruins. You could wander freely through all the realms before the Council’s influence began to tighten its grip on the realm. Back then, everyone was united; it was a time of peace and prosperity. Yet, I knew better than most that memories often held the keys to the future.
“Do you hear that?” Elara asked in a low voice, almost a whisper, tilting her head as she paused mid-step.
I strained my ears. For a moment, there was nothing but the forest’s usual symphony, birdsong, the creak of branches swaying in the wind, and the distant rush of water. Then, I caught it: a faint, rhythmic sound, almost like...
“Footsteps,” I murmured, my hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of my blade.
Elara crouched low, her keen gaze scanning the treeline. I moved to her side, every muscle coiled tightly, poised to spring. The sound grew louder, nearer, and then ceased entirely.
“Stay put,” I whispered, but Elara shook her head, her jaw clenched.
“Absolutely not.”
We moved together, our steps careful and deliberate, weav- ing through the dense underbrush towards the source of the sound. The forest opened into a small clearing, sunlight streaming through the gaps in the trees. At its centre stood a cloaked and hooded figure, their back to us.
“Reveal yourself,” I called, my voice steady, my blade partially drawn.
The figure turned slowly, lowering their hood to reveal a face weathered by time, with sharp, piercing eyes beneath a crown of silver hair.
“I wondered when you would arrive,” the stranger said, their voice steady and calm.
Elara looked at me, her expression a blend of confusion and caution. “Do you know them?”
“No,” I replied, my grip tightening on the hilt of my blade. “But they appear to recognise us.”
The stranger raised their hands in a gesture of peace and stepped forward. “If I meant you harm, you would know by now. My name is Darius, and I have been waiting for you.”
CHAPTER 17
