The cold water rushed over Akin like a torrent, pulling him under with relentless force. His lungs burned as the river's icy grip dragged him downstream, his armor weighing him down, making it difficult to fight against the current. Darkness surrounded him, broken only by the faint light of the moon shimmering on the surface above.
He kicked out desperately, clawing his way to the surface. His head broke through the water with a gasp, cold air filling his lungs as he was swept further downriver. The shouts of his men and the rebels faded into the distance, drowned out by the roaring water.
For a moment, Akin struggled to stay afloat, the heavy leather and steel of his armor dragging him down. His injured arm throbbed painfully, the wound from the earlier battle pulsing with every beat of his heart. He could feel his strength slipping away as the cold seeped into his bones, but he refused to give up.
He had to survive. For his family. For his kingdom.
Ahead, he could just make out the shapes of his men, fighting against the current as they were swept along the river. Garrick, always the strongest swimmer, had managed to stay close to Akin, his muscular frame cutting through the water with determined strokes.
"Hold on!" Garrick shouted over the roar of the river, his voice barely audible.
Akin nodded, though he wasn't sure Garrick could see him. He turned his attention back to the water, focusing on staying afloat as the river carried them through the forest. The cold numbed his limbs, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins kept him moving.
After what felt like an eternity, the river began to slow, its rapids giving way to a calmer flow. Akin's body ached from the effort of staying above water, but the worst of the danger seemed to have passed.
"We need to get to the bank!" Garrick called, his voice hoarse from the cold.
Akin gritted his teeth, using the last of his strength to swim toward the riverbank. His legs were weak, his arms barely responding to his commands, but slowly, inch by inch, he made his way through the freezing water.
Finally, his hands touched the rough stones of the riverbank. With a groan of effort, Akin pulled himself out of the water, collapsing onto the wet grass, gasping for breath. His body felt heavy, every muscle screaming in protest. The cold had seeped deep into his bones, leaving him trembling on the ground.
Garrick dragged himself ashore beside him, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His usually stoic face was twisted in pain, but he gave Akin a nod, signaling that he was still alive.
Around them, the rest of their men struggled out of the river, collapsing onto the bank, shivering from the cold. They had made it. But as Akin looked around, he realized they had lost some men to the river's current. The loss weighed heavily on him, but there was no time to mourn.
"Is everyone accounted for?" Akin asked, his voice weak as he struggled to sit up.
Garrick shook his head. "We lost a few… but most made it."
Akin cursed under his breath, pushing himself to his feet despite the sharp pain in his injured arm. His clothes clung to his skin, soaked through, but the cold didn't seem as bad now that they were out of the water. He turned to Garrick.
"We need to keep moving," Akin said, his voice steadier now. "The rebels won't stop. They'll be hunting us."
Garrick nodded, though he was clearly exhausted. "We can't go back to the capital. Not yet."
"I know," Akin replied. "We need to regroup, find somewhere to lay low until we figure out our next move."
Akin's mind raced, considering their options. The rebels had forced them into a desperate position, and now they were cut off from their reinforcements. They couldn't return to the capital without risking being caught or leading the rebels back to Eldoria.
"There's a cave system about half a day's march from here," Garrick suggested. "It'll provide shelter, at least for the night."
Akin nodded. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
"Let's go," Akin said, turning to the men. "We move quickly. Stay sharp."
---
Hours passed as they made their way through the dense forest, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the thick layer of leaves on the ground. The forest seemed darker than usual, the trees looming overhead like silent sentinels. Every now and then, Akin would glance behind them, half-expecting to see the rebels closing in, but the woods remained eerily quiet.
The men were tired, their movements sluggish after the ordeal in the river, but they pressed on without complaint. Akin's arm throbbed painfully with every step, but he pushed the pain aside. There would be time to tend to his injuries later.
Finally, just as the first light of dawn began to filter through the trees, they reached the entrance to the cave system. It was hidden among the rocks, barely noticeable unless you were looking for it. The perfect place to hide.
Garrick led the way, ducking into the narrow entrance. The cave was dark and damp, but it was large enough to hold all of them, and it provided much-needed shelter from the cold. Akin could feel the weight lifting from his shoulders as they settled in, the exhaustion finally catching up to him.
"Set up camp," Akin ordered, his voice hoarse. "We'll rest here for a few hours, then decide our next move."
The men moved quickly, lighting small fires to dry their clothes and warm their bodies. Akin sat down near the entrance, leaning back against the rough stone wall as he watched the flickering flames. His mind was still racing, thinking about the events of the night and what was to come.
"We're lucky to be alive," Garrick said as he sat down beside Akin, rubbing his hands together to warm them.
Akin nodded, though he didn't feel very lucky. "We lost too many men. And we're no closer to stopping the rebellion."
Garrick sighed, his eyes fixed on the fire. "We'll find a way. We always do."
Akin didn't reply, his thoughts turning to his father, still in the capital, unaware of the dangers closing in around them. And Seraphina… his sister was still too young to fully grasp the gravity of their situation, but Akin couldn't help but worry about her. He had to find a way to protect them, to protect his family and his kingdom.
But for now, they were safe, if only for a moment.
---
The hours passed in uneasy silence, the men resting as best they could after the ordeal in the river. Akin had drifted in and out of sleep, though his rest was troubled by dreams of battles yet to come.
It was Garrick who woke him, shaking him gently by the shoulder. "Akin. Something's wrong."
Akin blinked, his senses immediately on high alert. He pushed himself to his feet, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "What is it?"
Garrick's face was grim. "Scouts have reported movement nearby. We might have been followed."
Akin's stomach sank. "How close?"
"Too close for comfort," Garrick replied. "We need to move."
Akin cursed under his breath. They couldn't afford another fight, not in their current state. The men were exhausted, and their numbers were already too few.
"Gather the men," Akin said, his voice steady. "We leave immediately."
Garrick nodded and moved to rally the soldiers. Akin turned to the cave entrance, his eyes scanning the dense forest beyond. The rebels were relentless, and they wouldn't stop until Akin and his men were dead.
But Akin wasn't about to give up.
"We'll find a way out of this," Akin muttered to himself, his jaw set with determination. "We have to."