With Harold's body concealed beneath a layer of grass and bush, Seraphina, Edwin, and Samuel pressed forward, determined to put as much distance as possible between them and the place before nightfall.
The forest was thick around them, but as they made their way outwards the flora became more scarce, however as time passed so did the light. Shadows grew longer as the sun dipped lower on the horizon as twilight stretched across the sky.
Seraphina took the lead, with Edwin right by her side as they both moved; they paid close attention to anything around them in case they were ambushed in the trees.
Samuel was somewhat behind them, even though he was still nursing his injuries, he refused to slow down, his face set with quiet determination as he followed behind them; but he struggled.
"How much farther?"
Samuel asked, he kept his voice low both because of the night and because of his strain.
"Not far."
Edwin replied without turning, keeping his eyes sharp on their path.
"We should reach Stonefort by nightfall, but we need to avoid the main roads to stay unseen."
Now that they were moving with the intention of returning as quick as possible; the time they took to get this deep was easily cut in half. And as long as nothing happened, reaching Stonefort by nightfall would be easy.
As they moved for hours in complete silence, Seraphina's mind drifted ever so slightly, consumed by the unanswered questions that gnawed at her since Harold's betrayal.
Who had ordered him to kill her? And, more importantly, why? She hadn't been active long enough to justify anyone wishing to kill her yet, so why would they go through all this trouble.
Her footsteps slowed slightly as she thought, but Edwin noticed immediately.
"Stay focused, we can't afford distractions."
She nodded, shaking away the thoughts for the time being, and decided that thinking about it without proper information was just foolish. And Harold was right, if she lost focus right now that could mean death.
"I'm fine. Let's keep moving."
The group continued in silence, the tension was tangible as they moved through the dense undergrowth, the lack of creatures or even birds made the forest feel even more eerie and oppressive then it was before.
They were all just waiting for something to happen, something to attack them in the dark and prove that danger was really lurking within those shadows.
But nothing of the sort happened through the hours they moved. Even after night had fallen and the darkness covered the forest, not a single creature had stumbled upon them.
The distant walls of Stonefort finally came into view, its jagged towers and massive walls blending into the rocky terrain surrounding it but it was hard to miss.
As they approached, Seraphina scanned their surroundings carefully and noticed that it was currently very empty. Despite the relative safety of Stonefort, she knew they couldn't be too cautious— word could travel fast, and there was no telling who might already be looking for her.
They reached a side gate instead of the main one, where fewer guards patrolled. Seraphina stayed back with Samuel, she used a cloth to cover her face and hair, concealing her noticeable features.
Edwin spoke quietly to the two knights stationed there, using a subtle excuse that they were returning from a hunt with a minor injury and offering some money to avoid questioning.
The guards thankfully accepted this and gave them little more than a passing glance as they allowed them through the gates and into the winding streets of the city.
Stonefort was alive with activity, even at this hour in the night; it was after all one of the merchant hubs in the area, and many people moved through it for various reasons.
Lanterns flickered along the cobblestone paths, and the sounds of merchants closing shop mingled with chatter from the taverns; music filled the air as everyone was having a good time. The air smelled of roasted meat, stale ale, and wet stone, a stark contrast to the damp earth of the forest.
"This way."
Edwin said, leading them toward a quieter district, away from the central streets and the lingering eyes that may notice them.
"We'll find an inn where we can stay unnoticed."
The group weaved through narrow alleyways and dimly lit streets until they reached a run-down inn tucked between some old wooden buildings; near the outer edges of the city, with the slums nearby. Its wooden sign swayed gently in the night breeze, with a slight crack going through it.
'The Rusted Crown.'
Edwin pushed open the door, and the scent of thick ale and burnt meat from within greeted them. A few patrons sat scattered around the common area, their conversations low and uninterested in newcomers; the place had a general run-down appearance to it.
A heavyset innkeeper glanced up from behind the bar, giving them a brief nod of acknowledgment.
"We'll take two rooms."
Edwin said, placing a few copper coins on the counter.
The innkeeper pocketed the coins as quickly as he could and gestured toward the stairs.
"Rooms are upstairs, last two on the right."
The group climbed the creaking staircase, with one last glance from Seraphina towards the innkeeper as they moved. They gathered in one of the rooms for the time being; it was small but it was clean, and that was more than she could hope for.
Settling their gears, Seraphina sank onto the edge of the bed, finally relaxing for a brief moment after everything.
Samuel leaned against the wall, wincing slightly as he adjusted his posture.
"What's the plan now?"
Seraphina looked up, her violet eyes locking onto the man.
"First, we stay out of sight and avoid attention, rest for the night. Tomorrow, I'll send a message to Telphina."
Edwin raised a brow, curious. While he had gone along with the plan so far, he was hesitant about reaching out without being certain it wouldn't bite them in the back.
"You think she'll help?"
"I don't know."
Seraphina admitted with a sigh, her eyes wavering for a moment.
"But I need to find out who's behind this. Telphina may not have the power to act openly, but she knows things. If she suspects something, she might give us a clue— if I word the message carefully."
Samuel frowned.
"What if she's involved?"
"That's a risk I have to take."
Seraphina understood the man's worry, she was also worried about that possibility but she needed more information from inside.
"I'll disguise the message and ensure it reveals as little as possible. If she's involved, I'll know soon enough."
Edwin crossed his arms, nodding in agreement.
"It's a good start. But we need to lay low while we gather information. Stonefort is a safe enough place for now, but we should keep moving as little as possible."
"We'll rotate watches through the night. We can't let our guard down, not even here."
With their plan set, the group settled into the rooms, each member lost in their thoughts. Edwin sat near the window, keeping watch over the quiet street below, while Samuel stretched out on his bed, letting exhaustion take hold.
Seraphina decided to get an early rest, tomorrow would bring the first step toward uncovering the truth— but tonight, they needed rest.
As the city outside hummed with life, the trio ended their night.