The next morning, everyone was busy. The knights were packing their tents, Odi and Amias helped them while Lauren put some horse armor on Askari that William gave her from their extra supply. Askari nickered as Lauren threw the saddle over his back; she had not yet ridden him with one on. "It's okay, we'll do it together," she said to him. "I know you don't have very good memories of these, but I promise, I'm not like them."
Amias walked up to Odi who was packing the last of the supplies for their journey. "We are ready to go. I'll go find Lauren." Odi nodded and mounted his horse.
"I want you to take this and put it in Cardell Castle, whether we take back Eddeathra or not," Amias told Odi as he opened his hand to reveal the chunk of obsidian.
Odi nodded. "I'll do it." Amias mounted his horse next to Odi and together, they joined the rest of the Knights of Evermore.
"Are we ready?" Lauren asked as she and Askari met up with Amias, Odi, William, and Kalzin.
"I think so," Kalzin said as he looked around at Maline, Elina, and Hadrian. "Let's take back Eddeathra!"
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The group crossed the Sundermere mountains, thanks to Lauren's path. They started their journey back across the Ashvon. Lauren suddenly pulled Askari to a halt. "What's wrong?" Amias asked. Lauren didn't say anything but she motioned at what stood a few feet to their right.
Lauren's breath hitched as she laid her eyes on Mlinzi's grave. The flowers that Odi planted were growing strong and beautiful. Lauren dismounted Askari and walked over. The knights glanced at Amias, wanting answers, so he explained. Lauren fell on her knees as a tear came to her eye. "Mlinzi, we're doing it. I don't know if you can hear me but we're taking back Eddeathra. You and your family will be avenged. Thank you for saving Askari from those wolves. Rest in peace."
Lauren walked back over to the group. She mounted Askari once more. "Let's go," Amias nodded.
As the group left, Lauren turned her head to look at Mlinzi's grave one last time. She gasped as she saw a silver outline of a wolf looking back at her. Lauren smiled and whispered 'goodbye' before Mlinzi's ghost disappeared.
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"There is just a slight problem," Odi said the next day as he looked up from the map. The group had taken a small break to eat the lunch that they packed and Kalzin went off to see how far away they were from Cardell.
"What?" Hadrian said as he shoved the rest of his apple into his mouth at once, earning a disapproving look from Maline.
"There is one more thing that stands in the way from us reaching Cardell castle."
"You mean something else besides the hundreds of guards that will be waiting for us?" Elina asked.
Odi narrowed his eyes at Elina. "Yes," he pointed his finger on the map. "The Turbulent River. There is no other way to get around it unless you want to walk for two more days and get over by crossing the Exjour."
"It's just a river right?" William asked. "What's so terrible about crossing it?"
"There is a reason why it's called the Turbulent river, William. The waters are constantly uneven and the constant wind certainly will not help. It makes for a good defense to protect the capital, and one that the Nites have exploited." Odi glanced at the sun that was mid-way across the sky. "We actually should get going."
The group packed their things and started toward the river where they met Kalzin who was checking it out. "Well, what do you think?" Amias asked.
"As far as I am aware, there is only one time where we will be able to cross. It will still be rough, just not as rough."
"When is that?" Lauren asked.
"Now." With that, the group mounted their horses and started across the water.
"Please be with us Maisha," Lauren silently pleaded.
Once they were fully in, the water was only up to the horses' stomachs, but the rocky waves continuously splashed up to their heads. Lauren shivered as she urged Askari on. "Come on, we're almost there."
Miraculously, the group made it safely across. Lauren could only believe that it was because of Maisha. The horses stepped onto the river bank and shook their wet coats while the others dried themselves off.
Lauren looked ahead and saw a huge castle looming ahead, surrounded by small villages. "That's it," she told the group. "Cardell castle."
"And the home of Icas Thornton," Amias added.
"Are you ready?" Odi asked.
Lauren nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."