Chapter 6 : The Price of the Road
They did not speak for a long time after leaving Stonehaven behind.
The road north was narrow and broken, winding along the river's edge before climbing into open highlands. Dawn crept slowly across the sky, painting the clouds in pale shades of ash and gold. Behind them, the city was no longer visible—only a faint glow on the horizon, like a wound that refused to close.
Arin walked with his head down.
Each step felt heavier than the last. The image of the tower tearing itself free from stone replayed endlessly in his mind, accompanied by the screams he had heard echoing through the streets as they fled.
Stonehaven still stands, Kael had said.
Not anymore.
"Enough," Elowen said at last.
They stopped.
The wind swept across the high ground, tugging at cloaks and carrying the scent of cold water and scorched stone. Brom leaned on his axe, breathing heavily. Kael turned, expression guarded. Seris stood very still, staff planted firmly in the earth. Corven lingered a short distance away, as if already expecting what came next.
Elowen faced them, eyes sharp as drawn steel. "We settle this now."
"Settle what?" Brom asked, though his tone suggested he knew.
"The lie," Elowen said. "And the cost."
Her gaze locked on Corven.
"You used us," she continued. "You knew the city would fall."
Corven did not flinch. "I knew it would change."
"Don't dress it up," Kael snapped. "People died."
"Yes," Corven said quietly. "They would have died anyway. Slowly. Quietly. Consumed."
"You don't know that," Elowen said.
"I do," Corven replied. "Because I've seen it before."
Seris turned her head slightly. "Where?"
"In Valcaryn," Corven said. "Fifty years ago. Different city. Same flame."
Silence fell.
Arin felt a hollow ache in his chest. "Then why didn't you tell us?"
Corven looked at him. "Because you would have tried to save it."
"And that's wrong?" Arin demanded.
"No," Corven said. "It's human. And it would have failed."
Brom growled. "I don't like your kind of truth."
Elowen's fingers tightened around her bow. "We should leave him here."
Corven met her gaze steadily. "You could. And you would die before winter."
That earned him several blades inches from his throat.
"Enough," Seris said sharply.
She stepped between them, eyes burning with restrained fury. "We are all stained by Stonehaven. Arguing over who bled more will not clean our hands."
She turned to Corven. "But if you stay, there are terms."
Corven inclined his head. "Name them."
"No more half-truths," Seris said. "No more sacrifices made without consent."
Corven hesitated.
Arin noticed.
"That's not something you're used to," Arin said quietly.
Corven studied him for a long moment. Then he nodded. "Very well."
Elowen did not look satisfied. But she lowered her bow.
"For now," she said.
---
They made camp before noon.
The land here was open, rolling hills dotted with low stone outcroppings and scrub grass bent by the wind. From the crest of a rise, Arin could see for miles—no cities, no towers. Just road, river, and sky.
It should have felt freeing.
Instead, it felt exposed.
Arin sat apart from the others, turning the crystal over in his hands. It no longer burned, but its warmth was constant, like a heartbeat not his own.
You carry it.
The thought sent a shiver through him.
"You're going to break it if you stare that hard."
He looked up to find Kael standing nearby, arms crossed.
"I wish I could," Arin said.
Kael snorted. "Careful what you wish for."
They stood in silence for a while.
"Do you hate me?" Arin asked suddenly.
Kael blinked. "That's a strange question."
"You saw what happened," Arin said. "In the city. Because of me."
Kael leaned against a rock. "Because of the road. Because of Corven. Because of a dozen things stacked badly together."
"That's not an answer."
Kael sighed. "No. I don't hate you. I'm afraid of what you carry. That's different."
Arin nodded. "I'm afraid too."
"Good," Kael said. "Means you're still thinking."
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
Elowen was on her feet instantly, bow drawn.
"Riders," she said. "Three. No—four."
Brom cursed. "That was quick."
Arin's heart leapt into his throat. "From Stonehaven?"
"No," Elowen said slowly. "Worse."
The riders crested the far hill moments later—armored men on lean horses, their cloaks bearing no city sigil. Instead, each wore a simple metal disc at the throat, etched with a single symbol: an open eye.
Corven stiffened.
"Seekers," he muttered.
Seris's eyes narrowed. "Of course."
"Who are they?" Arin asked.
"Men who believe the world belongs to those who understand it," Corven said grimly. "And that anything old should be claimed—or destroyed."
The riders approached at an unhurried pace, confidence in every movement. Their leader dismounted smoothly, helm tucked under his arm. He was tall, broad-shouldered, his hair bound back in a warrior's knot. His eyes swept over the group, lingering on Arin.
"Well," the man said pleasantly. "We're not too late."
Kael stepped forward. "Road's closed."
The man smiled. "Roads don't close. They change owners."
His gaze fixed on Arin's satchel. "You're carrying something that doesn't belong to you, boy."
Arin felt the crystal stir.
"It belonged to my father," he said, voice shaking but firm. "And it doesn't belong to you."
The man chuckled. "Everything belongs to someone stronger."
Brom growled and hefted his axe. "I'm gettin' real tired of that idea."
The leader raised a hand. "Easy. No need for bloodshed."
Behind him, one of the Seekers notched a bolt into a crossbow anyway.
Elowen loosed her arrow without warning.
The bolt flew harmlessly wide as the Seeker fell, an arrow buried deep in his throat. Chaos exploded instantly.
Kael charged, blade flashing. Brom roared and met the nearest rider head-on, axe biting into armor with bone-shaking force. Seris slammed her staff into the ground, weaving sigils that twisted the air and sent two horses rearing in panic.
Arin backed away, heart hammering.
The leader moved fast—far faster than a man in armor should. He closed the distance between them in seconds, sword singing as it slashed.
Arin barely dodged.
"You don't know what you're holding," the man said, pressing the attack. "Give it to me, and you might live."
"No," Arin gasped.
The leader struck again.
Light flared.
Not outward—inward.
The crystal burned cold-hot in Arin's chest, and suddenly the world slowed. He saw the angle of the blade, the tension in the man's shoulders, the opening—
He moved.
Arin twisted aside and shoved his palm forward instinctively.
Light surged—not violently, but precisely.
The leader was thrown backward as though struck by an invisible wall, crashing into the ground with a strangled cry. His armor smoked faintly where the light had touched it.
The remaining Seekers faltered.
"Fall back!" one shouted.
They did.
Within moments, the road was silent again, save for ragged breathing and the whimper of a wounded horse.
Arin stood frozen, staring at his hands.
"I didn't mean to—"
"You meant to survive," Seris said, coming to his side. "That's enough."
Kael wiped blood from his blade. "They'll be back."
Corven nodded grimly. "And next time, they won't underestimate you."
Elowen retrieved her arrows, expression unreadable. "Now the world knows."
Arin looked at the road stretching endlessly north.
The weight of companions pressed in around him—not as a burden, but as a responsibility.
Stonehaven had been the end of his old life.
This—
This was the beginning of the price.
And the road, indifferent and endless, waited to collect it.