Chapter - 42
"Why the sudden interest in Ashenford?" Thorne asked, his arms crossed, his sharp gaze lingering on Jacob with that familiar, scrutinizing look.
Jacob let out a small sigh, keeping his tone calm. "Thorne, fewer questions. If you know anything about that village, please, just tell me."
Thorne's smirk widened, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "I know everything, kid. But, you know me—my knowledge comes with a price." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping conspiratorially. "And that price is… gossip. So, spill it. Why the interest in Ashenford?"
Jacob hesitated, glancing away for a moment before speaking. "It's because of Elara," he finally admitted. "She was born in Ashenford but was sold into slavery to settle her family's debts. From what she's told me, she was ripped away from her mother and younger sister. I'm taking her back to reunite with them."
Thorne's smirk faded slightly, replaced by an uncharacteristically thoughtful look. "You really care about this girl, don't you? I've never seen anyone show this much concern for a slave." He paused, watching Jacob's expression. "But I get it. She's a special girl, isn't she? I'm glad you're looking after her."
Jacob nodded, his expression softening. "She is. I want her to have a piece of the life she lost, even if just for a short while. She deserves it."
Thorne leaned back, considering Jacob's words. "Ashenford, huh? Alright, here's what I know. Ashenford is near the eastern region of Avele. The village itself is about a week's journey from Ironhelm if you're moving at a good pace—less if you've got a decent set of horses. The trail is usually safe, well-traveled by merchants heading further east, so you shouldn't run into any major trouble along the way."
Jacob nodded. "Thank you, Thorne."
"Don't mention it," Thorne replied, his smirk returning. "And kid? You might not be able to change her past, but you're giving her something better than most people ever would."
Jacob let the words sink in, his heart feeling lighter as he left Thorne and returned to his room.
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When Elara finally arrived back from her training class, she looked exhausted. She plopped onto the bed beside Jacob, immediately pulling off her boots and rubbing her feet with a pained sigh.
"Ugh… Mariel was extra tough with me today since I told her we didn't have any missions coming up," she muttered, flashing Jacob a tired smile.
Jacob chuckled softly, studying her as she relaxed. "Well, you're going to have to let her know that you'll be taking some time off soon. We'll be heading out tomorrow morning."
She blinked, her fatigue momentarily forgotten. "Where are we going? Is it another escort mission?"
"Nope," Jacob said, watching her reaction carefully. "This trip is… personal. We're going to Ashenford—your village."
The words hung in the air for a moment as Elara stared at him, surprise and unspoken emotion washing over her face.
"Ashenford?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why… why are you…?" She trailed off, her brown eyes wide with confusion and hope.
Jacob sighed, reaching out to take her hand gently. "Elara, I know how much you miss your family—your mother, your sister. You speak about them so often, and it's clear they mean the world to you. Right now, we're not in a rush. We have a good amount of savings, and I figured… why not help you reconnect with them?"
Elara's expression softened, her eyes misting with emotion as she gripped his hand tightly. Before Jacob could say anything more, she launched forward, wrapping her arms around him in a fierce hug, pressing her face against his chest. Her voice was thick with gratitude as she choked out, "Thank you, Master… thank you… I don't know how I can ever repay you."
"You don't have to repay me, Elara."
They stayed like that for a few moments, a quiet understanding passing between them. When she finally pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, and a radiant smile lit up her face.
"I never thought I'd see them again," she said, her voice a mixture of joy and disbelief. "It feels like a dream."
"Tomorrow morning, we'll set out for Ashenford," Jacob said gently. "Pack a few things tonight, and make sure you're ready."
She nodded enthusiastically, and then went to her room to get everything ready for tomorrow