The forest path twisted and turned, its dense canopy filtering the pale morning light into fractured beams. Caden trailed behind Kael, his senses on edge. The shard in his pocket pulsed faintly, as if reacting to the tension between them. Garrick walked slower than usual, his injured arm pressed against his side, though he made no complaint.
Kael moved with practiced ease, her steps silent even on the uneven terrain. She didn't glance back to check if they were following, her confidence both reassuring and unsettling.
"You're quiet," Caden said finally, his voice breaking the silence. "How do you know we're being hunted?"
Kael paused, glancing over her shoulder. Her sharp eyes caught his, calculating but not hostile. "I make it my business to know who's moving through Aramore," she said. "And the Reclaimers don't exactly keep a low profile. Word travels fast when they're after something—or someone."
"Word from who?" Garrick asked, his tone even but wary.
Kael smirked and resumed walking. "Let's just say I have ears in the right places. People who like to share information, for the right price."
Caden exchanged a glance with Garrick, who gave a subtle nod, urging him to keep her talking.
"What did you hear?" Caden pressed, quickening his pace to walk alongside her.
"That the Reclaimers are hunting someone carrying a fragment," Kael replied, her voice casual. "That they chased you into the tunnels after a messy exchange in the Rust Quarter. And that they won't stop until they've got what they're after."
Caden's stomach twisted. "So, what? You thought you'd swoop in and save us out of the kindness of your heart?"
Kael chuckled, a low, amused sound. "Hardly. I'm here because keeping you alive might benefit me in the long run. The Reclaimers are bad news for everyone, not just you."
"Is that supposed to make us trust you?" Garrick asked, his voice edged with skepticism.
"Trust isn't required," Kael said, shooting him a glance. "Just cooperation. For now."
The path opened into a small clearing, surrounded by gnarled trees whose roots curled like claws into the ground. Kael stopped and pointed to a low outcropping of rock, partially hidden by overgrown brush.
"There's the entrance," she said. "The outpost isn't far from here. It's abandoned, but it'll give you a chance to regroup—and figure out your next move."
Caden followed her gaze to the rocky crevice, his unease growing. "How do you know it's safe?"
"I've used it before," Kael replied, stepping toward the entrance. "The Reclaimers don't know about it, and even if they did, they'd have trouble getting in without making a lot of noise. You'll have the advantage."
Garrick moved to follow, but Caden held out a hand, stopping him. "Wait," he said, looking at Kael. "Why are you really helping us? You said the Reclaimers are bad news for everyone, but that doesn't explain why you're risking yourself."
Kael sighed, leaning against a tree. "Fine. You want honesty? Here it is: I've got my own reasons for wanting the Reclaimers to fail. Maybe they've crossed me one too many times. Maybe I've lost people to their hunts. Or maybe I just hate the way they think they can take whatever they want, no matter who they hurt." She crossed her arms, her expression hardening. "But if you think I'm doing this out of charity, you're mistaken. Keeping you alive is a means to an end."
Caden frowned, her words stirring a mix of emotions. He didn't fully trust her—couldn't, not with what was at stake—but there was a rawness to her tone that felt genuine.
Garrick broke the silence, his voice steady. "If that's the case, then you should know what you're getting into. The fragment isn't just another relic. It's dangerous—unstable. And anyone who gets too close risks more than just the Reclaimers."
"I can handle danger," Kael said, her smirk returning. "But thanks for the warning."
Without waiting for a response, she ducked into the crevice, disappearing into the shadows. Garrick gave Caden a faint nod, and they followed her into the hidden passage.
The air inside was cool and damp, carrying the faint scent of moss and earth. The narrow tunnel sloped downward, opening into a small chamber carved from stone. Faded markings covered the walls, their meanings lost to time, and a makeshift camp sat in the center—old, but not entirely abandoned.
Kael lit a small lantern, its glow illuminating the room. "This is it," she said, her voice echoing softly. "Not much, but it'll do."
Caden sank onto a low stone ledge, exhaustion catching up with him. He pulled the shard from his pocket, its faint glow casting a soft light across his face.
"What now?" he asked, looking at Garrick.
"We rest," Garrick said, lowering himself onto a nearby rock with a wince. "And then we plan."
Kael leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. "If you're smart, you'll plan to leave Aramore behind. The Reclaimers won't stop hunting you as long as you stay within their reach."
"And go where?" Caden asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Anywhere," Kael replied. "The further you get from this fragment, the better your chances of surviving."
Caden looked at the shard in his hand, its pulse steady but unyielding. "I can't just abandon it," he said, his voice firm. "There's more to this than running. If I leave it behind, someone else will find it. Someone worse."
Kael raised an eyebrow but said nothing, her expression unreadable.
Garrick's voice broke the silence. "We're not leaving. Not yet. There's still more we need to learn—about the fragment, the Reclaimers, and what they're planning."
Kael shrugged. "Suit yourself. Just don't expect me to stick around if things get messy."
Caden's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. He tucked the shard back into his pocket, its faint glow fading as the weight of their situation settled over him.
The Reclaimers were out there, closing in. And Kael, for all her talk of cooperation, was still a wildcard.
But for now, she was their best chance at staying ahead of the storm.