The decision to leave the city was made before sunset. Seredin gathered the records into three leather-bound cases, while Hollis packed his printing press piece by piece. Lysa filled a satchel with blank parchment, ink bottles, charcoal, and sealing wax. Bren studied a map across the registry table, marking every village mentioned in Daren's letters.
Elira stood near the window, staring toward the western road. She had spent so long fighting the curse inside the city that carrying the battle beyond its walls frightened her. The city had become familiar, even in its danger. Beyond it waited forests, villages, mountains, and people who might never have heard of the breaking words.
Varrek approached. "Thinking about staying?"
Elira shook her head. "No. I'm thinking about what happens if we fail."
He smiled. "Then think about what happens if we succeed."
Before she could answer, Miro appeared carrying two bags. "I packed food."
Kaelra opened one and stared inside. "You packed seven apples."
"And three loaves of bread," Miro said proudly.
"You're planning to feed an army."
"I plan ahead."
Elira laughed, and Varrek smiled at the sound. For a moment, the fear surrounding them disappeared.
They left through the western gate as darkness settled over the city. Beyond the walls, fields stretched beneath the fading sunlight, their grass bending beneath the wind. Far ahead, mountains rose like dark teeth against the horizon. The road itself was cracked and swallowed by weeds.
Daren walked ahead with his messenger case. Caldra followed beside Seredin, while Bren and Kaelra watched the surrounding fields. Elira remained between Maelin and Varrek. Miro walked behind them, occasionally throwing stones at trees for reasons nobody understood.
After two hours, they reached an abandoned milestone.
Daren stopped. "Something is wrong."
Bren approached. "What?"
Daren pointed toward the stone. The name of the nearest village had been carved away completely.
Elira moved closer. The ash thread around her wrist tightened.
"Someone erased it," she whispered.
Caldra knelt and brushed dirt from the stone's base. Hundreds of smaller names appeared beneath the grime, all scratched away.
"How many people lived here?" Lysa asked.
"Enough," Seredin replied.
A sound came from the forest.
Crack.
Everyone froze.
Another branch snapped.
Varrek drew his sword. Kaelra raised both hooks. Miro whispered, "Maybe it's an animal."
A girl stepped from between the trees. She looked about seventeen, wearing a torn blue cloak. Her hair was tangled with leaves, and she held a small knife in one trembling hand.
"Don't come closer," she warned.
Elira lowered her hands. "We aren't here to hurt you."
The girl laughed bitterly. "That is what the others said."
"What others?" Bren asked.
"The people who came three nights ago."
"What did they want?"
Her expression changed. "They asked me my name."
Elira's heart tightened. "What did you tell them?"
"I couldn't remember."
The ash thread burned against Elira's wrist.
"What is your name now?" she asked gently.
The girl opened her mouth, but no sound came.
Tears filled her eyes.
"I don't know."
Behind them, the blank milestone cracked down the middle.
A whisper traveled through the trees, carrying a name nobody recognized.
The girl screamed.
Black threads burst from the earth, twisting around trees and snapping through the air. Everyone scattered. Varrek grabbed Elira's arm and pulled her away from a falling branch.
"Run!"
They raced down the road as shadows poured from the forest behind them.
Elira looked back once.
Something was moving between the trees.
It had followed them beyond the city.
And this time, it had brought an army.