Fallon
The night air was thick with tension, the kind that settled deep in your bones and warned of something coming. We moved through the forest with careful, measured steps, our senses on high alert. Kane was just ahead of me, his posture rigid, his movements sharp and efficient as always. I tried to match his pace, to fall into the rhythm of the mission, but my mind was restless.
We had scouted the border of Ithrador for two days now, tracking signs of the Brotherhood. We knew they were close. Too close. Their movements were erratic but deliberate, and I could feel it in my gutâwe would face them soon.
"Kane," I murmured, barely loud enough for him to hear. He slowed, turning slightly, his sharp green eyes meeting mine in the dim moonlight.
"What?"
"I don't like this," I admitted, my grip tightening on the hilt of my blade. "It's too quiet."
He exhaled through his nose, his gaze sweeping the area. "I know. Stay sharp."
I nodded, forcing myself to focus. We pressed on, moving deeper into the dense terrain. The trees loomed high above, their branches weaving a canopy that let in slivers of silver light. It was beautiful in a wayâif it weren't for the impending danger, I might have stopped to appreciate it. But I didn't have the luxury of distraction. Not here. Not now.
Then I heard it.
A faint rustling, just ahead. My hand went to my weapon in an instant, my muscles tensing as I searched the shadows. Kane's hand shot up, signaling for me to stop. I obeyed, my heart pounding in my chest.
A breath passed. Then another.
The silence stretched until it became unbearable.
Then they struck.
Figures emerged from the darkness, fast and precise. I barely had time to react before I was parrying a blade aimed straight for my ribs. Steel met steel with a sharp clang, and I stumbled back, adjusting my stance. The Brotherhood.
There were more of them than I expected. They moved with the discipline of trained warriors, their dark armor blending into the night. I caught a glimpse of Kane engaged in battle beside me, his movements fluid and deadly, each strike calculated.
I had no time to watch him. Another enemy lunged at me, and I dodged just in time, feeling the whisper of his blade slicing the air where I had stood moments before. I retaliated with a fierce counterattack, my blade finding purchase in his side. He grunted, staggering back, but another took his place immediately.
This was no ordinary ambush. They had been waiting for us.
A cold realization settled in my chest. They knew we were coming.
I fought harder, pushing myself past exhaustion, past pain. The clang of metal, the shouts, the grunts of painâall of it blended together in a chaotic symphony of battle. My muscles burned, but I refused to slow. One misstep could mean death.
Then I heard Kane curse. I turned just in time to see him locked in combat with an opponent larger than the rest. A Brotherhood commander, judging by the intricate patterns carved into his armor. He was relentless, forcing Kane back, his strikes brutal and unyielding.
Without thinking, I moved. I lunged, driving my blade toward the commander's exposed side. He saw me at the last moment, twisting just enough to avoid a fatal wound. My strike still landed, cutting through flesh, but it wasn't enough to take him down.
It was enough to give Kane an opening.
With a swift, lethal motion, Kane struck. His blade sliced cleanly across the commander's throat, ending the fight in an instant. Blood sprayed the ground, and the warrior crumpled.
I didn't have time to react before Kane grabbed my arm, yanking me toward him. "We have to move!"
More Brotherhood soldiers were emerging from the shadows, too many for us to take on alone. He was right. If we stayed, we'd be overwhelmed.
We ran.
My breath came in sharp gasps, my body protesting every movement, but I didn't stop. Kane was beside me, his presence steady, reassuring. The forest blurred around us as we pushed forward, dodging branches, leaping over roots, our only goal to put as much distance between us and the enemy as possible.
The sounds of pursuit faded after what felt like an eternity, but we didn't slow until we reached a clearing. Only then did we stop, both of us panting, bodies slick with sweat and blood.
I pressed a hand to my ribs, wincing at the sharp pain blooming there. Kane noticed immediately, stepping closer. "You're hurt."
"I'm fine," I said, though the ache told me otherwise. "Just bruised."
His eyes narrowed, but he didn't argue. Instead, he exhaled, running a hand through his short-cropped hair. "They were waiting for us."
I swallowed hard, nodding. "Which means they knew we were coming."
Silence stretched between us. The weight of what had just happened settled heavy in my chest. We had barely escaped, and even now, we weren't safe.
"We need to report this," Kane finally said, his voice gruff. "The Brotherhood is more organized than we thought."
I nodded, pushing past the exhaustion, past the pain. This wasn't over. Not even close.
And something told me the worst was yet to come.