Page 22 of Bound in Flames

It would complicate everything. She was a shaman, a symbol of hope for my people, and I was their Chieftain. My duty had to come first. But every glance at her, every moment like this, made that duty feel like a chain tightening around my chest.

Chapter 12

Cleo

Thin morning light pierced through the trees, casting pale, shifting shadows as the camp stirred to life. My body ached, every muscle protesting from the journey and the tension coiling deep inside me. Rest felt like a distant dream, one I couldn’t afford to indulge in yet.

The orcs moved efficiently, their silence punctuated by the rustle of leather straps and the sharp clink of weapons. Packs were slung over shoulders, blades checked and supplies distributed. I was handed me a ration of bread and cheese, followed by a large water flask, his wary glance lingered for only a moment before he turned away. I murmured my thanks and tucked the food into my bag, slinging the flask over my shoulder.

The magic stirred inside me as we set off. My boots crunched against the forest floor as I focused on the rhythm of our movement, but the power within me refused to settle, simmering just below the surface.

The deeper we ventured into the forest, the more the air thickened, damp and clinging to my skin. The quiet pressed down like a weight, broken only by the sharp rustle of leaves or the snap of a branch underfoot. Every sound was magnified, the tension around us as palpable as the chill creeping into the air.

The orcs felt it too. They moved with heightened awareness, their eyes darting to the shadows between the trees, weapons within easy reach. The unease was a constant companion, sharpening every step we took.

When the path narrowed into a steep descent along the rocky cliff, I faltered, a strange pulse rippling through me like a shockwave. It wasn’t the magic’s usual hum, steady and warm; this was colder. My breath hitched as the sensation crept down my spine, its weight heavy and oppressive, like icy fingers tracing my vertebrae.

My magic surged wildly, as if it were pushing back against the foreign energy. My fingers tingled, the faint green glow of power flickering to life against my will. I clenched my fists, trying to contain it, but the connection was undeniable, raw and urgent. The dark thrum radiating from the valley was far too similar to what I’d felt from the Shadow Hounds, but it was stronger this time. Darker.

Every nerve in my body felt heightened, my senses sharpening painfully as I strained to listen. The awareness of the orcs surrounding me brought a fleeting sense of safety. They had noticed the flare of my magic and they closed ranks, weapons raised and ready.

I caught Dex’s gaze, his golden eyes meeting mine with a steady intensity. He didn’t speak, but the caution etched on my face must have been clear. His nod was small but reassuring, grounding me enough to turn my focus back to the path ahead.

I peered down into the darkened valley, straining to hear. The forest was alive with sounds I couldn’t place. Low, eerie noises without clear sources. My heartbeat quickened, each thud hammering in my ears. The unnatural quiet seemed to stretch and twist the faint echoes around me until they felt like whispers slithering through the heavy air, brushing against my nerves with a sinister weight.

The magic continued to press against the surface, desperate and instinctual, as if it recognized the danger better than I. My skin prickled with unease, the decay in that dark energy tugging at me like a heavy fog, and I knew that whatever lay ahead wasn’t just dangerous. It was tainted.

“Cleo?” Dex’s voice cut through the tension as he reached out, his hand gripping my arm firmly. “What is it?”

I blinked up at him, my chest tight. “Something’s wrong,” I whispered, my voice unsteady. “We can’t go down there. It’s not safe.”

His muscles rippled with unease his gaze sweeping over the shadowed forest below. “It’s the only way to the mountain from the Shadow Lands,” he said, his tone resolute.

Gornak stepped forward, his heavy boots crunching against the dirt as he joined the conversation. His eyes flicked between me and Dex, his expression grim but steady. “We passed through here four days ago without trouble,” he said, his voice measured. “If we move carefully, we can defend ourselves. This part of the path is dangerous, yes, but once we reach the valley, we’ll have the space to fight?—”

“And be trapped?” I growled, frustration sharp in my tone as I fought to keep my magic in check. It pulsed faintly beneath my skin, begging to be trusted, but their reluctance grated on my nerves.

Dex turned to me, his expression hardening. His voice was steady, clipped with command. “Scouts reported a large pack of Shadow Hounds following our tracks. Turning back isn’t an option without serious casualties.” He shifted his attention to the warriors, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “Stay close to the shaman. Nothing gets near her, understood?”

The warriors responded with curt nods, steel sliding free as weapons were drawn and their circle around me tightened.

“Cleo,” Dex said, his tone softening as his eyes met mine, “use your magic. Let us know if anything approaches.” He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping down into the valley below. His shoulders tensed, and I caught the faint hesitation in the set of his jaw. He didn’t trust the path ahead, but he trusted that going back wasn’t an option.

The descent stretched before us, a narrow path carved into the jagged cliffside. Orcs shuffled single file, their large frames brushing against the rough rock wall to the left. Behind me, warriors bought up the rear with bows drawn, their sharp eyes scanning the path behind for danger. The scrape of leather and the clatter of tumbling pebbles echoed, each sound stretching the quiet.

I glanced nervously over my shoulder at the scouts covering our descent. How were they supposed to make this trip walking backward? The thought gnawed at me, the danger feeling more real with every step.

Gornak, directly behind me, caught my eye and gave me a small, reassuring smile. “Keep your focus on your steps,” he said in a low, steady voice. “We’ll handle the rest. You’re safe.”

His gentle confidence settled my nerves, and I turned back to the path, forcing myself to concentrate on each careful step as the forest’s shadows crept closer around us.

The dead trees closed in, their gnarled branches twisting outward like skeletal fingers. With every step, the forest seemed to press closer, the limbs closing ranks and plunging the path into dim, suffocating shadows. Leaves rasped against the orcs’ broad shoulders, catching on their armor and breaking the quiet with brittle snaps. Being smaller, I avoided the worst of the clawing branches, though the air grew heavier, colder, each breath a faint fog in the chill. My magic churned beneath my skin, its pulse quickening with my heart as it strained against the decay seeping from the valley below. The green glow of myfingers cast an ominous light in the gloom, illuminating the path just enough for me to spot uneven stones.

The skeletal canopy finally swallowed our view of the valley, plunging us into deep shadow. Claustrophobia tingled at the edges of my mind, my breaths coming shallow and tight. The damp air clung to my skin, and each step forward felt heavier, as though the forest itself resisted our passage. I glanced ahead at Dex, his sharp focus cutting through the gloom. The caution in his expression mirrored the unease coiling in my chest. Forcing myself to focus, I turned my gaze to the path ahead, peering into the dim forest and straining to catch any sound beyond the unsettling quiet.

When we reached the valley floor, I noticed just how different the forest was here. The trees were massive, their bare branches clawing at the sky. Shadows clung to their trunks like tar, darker and thicker than before. The silence was suffocating.

Magic crackled under my skin, and I swallowed hard, trying to keep it in check, but this wasn’t just my magic. There was something else here. The orcs tightened their formation around me, weapons at the ready. The path had widened enough for Dex to step to my side. The warriors flanked us, bows, swords and axes at the ready, scanning the shadows. We moved cautiously into the forest, their disciplined movements a reminder of how much danger we were in.

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