They weren't far behind, he could hear the shouts and orders to stop running. He blocked them out as his eyes fixated on what was ahead of him. Branches he had to swiftly swivel around, logs he jumped over, rocky terrain he had to navigate without breaking an ankle. And yet every foot he gained, they caught up several. His heart hammered in his chest as he tried to fight the fear of capture while simultaneously using it as a drive to push on. HIs lungs wanted to pop from the sudden burst of overuse, his vision had even began to tunnel. There was no outrunning a bunch of horses and he knew that.

  He stumbled to a halt at a fork in the trees, two relatively clear points to move. Both would inevitably lead to his apprehension. In the brief time he had to decide he noticed an old hollow log to the right. He ran over to it and hit the dirt, scrambling inside as quickly as he could. The fit was tight and there were a plethora of webs and bugs within scattering upon his arrival. He managed to shift around to look outside seconds before a black hoof slammed down next to the wooden crevice.

  The horse snorted as it was pulled to a halt. The horseback group looking every direction. Argas caught up as the murmured and scanned the trees. "You useless dolts lost him?!" He exploded, flailing his arms angrily in the air.

  The men silently hung their heads in shame and awaited further reprimand that didn't come. Instead Argas' chuckled.

  "Spread out. Find him. Bring me that journal our you're all answering to Illenith yourselves."

  The others stiffened, some gasped. Three immediately picked a path and charged down it.

  The two remaining soldiers looked at Argas, "Think anyone in that town knows where he might be going?"

  He brought his metallic fingers to his mask and scratched at its surface by his chin. "Perhaps. Start by taking a few of them to the camp for the Demraxites. Every day they don't answer double it. If the whole town is empty by the next moon so be it."

  Nidian clenched his fists and pressed his head against the soggy decaying interior of his hiding spot. It was all his fault. He was going to get everyone in that town killed. FIrst Hoharo, and now Nomad's Haven... He slipped the journal out from his belt and stared at the cover. His brows furrowed as he thought about them. Saudafi, Malles, everyone he knew. So long as they sought him out no one was safe... Ae was right about one thing. The opportunity to do good would come in time. Maybe this was it. He forced a weak smile and took a deep breath, looking to the side at the men devising about how they planned to eliminate the town of Nomad's Haven.

  Torrel placed a white six petaled flower with a gilded edge atop Malles body. He was wrapped in a silver silk cloth, the priest gently removing the blood and grime with a sponge. The two made several exchanges with their eyes. Sorrow, regret, sympathy. Torrel held the cold hand of his might as well had been adopted son. Placing a gentle kiss on the knuckle as he sniffled, stifling more tears.

  The temple was quiet, lit by its dozens of magnificent chandeliers chasing away any shadow that tried to take residence. The running of the fountain the only ambience as the bed the boy laid on rested upon the surface of the water. The towns folk had all gone inside to comfort their own families. Any other funeral would have had their attendance.

  The front doors slammed open, their large forms sending a resounding boom down the chapel. Ae's black metal boots rapidly walking down the hard flooring with an aggravated clack. Her eyes were fixated on Torrel the anger in them turning to caution as she saw him hunched over something.

  "Torrel why the hell is the town full of...no.."

  She stopped in her tracks and stared at Malles' peaceful face, his still body, and the puffy, broken face still swollen from both tears and a beating looking up at her apologetically.

  She inhaled with unsteady breath, it felt like a mace had crushed her ribs. She dropped to her knees after rushing up the steps. Her hands reached out to pick Malles up. She wanted to shake the boy awake, but Torrel's gentle grip urged her away. "He's gone Ae..I'm so sorry."

  She clenched her jaw and swallowed the sadness that tried to pour from her heart. Silent tears fell down her glistening skin. Shaking her head in disbelief. Her hand softly pulled out of Torrel's grip, just to touch the boys cheek. The same lifeless chill Torrel had got earlier. The cold stiffened her spine, it made the room go dark.

  "Who did this..." She squeaked, defeated and overwhelmed.

  Torrel sighed, "A man named Argas... He was here looking for Nidian..."

  Ae stared forward, watching the priest finish his duties before withdrawing in silence to his quarters within the temple. Ae had always made him nervous, and the change in the air of the room easily swayed him to depart.

  "Where is he..." She deeply uttered.

  Torrel held out a placating hand, "Hold on Ae, this isn't his fault, he-"

  "Where is he Torrel!" She snapped. Her disconsolate gaze fell upon him, her fists clenched.

  Torrel took a deep breath. Staring her down in return with reluctance, his brows knit with the pain of grief, still stained with the blood of his kin.

  "He ran. As they...as they killed Malles he shouted at them, he drew them away. I was next and he ensured that didn't happen. But Ae he's just a kid we can't blame him. It's my fault. I was too weak to fix the problem. You know I can't lift a sword the way I used to. When Balak-" Torrel froze.

  Roughly three feet away Ae held her glare, he felt as if she was pressing against him. Something snapped at the mention of his name. The shrewd scowl that consumed all the sadness, and churned it into a nasty, seething yet silent rage.

  "Balak did this...?"

  Torrel shivered from the chilling tone, the words hitting his ears like a winter's gale.

  "Nidian had a bounty put on his head and Balak found out. He came to the tavern and tried to blackmail us. I shouldn't have let him leave. I thought I had time before he got in contact with the ones who posted it."

  Ae leaned in slightly, "What did any of this have to do with Malles.."

  "He..." Torrel choked up and broke eye contact with Ae to face the ornate wood ceiling. "He stood between them and I. They had dragged me out to execute me in front of the town for not telling them where Nidian was. Not that I knew at the time. Malles stood tall, brave as ever. He mustered the confidence you told him you knew he always had in him to tell them they should leave before you got back. That they'd be sorry they touched our town. And then that Argas man, he and Balak cut him down. The last thing he said to me was sorry, and that he hopes you were proud of him..."

  He held a hand to his mouth as he coughed from the tickle in his throat caused by the swell of dejection that had made its home there. Any and all light had gone from Ae'e eyes. They were as cold as the void now. She slowly rose, her scabbard dragging across the floor. She took one look at Malles. Her brows creased and a her lips pressed together.

  Torrel watched as she turned around and marched toward the doors. She stood tall, her hand on the pommel of her sword. Each step carried haste, and determination. They were going to pay.