We reached the first trade route after a long walk.
As we emerged from the forest, a tall field of golden barley filled the landscape, mountains and hills rising along the horizon. The moon glistened like a silver coin above us, the shoots swaying in the gentle breeze.
Before the invasion, merchants and travelers used this route to reach the southern parts of Tetarum. Now the field served a different purpose. Elven soldiers patrolled here, scouting for humans trying to escape the southern wall of the Capital City.
If they used the trade routes for anything now, it was to communicate with other elves across the continent—or capture fleeing humans.
For the moment, we were safe. The patrols had returned to their camps for the night.
Still, we had to keep our heads low and move quietly through the barley, cross the southern route, and reach the nearest forest that sheltered the northern route.
That was our path to Vel'soleth.
With this many people, it felt impossible.
I only hoped Corven and his men had already reached the border.
Minius had caught up with our carriage. He had been helping the soldiers keep the rows organized, and now he walked beside me, wearing leather armor and carrying the weapon of a Wanderer as though he were ready to cut someone down.
The longer I watched him, the more worried I became.
He was only thirteen, yet he already believed it was his duty to serve his people.
I turned away, letting out a breath as my eyes closed.
He was either very brave… Or very stupid.
Ahead of us, the five soldiers pushed apart the barley shoots, slowly creating a path forward.
"I can take over if you're tired," Edith said from behind me. She sounded far too excited.
I glanced over my right shoulder.
"You're awake."
"Mmhm!" Edith nodded. "You look like you need sleep."
I turned forward again.
My eyes drifted to Khristen on my left. She was fast asleep, lying back with her mouth wide open. A line of drool slipped down her cheek.
My face twisted.
I turned away with a sigh. "Don't worry. I'll be fine. I don't sleep much."
"You look like you're pretending to be a soldier," Edith said, turning to Minius.
"What?!" Minius looked at her.
"Soldiers have muscles," Edith said. "Where are yours?"
I chuckled quietly, my lips curling upward.
Minius closed his eyes and folded his arms across his chest.
"I may not have the physique of a Wanderer, but I will be the one protecting my lady, Aurelia, from the elves."
"Your lady?" Edith's brows furrowed.
My eyes shifted to the side.
"Yes. My lady," Minius repeated. "I plan to ask Aurelia for her hand in marriage after I claim the heads of five elves."
My eyes widened.
"Just five?" Edith scoffed. "There's no way in this life I'll allow Aurelia to marry a weakling like you!"
Minius gritted his teeth and growled at her. "You little gremlin!"
"You two stop it," I ordered before the argument turned into a real fight.
I don't know why I thought these two would get along, I thought.
They both turned away from each other.
"Minius," I called.
He looked up at me.
"I thought your only ambition was to fight for your people and protect your mother," I said with a smile.
"I'm a man," he replied. "Fighting for my people is important, but it cannot be the only thing I aspire to."
He straightened his shoulders.
"The lady is the fairest of all the women in Tetarum. Any man who has not set his sights on you is as blind as a bat in a cave."
"Wow," I said. "Are you sure I'm the right woman for you? Edith is quite the damsel herself."
"There is no way in hell I would marry this little rat!" Edith barked.
"The feeling is mutual, gremlin!" Minius snapped.
"Would you two remain quiet?" I hissed. "You'll attract unwanted attention."
"Sorry!" they both said at once.
I sighed.
Then I smiled again.
"I'll tell you what, Minius," I said. "I'll consider your proposal if you agree to protect Edith and cross the border safely with me."
"What?!" Minius's face twisted in disgust.
"What?" I asked with a wry smirk. "Is your love for me not worth this sacrifice?"
Minius glanced at Edith in the cart, then back at me.
"Fine," he muttered. "For you."
I giggled softly. "Thank you."
Suddenly, the five soldiers ahead of us halted. One of them raised his left fist.
I pulled on the reins, and our carriage came to an abrupt stop.
Khristen lurched forward, waking from her sleep.
"What's happening?" she asked.
"Elves. Five of them." I said, my brows furrowing. I could hear their voices ahead. "They're on the footpath."
"Oh," Khristen said.
"They're moving. All we have to do is wait for them to pass, and we can continue." I sighed. Thank goodness the barley shoots are as tall as they are.
"That will take too long," Khristen said.
"What?" I turned to her.
She jumped down from the cart and drew her sword.
"I'll be back in three minutes."
"Are you insane?" I snapped. "If they capture you, they'll come for the rest of us!"
"Don't worry," she said, pulling off her cloak to reveal her leather armor.
She tossed the cloak over my head and ran off.
I watched her stride past the five soldiers and disappear into the barley.
My teeth ground together, my brows knitting as veins bulged on my forehead.
"That bitch."
My face relaxed. There were more important things to worry about.
"Everyone stay very still," I whispered.
Edith hid behind the cart wall behind me, and Minius gripped the hilt of his blade.
The people behind us were surprisingly cooperative, given their numbers. I had the fifty soldiers to thank for that. There were no murmurs. No whispers.
I squinted.
This would be a terrible time for that baby to—
"Waaaaaaaaah!"
My eyes clamped shut, my jaw tightening. "Wow."
The soldiers ahead of us drew their swords, their eyes snapping around, ready to cut down any enemy they saw.
Then we heard metal clashing in the distance.
The sound of men choking.
Khristen grunting.
Then silence.
My eyes opened.
I looked up.
The bushes rustled.
The soldiers lifted their blades.
Minius dropped into a stance.
Khristen emerged from the bushes.
I exhaled.
Half her face was smeared in blood, red dripping from her sword.
She placed her right palm on her left shoulder and massaged it as she walked past the five soldiers. They stared in utter shock.
"Sorry I took so long," she said, panting lightly. "I had to chase one down. Those bastards… I forgot how tough their skin is."
I stared at her, stunned.
She climbed back onto the cart.
Then turned to me. "What?"
"Uh…" I breathed.
Edith suddenly wrapped her arms around Khristen's neck. "You're amazing, Khristen!"
The lieutenant chuckled.
"You just took down five elves. On your own," I said, blinking twice.
"I've fought elves before, Aurelia," Khristen replied. "Once you understand the techniques they use, their speed and strength become less of a problem. Direct attacks are a terrible idea, though."
I stared at her, unsure how to respond.
Then I smiled and looked away.
For the first time since we began this journey, I felt a little relief.
If she trained her students well enough…
Maybe we had a chance.
…
We continued through the barley field, walking across the footpath and hiding the bodies of the dead elves in the bushes so no other patrols would find them.
Before long, the next forest came into view. Rows of civilians surged between the massive trees, following behind our cart as we led them toward the Eastern trade route.
The sky grew brighter as the sun began to rise.
Birds chirped around us. Frogs croaked, and the babbling of a nearby stream echoed through the forest.
Leaves rustled overhead, while the ones beneath our feet crunched softly.
"Why didn't Captain Corven come with us?" Edith asked.
I sighed. My eyes felt heavy, my arms weak.
I drifted in and out of consciousness, my grip on the reins loosening.
"Ehhh," I croaked. My left eyelid sagged shut as a drop of saliva slid down my chin.
"Aurelia," Edith called.
Khristen turned toward me.
Slowly, I tipped sideways, my head coming to rest against her shoulder.
My right eye closed.
She took the reins from my hands.
The world slowly faded as I drifted deeper into sleep.
"Aurelia is currently out of commission," Khristen said. "Corven is taking a different route. A faster one. They'll clear the path for us at the border."
"Oh," Edith said.
"How long do angels sleep?" she asked.
"Huh? Who told you that?" Khristen replied.
"Aurelia said it's not true," Edith said. "But her looks say otherwise."
"Oh," Khristen said. "She really does look like an angel, doesn't she?"
"Mmmhm."
Khristen chuckled softly. "Well, I guess we'll just have to see for ourselves, won't we?"
"Mmm."
That was the last thing I heard before the world faded completely.
I drew in a breath.
Then another.
And another.
The next one wasn't mine.
It was his.
Daniel's.
Blood poured endlessly from his severed arms.
He stood before towering beings of blinding white light, each holding a glowing silver sword, their wings spread wide as ship sails in a storm.
Embers spiraled into the air alongside coils of black smoke.
Fire crackled as wooden houses collapsed into ash.
"No," I whispered, tears spilling down my face.
"NO!" I screamed.
A silver blade rang as it fell.
Daniel fell apart in two clean halves.
"NO!!!"
I gasped in a long breath, my eyes snapping open.
Sunlight filtering through the leaves struck my vision, and I squinted.
My gaze drifted left.
Minius was still walking beside us.
Hours had passed.
Morning had come.
I turned toward Khristen and saw her snapping the reins.
"Good morning," she said.
I groaned, pressing a palm against my forehead. "How long was I out?"
"Three hours," Khristen replied. "We're moving along the northern route now. We're almost at the border."
"Oh," I breathed.
"We saw some elves rushing along the route earlier. They were probably going after Corven and his men."
My eyes widened.
"We found some of them dead," she continued. "The ones meant to draw the elves out."
"Why didn't you wake me?" I asked.
"What would you have done?" Khristen said, turning to look at me.
I stayed silent, staring into her empty eyes.
She looked away.
"We hid in the bushes quietly," Khristen sighed. "Thankfully none of us were seen. But some of our men deserted. A large portion of the civilians fled."
My breath caught.
How could all of this have happened while I slept?
My heart suddenly sank. My gaze snapped back to Khristen.
"Where is Edith?" I asked, my voice sharp with panic.
"Right where you left her," Khristen replied calmly.
Before I could turn, arms wrapped around my neck from behind, her cheek pressed against mine.
"I was so scared!" Edith said.
My eyes shifted from Khristen to her.
The knot in my chest loosened, and a trembling breath left me.
I lifted my right hand and wrapped my fingers around her arm.
"I'm right here," I whispered. "I'm right here."
Khristen watched me for a long moment, then turned away.