As the others drifted off to sleep, Kael decided it would be best to cast a protective spell around the camp, and a detection spell within a 400-meter radius. The light he cast for these spells was purposely dim, emitting only a faint aura.
He was trying to avoid being spotted by the guards' scouts, who were undoubtedly still searching for them. Although the water should have hindered magic and dog trackers, Kael felt that even with the spells in place, a guard was still necessary. So, he stayed up all night.
Once the sun hit the horizon, Helena woke up. She noticed Kael watching the forest and smiled, knowing he had kept watch.
Then, she yelled to her still-sleeping companions, "We need to find a safe path through the mountains! They'll be searching for us, and these mountains offer the best chance of losing them!"
Jaxon jolted awake, surprised, but then chuckled and began scanning the rocky terrain ahead. His vision had not yet solidified, but he pointed out a relatively safe path leading up into the mountains. "Agreed," he replied, "We can't risk staying on the lowlands. They'll have trackers on our trail in a few hours, now that they can see again."
Renn, cracking a tired grin, commented, "Let's hope they can't follow our trail through these peaks. I doubt their horses will fare well on this terrain."
Kael, ever the silent presence, nodded in agreement. "We should move quickly. The longer we stay in one place, the greater the risk of being discovered."
With renewed resolve, they packed up their camp and began their ascent into the mountains. The path was narrow and treacherous, loose shale crunching underfoot as they climbed higher. Their movements were cautious yet determined.
Hours passed and the day grew hotter and more exhausting. The tense silence was broken only by the occasional whisper of wind through the peaks. Helena led the way, her senses attuned to any sign of pursuit. The mountainside was unforgiving, testing their endurance and resolve with each step.
As the afternoon dragged on, they found a small plateau nestled between two towering cliffs. Exhausted but unwilling to rest for long, they paused to catch their breath and assess their surroundings.
"Last night it was a mistake to stop; we can't risk making camp here," Jaxon said, his voice low yet urgent. "We need to keep moving. They'll expect us to head for the high ground."
Renn nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of movement. "Let's skirt along the ridge to the north. It'll give us a better vantage point and cover."
Helena checked the map, tracing their approximate location with a weary finger. "We're not far from the old pass that leads through the heart of these mountains. If we can reach it before nightfall, we might be able to lose them."
Kael, always attuned to the ebb and flow of magic, closed his eyes briefly as if listening to some unseen force. "There's an ancient spell at the pass, a ward that might aid our escape. It's risky, but it could let us escape the gaurds."
Renn grinned, a spark of mischief lighting his eyes. "I like risky things. Let's make for it."
With a silent agreement, they resumed their journey, picking their way along the ridge with careful steps. The terrain grew steeper, and the air thinner as they ascended. Each member of their group pushed themselves to their limits, driven by the shared goal of freedom and the need to outpace their pursuers.
Night fell, and the dim light of Kael's magic did little to quell the darkness, making it almost impossible to scramble over boulders and navigate the narrow ledges of the mountain. Yet, despite their exhaustion, they pressed on with relentless determination.
As they neared the old pass, the air grew charged with anticipation. The path narrowed further, winding between sheer cliffs that seemed to reach for the sky. Helena's heart pounded in her chest, the weight of their perilous gamble pressing down upon her.
"We're close," Kael murmured, his voice barely audible above the wind. "The ward is just ahead."
Sure enough, as they rounded a final bend, they came upon a weathered stone archway adorned with ancient runes. The air shimmered faintly with residual magic, a testament to the ward's protective power.
Helena approached cautiously, her hand outstretched as if testing an invisible barrier. "Kael, can you disable the barrier for only us, and try to do it on the other side of the path as well?" she asked, her voice a hushed whisper.
Kael nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. With a deft gesture, he traced a sigil in the air, his fingertips glowing with a soft blue light. The runes on the archway pulsed once, then faded into inert markings.
He did it again, except this time he drew different markings, when he was done they lit up and flew up into the sky, towards the end of the path.
"It's done," Kael said, his voice tinged with relief. "The ward at this gate won't hold them off forever, but it should buy us enough time to pass through. Also the ward I place on the other gate is much more powerful, they shouldn't be able to get through that one even if they make it that far."
Jaxon scanned their surroundings, his sword at the ready. "Let's not waste any time. Through the pass, quickly."
With a collective breath, they passed beneath the archway and into the shadowed mouth of the ancient pass. The path narrowed further still, winding through a labyrinth of towering rock formations and hidden crevices. The air grew cooler, tinged with the scent of ancient stone and mountain moss.
They moved swiftly yet silently, every sense alert for any sign of pursuit. The pass seemed to stretch on endlessly, its twists and turns a maze of uncertainty. Yet, with each step, they drew closer to the other side and the hope of eluding their relentless hunters.
Hours passed as they neared the exit of the pass, and a faint sound echoed through the rocky walls—a distant shout carried on the evening breeze. Helena's heart skipped a beat, dread tightening its grip on her chest.
"They've found us," she whispered, her voice tinged with resignation.
Jaxon's jaw clenched, his grip tightening on his sword. "We're almost there. Keep moving."
Renn glanced back over his shoulder, his eyes wide with apprehension. "They're gaining on us. We need to move faster."
With renewed urgency, they quickened their pace, the exit of the pass looming just ahead like a beacon of fleeting hope. The shouts grew louder, accompanied by the sound of pounding footsteps and clanking armor. The guards were closing in, their pursuit relentless and unforgiving.
Just as they reached the mouth of the pass, a group of royal guards started sliding down the mountain bypassing Kael's spell. They blocked the path with gleaming swords and determined expressions. Helena's heart sank, her mind racing for a way to escape their tightening net.
"We're trapped," Renn muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.
Helena glanced around desperately, her eyes searching for any possible escape route. But the cliffs rose impassively on either side, leaving them with no choice but to confront their pursuers head-on.
Jaxon stepped forward, his sword raised in a silent challenge. "Stand back," he said to the others, his voice low yet resolute. "I'll hold them off."
Helena shook her head, her determination flaring anew. "No, we fight together. We'll find a way through."
Kael's eyes flashed with sudden insight, his expression lighting with a quiet resolve. "Helena, Renn, stand close. I have an idea."
With a swift gesture, Kael closed his eyes and murmured an incantation under his breath. The air around them shimmered with latent magic, the faint glow of his spell enveloping their group like a protective shield.
"What are you doing?" Renn asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Kael's lips quivered in a brief smile. "Trust me."
As the royal guards advanced with grim determination, Kael's spell took effect. A sudden gust of wind whipped through the pass, swirling around their group with growing intensity. Dust and debris danced in the air, obscuring their forms in a whirlwind of motion.
The guards hesitated, their expressions momentarily uncertain as they struggled to maintain their footing against the onslaught of wind and magic. In that fleeting moment of hesitation, Helena seized the opportunity.
"Now!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.
Jaxon lunged forward with a roar, his sword flashing in the fading light. Renn followed suit, his explosives clutched tightly in his hands. Together, they surged forward with reckless abandon, their movements a blur of calculated chaos.
Helena moved with them, her senses sharp and focused. She ducked under a guard's swing, her blade finding its mark with precise efficiency. The clash of steel rang through the pass, mingling with shouts and grunts of exertion.
Kael's spell held firm, bolstering their efforts with a shield of swirling magic. The guards fought valiantly, their discipline and training evident in their coordinated attacks. But the companions fought with a desperate resolve fueled by the unyielding drive for freedom.
Minutes stretched into eternity as the battle raged on. Blades clashed and sparks flew amidst the tumultuous dance of combat. Helena fought with unwavering determination, she slashed and jabbed, her every movement a testament to her fierce spirit and intense meditative training.
Finally, with a final surge of effort, she and Jaxon broke through the guards' defensive line. The royal soldiers faltered, their ranks thrown into disarray by the unexpected ferocity of their foes. In that fleeting moment of chaos, Helena saw their chance.
"Make a break for it!" she shouted, her voice ringing, filled with urgency.
Without hesitation, they sprinted past the stunned guards and through the magical gateway that Kael had opened only for them.
The companions ran through the new magic guarded pathway ahead, and sunk into the shadowed depths of it. Behind them, shouts of frustration and anger echoed through the rocky walls, but they did not slow their pace.