This is it! This is him!
Davina may have had a blank look on her face as she looked at the brown haired boy in front of her, but she was dancing inside. This was the boy Rianne mentioned earlier. She was too overjoyed with the thought that something was finally going her way to think about anything else.
They stayed underneath the hole as they waited for the guards to pass by them. Davina looked over at her new companion and saw that Quinn's eyes were on the injuries she had on her legs and arms.
"What happened?" he asked as he reached for something in his bag.
"It's nothing," she tried to wave it off. "I've been trying to escape the palace guards for a while now."
It wouldn't be able to explain some of the burns on her skin. Thankfully, he looked past that or maybe he didn't bother to ask. He took out some cream out of his bag and scooted closer to Davina. She eyed at the cream skeptically.
"What are you doing?"
"Don't worry, this will help with the pain. May I?" He motioned to her arm.
She was hesitant at first, but she eventually let him tend to her. He placed the cream on injured areas on her arms and some on her legs. Then he wrapped cloth on it.
In just a few seconds, a cool feeling ran through the parts where Quinn placed the cream. It gave her relief somehow. She found that he was right and it did help with the pain.
"Is it alright?" he asked.
"It's good. So what's the plan?"
"Get back to the cave."
"Where is that?"
"It's by the sea. It's perfectly safe."
"If you say so."
Once it became silent, Quinn took a peek out of the hole. He motioned for the bird to go and check if the coast was clear. Davina wanted to protest that the bird was nothing but trouble. But then the bird came back in a matter of seconds with a sign that seems to say they're safe.
Quinn first got out of the hole. Then he offered his hand to Davina to help her out as well.
"Thanks," she said when she got out.
"Welcome."
He took out another cloak and handed it over to her. She draped it around herself. The fabric had a different texture from what she was used to. It was smoother and more refined than any of the Erisian cloaks she had.
"Just follow my lead."
The two of them silently walked in the dark of the night. Davina's strides and movements were lighter and easier as each second passed. She followed Quinn's lead as they tried to avoid the guards who were still around the forest. They didn't see any of them at first. The absence of the guards didn't sit right with her, but she hoped that they had completely lost them.
Her hopes were ruined when they saw a guard on their horse. She and Quinn hid behind the bark of a tree. It barely hid them both. Davina was getting ready to attack since it was just one of them. But Quinn blocked her when she took one step.
She gives him a look that asks, 'What are you doing?'
He held up his hand and took something out of his bag. It was a small pouch. He opened it and revealed dust. Quinn gave himself and Davina some distance from the dust. He let the bird take some of the dust and sprinkle it over the knights.
After a few seconds, both the guard started to sway and lie on his horse.
"Is he dead?" Davina asked.
"No," Quinn protested with an expression of horror. "He's only asleep. This will last for a few hours."
Davina was impressed with the weapons her companion had. The cream he gave her earlier made her body feel lighter and easier to move in. She hasn't had medicine that had a quick effect. She wondered if this was new medicine that was created while she was in the dungeons. If that was so, her old friends and comrades fighting in the war are fortunate.
Not only did he have this miracle cream, he also had sleeping dust. For so long, the Erisians were trying to recreate the sleeping dust that Inarians made. If Eris had this type of medicine and weapon, then they certainly came a long way while she was locked away.
However, her praise for her companion was short lived when the guard fell from his horse. His fall made a ruckus showing Quinn the mistake he made.
In a manner of seconds, the other palace guards were already on their tails as they were trying to run away from them. Quinn gripped Davina's wrist as he pulled her away. Davina tried to keep up with him because his stride was quick. It was a wonder she didn't fall.
When they gained enough distance from them, they stopped. Davina was able to catch her breath. Quinn took out more of the pouches from his bag and threw them to the palace guards. The wind blew it to their direction and they watched as the palace guards fell from their horses.
From what she saw, Davina planned to let Quinn handle the palace guards since he didn't look like he needed help. But the night wouldn't let Davina have a break yet.
Out of nowhere, arrows were flying towards Quinn and Davina. Quinn seemed to be light on his feet as he easily avoided the arrows coming his way. But he couldn't avoid them all because he was occupied with the other guards. Davina made it her job to repel the arrows that were heading their way using her sword.
But after some time, her movements became a bit slow. Her body felt heavy. She made sure to protect Quinn. He was the one who could fight even from a distance. So, she was determined to not let him have a single scratch on his body, but the same couldn't be said for her.
It didn't matter. She was certain he could fix her up later.
"Are you alright?"
Quinn caught Davina when she fell on the ground. An arrow scratched the hand Davina used to hold the sword. She picked it up as fast as she dropped it.
"I'm fine," she waved it off.
Quinn steadied her wobbling body. "They're getting closer." She knew what that meant.
The two of them were running again. Davina had no idea how long they were going to last. She thought of the possibility of fighting them, but there were too many of them to handle; especially in her state.
Quinn continued throwing the pouches of dust he had to the guards. There were some who succumbed to the effect. But there were some who were smart enough to avoid it.
In the corner of her eye, she saw that there were three arrows aimed at Quinn's back. Quinn seemed to be their main target now. He was too occupied with running to notice. He wasn't throwing any of the dust anymore, making Davina think he might've already run out.
"Watch out!"
She tried to move close enough to him to be able to repel them. But she was only able to take the impact of two arrows on her sword. There wasn't enough time for her to repel the other arrow or avoid it.
A stabbing pain came from her shoulder. The next thing she knew was that she was on the ground. This felt familiar…
She flinched when someone touched her uninjured shoulder. She looked up to see that it was just Quinn. She relaxed. The bird was still somehow perched on his head.
"Not yet Kira," he said.
They were surrounded. The palace guards created a circle around them with no chance of escape. Each guard had their swords drawn and pointed at them.
"Do you have a plan?" She asked him.
"Umm sort of. I'm not sure."
"Any plan is better than nothing."
Davina looked at the palace guards. They kept a good distance from the two of them. Probably wary of the dust they didn't have. Since they think Quinn still had the sleeping dust, he'll be the one they'll try to take out first. That was evident from the arrows earlier who were aimed at him.
Everyone was still waiting for the one who'll make the first move. Davina wondered if Quinn was going to execute that plan. Whatever it was.
"You might not like it."
"I won't like dying right now."
Quinn shielded Davina's body with his. He stared at the guards with a look as if he was ready to take them on. Davina expected him to take out something from his bag. Perhaps he had another trick up on his sleeve.
"If you have a plan, do it!"
As if it was them she ordered, the palace guards charged at them at full speed. Davina was running possible solutions and strategies in her head. But she couldn't find a way to execute them.
However to her surprise, Quinn did have a plan but he was right. She wouldn't like it.
A strong gust of wind came out of nowhere. Davina kept her head on the ground, trying not to get blown away. A hand reached out for Quinn to make sure he was still there.
In a few seconds, the wind died down. Davina looked up and saw a sight that took her breath away. The guards and the horses were all flying in the sky. The strong gust of wind earlier created a hurricane with her and Quinn in the eye of it.
Davina looked at Quinn and saw he had both his arms raised above his head. His eyes were closed and his face was strained. Her eyes widened.
No.
That's impossible.
There was no way this boy...was an Inarian.
But no matter how much she wanted to deny it, she couldn't ignore the truth right in front of her.
The dust and the medicine came into mind. Turns out she was wrong and the signs were there all along. She was just too blind and naive to see it.
Finally, after a few minutes the winds stopped. The glade that was once filled with the palace guards only had her and Quinn in it. When the winds dispersed, Quinn dropped on his knees. His breathing was ragged and heavy. But once he composed himself he turned to see if she was alright.
Quinn couldn't comprehend the look of horror Davina had in her eyes. Her dark eyes were hostile unlike earlier. He looked behind him to see if there was still a guard around, but it was just the two of them.
"What's wrong?"
"Inarian," she said in a voice he couldn't hear.
He took one step towards her, but she tried to move away. She groaned in pain and looked at her shoulder. It was bleeding.
Quinn's eyes widened at the wound. "Don't worry, we're close to the hideout. I can help you there." He wrapped her uninjured arm around his shoulder.
"Get away from me!" She screamed. She tried to push him away but he held her tightly. "You're an Inarian."
Quinn blinked. "You didn't know that?" More questions were forming in his head. "Stop moving, you're injured."
Quinn saw that there was no way he could bring her to the hideout now. He was more worried that she would hurt herself more and was careful not to let her go; no matter how much she tried to be free of his grasp.
Seeing that he had no choice, Quinn took out the last pack of sleeping dust he saved. He blew it in Davina's face. He watched as she tried to struggle against it and stay awake. But the dust took effect and soon enough, she closed her eyes and sunk into a deep sleep.