She thought she was dreaming, but there was no dreaming a dread like this one. The Marquis' aura was unmistakable. Damia awoke from her sleep and sat up slowly. She looked over to Alf who was also sitting up.
"You feel it too, Damia?" Alf had set up a barrier before falling asleep that would notify him if anyone came through the forest and it had woken him up.
"Wait, you mean you feel that aura?"
"Aura?" Alf was surprised. "No, I just meant the forest barrier being disturbed. Someone's walking toward the cave. Get ready." He started reaching over for his sword.
"No need. I'm pretty sure I know who is here. He won't attack. At least, I don't think."
Skeptical, Alf hesitated to listen to her, but he stood, leaving his weapons behind. "As you say, but the concern on your face makes me worry all the same. You wait here."
Alf walked out of the cave to face the people that were approaching. The sun was starting to rise now, making it easier to see the approaching party. Among them, he could see Alcippe.
"What business did you have here?" Alf addressed them with a cold, stern demeanor.
All four men were now on foot, guiding their horses, and Elric took lead this time. "There is a female traveler with you. I am here for her."
"What is your relation to her, that I should entrust her to you?"
Damia recognized Elric's voice and wondered why he would have come all this way with the Marquis, but she feared that he might reveal her identity as a princess and she wasn't ready to let Alf find that out so she jumped up from her resting spot and stood next to Alf. "He can be trusted, Alf." Hoping Elric would understand that she did not want to reveal her identity she added, "He's a friend from my home village."
Alf regarded her curiously. The way she appeared earlier, he had not expected her to say that any of those in the party could be trusted. Nor did he think that she would present herself to them in such a manner.
Damia progressed forward, a few steps in front of Alf, but not much farther. Elric caught on to an underlying message in Damia's statement, but he wasn't exactly sure what it was; did she not want to be revealed as the Princess of Wesdon, or did she read the journal and that was why she did not claim him as her brother? Hoping that it was the former, he replied, "Damia, your father will be cross with me if I return without you. Would you wish me to suffer the consequences of such an act?"
Damia was relieved he did not reveal anything in his comment. It was then that she noticed Adi was with him as well and she was filled with joy at seeing him after leaving the castle. Having completely forgotten what initiated her quest in the first place, and not thinking that Adi might be upset with her, she took off running to greet him.
Adi started stepping forward as well to meet her, but Alcippe misunderstanding Damia's actions for an attack, moved in front of him and raised a rock wall to block Damia's path. "I'll protect you."
Adi was a gentleman, through and through, but his chivalry had never been tested in such a manner before. The moment he saw the walk wall forming, the only thing he wanted to do was turn and attack Alcippe as well. "Insolent girl, I didn't tell you I needed protecting! Drop this wall immediately!"
Alcippe was shocked that she had caused him to express such anger with her. She hesitated only momentarily, but enough to earn her another reprimand from Xerxes this time, "He said drop the wall, guardian. Do not make us tell you again!"
Flustered, she dropped the wall immediately and a startled Damia came into view. Adi rushed towards her, frantically looking her over to make sure she was unharmed. Standing near her now, he kept is voice low, "Are you alright, milady? Are you injured?"
Damia smiled at him and took both of his hands in hers to focus his attention back to her, "Damia, Adi, just Damia, and I'm fine. She just caught me off guard is all."
Adi smiled and then looked down at their joined hands, then back up at her. As if realize for the first time that she was holding on to him, Damia dropped his hands instantly and blushed, taking a step back. Glancing back up to see the group as a whole, she spoke, "I fear you have all traveled all this way for nothing. I can't go back just yet. I haven't found what I need."
She looked back at Adi, his face now serious and clearly upset. "What do you mean 'you can't go back yet?' The journey you're on now is a suicide mission. Do you actually think we would let you travel to the lycan clan?"
Damia's eyes went wide. She had not spoken a word to anyone about needing to visit the lycan clan, and now, to her dismay, Adi had just revealed her plan to everyone.
"I'm sorry, you're going where?" Alf questioned in irritation as he approached behind her. "You told me you just needed to get to the nearby village. Didn't you think it was rather reckless of you to leave out the fact that it was a lycan village?"
All eyes turned to Alf and Damia now, as Damia replied shyly now, "Alf, I was telling you the truth about the village, but I don't know if that's where the lycan clan is located, only that there is where the path I must follow is leading. How could I tell you that which I do not know?"
The guardian was being too familiar with Damia, and Elric did not like it. "Guardian, Alf is it? I appreciate you taking care of Damia up to this point in her journey, but your services will no longer be required. We'll escort her so you do not need to fear being led to the lycan clan."
"I'm sorry, but that won't work for me. Damia is my charge and I'm not leaving her until she's accomplished her mission. Besides, just because she trusts you, doesn't mean that I do the same. You have yet to introduce yourself properly."
"The man in the back is Castor. The man behind us is Xerxes. And the man with Damia currently is Adi, all friends of Damia. And I am Elric, Damia's betrothed." He faced Alf once more in challenging fashion.
Damia was rendered speechless. Why would Elric make such a scandalous comment. To be betrothed to her brother, even if only as a ruse was unthinkable. Just as she was about to deny the statement, Elric's voice projected into her mind. "Deny this only if you wish to reveal the truth about all of our identities and end your journey right here. Accept this and I'll ensure you make it to the lycan clan."