*Nemesia's POV*
The dawn was barely breaking when I began to pack my things. The room in the monastery that had served as my shelter for the past few days felt cold and distant. I couldn't feel good in those walls... they seemed suffocating. The time had come to leave, to return to the mainland, and give the report to Pentious.
I folded my clothes with care, stowing them neatly in my pack. The simple, mundane task offered a brief reprieve from the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind. Each item I packed seemed to carry the weight of the decisions I had made, the consequences of the path I had chosen. The recent days had been some of the most emotionally taxing of my life, and I could still feel the remnants of that turmoil clinging to me.
As I secured the straps of my pack, a soft knock on the door drew my attention. I turned to see Rowan standing hesitantly in the doorway, his small frame silhouetted against the dim light of the corridor. His eyes, wide and filled with curiosity, met mine.
"Are you almost ready, Nemesia?" he asked, his voice carrying a mixture of eagerness and uncertainty.
I nodded, offering him a small smile. "Yes, Rowan. Just about. Are you ready for the journey?"
He nodded eagerly, stepping into the room. "I packed my things last night. Alice helped me. She said we need to be quick so we can get to our ship as fast as possible."
I couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. Despite everything he had been through, there was still a spark of innocence in him, a resilience that I admired. "That's good. We'll need to be on our toes today."
Rowan looked around the room, his gaze lingering on the few remaining items that needed to be packed. "Is it going to be a long journey like when we were coming here?"
"It will be," I admitted, "but we'll take it one step at a time. First, we'll get to the port, and then we'll sail back to the mainland. From there, we'll ride to the main rebel camp. It won't be easy, but we'll make it just like before."
He nodded again, his expression serious. "Ok, I will be a good boy. I won't cause any trouble."
I reached out, ruffling his hair affectionately. "I know you won't, Rowan. You've been very brave. Just remember to stick close to either me, Evar, Alice, Tom or James. We'll all look out for each other."
He smiled up at me, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "I will."
As Rowan left the room to rejoin the others, I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. The thought of leaving this place, of returning to the mainland, filled me with a strange mixture of relief and apprehension. There was still so much to do, so many battles left to fight, and I couldn't afford to let my emotions get the better of me.
With my pack secured, I made my way down the narrow corridors of the monastery, the sound of my footsteps echoing softly off the stone walls. The rest of the group was already gathered in the courtyard, their own packs slung over their shoulders as they prepared for the journey ahead.
Alice was busy checking the straps on her pack, her brow furrowed in concentration. Tom and James were talking quietly, their expressions serious as they discussed the details of the journey. Evar was nearby, his gaze distant as he seemed lost in thought and Rowan was petting the horses. Some of the other rebels were also getting ready, while a few of them were staying back to stay in touch with the Bears.
I approached the group, my presence drawing their attention. "Is everyone ready?" I asked, my voice carrying a tone of quiet authority.
Alice nodded, her expression brightening as she looked up. "We're all set. The horses are ready, and the ship is waiting for us at the port. We should be able to make good time if we leave now."
"Good," I replied, feeling a sense of urgency settle over me. "Let's not waste any more time, then." I looked back fearfully but when I didn't see David's figure anywhere I sighed with relief. I couldn't see him...
The journey to the port was uneventful, the monastery gradually fading into the distance as we made our way through the rugged landscape. The sun had fully risen by the time we reached the coast, casting a warm glow over the choppy waters that stretched out before us.
The ship that would take us back to the mainland was waiting peacefully, manned by the same small crew who had been paid well to ensure our safe passage. We boarded quickly, stowing our packs below deck before gathering on the main deck to watch the island slowly recede from view. The captain was happy to see us back in one piece.
Rowan stood beside me, his hands gripping the railing as he peered out at the sea. "Do you think we'll come back here one day?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and wonder.
I glanced down at him, considering his question. "Maybe," I replied, "but it might be a long time before we do. We have a lot of work to do on the mainland first."
He nodded thoughtfully, his gaze never leaving the horizon. "I liked it here... it is warm and the trees are a bit different, and there are many birds..."
I placed a hand on his shoulder, offering him a reassuring smile. "I'm sure there are some interesting birds on the mainland too, Rowan. We'll try to look for them someday ok?"
It made the boy smile happily.
As the ship cut through the waves, I found myself lost in thought. Meeting with Pentious wasn't something I'd been dreaming about... and I also had to contact the Queen in some way. That would be rather tiring.
Alice joined us at the railing, her expression thoughtful as she looked out at the sea. "It's strange, isn't it? Leaving all of this behind and going back to the mainland. It feels like we've been gone for so long yet it was barely more than a week..."
"It does," I agreed, my gaze distant. "But I prefer it this way... The climate here doesn't suit me."
Tom and James approached, their conversation trailing off as they joined our small group. James leaned against the railing, his expression serious. "Do you think the Bears will hold up their end of the deal?"
"They will," I replied with conviction. "They have no reason to go back on it, not after what we've done. The Jaguars and Lycans have been pushed back, and the Bears are in control of the island. We've upheld our part of the deal... they'll stay loyal."
Tom nodded, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. "I hope you're right. We've made a lot of enemies, and we can't afford to lose any allies."
"We won't," I assured him, though I knew that the future was anything but certain. "But maybe try not to cheat anyone while playing cards when we get back, ok? You're gaining an army of enemies for us all just by that..." It made everyone laugh as I smiled lightly.
The rest of the journey passed in relative silence, each of us lost in our thoughts as the ship carried us closer to the mainland. The rhythmic rise and fall of the waves was almost hypnotic.
When we finally reached the port on the mainland, the sight of familiar shores brought a sense of relief. We disembarked quickly, the crew of the ship wasting no time in preparing for their next journey. We mounted our horses without delay, eager to put more distance between ourselves and the coast.
The ride to the main rebel camp was long and tiring, the landscape changing from rocky coastal terrain to rolling hills and dense forests as we moved inland. I was starting to feel more and more tired, so seeing that Tom was on guard the whole time made me feel more secure.
As we rode, I kept Rowan close, his small frame easily dwarfed by the larger horses around him. He rode on a horse together with Alice with a seriousness that belied his age, his focus unwavering as he kept pace with the rest of us.
At one point, he turned to me, his eyes wide with a question that had clearly been on his mind for some time. "Nemesia, what's next? I mean… after all of this?"
I took a moment to consider my answer, knowing that whatever I say, should be rather... delicate. "Now, we regroup with the rest of the rebels. We plan our next moves, and we continue with our missions. There's still a lot of work to be done, and we have to stay strong."
Rowan nodded, though I could see the uncertainty in his eyes. "And will we be safe? Will we win?"
I reached over, placing a reassuring hand on his head. "We'll do everything we can to keep each other safe, Rowan. And as for winning… we'll keep fighting until we do. Remember, we're stronger together. We have each other, and that's what matters most."
He seemed to take some comfort in my words, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Okay, Nemesia! If you're with me, I'm not afraid!"
Those words, so simple and yet so profound, filled me with a sense of responsibility that I hadn't felt in a long time. Rowan's trust, his belief in me—it was something I couldn't afford to take lightly.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the landscape, the rebel camp drew closer. Now... Peotius... what will he have planned for us this time...