The morning dawned with a heavy mist clinging to the forest, muffling the sounds of the world around them. Lynx stirred from his bedroll, his mismatched eyes scanning the camp. The fire had burned low during the night, leaving only faintly glowing embers. Veryl was already awake, perched on a fallen log, his hands idly flipping a small dagger.
"You look rested," Veryl said, though the sarcasm in his tone was muted.
Lynx stretched and stood, his muscles aching from days of constant travel. "If you call sleeping with one eye open restful."
Veryl smirked but didn't reply. Nearby, Vera was carefully packing their supplies, her movements brisk and efficient. Kael was nowhere to be seen, though her bedroll was neatly folded at the edge of the camp.
"Where's Kael?" Lynx asked, his voice low.
"Gone to scout ahead," Vera replied without looking up. "She left before dawn."
Lynx frowned. He didn't like the idea of their guide disappearing without notice, but Kael had proven to be enigmatic at best. Trusting her had always felt tenuous.
The shard's hum in his satchel was softer this morning, as though it, too, was conserving its energy for what lay ahead. Lynx's hand drifted to the bag, his fingers brushing the worn leather. The weight of their mission seemed heavier with each passing day.
Kael returned an hour later, her expression grim. "There's movement up ahead," she announced, drawing the group's attention. "A small patrol. They're searching for something."
"The queen's agents?" Vera asked, her voice sharp.
Kael nodded. "Most likely. They're combing the area, but they haven't found the trail yet. If we keep moving, we can avoid them."
Veryl raised an eyebrow. "And if we can't?"
Kael's lips thinned. "Then we deal with them quickly and quietly."
The group exchanged uneasy glances but didn't argue. They packed their camp swiftly, the tension thick in the air as they set off once more. The forest seemed darker, the shadows deeper, as they moved through the dense undergrowth. Every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves set Lynx on edge, his hand never straying far from his sword.
The patrol appeared sooner than expected. Lynx spotted them first—four figures clad in dark armor, their movements methodical as they searched the forest floor. He signaled to the group, and they crouched low behind a cluster of rocks, their breaths shallow as they watched the soldiers pass.
"We could take them," Veryl whispered, his grin returning. "Four against four. Easy odds."
Kael shot him a warning look. "We don't fight unless we have to."
But fate didn't give them a choice. One of the soldiers paused, his gaze sweeping the trees before settling on their hiding spot. He drew his blade, signaling to the others.
"Scatter!" Kael hissed, drawing her weapons as the soldiers charged.
The group split, the forest erupting in chaos. Lynx darted to the left, his mismatched eyes scanning for cover. One of the soldiers pursued him, their heavy boots crunching against the forest floor. Lynx unsheathed his sword, the weight familiar in his hands as he turned to face his opponent.
The clash was swift. The soldier's strikes were strong but predictable, and Lynx's movements were fluid, each parry and counterattack executed with precision. Within moments, the soldier lay unconscious, and Lynx's breath came in short gasps as he scanned the forest for the others.
Nearby, Vera and Veryl fought in tandem, their movements synchronized like a well-rehearsed dance. Vera's dagger flashed in the dim light, while Veryl's twin blades struck with calculated precision. Together, they dispatched their opponents with minimal effort.
Kael was a blur of efficiency, her twin blades cutting down the final soldier before the group regrouped in the clearing. The forest fell silent once more, save for their ragged breathing.
"That could have gone worse," Veryl said, wiping his blades clean.
"It shouldn't have happened at all," Kael snapped. "We need to move before more arrive."
Lynx nodded, but as they began to leave, he couldn't shake the feeling that the encounter had been too convenient. The soldiers hadn't been searching aimlessly—they had been heading straight for them.
They reached a narrow ravine by nightfall, the steep cliffs offering a natural barrier against prying eyes. The group made camp in the sheltered hollow, their fire hidden from view. As they ate in silence, Lynx finally voiced the thought that had been nagging at him all day.
"They knew where to find us," he said, his voice low but firm.
Vera looked up sharply. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying someone tipped them off," Lynx replied, his mismatched eyes flicking to Kael. "And I want to know how."
Kael's expression darkened. "You're accusing me?"
"You disappeared this morning without explanation," Lynx said. "And those soldiers were heading straight for us. It's too much of a coincidence."
Kael stood, her gaze icy. "I've guided you this far without question, and this is the thanks I get? If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't need soldiers to do it."
The tension in the air was suffocating, the firelight casting harsh shadows across their faces. Veryl stepped between them, his hands raised in a placating gesture.
"Alright, let's all take a breath," he said. "We've been through a lot, and we're all on edge. But throwing accusations around isn't going to help."
Vera nodded, her voice calm but firm. "Lynx, we've trusted Kael this far. Let's not lose sight of the bigger picture."
Lynx hesitated, the weight of their gazes pressing down on him. Finally, he exhaled and stepped back. "Fine. But if it happens again, we're having this conversation."
Kael's jaw tightened, but she didn't respond. Instead, she turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving the group to stew in the uneasy silence.
As Lynx lay awake that night, the shard's hum seemed louder than ever, its energy a constant reminder of the path they had chosen. Trust was fragile, and in the face of mounting danger, it was becoming harder to hold onto.
The journey ahead would test them all—in ways they couldn't yet imagine.