"What's the plan then?" Ryan asked.
"You will rest, and we need to prepare supplies and the group," Aldric replied, his voice now having lost most of its anger. "I informed the rest of the men that will escort you-who are currently busy-to abandon their missions, they will arrive soon to take you to the capital. You'll move under the cover of darkness to avoid detection by a possible second spy."
"Rest while you can, and bring clothes ready for cold weather. You leave in-" Aldric reached into his pocket and brought out a heavy ornate watch. "Six hours." With that, the general turned on his heel and left the room, his heavy footsteps echoing down the corridor.
As the general left, two guards came in taking his place. Ryan let out a sigh, sinking back into the pillows.
"Good afternoon, Ryan. I'll be one of the guards taking you across the mountains." One of the soldiers said, the other remaining reserved. The guard talking was middle aged, seemingly quite a veteran.
"Pleased to meet you," Ryan replied, though his mind was still focused on Aldric's words.
The middle aged soldier then looked at the tray next to Ryan. "I'll bring you some new food," he took the old food with poison and walked to the door, but turned before he left and said, "which will not be poisoned."
Ryan let out a light chuckle.
If the food is poisoned, again, then I will encourage General Aldric to resign!
After a few minutes of stewing in his own thoughts, thinking back to his own world, a knock came at the door, followed by the same middle-aged soldier carrying a plate of steaming hot food.
"Ryan," the soldier nodded, placing the tray of food on a bedside table.
Ryan nodded back, and the soldiers stayed next to the door, focused on the window and the entrance.
Ryan looked down at the plate of succulent meat and some kind of orange vegetable. Which he quickly discovered was, of course, delicious and thankfully not poisoned.
After sweeping the tray of food clean, Ryan went back to pondering.
Well, I slept for three days so there is no need to sleep now. I guess I could catch up on my meditation.
Ryan stretched his stiff arms and legs, then sat up and crossed them. His eye's slowly closed and his mind began searching for that warm, yellow energy.
Ryan had been meditating for hours, letting the warm, comforting light mana flow through him, when a gentle knock interrupted his focus. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking as he adjusted to the dim light in the room. The door creaked open, and Eleanor slipped inside, her expression a mix of concern and determination.
"Ryan," she said, her voice pulling him out of his meditative state. "The preparations are complete. The soldiers are ready, and General Aldric wants to move out soon."
Ryan took a deep breath, letting the last traces of his meditation fade away. "I'm ready. How long do we have?"
Eleanor glanced at the small window, where the faint light of dusk was just beginning to dim. "Not long. Aldric wants to leave at sunset, so we'll be moving out in the next half hour."
Ryan swung his legs over the side of the bed, testing his strength. The pain in his abdomen had dulled to a manageable ache, thanks to the healer's work and his own efforts. He stretched his limbs. "I'm good to go."
Eleanor smiled, though there was a hint of tension in her eyes. "I'm glad to hear it. We'll need to be quick and quiet." Now closer, Ryan could see that Eleanor was wearing some new clothes, a camouflaged jacket, as well as camouflaged shirt and trousers. She also had a black duffle bag accompanying her.
Ryan nodded, "I understand."
She gave him a firm nod, the steel in her gaze matching his own resolve. "Great," she loosened her duffle bag and reached in, grabbing a jacket and pair of boots similar to her own. "Wear these."
Ryan hurriedly put on the new clothes and then gathered his pitifully small amount of belongings—the wrinkled suit he had arrived in this world with and a carton of water. He then shoved his items into a spare duffle bag Eleanor had.
Eleanor watched him for a moment before speaking again. "Ready?"
"Let's go."
With that, they left the room together, the sounds of the bustling fortress around them a stark contrast to the quiet tension that lay beneath the surface.
Ryan took in the sights of his final moments in the mountain camp. Even though it was late and the sun was already deep below the horizon, the camp was still bustling with activity. Candles lit up the numerous buildings, soldiers carried supplies around, others prepared to release the scouts at the front. Some were hurrying to the food hall to grab some food before it was all gone.
Then suddenly, "BOOM."
A massive explosion, coming from toward the Elven border.