The forest was alive with the whispers of rustling leaves and distant birdsong, but Kaelen and Lyra moved in silence, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth. The glow from Kaelen's hands had faded, but the memory of what had happened lingered between them like an unspoken truth.
Lyra finally broke the silence. "Kaelen, that light… it wasn't normal. What's happening to you?"
"I don't know," Kaelen admitted, his voice low. "But it's why they're after us. Thedrick knew. He must've known all along."
Lyra shook her head, frustration written across her face. "If he knew, why didn't he tell us? Why didn't you tell me about this… power?"
Before Kaelen could answer, a low growl echoed through the trees. They froze, eyes scanning the shadows.
"Wolves?" Lyra whispered, gripping his arm.
Kaelen shook his head, his other hand tightening on the hilt of the short sword. The sound grew louder, closer, but it wasn't coming from any animal.
Suddenly, a figure stepped out from behind the trees. She was tall and cloaked in crimson, with a scarlet blade resting on her hip. Her dark eyes were sharp, calculating, and her black hair was tied back in a tight braid.
"Not wolves," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Just me."
Kaelen instinctively raised his sword, but the woman didn't flinch. Instead, she studied him with an intensity that made him feel exposed, like she could see every secret he carried.
"Who are you?" Kaelen asked, his voice steady despite the tension.
The woman smirked. "Riona. And if you're smart, you'll put that sword down before you hurt yourself."
Lyra stepped forward, her fear replaced by defiance. "What do you want?"
Riona's gaze shifted to Lyra, then back to Kaelen. "Not you," she said bluntly. "Him. You're Bloodmarked, aren't you?"
Kaelen's grip on the sword tightened. "How do you know that?"
"Because I've been hunting your kind for years," Riona said, her voice softening slightly. "But not to kill you. I'm here to help.
The siblings hesitated, unsure whether to trust her. But before they could respond, the sound of approaching hoofbeats shattered the moment.
"Raiders," Riona muttered, her hand moving to the hilt of her blade. "They've found you."
Kaelen's heart sank. "How—?"
"They always do," Riona cut in, her tone sharp. "Bloodmarked power leaves a trail. Now stay behind me."
The raiders emerged from the trees, their leader snarling as he dismounted. "You're making this difficult, boy," he growled. "Hand over the Bloodmarked, or we'll take all of you."
Riona didn't wait for him to finish. In a blur of motion, her scarlet blade was drawn, and the first raider fell before he could even react.
"Stay down," she barked at Kaelen and Lyra as the remaining raiders charged.
Kaelen's instincts screamed to fight, but he couldn't look away from Riona. She moved with deadly precision, her blade cutting through the attackers like fire through dry leaves. But as the last raider fell, Riona staggered, blood dripping from a shallow wound on her shoulder.
Kaelen rushed to her side. "You're hurt!"
"It's nothing," she said, waving him off. "We need to move. More will come."
Lyra glanced at the fallen raiders, her face pale. "Why are they hunting us? What do they want with Kaelen?"
Riona hesitated, her gaze darkening. "Because of what he is. The Bloodmarked are the key to something much bigger—something the raiders want to control."
"What do you mean?" Kaelen asked, his frustration bubbling over.
Riona sighed, wiping her blade clean. "I'll explain everything, but not here. If you want to survive, you'll follow me. The Pyrecloaks won't stop until they have your blood—or until you're dead."
Kaelen looked at Lyra, who nodded reluctantly. He turned back to Riona. "Fine. But if you're lying to us—"
"I'm not," she interrupted. "And if I were, you'd already be dead."
Her words were blunt, but they carried a weight that left no room for argument.
As they disappeared deeper into the forest, Kaelen couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just stepped into a world far more dangerous—and far more important—than he'd ever imagined.