The journey toward Valion Keep was marked by a palpable tension. Akin could feel it in the air, in the way his men's eyes darted to the horizon, and in the muted clinks of armor and weapons. The memory of their escape from the mountains still lingered, and although they had narrowly avoided disaster, the threat of the rebels was far from over.
The land around them had begun to shift from the rocky, steep paths of the mountains to rolling hills covered in dry, brown grass. It was a land touched by the passing season, the trees sparse and leafless, and the chill of autumn creeping into their bones. The sky overhead was a dull gray, clouds hanging low as if weighed down by the impending sense of something darker brewing.
Akin rode near the front, his thoughts focused on the road ahead. Valion Keep was still days away, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time. The rebellion was gaining momentum with every passing day, and if Valion Keep was not yet besieged, it soon would be.
Garrick rode beside him, his spear resting across his saddle, his eyes ever watchful. The loyal captain had been Akin's shadow throughout the ordeal, and his presence, though often silent, was a source of strength for the young warrior.
"We should be nearing the Northern Province's outskirts," Garrick said, breaking the silence. "If the rebels are waiting for us, this would be the place."
Akin nodded, his jaw set. "They'll be watching the roads, no doubt. But we don't have the luxury of detouring through the wilds."
Garrick frowned. "We'll need to stay sharp. A few scouts could give us a warning before we ride into an ambush."
"I'll send them out," Akin replied, his voice calm, though the tension in his chest was mounting. "We'll need to move carefully. We can't afford any more losses."
---
The scouts were sent ahead, disappearing into the hills with the same practiced stealth that had saved them on the mountain pass. Akin watched them go, then turned back to his men. His forces had dwindled, and the toll of constant marching, fighting, and evasion showed on every face. They were a small group now, hardened by necessity, but exhausted nonetheless.
The road ahead stretched before them, winding its way through the barren hills. The trees, few and far between, stood like skeletal sentinels, their bare branches reaching toward the sky. Akin's mind raced as he considered their options. Valion Keep was still their goal, but with every step, the chances of an attack increased.
"Do you think Valion Keep still holds?" Garrick asked after a moment of silence.
Akin glanced at him, his brow furrowing. "I have to believe it does. If we lose Valion Keep, we lose the kingdom."
Garrick didn't reply, but Akin could see the doubt in his eyes. The rebellion had taken them all by surprise, and the speed at which it had spread had shaken even the most loyal of the Valion family's supporters. But doubt was a luxury they couldn't afford.
Akin pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the terrain ahead. The scouts would return soon with news, and until then, they had no choice but to press forward.
---
By midday, the wind had picked up, carrying with it the scent of rain. The sky darkened, and the first droplets began to fall, cold and heavy. Akin pulled his cloak tighter around him as the rain began to soak through the fabric. The men grumbled quietly but kept moving, their heads down as they trudged forward.
Just as the rain began to fall in earnest, the scouts returned. Their horses were winded, their cloaks soaked through, but they brought with them the information Akin had been dreading.
"There's movement ahead," one of the scouts reported, his voice breathless. "A rebel force, camped near the old stone bridge at the edge of the Northern Province."
Akin's heart sank. The stone bridge was a key crossing point, one of the few ways to pass over the deep gorge that cut through the landscape. If the rebels controlled it, they would have to fight their way through.
"How many?" Akin asked, his voice sharp.
"Too many to take head-on," the scout replied. "Maybe fifty, maybe more. They've set up watchposts along the ridge. It's well defended."
Akin cursed under his breath. The stone bridge was the fastest way to Valion Keep, but if the rebels held it, they were in serious trouble.
"We can't afford a full confrontation," Garrick said, echoing Akin's thoughts. "We don't have the numbers."
Akin nodded, his mind racing. "We need a way to cross without alerting them. If we're caught in an open battle, we'll be slaughtered."
"We could try the river," one of the scouts suggested. "There's a narrow crossing downstream, but it's risky. The current's strong, and the banks are steep."
Akin considered the option, weighing the risks. The river crossing would be dangerous, but it might be their only chance to avoid the rebel forces.
"We'll take the river," Akin decided. "It's our best option."
Garrick nodded, though his expression remained grim. "Let's hope the rebels haven't thought of that."
---
They moved swiftly, leaving the main road and heading down toward the river. The rain continued to fall in sheets, turning the ground to mud and making the descent treacherous. The narrow path was slick and uneven, and more than once, one of the men lost their footing, sliding down the hill before catching themselves.
Akin led the way, his eyes scanning the dense forest that bordered the riverbank. The trees were thick here, their branches heavy with rain, and the roar of the river grew louder as they neared.
When they reached the river, Akin's heart sank at the sight of the rushing water. The river was swollen from the rain, the current fast and unforgiving. The banks were steep, and the rocks that jutted out from the water were slick with moss and mud.
"This won't be easy," Garrick muttered, eyeing the river warily. "One wrong step, and we're lost."
Akin nodded. "We'll go in groups, slowly. Tie yourselves together with ropes. If anyone falls, the others can pull them out."
The men began to prepare, tying ropes around their waists and securing their weapons to their backs. The mood was tense, and Akin could see the fear in their eyes. The river was dangerous, and they all knew it. But there was no other way.
Akin was the first to step into the water, the icy cold biting into his legs as he waded in. The current was strong, pulling at him with surprising force, but he braced himself and pushed forward, using his sword as a makeshift staff to steady himself on the slippery rocks.
One by one, the men followed, moving carefully through the rushing water. The ropes tied between them held firm, but the force of the river made every step a struggle.
Akin's heart pounded in his chest as he fought to keep his footing, his legs trembling from the effort. The water was waist-deep now, and the current threatened to sweep them away with every step.
"Keep moving!" Akin shouted over the roar of the river, his voice hoarse from the cold.
They pressed on, inching their way across the river, the icy water sapping their strength. The rain continued to fall, the wind whipping through the trees, but they kept moving, driven by the knowledge that the rebels were just a few miles away.
At last, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the far bank. Akin stumbled out of the water, gasping for breath as he collapsed onto the muddy ground. The men followed, pulling themselves up the steep bank, their bodies shaking from the cold.
They had made it. Barely.
---
The men collapsed onto the wet grass, their bodies soaked and their breaths coming in ragged gasps. The river had taken its toll, but they were alive. Akin sat up, his muscles aching and his mind spinning with the events of the day. They had crossed the river, but Valion Keep was still ahead, and the rebels were closing in.
"We can't stop," Akin said, pushing himself to his feet. "We're close now. Valion Keep is just a day's march from here."
Garrick nodded, though he looked as exhausted as the rest of the men. "We'll make it."
Akin looked at his men, their faces pale with cold and fatigue, but he saw the same determination in their eyes that had kept them going through the mountains, the ambushes, and the endless marching.
"We move at first light," Akin said, his voice steady. "We'll reach Valion Keep tomorrow, and we'll be ready for whatever waits for us there."
As the rain began to ease, the clouds parting to reveal the faint light of the stars, Akin felt a flicker of hope. They had survived the river, escaped the rebels, and soon they would be back at Valion Keep.