The morning found Setia on her horse. Clad in a black caftan with a hood, trousers and high boots, she looked like a soldier from a distance. She wasn't wearing a mask today, just an eye patch. Moros offered her his company or the protection of the guards, but she refused. She was well armed and more than ready to have a solo ride. Her fake brother was to keep an eye on everything while she was away, she wanted to be alone.
Ever since she started playing a noble woman she was confined to the Emfer castle. She lacked independence and free space. Going to Hiron will give her both. Setia has calculated everything carefully. She spurred her horse and set off at a light trot towards the main inner gate and then passed the still quiet streets and a few sleepy residents. The ride to White Canyon would take her less than half a day on horseback if she kept a good pace, but Setia wasn't in the mood to rush. She was going to enjoy this lonely ride. Behind the main entrance gate, she urged her horse and galloped along a route she knew well. The man crouching in the corner stood up, straightened himself and, with a smile on his face, went to fetch the rested horse standing in the stable of the only inn in the city. After a while he followed the duchess' trail. He knew the area, he knew which route she would take, he just had to get to the fork ahead of her to make sure which path he would take. He sped up, having to stay off the main road so she wouldn't notice him. He felt his heart beating. It was his day.
After a month of waiting at the gate, she left, alone. Who would have thought. He barely recognized her in this disguise, but the blindfold on her face was unmistakable. Today she finally will be his, he felt a mixture of excitement and arousal. He clung closer to the horse, he knew that he had overtaken her, reached the limestone rocks and hid the horse behind a rock overhang. He climbed onto the rock. Lying there, he was watching the road. She's probably going to Kalimin, but why did she change her clothes and where is the duchess's retinue? A young armed woman alone on the road... surprising. He was curious about this one-eyed beauty. She must have been planning something that Aktis was so afraid of. He felt the heat spreading in waves across his loins, he had to control himself. Just a little more patience.
Setia turned directly onto the road leading to White Canyon. She rode slowly at a walking pace, giving the animal a rest. She took off her hood and caught the last warm rays of sunlight on her face. The first frosts were already turning the area white with a silvery glow in the shaded places, but there was warmth in the sun and still freshly green. She closed her eyes and inhaled the cool air, the moment of inner peace was suddenly disturbed by a feeling of anxiety that was growing to a palpable size. Something was wrong. All her senses were tense, years of training had taught her to trust her own feelings. After a while she heard it, a clatter. She didn't slow down, but held her breath, and the sound repeated itself. A quiet clatter, she already knew it was the sound of horses' hooves. She was alone, or so she thought. She opened up her ears again and after a while she was sure. Someone was coming this way too. Setia told herself not to be paranoid,after all this was a known route, but this person was trying to keep the distance and stay hidden. The even distance was maintained the whole time, someone was following her.
Setia knew this road like no other. Around the bend, she took advantage of the moment and jumped off the horse, which, happy with the loss of the rider's weight, ran further. She hid behind a limestone block. It was chipped on the side and was falling apart as the grass partially covering it deepened the erosion. She climbed on top of it, crouched and waited. Somebody was following her, the horse's hooves were tied with rags, and yet she heard the sound. Setia had a sword attached to her back and a dagger in her boot, that was something she was used to after the years she lived as a mercenary. She was ready. To her surprise, the rider stopped, right where she had jumped off her horse. He knew that she had dismounted from her horse at this point, she realized it in one second, in the next she jumped straight onto the mysterious figure and with the force of her momentum she threw him off the black of the stallion he was riding. Everything happened in a flash, she rolled to the side and jumped to her feet, taking out her sword from behind her back. Without waiting for anything, she attacked using the element of surprise.
Jefre noticed her traces, yet he was surprised by the sudden attack, although only for a moment. The duchess challenged him to a fight. He felt a sudden rush of adrenaline, he expected her to hide, but she attacked. He was impressed by this, she was brave and obviously very confident. She must have had combat experience. Immediately after the fall, he took a defensive position, turned around and blocked her attack with a smooth movement. She knew her stuff, was fast and hit with surprising precision. At first he parried her attacks and after a while forced her to move back. He knew her weakness was her lack of an eye. This narrowed the field of vision. He was stronger and she made up for it in agility. It amused him and he wanted to prolong this moment.
Setia already knew she had miscalculated. She was even more than good, but that was a few months ago, before she lost her eye. Whoever this man was, he was probably a great assassin. He was playing with her. Haleon, how stupid she was. All Aktis needs to do is get rid of her and Tendred will not leave Emfer. She needs to calm her thoughts. A warrior whose mind is filled with doubt and fear is a dead man. A quick lunge, a mock attack with a sword, and the actual blow with a dagger. A risky move, but it's probably her only chance. She barely grazed his left side.