The clinic was bathed in a dim, flickering light as Mara carefully examined Lina, her hands moving with practiced precision. Leon stood by the door, his eyes fixed on the two women, but his thoughts were far away. The evening's events had stirred something in him—a quiet storm of uncertainty. This village, this fragile sanctuary they had built, was constantly on the edge of destruction. Every moment, every new face, could bring them closer to the king's wrath.
Mara's soft voice broke through his thoughts. "She's malnourished but otherwise healthy. No signs of illness. Whatever she's been through, it's been hard on her."
Lina looked up from the chair where she sat, her eyes filled with gratitude and exhaustion. "Thank you… I didn't know if I'd make it this far."
Leon crossed his arms, watching her carefully. He hadn't decided what to make of her yet. "Tell me about your brother. You said he's hiding in the forest. What exactly happened to you two?"
Lina swallowed hard, her hands gripping the edges of the chair as if holding on for dear life. "We were part of a group of refugees, people fleeing the capital. We'd been on the road for weeks, hiding from the king's patrols. My brother, Arren, he… he got sick about a week ago. We had some medicine, but it ran out. I've been trying to keep him alive with what little I had left."
Leon's eyes narrowed slightly, still searching for any sign of deception. "And what were you running from?"
"The king," Lina answered quickly, her voice shaking slightly. "Or more specifically, his soldiers. They've been sweeping through the towns and villages, rounding people up. Some are being taken to the capital, others… I don't know. We didn't want to find out. That's why we ran."
Mara looked at Leon, her eyes full of concern. "If her brother is sick, he could die out there. We can't just leave him."
Leon's jaw tightened. He was no stranger to tough decisions. Vekara had been built on a foundation of hard choices, each one made to protect the village from outsiders who might bring danger to their doorstep. But there was a part of him—a part that had become quiet since taking on the burden of leadership—that still believed in the need to help those in need.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he considered the options. "I'll go with her to the forest. If her brother's still alive, we'll bring him back. But we'll be careful. I'm not risking the village for a stranger."
Mara nodded in agreement, her eyes soft but resolute. "I'll prepare some supplies. If Arren's as bad as she says, he'll need proper care once we get him back here."
Leon turned to Lina, his gaze hard but not unkind. "You said you're hiding not far from here. Take me to your brother."
Lina hesitated for a moment, glancing between Leon and Mara. "Thank you… really. I was afraid no one would help us."
"Just show me the way," Leon replied, his voice steady. "If you're telling the truth, then we'll help your brother. But I need to see it for myself."
Lina nodded quickly, rising from the chair. "I'll take you to him. He's not far."
Leon glanced at Mara as she began gathering medical supplies, quickly packing them into a small satchel. He could see the worry in her eyes, but there was also trust. Trust that he would make the right decision. Trust that he wouldn't let the village fall into danger.
With the satchel in hand, Leon motioned for Lina to lead the way. They slipped out of the clinic and into the cool night air, the quiet village around them casting long shadows in the moonlight. The sounds of hammering had died down, the workers having retired for the night, leaving the village eerily still.
As they walked toward the forest, Leon's mind buzzed with caution. He had been trained to expect the worst, and until he saw Lina's brother for himself, he wouldn't lower his guard. He had seen too many situations turn sour, too many people lie to protect themselves. But if her story was true, and she and her brother had been running from the king's soldiers, then they were already in more danger than they realized.
Lina led him through the forest, the path winding between thick trees and overgrown brush. The air was damp, and the smell of earth and moss filled Leon's senses as they moved deeper into the woods. His hand hovered near the hilt of his knife, always ready, always cautious.
After what felt like an hour of walking, Lina stopped, her breath coming in short, nervous gasps. "He's just up ahead," she whispered, pointing toward a small clearing.
Leon moved forward carefully, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of movement. The clearing was small, barely more than a patch of dirt surrounded by trees, and in the center of it, a makeshift shelter had been constructed from branches and leaves. Inside the shelter, a figure lay motionless, curled up in a rough blanket.
Leon crouched low, his eyes narrowing as he approached the figure. "Arren?"
The figure didn't stir, his breathing shallow and weak. Leon felt a pang of concern as he moved closer, carefully pulling back the blanket to reveal a young man, no older than Lina. His skin was pale, his forehead slick with sweat, and his body was racked with tremors.
Lina knelt beside him, her face filled with worry. "Arren, I'm here. I brought help."
Leon reached for Arren's wrist, checking his pulse. It was weak, but there. The fever was bad, but he had seen worse.
"He's burning up," Leon muttered, more to himself than to Lina. "But he's not too far gone. We can treat him."
Lina's eyes filled with tears of relief. "Thank you. I didn't know if he'd survive another night."
Leon gave her a quick nod before standing up and motioning for her to help. "Let's get him back to the village. I don't want to spend any more time out here than we have to."
They carefully lifted Arren between them, his body limp but still breathing. As they made their way back toward Vekara, Leon's mind raced with possibilities. If Lina's story was true, then it meant the king's soldiers were already out there, sweeping through the land, hunting for people like them. Refugees. Outcasts. People who had fled the king's rule in search of something better.
The village had to be prepared. Vekara wasn't just a sanctuary anymore—it was a target.
By the time they returned to the village, Mara was waiting at the clinic, her face filled with concern as she saw the state of Lina's brother. They quickly moved him inside, laying him on a cot as Mara began her work, checking his vitals and administering what little medicine they had.
Leon stood back, watching Mara and Lina work together to care for Arren. His thoughts were heavy with the weight of what this could mean for Vekara. More refugees would come. More people would need help. And with them, the threat of the king's soldiers drawing closer.
As Mara worked, she glanced up at Leon, her eyes filled with unspoken questions. But Leon said nothing, only giving her a faint nod before turning to leave the clinic.
Outside, the cool night air hit him like a wave, and for the first time that night, Leon allowed himself a moment of silence. The world around him was still, but he knew that the storm was coming. The village would be tested again, and this time, they would need more than walls and weapons to survive.
They would need unity. Trust.
And a reason to keep fighting.
Leon took a deep breath, steeling himself for the days to come. Vekara would stand, no matter the cost.