When Gavin and Asher returned to the shrine, Tamara and Princess Carrie had already fallen asleep next to Keagan. It seemed as though they were too exhausted as they just slept there. That, or some deity passed by and made them fall asleep in the middle of conversing. Nobody knew.
After taking the task of making the medicine out of the herbs they had collected, Gavin directly went to Keagan and forced him to drink every drop of the medicine. Fortunately, after an hour, the spot on Keagan's neck turned to its normal color and slowly, his eyes began to open. When they asked him about the illusions mentioned by Tamara and Asher, Keagan only responded with an innocent look, obviously not in the right mind to speak yet.
Deciding they would need to pass the mountain first as their priority was still to collect the herbs in the South, the group immediately began to move in search for the missing horses. All the while Gavin informed them about the betrayal of hunters Sid and Bran.
"I deeply apologize on behalf of my team's irresponsible actions, Your Highness," Asher had apologized again then.
Gavin only responded, "One man's bad decisions don't represent everyone else's decisions. They too must have their own reasons for acknowledging such requests from the Alpha King. This said, however, I will never tolerate anyone who would try to harm the princess. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Asher responded with another bow, "I will try my best to protect the princess while traveling."
Gavin looked away, mumbling, "That's not entirely necessary..." Then immediately added, "Pay attention to anyone or anything unusual around us as we head to South. There might be more people with different motives that had come with us without our knowledge."
With dedication and determination written in his eyes, the hunter responded, "Understood, Your Highness!"
"What are you two talking about?" Princess Carrie asked, coming from behind as she carried a bag full of berries and other fruits.
"Nothing," Gavin said, eyes looking at the fruits. "Where did you get those?"
"Tamara and I gathered them near the spring. They are edible. We thought we could bring some while we climbed down the mountain. Keagan also looked hungry," Princess Carrie said then looked to the side, "You haven't eaten anything yourself so here." Then she hurriedly pushed the bag to Gavin. With no more words to say, she then left and quickly went to Tamara and Keagan.
Asher watched the princess and her kind gesture. Moved, he too began to show his own kindness. "Your Highness, let me carry those-"
"No," Gavin said, holding the fruits to his chest.
"Your Highness?" Asher blinked.
"This much I can carry myself," Gavin whispered then he cleared his throat and added, "Asher, prepare the horses and focus on leading the way. We need to climb down the mountain as fast as we can this time."
"Understood, Your Highness!" Asher bowed down and immediately prepared the three horses they managed to find earlier. While doing so, he couldn't help but look at the Second Prince who was busily looking at one fruit he had picked from the bag. Asher began to think the prince must really love to eat fruits.
As they climbed down the mountain, the traveling group fortunately didn't encounter anything unusual anymore. Probably since the sun had already risen and the sky finally brightened, the clouds wrapping around the mountain also lessened to some degree, clearing the path and making it easier to walk on.
Princess Carrie, who was sharing a horse with Gavin, spoke as they traveled down, "The herbs must be easier to navigate once we reach the plains. In some books I have read, they are easy to spot as they are usually surrounded by vines and rocks. Most probably, somewhere near a body of water where it can get its nutrients."
Behind Princess Carrie, Gavin said in a low voice, "It is just as the princess said, Mister Lewis said the herbs could be collected near a river or a fall."
"We might as well rinse ourselves with the falls when we get there. I feel so sticky after tasting that poisonous drink you made me drink!" Keagan said, tearing up miserably.
Tamara, who was in front of him couldn't help but speak herself, "It's best to be cautious or something may happen to you again. Do you still not remember who attacked you with that poison?"
At this, everyone silently paused and listened, trying to wait for Keagan to remember anything that may give them more light about the person with the barriers and illusions. Or as what people in the village called the Fate Stealer. Just as they had expected, they were only stories that were exaggeratedly passed on from person to another. There weren't spirits nor fate stealers and givers in the mountain. Though there was one person who could trick people with illusions, barriers, and sneak attacks with poisons...
"I told you, I don't remember. If I could, I would've returned there and find that person myself! I feel so dizzy already but after drinking that medicine, I feel sticky all over!" The son of one of the most powerful mayors, Keagan, complained.
The said person who gave the medicine was too occupied with the feeling of riding the horse with a particular person. He only said, "My bad. I didn't know it would bring such an effect."
"You did it on purpose, didn't you, Second Prince?!" Keagan said, face telling everyone as if he had been treated unfairly the most.
Gavin ignored him and said, "Let's find the falls, Asher."
Asher, who was suddenly called, "Eh? Ah, yes. Yes, of course, Your Highness!"
With that, Keagan finally felt relieved, thinking the sticky feeling all over his body could finally subside soon. He smiled excitedly, "Okay, let's go! Quick!" Then began pulling the horse to move it faster than before.
Tamara who was watching the silly interaction of the three men in their group stayed silent, eyes focusing on the road ahead as he felt the excitement from her back. On the other hand, Princess Carrie looked like she had been thinking something but also preferred to do so in silence. No one spoke another word for half an hour, the group finally saw the tall and high walls.