The air was crisp and heavy with the scent of pine as the small caravan made its way through the dense forest. James sat in the back of the carriage, his wrists resting lightly on his knees. The cuffs, now inert and hidden beneath his sleeves, no longer glowed with suppressive magic. But he kept his demeanor subdued, feigning compliance as the elves escorting him maintained their watchful vigilance.
Aria rode ahead on a sleek white mare, her silver hair catching the dappled sunlight that filtered through the canopy. She hadn't spoken much since they'd left the campsite, but the tension in her shoulders and the occasional glances she threw over her shoulder told James she was wary.
The cart jolted over a root, and James's body swayed with the motion. He clenched his jaw, his mind spinning with possibilities. He'd spent the past few days studying the elves' movements, noting their patterns and vulnerabilities. Aria might have been strong, but the two guards accompanying her—both armed with sleek bows and short swords—seemed less formidable. It wasn't much, but it was an opening he could exploit.
"Stay patient," James told himself. One mistake and it's over.
As the day wore on, the forest seemed to grow denser, the trees taller and their trunks thicker. Shadows stretched across the path and the rhythmic clop of hooves blended with the distant chirping of birds. James used the monotonous journey to review his plan. The cuffs were no longer binding him, but he couldn't afford to reveal that just yet. Timing would be everything.
He glanced up at Aria, who was speaking softly to one of the guards riding beside her. They exchanged a few quiet words before the guard nodded and fell back, his steely gaze landing on James.
James met the guard's eyes briefly, then looked away, feigning discomfort. The guard grunted, seemingly satisfied. James stifled a smirk.
The cart came to a halt as Aria raised a hand. "We'll stop here for a short break," she announced. "Keep your eyes sharp. The deeper we go, the closer we get to the border. We can't afford any distractions."
The guards dismounted, one of them moving to check the horses' harnesses while the other kept his bow slung over his shoulder, scanning the treeline. James stretched his legs, careful to keep his movements slow and unthreatening. He could feel the weight of their stares, but he also knew he had to act soon. The farther they traveled, the harder it would be to escape.
When the group resumed their journey, James's heart pounded in his chest. He'd spotted a potential opportunity during the break—a narrow game trail branching off from the main path, partially concealed by undergrowth. If he could create a distraction, he might be able to slip away unnoticed.
He waited until the cart hit another rough patch of road, the wheels creaking loudly as they rolled over uneven ground. Seizing the moment, James shifted his weight and let himself fall sideways, tumbling out of the cart with a loud grunt.
"What now?" one of the guards barked, spinning around.
James groaned, clutching his side as he lay sprawled on the ground. "Sorry," he muttered. "The cart's bouncing… I lost my balance."
Aria sighed audibly, dismounting from her horse. "Get up," she said, her tone clipped. "We don't have time for this."
James pushed himself up slowly, wincing dramatically. As he straightened, his foot nudged a rock near the edge of the trail. An idea sparked in his mind.
"Wait," he said, pointing toward the underbrush. "I think I saw something move over there."
Aria's eyes narrowed. She motioned for one of the guards to investigate. The man hesitated but complied, stepping cautiously toward the indicated area with his sword drawn. The moment his back was turned, James acted.
He lunged toward the second guard, grabbing a handful of dirt and flinging it into the elf's face. The guard stumbled back, cursing and clawing at his eyes. Before Aria could react, James bolted toward the game trail, his legs pumping as adrenaline surged through his veins.
The forest blurred around him as James sprinted down the narrow path. Branches whipped at his arms and face, but he ignored the sting. Behind him, shouts rang out as the elves gave chase. Aria's voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
"Don't let him escape!"
James didn't look back. He couldn't afford to. The ground beneath him was uneven, littered with roots and fallen leaves that threatened to trip him up. He pushed himself harder, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
He heard the twang of a bowstring and instinctively ducked. An arrow zipped past him, embedding itself in a tree trunk. James swore under his breath, veering off the trail and into the thicker undergrowth. He needed to lose them, and fast.
Up ahead, a fallen tree created a natural barrier. James vaulted over it, landing awkwardly but managing to keep his footing. He could hear the elves gaining on him, their footsteps and shouts growing louder. Desperation clawed at his chest.
Think, James, think!
Spotting a dense thicket of bushes to his left, he dove into them, crouching low and holding his breath. The foliage scratched at his skin, but it provided decent cover. He peered through the leaves, his heart hammering in his chest as the voices drew nearer.
"He couldn't have gone far," one of the guards said, his voice tight with irritation.
"Fan out," Aria ordered. "Search the area thoroughly."
James stayed perfectly still, his muscles tense. He could see their boots moving through the undergrowth, dangerously close to his hiding spot. He gripped the cuffs in his hands, ready to use them as improvised weapons if necessary.
Minutes felt like hours as the elves combed the area. James's mind raced, weighing his options. He couldn't stay hidden forever, but making a run for it now would be suicide. He needed a distraction, something to draw their attention elsewhere.
His eyes landed on a jagged rock partially buried in the dirt. Carefully, he reached for it, wrapping his fingers around its rough surface. He waited until one of the guards turned away, then hurled the rock as far as he could in the opposite direction.
The rock crashed through the underbrush, drawing the elves' attention instantly.
"Over there!" one of them shouted, rushing toward the sound.
James seized the opportunity, slipping out of the bushes and darting in the opposite direction. He kept low, using the trees for cover as he put as much distance as possible between himself and his pursuers.
By the time he stopped to catch his breath, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the forest floor. James leaned against a tree, his chest heaving as he tried to calm his racing heart. His clothes were torn and his skin was scratched, but he was alive. For now.
He glanced around, his senses on high alert. The forest was eerily quiet, the only sound the rustling of leaves in the breeze. He couldn't hear the elves anymore, but that didn't mean they weren't still looking for him.
James allowed himself a small, grim smile. He'd escaped the cuffs, and now he'd escaped the caravan. But his journey was far from over. The elven kingdom loomed somewhere in the distance, a threat he couldn't ignore. And then there was Aria, whose motives remained shrouded in mystery.
As he straightened and began to move deeper into the forest, one thought burned in his mind:
I'm not going down without a fight.