The fire crackled in the center of their camp, casting flickering shadows across the clearing. Dani sat quietly, his hands resting on the hilt of his sword as he stared into the flames. Garrick leaned against a nearby tree, sharpening one of his axes, while Selene paced back and forth, her brow furrowed in thought.
"Something doesn't feel right," Selene muttered, breaking the uneasy silence.
"You're just paranoid," Garrick replied, not looking up. "We've dealt with worse."
"Paranoia has kept us alive so far," she shot back, her tone sharp.
Dani's eyes flicked to the forest surrounding them. The weight of their journey was beginning to wear on him, but Selene's unease set his nerves on edge. "Do you think they've found us again?" he asked quietly.
Selene paused, her violet eyes narrowing. "It's possible. Whoever's after you won't stop. The gauntlet is too valuable."
Before anyone could respond, a rustling in the bushes made all three of them tense. Selene's spear was in her hands in an instant, while Garrick shifted into a defensive stance, his axes ready. Dani gripped his sword tightly, his pulse quickening.
The figure that emerged wasn't an enemy, but Evelyn. Her golden hair shimmered in the moonlight as she stepped into the clearing, her expression unreadable.
"Evelyn?" Dani's voice was filled with surprise. He rose to his feet, relief washing over him. "What are you doing here?"
"I've been tracking you," she said, her voice calm but laced with tension. "We need to talk. Alone."
Selene's eyes narrowed, and Garrick let out a low chuckle. "Well, isn't this interesting. The royal prodigy graces us with her presence."
Evelyn ignored him, her gaze fixed on Dani. "It's urgent."
Dani glanced at Selene, who reluctantly nodded. "Go," she said. "We'll keep watch."
Evelyn led Dani away from the camp, deeper into the forest. The silence between them was heavy, the tension palpable. When they were far enough from the others, she stopped and turned to face him.
"Dani," she began, her voice soft but firm. "There's something you need to know."
He frowned, confusion flickering across his face. "What is it?"
She hesitated, her hands clenching at her sides. "The attacks... the creatures sent after you... they're not random. Someone close to you is working with them."
Dani's heart sank. "What? Who?"
Before Evelyn could answer, a sharp whistle pierced the air. Dani barely had time to react before a dagger flew through the darkness, embedding itself in the tree beside him. Evelyn's eyes widened as shadows burst from the forest, figures cloaked in black converging on them.
Dani drew his sword, his mind racing. "Evelyn, get back to the camp! Warn the others!"
But she didn't move. Instead, she raised her hand, a brilliant light emanating from her palm. The shadows recoiled, their forms flickering in the radiant glow.
"You'll need me to fight them," she said firmly.
The battle was swift and brutal. Dani's sword danced in the moonlight as he fought off the attackers, his movements more confident than ever before. Evelyn's magic surged through the clearing, a powerful force that seemed to drive the shadows back. Yet, as the last of their enemies fell, a chilling laugh echoed through the forest.
A figure stepped into the light, his face obscured by a hood. Dani recognized the voice immediately. "Garrick," he whispered, disbelief coloring his tone.
The mercenary grinned, lowering his hood. "You're sharper than I gave you credit for, kid."
"Why?" Dani demanded, his grip tightening on his sword. "You've been helping us."
"Helping?" Garrick's grin widened. "I've been leading you into a trap. The gauntlet is worth more than any alliance, and you've made it far too easy."
Selene's voice rang out from behind them. "Not easy enough."
She and Evelyn flanked Dani, their weapons ready. Garrick's confidence wavered, but he raised his axes nonetheless. "Three against one? Hardly fair."
"You're right," Selene said. "It's not."
Before Garrick could respond, Evelyn's magic surged forward, binding him in chains of light. He struggled, but the bonds held firm.
Dani stepped forward, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his heart. "You betrayed us. You betrayed me."
Garrick's smirk faltered, replaced by a hint of regret. "It's just business, kid."
"Not anymore," Dani said, his sword gleaming as he raised it. But he hesitated, the weight of his actions bearing down on him.
Evelyn placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll take him to the capital. Let the King decide his fate."
Dani nodded, lowering his blade. The first volume of his journey had come to an end, but the shadows of betrayal and the mysteries of the gauntlet were far from over. As they made their way back to camp, Dani couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.