The fire in the middle of the fortress was lighted up almost all of the main yard. Soldiers gathered around it, warming themselves.
Inside the building, Regis set on the chair. Nervous, as he couldn't do anything but to sit and wait. Lord migo with some beautiful words was trying to cheer him up. But Regis expression didn't change much.
Lord Losh, who had been staring through a crack in the door at the snowy courtyard, finally stepped back inside. He took a long sip from his cup of wine, exhaled, then muttered:
"At this rate, she is probably dead."
No sadness. No concern. No hesitation.
He surged forward like a beast released from a cage, fury burning in his eyes—but Count Migo caught him mid-stride, gripping his shoulders tightly.
" Losh," Regis Shouted, Voice breaking and full of agony "you better shut your damn mouth or ill cut your tongue out."
" Calm down sir." Said migo calmly.
Losh smirked, walked to the door
" Im just telling the truth, the girl is dead by now."
He slammed the wooden Door shut as he left the room.
Regis looked pale. He had not eaten in two days; the shadows under his eyes were dark and sunken. Every few minutes he turned toward the snowy forest outside—as if expecting Bell to appear out of the darkness at any moment.
Edward kept pushing forward through the snow, his boots soaked through, his legs trembling with every step
Near dawn, he finally found something: a torn piece of the duchess's dress, caught on a branch and nearly blown away by the wind. He snatched it before it drifted off.
beneath the same tree, faint footprints marked the ground—almost erased by snowfall, but not completely.
"A group of Orcs dragged her through here," Edward muttered, crouching to study the prints. "Then forced her to walk on her own two feet… half a day ahead."
He stood quickly, a surge of energy pushing through the exhaustion, and continued forward with the speed of a wild boar cutting through underbrush.
Hours passed. Edward stopped only once, just long enough to catch his breath. He knew that when he found the duchess, he would need every ounce of strength he had left.
He didn't dare make a fire—the smoke could give him away.
"I must take haste," he whispered, chewing a piece of dry jerky before pushing on.
In the mean while inside the cave. Two of the Orcs were eating the little remained of their food . Few had left to hunt, one was guarding the entrance.
Her dress was soaked in blood and mud. Her wounds throbbed with a deep, burning pain. She hadn't tasted food or water for two days; consciousness came and went in flickers.
But she couldn't endure the thirst and hunger anymore.
She opened her mouth. Her voice frail and trembling.
" S Si ….. Sir"
Her sound was barely more than a breath. But the Orcs heard it.
The Orc looked at her in agony, with a loud and rough voice yelled
" what you want Human? Ready to give us some of your flesh?" He barked a laugh
Bell shrank back, shivering harder.
" Can … Can I …"
" Can you what?" he roared. Stepping toward her.
" Can I have some …. Water please."
The Orc reached for a water-skin. And stepped toward her. Standing right above her.
He upended the skin and dumped it over her, soaking her hair and clothes. The cold water splashed across the floor, forming a small puddle of mud beside her.
" There, lick of the ground
They laughed as Bell, driven by thirst stronger than pride, lowered her face and began to lap the filthy puddle. She coughed but didn't stop.
A moment later, another Orc walked over, Holding a second water-skin
he crouched close, grabbed her cheeks in one hand, and forced her jaw open.
"I have a more delicious type of water for you, girl."
He poured the thick liquid in her mouth,
It was blood or something similar to it.
Bell gagged and pulled her head away, but some of it had already gone down her throat
"A bad girl, aren't you?" he growled. "You should finish your drink."
He then poured the rest over her head and shoulders, drenching her in the sticky red fluid.
" make sure to enjoy it woman. When we take you to the king. You will wish you were staying with us."
He laughed and walked away
leaving her trembling violently—partly from cold, mostly from terror. Her fingers and toes were going numb; she couldn't feel them anymore.
Her wounds were swollen, open.
Inside, something was cracking—hope, fading into blackness.
" we move in the middle of the night." Shouted one of the Orcs from outside. "Using darkness to hide us from the humans."
A chorus of guttural roars filled the cave in response.
Edward who was still following the Track reached a small hill.
The sun was already slipping behind the mountains, bleeding orange light across the snow.
He crouched low, his breath misting in the freezing air.
An Orc appeared at the top of the hill—carrying three rabbits and a squirrel slung over its shoulder.
Edward immediately recognized the faint scent of Bell's perfume on the torn fabric he carried.
" This must be it." He thought to himself. " But I cant go back for help, im already to deep."
He walked a few Steps Closer. Close enough to hear the orcs walk. But he heard no sound of crying, struggling… no sign of Bells voice.
Was it the right palace?
Or it is just a decoy.
to make the scouts distracted while the real Group of Orcs are taking her to their land and to their king.
Edward's jaw clenched.
He didn't know.
But he had no other choice.
As the sun went down, Edward stayed hidden behind the Trees and bushes, waiting to go inside in the cover of the night.
The Orcs gathered their belongings, arguing loudly and throwing bones aside.
Bell remained on the cold stone floor, soaked with water and blood.
The mixture dripped from her hair and clothes.
Her breaths grew shallow. Her wounds pulsed with fever.
Tears welled in her eyes as the Orcs argue among themselves.
" We must move fast." One of the barked "if we bring this whore to the king. He will praise us."
The others burst into laughter, glancing at Bell with feral hunger.
" Now start to pack things" The leader said. "And you two go stay guard on the Outside. No moving creature will get close to our belonging" he said this while looking their precious prize.
Two Orcs marched out of the cave. The others continued preparing for the night march.
Bell curled into herself on the stone, shaking uncontrollably.. Every breath felt like knives in her chest.
Edward Observing the surrounding, searching for the perfect angle to strike from.
Then suddenly—he felt warm, heavy breath against the back of his neck.
He Froze.
Slowly, very slowly he turned his face.
A juvenile Echofang stood behind him
Not fully grown, but still strong enough to tear a man apart in seconds.
Its long fangs glimmered.
Its violet-and-black fur bristled.
It sniffed him—curious, hungry, silent.
Edward didn't move.
Not a breath.
The beast circled him, inhaling sharply.
Then its gaze locked onto Edward's bag.
It took Edward a few seconds to realize it.
"Oh… so that's what you want," he whispered carefully.
He pulled out two pieces of jerky and tossed them gently.
The Echofang leaped forward, devouring them in seconds.
Only then did Edward breathe again.
He observed the creature—young, fast, magical. A fully grown Echofang could outrun arrows and strike before a man even saw it.
But this wasn't the time to admire beasts.
As we drew his sword he walked toward the Hill. Revealing the smoke caused by the fire, drifted from a small opening.
Edward slowly approached the vent. The thick black smoke almost blocked the sight, But Edward managed to see a glance of the duchess.
He moved swiftly toward the entrance, crouching low.
One Orc stood guard.
It didn't even have time to scream.
Edward leapt, drove his sword down, and pierced its skull, killing it instantly.
The impact echoed—just enough for the second guard deeper in the tunnel to hear.
It stepped forward cautiously, spear ready.
The moment it spotted Edward, it thrust the spear with a sharp cry.
But Edward was faster, He dropped low. Sliding on the dirt. The spear sliced the air above him. Before the Orc could strike again, Edward Surged Forward.
Severed its head off his shoulder then, He moved deeper inside.