The jungle at dusk was a symphony of sounds—the calls of distant creatures, the rustle of leaves in the wind, and the soft crackle of the campfire Liora, Elias, and Darian had set up. They sat in a tense silence, the shard resting in a small leather pouch by Liora's side. Its faint glow pulsed through the fabric like a heartbeat.
"This thing doesn't just hold power," Elias said, breaking the silence. "It feels alive."
"It's more than that," Liora replied, her voice heavy with thought. "The runes I deciphered—they spoke of a connection between the shards and the stars themselves. Like they're part of something much bigger."
Darian, sharpening his blade a few feet away, glanced up. "Doesn't matter. Big or small, people will kill for it. Raven's people already know we're here."
Elias frowned. "Do you have to bring him up every five minutes?"
"Yes," Darian said curtly. "Because he's not just chasing the shards. He's hunting you too. You think your little inventions or her book smarts are going to stop him?"
Liora stood abruptly. "That's enough, both of you." She turned to Darian. "If you're going to stick with us, you need to stop acting like a hired sword and start acting like a teammate."
Darian smirked. "I'm here because you hired me, not because I care about teamwork."
Before Liora could retort, a faint rustle in the trees silenced them all. Darian's hand was on his weapon in an instant, his body coiled like a predator ready to strike.
Elias whispered, "What is it?"
"Trouble," Darian replied.
The group moved in unison, extinguishing the fire and taking cover behind the thick roots of an ancient tree. Liora strained her ears, catching the faint crunch of footsteps.
Figures emerged from the shadows—five of them, dressed in dark cloaks and armed to the teeth. Their leader, a tall woman with a jagged scar across her cheek, surveyed the clearing.
"They're close," she said. Her voice was sharp, commanding. "Spread out. Find them."
Liora's breath hitched. She felt Darian's hand on her arm, a silent signal to stay put. As the enemy dispersed, Darian slipped silently into the shadows.
"What's he doing?" Elias hissed.
"Creating a distraction," Liora whispered. "Stay here."
She crawled toward a cluster of bushes, her heart pounding. She watched as Darian ambushed one of the cloaked figures, knocking him unconscious before disappearing into the trees.
The others turned at the sound. "Over there!" the leader barked.
As they moved to investigate, Liora spotted an opening. She motioned to Elias, and they crept toward the opposite edge of the clearing.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed her wrist. She turned to see the leader, her scar twisting into a cruel smile.
"Well, well," the woman said. "The archaeologist herself."
Before Liora could react, Darian appeared behind the leader, his blade pressed to her neck. "Drop the weapon," he growled.
The leader hesitated, then let her blade fall to the ground. Darian's eyes didn't leave her. "You tell Raven we're not his prey. We'll come to him when we're ready."
The leader smirked. "He's already waiting."
Darian knocked her unconscious and turned to Liora. "Let's move."
• Get access to advanced chapter only on my Patreon.
patreon(.)com/Bersertales