After leaving the village, Nuri plunged into the dense, shaded forest, which enveloped him with its coolness and darkness after the tense and dangerous events. His heart pounded wildly as his thoughts raced through a chaotic surge of memories and plans. He ran, trying to follow the rapidly flickering rays of light through the trees, his boots clumsily stepping on the soft ground littered with fallen leaves.
Each step reminded him of Shelldy's words she had spoken before he fled: "Find Tyrion, tell him everything. Only then can we save the situation. Use everything you know." Her voice, full of determination and confidence in his abilities, echoed in his head like a mantra, giving him strength.
Nuri's thoughts were full of doubts. What if he couldn't make it in time? What if he was caught? But deeper in his mind, a strategy was forming. He pondered his next steps, considering every possible hiding place and route that could shield him from pursuers. He knew that every decision he made could cost not just his own life but also Shelldy's, whom he had left to defend their retreat.
From time to time, he stopped, listening to the rustles of the forest, trying to distinguish natural sounds from potential threats. Nuri was an experienced warrior and scout, and his survival skills in the wild were invaluable in this situation. He recalled teaching young soldiers how to navigate by the stars and the sounds of the forest. Now, with every second counting, all his skills were directed towards one goal—to survive and deliver the crucial message.
As twilight deepened, the forest became even more menacing. Nuri knew he would soon have to seek shelter for the night or risk continuing in the darkness. His decision depended on many factors, including his physical condition and the activity of enemies in the area.
As he made his way through the underbrush, his mind returned to Shelldy—her courage and determination. He thought about how important it was not to let her down, and how crucial it was to complete this mission so that their sacrifices were not in vain. With each step, Nuri felt his resolve strengthening, as the fate of the entire kingdom hung in the balance.
When darkness finally enveloped the forest, Nuri decided it was time to stop and set up a temporary camp. He chose a spot under a large oak tree, whose dense branches offered natural protection from the night cold and potential rain. After thoroughly checking the surroundings for signs of other people or animals, he ensured the safety of his temporary shelter.
Nuri began setting up camp. He gathered dry branches and leaves for bedding to minimize contact with the cold ground. Making a small depression in the earth, he ignited a small fire using flint and a piece of dry bark. The flame flickered quietly, barely illuminating his shelter, creating a cozy but alert atmosphere. Nuri knew that a large fire could attract unwanted attention, so he kept it as small and controlled as possible.
Once the shelter was ready, Nuri took out a small pot from his backpack, which still contained some dry provisions—a piece of hard cheese and a few dried fruits. After fortifying himself, he drank a small amount of water from his flask, trying to relax and regain his strength.
Lying on the earthen bed, Nuri reflected on his journey. The night in the forest was filled with sounds—the rustling of leaves, the singing of nocturnal birds, the distant howling of wolves. For a moment, Nuri allowed himself to be distracted from the obsessive thoughts of the mission, inhaling the cool, fresh air of the night forest. However, his peace was short-lived; the awareness of responsibility and the pressure of urgent matters did not allow him to fully relax.
Having determined that he had rested enough, and feeling that the darkness would provide better cover for further progress, Nuri quietly packed his things, and extinguished the fire, making sure it left no traces behind. Checking his equipment and ensuring everything was in order, he set off again. The night march was supposed to help him bypass potential dangers hidden during daylight and bring him closer to his goal—the safe delivery of information to the capital.
Overcoming the last thickets of the forest, Nuri emerged into a vast open area, where small hills adorned the landscape. Far off, at the base of one of the hills, he noticed a flicker of fire—there was a small camp there. The night was dark, and only the pale glow of the moon lit the earth, creating a play of shadows and light.
Nuri's heart pounded anxiously. Thoughts of a possible threat flickered through his mind. He crouched, using the grass and low bushes as cover, and began to creep towards the camp to get a better view and try to determine who might be there—enemies or just travelers.
Under the cover of night, Nuri slowly and cautiously moved forward, each of his steps calculated for maximum silence. He stopped a few dozen meters from the camp, listening for sounds of conversation or movement. From a distance, he could only hear faint voices and the crackling of a fire being stoked, but he could not discern words or tones that might indicate intentions.
Taking a small monocular from his pocket, Nuri tried to observe the figures around the fire. Through the lens, he saw several people sitting around the fire. Their clothing did not appear military—more like simple cloaks and wide-brimmed hats, typical of travelers or merchants. However, there was no certainty, as many of Vancliff's associates disguised themselves as ordinary citizens.
Doubts tormented Nuri. The decision to approach closer and try to learn more seemed risky but necessary. He lowered the monocular, sighed, and, gathering all his courage, began to slowly approach the camp, using every hillock and bush as cover, ready to retreat or defend at any moment.
Each step brought Nuri closer to the camp, and his heart beat louder with tension. He moved as quietly as possible, trying not to reveal his presence. When he was close enough to hear the conversations, he pressed himself to the ground behind a small rise covered with dry grass, allowing him to remain unseen.
From the conversations at the camp, Nuri could understand that these people were discussing the details of some delivery and plans for the next day. Phrases like "goods," "collection point," and "new buyer" suggested that they might be traders. However, mentions of caution and the need to avoid patrols made Nuri doubt their peaceful intentions.
Carefully weighing the risks, Nuri decided that he needed to learn more before taking any action. He carefully crawled even closer, trying to catch every word.
- "We need to be quick and quiet tomorrow. This route isn't well-guarded, but patrols still occur," said one of the men standing by the fire.
- "Yes, and don't forget that we need to pass some of the goods to our friends in the north. They are waiting," added another.
It seemed that these people might indeed be involved in some illegal operations, but Nuri was still unsure if they were connected to Vancliff or if it was just a coincidence.
With a cautious step backward, he chose not to plunge into confrontation until he could be certain that his adversaries truly lurked in the shadows. Marking the encampment's coordinates upon his map, he prepared to dispatch missives to his commanding officers, alerting them to the potential peril and advocating for further reconnaissance. For Nuri, this mission was paramount—to ensure a clandestine and secure return, bearing tidings of intelligence.
Enveloped by resolve, Nuri recalibrated his position following his surveillance of the encampment. The final words of Shelly uttered in the throes of imminent danger, reverberated within him as a solemn admonition regarding the gravity of his undertaking. Her directive, to relay any threat and to establish potential ties to Vancliff, resonated with him as a sacred duty.
In his field journal, he meticulously chronicled the encampment's discovery, the snippets of conversation overheard, and his conjectures regarding potential entanglements in illicit endeavors. Subsequently, ensuring the safety of his gear and the discreet concealment of his missives and charts within the impervious folds of his cloak, he readied himself for the nocturnal trek through the wooded expanse.
The night hung heavy with silence, punctuated solely by the occasional susurration of leaves and the distant lament of a night bird, disrupting the monotonous whisper of the breeze. Nuri relied upon the celestial bodies to guide his path toward the capital, each step a testament to his cautious confidence, mindful that even the slightest misstep could cause mortal peril.
His progress was marked by an adept avoidance of exposed avenues, favoring instead routes obscured by the embrace of arboreal sentinels and verdant thickets. Whenever he traversed a clearing or a thoroughfare, his vigilant gaze swept the environs, ever vigilant for signs of adversarial presence. Nuri's training had instilled in him the imperative of unwavering focus and stoic control amidst such clandestine endeavors.
Pausing briefly beside a babbling brook to replenish his water stores, his ruminations involuntarily drifted to the haunting memory of Shelly's final gaze. Her dauntless spirit and unyielding resolve served as a beacon, propelling him forward with an oath to ensure that her sacrifice would not be in vain.
Resuming his journey after a fleeting respite, Nuri contemplated every conceivable contingency that might await him in the capital. His mission transcended mere delivery of a missive; it was a crusade to ensure that every imparted morsel of intelligence would be heard and heeded—a bulwark against the machinations of Vancliff and his confederates.