Chapter 20: The Serpent's Gambit
The morning sun broke through the dense canopy of trees, its golden rays dappling the village square. The air buzzed with quiet activity as the villagers gathered, their expressions a mixture of gratitude and sadness. The horses, saddled and ready, stood near the edge of the square, their restless hooves kicking up small clouds of dust.
Aria, still in her feminine guise, flitted among the villagers like a vibrant butterfly, her laughter ringing out amidst the subdued farewells. She had spent months here, weaving herself into the fabric of their lives, and the affection the villagers held for her was palpable.
An elderly woman clutched Aria's hand tightly. "You've been a blessing to us, dear. Will you come back?"
Aria's eyes softened, her usual playful demeanor giving way to genuine warmth. "I'll try," she said, her voice tinged with sincerity. "But you know how life is—always pulling us in unexpected directions."
The woman nodded, her gaze lingering on Aria for a moment longer before she stepped back, her hands trembling slightly as she let go.
The villagers had gathered near the forest's edge, their faces lit with gratitude and worry. Tara adjusted the scarf over her head, blending in among the travelers. The farewell had been unexpectedly elaborate. Instead of merely waving them off, the villagers conducted a brief but poignant ceremony.
An elder placed a small wooden charm in Samudra's hands. "This talisman will guide you safely," she said, her voice trembling. "The forest is kind, but it remembers. Do not linger too long."
Samudra gave a faint smile, tucking the charm into his sash. Tara, watching from the corner of her eye, noted how even in such moments, he exuded an effortless charisma.
Tara stood a few paces away, watching the scene unfold. She adjusted the straps on her saddle, her movements precise but tinged with an odd hesitance. The pendant beneath her blouse pressed against her chest, its weight a constant reminder of the temple's warning. She glanced at Samudra, who was securing provisions to his horse. His expression was calm, almost indifferent, but there was a tension in his shoulders that belied his composure.
"You've been quiet," Tara said, breaking the silence between them.
Samudra glanced at her, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "And you've been staring," he countered, his tone light but his eyes sharp.
Tara flushed slightly, turning her attention back to her saddle. "I wasn't staring," she muttered. "Just... observing."
"Observing me?" he teased, his smirk widening.
Before Tara could respond, Aria appeared beside them, her grin mischievous. "Oh, the tension between you two is delicious," she drawled, looping an arm through Tara's. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you're falling for our dear prince, Tara."
Tara stiffened, her face heating. "I am not—" she began, but Aria cut her off with a laugh.
"Relax, darling. I'm only teasing." Aria turned to Samudra, her expression sly. "Though I must admit, you've been unusually attentive lately, Your Highness."
Samudra raised an eyebrow, his smirk fading into something more thoughtful. "You see what you want to see, Aria."
Aria chuckled, releasing Tara and stepping away. "Denial suits you both," she said over her shoulder as she moved to her own horse.
As they mounted their horses, the villagers gathered around, offering small tokens of gratitude—woven charms for protection, satchels of dried herbs, and even a hand-carved flute that a shy child pressed into Aria's hands. Aria accepted each gift with a dazzling smile, her voice warm as she promised to treasure them.
Tara felt a pang of guilt as she watched. She hadn't connected with the villagers the way Aria had. She had been too focused on her own mission, too wary of revealing herself. Yet, as she looked at their faces, she realized how much Aria's presence had meant to them.
"You've made quite an impact here," Tara said quietly to Aria as they prepared to leave.
Aria shrugged, though her eyes held a glimmer of sadness. "People remember kindness, Tara. It doesn't take much to leave a mark."
As the group entered the forest, the air shifted. The towering trees whispered in the wind, their leaves casting shifting patterns of light and shadow on the path. The scent of damp earth mingled with the faint sweetness of blooming flowers. Tara couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of this ancient world, though her grip on the dagger hidden in her sash remained firm.
Aria turned his horse to trot beside her, sitting on it dressed in a flowing robe that swayed as gracefully as her movements. "The forest is enchanting, isn't it?" she said, her voice light. "But don't let its charm fool you. It hides secrets."
"Not unlike someone I know," Tara muttered.
Aria flashed a mischievous smile. "Oh, darling, you wound me. I'm an open book."
Samudra, rode ahead, chuckled. "A book with more blank pages than words, Aria."
The banter eased the tension slightly, but Tara's unease grew the deeper they ventured. The forest seemed alive, watching.
---
Unbeknownst to them, a group of assassins lay in wait just beyond the village. The leader, cloaked in black and wearing a silver mask, observed their departure from the shadows. His voice was cold as he addressed his subordinates.
"Wait until they're far enough from the village," he ordered. "No witnesses."
The assassins nodded, their movements silent as they melted into the forest. The leader remained, his gaze fixed on the departing trio. Beneath the mask, his lips curved into a cruel smile.
"They think they've escaped," he murmured, almost to himself. "But they'll learn soon enough that no one defies the will of the Eclipse Sect."
The pendant around his neck—a twin to Tara's—glowed faintly, its light pulsing in sync with hers.
As they rode deeper into the forest, Samudra slowed his horse, his gaze scanning their surroundings. Tara noticed his unease and nudged her horse closer to his.
"What is it?" she asked.
Samudra shook his head, his expression unreadable. "Probably nothing," he said, though his hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword. "But stay alert."
Aria, riding ahead, glanced back at them. "You're both so tense. Relax! We've left the village safely. What could possibly go wrong?"
Tara frowned, her instincts prickling. "That's exactly when things go wrong."
As if on cue, a faint rustling echoed through the trees. Samudra's hand tightened on his sword, and Tara felt the air around her shift. She reached out with her elemental energy, letting a small breeze carry her awareness forward. Her eyes widened as she sensed the presence of others—silent, hidden, and close.
"Ambush," she whispered.
The attack came without warning. One moment, the group walked along the path, the next, arrows whistled through the air. Samudra reacted instantly, pulling Tara behind a tree.
"Stay low!" he barked, his tone sharp, all traces of his usual playfulness gone.
Aria ducked gracefully, her demeanor shifting in an instant. She scanned the treetops, her sharp eyes catching the gleam of metal. "They're on the move," she whispered. "Fast, organized... but not aiming to kill yet."
Tara's heart pounded as she gripped her dagger. She felt the faint hum of energy in her veins, but the limitations of this world dulled her once-formidable powers. She couldn't risk exposing her abilities yet, not without understanding more.
From the shadows, figures emerged—cloaked in black, their faces hidden beneath masks of silver. The emblem of a coiling serpent was etched into their armor. Samudra narrowed his eyes. "Eclipse Sect," he muttered, his voice low.
One of the masked figures stepped forward, his movements precise. He held up a hand, signaling the others to halt. "You should not have interfered with matters beyond your station, Prince," the man said, his voice smooth and cold.
Samudra stepped out from cover, his sword glinting in the dappled sunlight. "And you should choose your battles more wisely. Who commands you?"
The leader chuckled, a sound devoid of warmth. "The Eclipse's will is absolute. Your defiance will not be forgotten."
Aria whispered to Tara, "They're testing him. This isn't the main strike."
Before Samudra could respond, the leader raised his hand again. "Enough. The Prince is not our target today." He tossed something small and metallic onto the ground—a pendant identical to the one Tara had seen earlier in Samudra's possession.
Her stomach churned. What did it mean?
The leader turned sharply, fading into the shadows. The rest followed, their movements eerily silent. The forest seemed to exhale as the tension dissipated.
Samudra sheathed his sword but didn't relax. "We're being watched," he said grimly. "They'll strike again when it suits them."
Aria crouched to examine the pendant. "This isn't a warning; it's a message," she said, her tone uncharacteristically serious. "They're playing with us."
Tara knelt beside her, studying the pendant. The serpent emblem seemed to shimmer faintly in the light. "What does it mean?" she asked.
Samudra's gaze darkened. "It's a claim. The Eclipse Sect has marked us as part of their game."
Game. The word sent a shiver down Tara's spine. She clenched her fists, suppressing the urge to let her powers flare. Whoever this Eclipse Sect was, they weren't ordinary.
Aria stood, her usual playful demeanor returning. "Well, it seems we've caught someone's attention. How thrilling."
"Thrilling isn't the word I'd use," Tara muttered.
Samudra smiled faintly, though his eyes remained hard. "Stay close. This forest might not be the only thing watching us."
As they continued, the forest seemed to shift around them. Tara noticed carvings on some of the larger trees—symbols she didn't recognize, though they pulsed faintly when she looked at them too long.
Aria pointed to one. "Old wards," she explained. "The kind used to keep spirits in check. This place must have seen its fair share of bloodshed."
Tara swallowed hard, her thoughts drifting to her uncle's notes. Could these symbols connect to the ruins she'd explored? Was the Veil tied to the same mysteries?
The path ahead led to a clearing where the light seemed unnaturally bright. Samudra halted, his expression unreadable. "We rest here," he said.
Tara glanced at him, noting the tension in his posture. He was hiding something. She resolved to find out what.
By the time they reached the edge of the forest, the tension had eased, though Tara couldn't shake the feeling that they had narrowly avoided something dangerous.
The road opened up to a vast plain, dotted with wildflowers and rolling hills. In the distance, a small river stream came into view, its water trickling down wounded rocks and its flow getting faster.
Samudra glanced back at Tara and Aria. "We'll rest here for the night," he said. "Then we move on."
As they approached the river, Tara couldn't help but look back at the forest, its shadows stretching long and dark behind them. The pendant against her chest pulsed faintly, as if echoing her unease.
Somewhere, the leader of the assassins watched their progress, his silver mask glinting in the fading light. He turned to his subordinates, his voice calm but firm.
"Let them think they're safe," he said. "For now. We'll strike when they least expect it."
The storm was far from over, and the threads of fate were tightening around them all.
As Tara's eyes drifted shut, she couldn't shake the feeling that the answers lay closer than she wanted to believe.