One hour had passed since Marcy and Kiyan had "joined" me. Due to our exhaustion we were not making much progress. Especially I often lagged behind which meant the other two had to wait for me.
Our goal was a small town called Truwenreuth which was a one week walk away from us. Fortunately I knew the way from Grania to Truwenreuth very well. The side roads and surrounding forests even far better than the main roads.
It made sense that so shortly after our dramatic escape we wanted to use a smaller side road in order to avoid as many people as possible. We mostly walked alongside it and stayed in the shade of the forests. Bushes and cereal fields also offered a bit of protection.
The road was hardly more than a trampled down and oversized footpath. Countless potholes and deep ruts adorned the damp earth. The puddles that had formed in the potholes reflected the sky which was covered with clouds. Mud stuck to our boots like a second shoe and made progress even harder. On the edges grew tall grass in which crickets chirped. To our left there was a barley field that reminded of a golden sea.
Since I had fallen behind again Marcy stopped and looked at me while I caught up to her. Shortly after that Kiyan also stopped but he let his gaze attentively sweep over the surroundings.
"So why Truwenreuth of all places?" Marcy asked me and trudged alongside me.
I replied carefully:
"I know someone there who can help us across the border."
With a dry mouth and a heartbeat drumming in my ear I glanced over at her. After I had spoken these words she did not react at first. Her blue eyes clung to me without expression. It seemed as if she was trying to process my words. Every single moment of waiting made the tension in me grow bigger. Kiyan's two coloured eyes were also directed at me instantly. His eyes were only small slits and his forehead was furrowed.
Eventually Marcy's mouth formed a circle and her eyebrows shot upwards as she answered:
"That you know such people… Although does anything about you surprise me anymore?"
She furrowed her brows, smiled faintly and scratched her head with her fingertip.
"And who is supposed to be this shady person?" Kiyan on the other hand wanted to know. He now walked a few steps ahead of us.
While my fingertips brushed over the barley and my gaze wandered across the golden sea beside me I explained:
"A friend of the family. And he is not shady… only a little weird. But you can rest assured. Thanks to him we have crossed the border many times already."
The two stopped. Kiyan stared at me in disbelief and said:
"Wait, you have crossed the border before? Just like that?!"
Marcy also looked me up and down with her eyes wide open. I avoided their gazes and looked at the barley field again instead.
You can only give them such information in small bites Nova.
They kept pace with me. Though they rather let themselves fall a bit behind to not leave me hanging.
Just as I wanted to answer Kiyan hissed with a muffled voice:
"Quick get down!"
He and Marcy approached the barley field in a crouched position and knelt down in the damp grass. I followed the two while my knees began to tremble. Just as I wanted to crouch down next to Marcy my knees that had gone soft gave out. I landed somewhat roughly on my palms. The burning of the abrasions flared up again. I squeezed my eyes shut. The pleasant coolness of the grass however immediately eased the burning.
"Are you alright?" Marcy asked me. She had turned her head towards me and examined me with a worried looking expression. All colour had drained from her face. Because of her darker skin her dark circles had not been very visible before. But now they stood in high contrast to her eyes.
I nodded and tried to spot the reason for our hiding. But neither in front of nor behind us was anyone on the path. Marcy also looked around searchingly and whispered to Kiyan while her hands clawed into the grass:
"What did you see?"
"On the cross road ahead of us are four to five riders. Could be a patrol" he murmured so quietly that I had to make an effort to understand his words.
Marcy clung to Kiyan's cloak until her knuckles turned white. With her other hand she pulled her hood over her head and then held the fabric with her thumb and index finger as if she feared the wind could rip it off her head.
From the distance hoofbeats echoed again. Barely perceptible and yet the sound was clearly distinguishable. I had to concentrate hard because of my fast heartbeat to even be able to hear it. How was Kiyan able to spot them from this distance? I did know that a busier road would soon appear but my eyes had not yet been able to see it.
I lowered my head and breathed quietly but deeply.
A ladybug crawled on one of the brown greenish blades of grass. My attention focused on its tiny black dots that seemed to be dabbed onto its red shell. When I gently nudged it with my fingertip it fearlessly crawled onto my finger and then onto my hand. The crawling on my skin was very calming. It tickled and grounded me in this fear filled moment more than anything else could have. Then the little beetle spread its wings and disappeared into the blue of the sky.
Finally Kiyan rose almost silently while he signaled us with his outstretched palm to stay down. He did not straighten up completely but only just far enough so that he could peek past the barley.
"They are gone" Kiyan gave the all clear. Even his broad shoulders seemed to assume a more relaxed posture. While he reached out his hand to Marcy to help her up I also slowly got back up.
Over the rest of the day we repeatedly took breaks in stages. Often I was not able to walk more than three hours at a stretch and Marcy's steps also became increasingly arduous. At the beginning she had still pulled me along by my sleeve but now she herself would have needed someone to pull her. We also came across one or the other patrol but thanks to Kiyan's good eyes always early enough to hide beforehand.
Most of the time my thoughts revolved around Val and especially around Lucian. I was worried that Val had gotten into trouble. And I felt miserable because I had vanished without telling Lucian anything. The planned meeting had also fallen through which annoyed me greatly. But the strongest feeling that haunted me was fear. It was not fear for my life even though that was of course present as well. No I was much more afraid that Lucian could get himself into trouble if he found out what had happened. And if he found out what everyone thought I was. Would he think differently of me? Would he fear me the way most people did? Or would he even hate me?
At some point the sun slowly sank behind the fir forests. Therefore we had no choice but to make camp. Every step felt like walking on bare bones. As if I had worn down my sole so much that nothing of it was left.
On top of that my stomach had been loudly demanding a meal for hours. Even though I had learned to survive in the wilderness I had not been able to find anything edible in the last breaks. The exhaustion had been too great which was why I had always dozed off. Once even almost while standing.
We dragged ourselves into a forest for quite a bit in the half darkness. Luck seemed to continue to be on our side because we discovered a small brook at a suitable spot. The calming splashing had lured us. We drank from it greedily.
The trees stood close together in this part of the forest which hid us from curious eyes. Still I could not get rid of the feeling that a pair of eyes was stuck to my back. Carefully I looked around. Neither between the trees nor in the treetops could I make out any movement. And aside from the rustling of the wind and a few birds that were still singing I could not make out any sounds. Marcy and Kiyan both seemed to have noticed nothing so I dismissed the feeling as unfounded paranoia.
We decided that it was better not to make a fire. We were in the forest but the risk was still too great as long as we were still near the capital.
After she had drunk Marcy had walked over to one of the trees. She sat in its barely existing shadow and leaned her back against the bark. Her lids grew heavier and heavier until they closed and her head finally tilted forward. One blink of an eye later she tore her eyes open again before the game started from the beginning.
Kiyan went to her knelt down in front of her touched her lightly on the upper arm and murmured something to her.
I had been sitting next to the brook the entire time and looking over my shoulder. I sighed tiredly and directed my gaze towards the sky. The weak light of the stars was visible by now.
Then I heard Kiyan behind me say:
"I will take the watch for today."
"Okay wake me up in a few hours. Then I will relieve you" I answered and turned my head sideways to my shoulder so that I could see him. Because of the fatigue I already saw blurry and I had to stifle a yawn. I heaved myself up to also find a suitable spot to sleep.
When I turned around I met his cool watchful eyes. A deep crease had formed between his brows and his lips were pressed together his hands clenched into fists.
At first I feared I had angered him. But what hit me was pure aversion. My body tensed up at this sight. My gaze went to Marcy but she was already lying on the ground wrapped in her cloak and fast asleep.
Then I heard Kiyan force out:
"One thing I want to make clear."
I flinched at his words. My exhaustion left me and my mind was suddenly wide awake again.
"If you should put Marcy in danger or do anything else that could harm her I will not hesitate to kill you" he stated quietly.
My breathing quickened and my stomach tightened.
"So you will not take any night watch. That will remain my task alone."
Then he turned his back on me and picked out a suitable tree opposite of Marcy. He sat down in front of it cross legged. He had his sword lying across his legs with always one hand resting on it.
I swallowed dryly. This would be a very long journey.
Whether I had laid down after that or had fallen over before that I no longer knew.
The next morning I woke up because the first sun rays which had found their way through the needle roof of the forest were already blinding me. I blinked a few times sleepily.
I no longer remembered how I had gotten here. Why had I spent the night in the forest? How had I gotten here?
But suddenly I shot up when the memories returned. My breathing became erratic and my heart seemed to race. A feeling of tightness spread in my chest. I bent forward in the hope of getting air more easily. The hunger from last night had given way to a great nausea.
The exhaustion of the last days still weighed heavily on me and even staying upright was exhausting. The forest floor had done its part which was why it contributed a portion of the pain. A root must have pressed against my back because one spot reported a dull yet very annoying pain.
I felt one hundred years older. Now I understood why the old people always complained about their physical condition.
While my ears perceived the gentle birdsong and the soft splashing of the brook I looked around for the others. At the tree where Kiyan had sat last night no one was to be found anymore and Marcy next to me also seemed to have disappeared.
For a fleeting moment I thought they had left me behind. On the one hand the thought gave my already agitated heart a stab but at the same time I caught myself thinking that it would be better for them.
But then I caught a barely noticeable movement at the brook from the corner of my eye. A quiet sniff was audible. I turned my head to the left to see who or what was there.
It was Marcy. She sat with her back to me on a smaller stone that was just large enough to sit on. Her far too large cloak that Kiyan had lent her poured behind her over the ground like a waterfall.
I tried to get up. But I only managed to crouch before I plopped back onto the dry ground. After several attempts and a bit of momentum I finally managed to stand up. My body trembled strongly as I swung myself up groaning. Still slightly wobbly on my legs I made my way along the trees.
Another sniff.
"Are you alright?" I asked uncertainly. In the same moment it became clear to me what a stupid and unnecessary question that had been. I had to admit that I had no idea how to comfort someone.
Marcy for her part seemed to have only noticed me now and turned to me with a caught expression. She quickly wiped a few of the tears from her cheek. But her red eyes spoke for themselves.
Slowly and very carefully I crouched down next to her and let myself plump onto my backside without elegance. I groaned at the rough landing.
Then I pulled my legs up to my body just enough that the boots did not stick into the water of the brook. I clasped my knees so that my legs would not open up again because my muscles were not yet as flexible as I was used to.
Marcy sniffed:
"Yes… well no."
Worried she watched the water in the brook. But no further words passed over her slightly trembling lips. Her hands rested tense on her lilac colored dress. From time to time she plucked nervously at the little skins next to her fingernails.
While she stared at her hands I lifted my hand but paused above her shoulder before letting it sink again. I could not think of even a few comforting words. But what do you say to a person who had simply lost everything?
For a moment we both remained silent. I would have loved to know what exactly had happened last night. But even to me it seemed insensitive to ask her about it now. Though I had to admit that it would have been extremely useful to have the same information she had. On the other hand I also did not reveal everything. So what gave me the right to ask?
Marcy who apparently tried to distract herself suddenly croaked:
"How do you actually know where we have to go? We do not even have a map."
At her question my brows furrowed briefly. Then I remembered who I had sitting next to me. Of course she could not know.
"Maps are very expensive. Besides there are other ways to navigate. Signposts or noticeable landscape features help a lot. But I mainly know the way because I have walked it one time or another" I explained.
She stared at the water glistening in the morning light and remained silent. I had no idea what was going on in her head.
So I changed the subject and asked:
"Where is Kiyan actually?"
While asking my question I looked around our resting place. There was still no trace of him.
"He left earlier to look around nearby and erase the remaining traces. Yesterday evening it was too dark for that" she explained curtly.
"I see" I replied.
Again we both fell silent. The silence was finally interrupted after a while by my growling stomach. I grimaced. Were you not nauseous just now stomach?
Even the pain was manageable by now.
Marcy had of course heard the sound and briefly looked at me when it had occurred.
"Are you also this hungry?" I asked with an apologetic smile.
Marcy shook her head. But exactly in that instant her loudly growling stomach betrayed her as well. She looked up startled and blushed immediately.
"I will surely find some edible berries or so" I said and carefully got up to go looking.
Before I could leave Marcy held on to my cloak and said:
"Can you please stay here? Only until Kiyan is back?"
I had not planned to move far away from her but I decided to sit down next to her again. If it helped her then there was nothing against it.
"Actually I am not that hungry either" I lied and gave her the most reassuring smile I could.
Basically that was not a complete lie. My stomach did demand a meal but as was probably also the case for Marcy I mostly did not feel like eating. However our journey would not end anytime soon. An adequate supply of food was therefore indispensable.
Shortly after that Kiyan returned again. The hood pulled over his face just like the day before.
Towards the afternoon we came along the river to Truwenreuth. A part of the river also led through the forest but in order to reach the bank we had to slide down an embankment. I was the first one to attempt it. Carefully I set one foot in front of the other. But then the soft clayey ground gave way beneath my feet which caused me to fall onto my backside and slide down. With my right hand I managed to hold on to a root so I would not reach the ground uncontrolled and harder than intended. With one hand clawed into the soft ground I slid the last part all the way down.
Once I arrived at the bottom and completely filthy I realised that Kiyan and Marcy were already there. Marcy looked at me apologetically with a faint smile while Kiyan had already sat down on a stone by the bank.
Marcy held out her hand and helped me up. Her hand felt very soft and smooth. They were a strong contrast to my rough hands.
"How did you get down so quickly?" I asked her with raised brows.
She answered:
"Kiyan jumped down with me. I am sorry that you had to make the way on your own."
"No matter" I said with a shrug. I meant it. I preferred to handle things like that alone. After all I had been raised to be independent. Even if it would have been nice not to land in the dirt.
Since I could not remember the last time I had eaten something I decided to procure food.
Suspiciously I looked around because I felt the eyes in my back again. But I could not make out anything. Only the sound of a bird that flapped its wings and had made me flinch had been audible. I threw my head back and just saw how a bird rose into the sky above me. Due to the sun it had not been much more than a shadow. It seemed a little bigger than the common birds in Grania. But when I rubbed my eyes uncertainly and searched the sky for the bird again it had already disappeared. The remaining birds in the forest continued to sing their songs. I pushed aside the eerie feeling that made me believe I was being watched and turned back to the river.
The river's calm water gleamed in the sun. Near Kiyan there was a rise which created a small waterfall that tinkled onto the smooth stones below. The water was crystal clear. I watched fish moving in it.
Marcy drank some water and then slumped down next to Kiyan with a groan. It was plain to see that they were exhausted.
In the meantime I scanned the surroundings. It had not rained recently which now worked to our advantage. A little way from our temporary camp I finally found a longer and fairly thick stick. When I picked it up a few worms and beetles curled beneath it. Some still clung to the branch. I shook them off, sat down on the riverbank in the dirt and laid the branch across my lap. The bark at the front part of the branch fit fairly loosely around it. I peeled it off with my fingers. I did nick myself under the nails which caused an unpleasant stinging pain but it was worth it. Normally I had always been glad to keep my nails short. Yet in that moment I wished I had left them a bit longer.
I heard Marcy ask:
"What are you doing there?"
"Getting food," I said and drew my sword from its sheath. My father would have torn the non existent hair from his head if he could see me now. But anything was better than collapsing on the road.
Somewhat clumsily I set to work with the blade on the tip of the stick which earned me a few skewed looks from Kiyan. He left my misuse of the sword uncommented, leaned forward on his stone and rested his head on his arm. His eyes slid over the water surface.
When my masterpiece was finished I took off my boots rolled my black trousers up as far as possible and left my cloak on the bank. Then I stepped carefully into the water. The water felt almost icy on my sensitive skin. A shiver ran through me but I waded into the river until the water reached almost to my hips. I felt a few fish brush my legs as they fled from me. The river rounded stones under my feet felt smooth and slippery. Some pressed unpleasantly against the soles of my feet.
Then I lifted my homemade spear into the air and waited. From the corner of my eye I saw Marcy leaning forward in anticipation.
I stood there quietly. Firm on my feet like a tree firmly rooted in a storm. After a while the fish behaved quite normally. I was cold which gave me goosebumps. I forced myself to hold back the trembling that came with it.
Then I saw my chance. My spear broke the surface of the water and rushed toward my prey. But at the last moment the fish dodged elegantly to the side and fled. I lifted my spear again and waited. Every muscle in my body tensed.
After a full hour I had finally caught several fish. When I returned to the bank I saw that Kiyan had fallen asleep while still sitting with his head supported by his hand. Marcy had in the meantime been kind enough to gather some dry branches and some foliage.
It was still dangerous to light a fire but we urgently needed something to eat. As long as I did not let the fire get too big the risk should be lower.
While I gutted the fish and Marcy prepared the campfire we let Kiyan sleep.
After Marcy was done she offered me her help but I politely declined.
"How do you know all of this?" Marcy asked and leaned forward slightly. She sat next to me and the not yet burning campfire while she propped herself up on her knees with her arms.
I answered:
"Well you learn things like that in the countryside."
A surprised "Oh" followed from her.
Then I skewered the hollowed out fish on small sticks that I stuck into the soft earth.
Marcy's pile of wood was made more neatly than I had expected from her. She had leaned some smaller branches diagonally against each other. She had placed stones around them. From a princess I would rather have expected that she did not know how to do something like that.
I placed both of my palms close above the wood. Then I focused on my breathing and the warmth rising inside me. A faint tingling appeared in my fingertips as if small burning ants were crawling on them. The heat on my palms became more intense which caused a gentle burning on my skin. With clenched teeth I forced the heat to the place I had chosen for it. Small sparks formed around the branches until a thin wisp of smoke rose and a small flame ravenously ate through the dry wood.
Marcy had watched me all the time with wide round eyes. When the fire had appeared out of nowhere she sharply sucked the air around her in while she straightened her back.
A few moments later Kiyan awoke because the wind had blown some smoke into his face. He looked around tiredly but did not say anything about our fire. When the fish was done I offered him one as well.
But he said while he declined my offer with a dismissive gesture:
"No thank you."
I examined him and tilted my head the fish still stretched out towards him. I had caught enough for all of us so I did not understand why he did not want to eat anything. He would also need his strength.
Finally Marcy cleared it up for me:
"Elementaris cannot eat meat or fish. That only makes him throw up."
"Oh" I said while placing my hand on my neck "Sorry I did not know that."
A bad conscience overcame me because I had nothing else to offer him. But unfortunately I had not found any edible berries or mushrooms in nature all day.
Before we set off I extinguished the fire and tried to erase the traces again as best as I could. Luckily our lunch had not attracted anyone so far. Only a deer had shown itself on the other side of the bank but when it saw us it jumped hastily back into the thicket and left us alone again.
A part of the river continued to run through this forest so we followed it as long as the forest offered us protection. After that our path led us closer to the roads again.
For the rest of the day we encountered two more patrols as well as a few travelers. Among them a merchant with his wagon a small family with a donkey that carried some sacks and a small group of young people on horses. We avoided most of them. But with the merchant and the family we stayed on the road though with our hoods pulled up. We behaved as relaxed as possible in order not to attract too much attention.
The next days we spent with the exhausting journey to Truwenreuth. After only a few days countless blisters grew on the soles of our feet which already hurt from the long march.
And even Kiyan who otherwise hardly showed weakness looked more and more exhausted and moved with more effort. He did not let himself be relieved from the night watch for a single night and therefore slept occasionally in the small breaks we took during the day. At the beginning Marcy and I had protested but he had been unyielding and as stubborn as a donkey.
I doubt that he ever managed to sleep more than three hours a day. But still he kept on his feet bravely day after day and was still more energetic than Marcy and I. But the exhaustion also brought something good with it we were far too tired in this way to think about the threat hanging over us.
At that time we could not foresee what awaited us. Maybe that was better.
Normally even when taking our slow pace into account we would have needed six to seven days to get to Truwenreuth.
We found ourselves somewhere between endless plains with scattered groups of trees that looked very similar to each other. Because of this neither the others nor I knew where we even were and whether we were still on the right path. There was no point anywhere that we could have used to orient ourselves.
I had already noticed that we might have lost our way but Kiyan was the first to say it out loud:
"We seem to have lost our way. Were we not here once already?"
"Yes I am afraid so" I agreed with him. I was currently walking a small distance ahead of the two.
"I knew it was a bad idea to leave the road" he said. There was annoyance in his voice.
"If we had not left it we would have reached the main road" I threw in. I looked at him over my shoulder. His eyes looked cool and stern. His brows were slightly furrowed which made his expression look very accusatory. I turned my gaze back forward and tried to find a reference point that could help us orient ourselves.
"Why do you only say this now? We could have looked for a better solution. Maybe there would have been another way. But instead we ended up somewhere in the wilderness. Every day is precious. We do not have time for something like this" he criticized.
Then I heard Marcy join the conversation:
"Complaining does not help us now either. I am sure we will find the right path again. We had to hide from so many patrols… you can lose your orientation then."
"I am not complaining this is a fact. We simply should not have listened to Nova. Every smallest mistake could put us in danger" he contradicted with a slight tremor in his voice.
I bit my lip while my fists clenched under my cloak. All of this frustrated me. Not only because his remark had hurt me but also because I had always tried my best to get us through this as safely as possible.
"That does not help us now either. Besides she tries so hard and has done so much for us even though she would not be obligated to do so. Be a bit more grateful and be considerate of her feelings already" Marcy defended me with a raised voice. She sounded extremely annoyed. But her words did not make me feel any better.
"Her feelings really do not matter to me. My only goal is to make sure that you are safe" he said in a cuttingly cool voice.
Marcy then really dove into the argument even more which I had long since checked out of. Their voices blurred with the background.
At some point Marcy could not bear Kiyan's presence any longer which is why she stormed up to me and walked beside me. From then on icy silence reigned over the group.
Half a day later we finally found a signpost that led us back onto the right path. Because of the whole incident we had almost lost an entire day.
The next day shortly before noon we finally reached Truwenreuth.
In front of the city gates there was a long queue. Many merchants with their wagons and other travelers were lined up in it. I did not quite understand why this had even formed since this had never happened before. Only in large cities queues like this often formed because of the controls.
Additionally there were not only the usual city guards but at least ten more guards present. In contrast to the ordinary soldiers they were riding noble horses. Both their partial armor consisting of breastplates and shoulder pieces made of polished steel and the equipment of the horses displayed an emblem. A shield with two crossed swords above it.
I knew the emblem. It definitely belonged to the banner family Veylan. One of the highest aristocratic ranks that existed in Grania. Every banner family possessed its own special field. And the one of the banner family Veylan was their military strength.
Truwenreuth did already fall into their jurisdiction but I had still hoped not to encounter them in such large numbers. In small places like this you would otherwise only see them on special occasions. Or when there was trouble.
Halfway to the queue where we wanted to join at the back I stopped. Turning to the two of them I said in a voice that was barely more than a whisper because I feared choosing the wrong words:
"The hoods… it would be suspicious if we all wore one."
All colour had drained from Marcy's face again. Her thick long eyelashes blinked several times quickly after I had said that.
Kiyan furrowed his brow and seemed to think.
I continued:
"I will take mine off."
"Should I take mine off too?" Marcy asked uncertainly. She looked restlessly back and forth between me and Kiyan. Her fingers were intertwined. The tension in her hands was visible. They seemed practically cramped.
I pulled my hood down and shook my head:
"There is a risk that you will be recognised."
Marcy threw a sideways glance at Kiyan but without saying it out loud it was clear to all of us that Kiyan must not take his hood off under any circumstances either.
Strenuously I searched in every corner of my mind for a suitable solution. Of course we could try it like this and hope that two worn hoods would not appear suspicious to the soldiers. But what if things went wrong?
Kiyan still looked thoughtful while Marcy had her gaze fixed on the queue at the other end of the path. She played with her fingers and did not blink once. A small crease had formed between her brows.
Then I said dryly:
"We should not do it. The risk is too great."
"But how are we supposed to get across the border then?" Marcy replied and looked at me out of the corner of her eye. A wind blew through the landscape and revealed some of her dark curls that had fallen out of her hood.
For a few blinks no one said anything. In fact I did not know of any other way to get across the border either. Due to natural barriers the options were very limited. So we urgently needed someone who had such contacts.
"So what now? Do you want to try it or leave it?" I finally asked. I looked back and forth between the two.
"I see no other possibility" Kiyan sighed.
Marcy also nodded barely noticeably and said:
"Nothing better comes to my mind either."
"Okay then we will try it" I said and looked determinedly toward the city gates.