Exhausted and battered, the group climbed higher into the mountains, seeking refuge in a hidden cave. The air grew thinner, and the temperature dropped, forcing them to wrap themselves in cloaks to stay warm.
"We can't keep this up," Elias panted, collapsing onto the rocky floor. "Raven's always one step behind us. It's like he knows where we're going before we do."
"He does," Liora said grimly. "The shards are guiding him, just like they're guiding us."
"Then we need to find a way to turn the shards off," Elias said. "Or bury them so deep he'll never find them."
"No," Liora said, her voice firm. "If we do that, we lose the only leverage we have. The only way to stop Raven is to get to the remaining shards before he does."
Darian stood at the cave's entrance, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Then we need allies. We can't fight him alone."
"Who would help us?" Elias asked. "Raven's got mercenaries, assassins, and half the world in his pocket."
"There's someone," Darian said after a pause. "An old contact of mine in the southern steppes. She runs a network of spies and smugglers. If anyone knows how to level the playing field, it's her."
Liora frowned. "Can we trust her?"
Darian's expression darkened. "Trust is a luxury we can't afford. But she owes me."
With no better options, the group agreed to make their way to the southern steppes.
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