Page 20 of Dreams of Ash and Smoke

“Shut up,” I laugh and brush it off, “I don’t know. It was weird. He was weird, right?” I say, changing my tune and closing off again.

Hadeon laughs lowly, “Yeah. He was weird.” He smirks to himself but we say nothing else.

Every fiber of my being was unsettled by this situation. It left me with a sense of unease that I can’t shake. As I mull over my decision to leave the Court of Dawn, one question plagues me: had I made a grave mistake?

We keep trekking through the woods, changing up our paces and foot steps every so often to keep hunters off our trail. I wasn’t daft enough to believe Dryston wouldn’t send hunters after his prized possession.

The rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs beneath our feet are the only sounds that broke the silence between us. The tension in the air was thick, weighted down by unspoken truths and lingering doubts. I stole a glance at Hadeon, his eyes fix ahead with a determined focus, his jaw set in a firm line. Despite the gravity of our situation, a small flicker of admiration sparks within me as I watch him lead us through the dense forest with unwavering confidence.

As we travel deeper into the woods, my mind wanders back to ourconversation about King Eryx. The enigmatic ruler had always been shroud in mystery, his reputation precedes him wherever his name was spoken. The conflicting tales surrounding him paint a complex picture that left me more intrigued than ever.

Lost in my thoughts, I almost don’t notice when Hadeon suddenly stops in his tracks, causing me to bump into him. His hand shot out to steady me, and he places a finger to his lips, signaling for me to be silent. I follow his gaze and feel my heart drop to the pit of my stomach at the sight before us.

Through the thick foliage, we can see a group of armed men clad in the colors of the Zoryan Court of Dawn. They move with purpose, their eyes scanning the surroundings as they search for any sign of us. My breath catches in my throat as I realized we are dangerously close to being caught.

Hadeon’s expression hardens as he turns to me, his eyes conveying a silent urgency that fuel my determination. Without a word, he gestures for us to change course, leading us deeper into the undergrowth to evade our pursuers.

As we navigate through the dense forest, every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs reverberate through the tense silence that envelope us. I can feel the weight of our predicament pressing down on me, a constant reminder of the perilous game we are entangled in.

The sound of footsteps drawing closer behind us spur us to quicken our pace, our hearts pounding in unison with the echoing drumbeats of fear. We dart through the trees, our breaths coming out in frantic gasps as we struggle to maintain our advantage. The intensity of the chase only heighten as the branches claw at our skin and the roots threaten to trip us with every step.

A sudden clearing ahead offered a brief respite, a small pocket of safety in the vast expanse of the forest. Hadeon grabs my hand without hesitation, his touch grounding me in the midst of chaos. Without a word, we sprint toward the open space, our muscles burning with exertion as we push ourselves to the limit.

As we burst into the clearing, a sense of relief wash over me briefly before being replaced by a sinking realization. Before us stands not a sanctuarybut a trap, a circle of Zoryan hunters waiting with weapons drawn and grim determination etched on their faces. I turn to Hadeon, panic rising in my chest as I search his eyes for a plan, for a way out of this dire situation. But instead of fear or despair, I saw a steely resolve glinting in his gaze, a spark of defiance that spurs me to stand taller beside him.

As the hunters close in around us, their leader steps forward with a menacing sneer curling his lips. “Well, well, well, what do we have here?” He taunts, relishing in our cornered state. “It seems the little traitors thought they could escape the wrath of the Court.”

I feel a surge of anger boiling within me at his words, at the injustice of being hunted like prey for a crime we didn’t commit. But before I can retort, Hadeon steps forward, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

“You would believe that, Dorian, “ I say, recognizing his face from the castle. “But Dryston is not the man you think he is. He is not the king you believe him to be.”

“Traitors will say anything to defy the king. You both should be hung. But I’ll take great pleasure in bringing you back dead instead of alive.” He pulls his sword from its sheath, aiming for us.

Hadeon, sensing the danger, quickly moves from behind me and positions his body in front of mine, taking the brunt of the hunter’s attack. The sword swings down, and I brace myself for the impact, but Hadeon’s reflexes are too quick. He deflects the blade with his own sword, the force of the collision echoing through the clearing. A momentary lapse of surprise flickers across Dorian’s face before he charges at us again, renewed in his determination to capture us or end our lives.

“Escape while you can!” Hadeon shouts at me, pushing me toward the edge of the clearing. I know he is forcing me away from danger, but I can’t leave him behind. With a cry of defiance, I run back toward him. The hunters close in on us again, their weapons ready. But this time, I am ready too.

“Not a chance!” I tell him, before joining the fray of the fight. I use the training he’s given me and put it to good use to help get us out of this alive.

The clashing of our swords against theirs fills the air, a deafeningsymphony of steel and determination. Sparks fly as blades collide, the scent of blood and sweat permeating the clearing. Amidst the chaos, Hadeon and I form a united front against our pursuers, our bond strengthened by our shared purpose.

Each strike was calculated, each parry a testament to our training and skill. We dance around the hunters, our moves fluid and precise, the rhythm of our blades harmonizing with the pounding of the hunters’ feet on the hard earth.

In the midst of the fray, I caught a glimpse of Dorian, his eyes burning with a mixture of rage and hatred. He had not expected this resistance, and the surprise was evident in his struggle. But we will not relent. We press on, our resolve greater than our exhaustion.

As the last few hunters fall, I want to smile in victory, but do not have time before seeing Hadeon’s eye widen at the sight behind me but I move out of the way, ducking and rolling to the side before I can be impaled by a sword. I swipe my sword out in defense, slicing across his legs and when he drops, I stab my blade through his chest, apologetic tears in my eyes before I blink them away.

It is either us or them. I have to keep that in mind.

Chapter 10: Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way

Verena

After two more days of travels, we had barely slept. But we are lucky enough to not run into more trouble.

The thick scent of sweat and dirt clung to both of us, despite our efforts to rinse off in a nearby stream the day before. My feet throb with stabbing pains as we trudge forward.

But I had a plan, a desperate plea to make to the king. I just don’t know if what I can offer him in return will be enough. The weight of this uncertainty rest heavy on my shoulders.

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