It had been three days since the conversation about her trial. They were on the eighth day of their travel, and they needed a fire at night to stay warm on their sixth day of travel. Today, though, they had crossed from the plains and into the pines of the north. They now had more cover than the oaks provided on the plains. Thankfully, they hadn't run into anything troubling yet, which gave them time after the emotional evening a few nights ago.
Keiran didn't pry anymore, and conversation was little between them, but there was an understanding now. She knew that she could rely on him if he was true to his word. And so far, he had been. He kept her alive, both physically and emotionally. At night, she'd lean on him now and then to find some comfort from her thoughts.
His words had struck a chord with her, one that she needed. They gave her an anchor in a sea of turmoil. She was thankful for him. Perhaps, she was beginning to trust him too quickly given her recent past, but in a world where she had been so horribly betrayed, she needed something, someone to hold onto to keep her grounded. Dare she say that he was becoming a good friend?
It was hard to call him less than that given the vulnerability she showed to him.
Presently, she leaned her head against his chest. His heart thumped in his chest, and the steady rhythm comforted her. Her (e/c) eyes surveyed their surroundings, and she grew a bit uneasy at the lack of sunlight. She'd never been this far north. Diplomatic meetings with the royals of Stowwen happened in a more central location between the two kingdoms. So, she never had seen the pine forests, and she never realized how dark they made the terrain.
"Are you alright, (F/n)?" he asked, feeling her tense slightly.
"Yes, just not used to this."
"It's definitely different from the plains, but it'll keep us hidden better." She nodded slightly. "We'll be there soon. Only another couple days."
"May, what's she like?" It was a fair question to ask since she'd be staying in the same home as the woman. Plus, it took her mind off of the darkness for the time being.
"She's kind and knowledgeable about what's going on in Stowwen. She knows her way around. In Stowwen, it's a must if you have magic. Even if her illusion spell stays on the forge, she is quite good at remaining hidden."
"Wouldn't it have been better to leave? For her to come to Credel and for you to stay out of Stowwen." She would've glanced up to him, but she wouldn't have been able to see much except his chin and some other features. "Surely, Barrett knew the risks of you going up there. If they had caught you."
"Then, they would've started a war. Yes, I was careful and not caught since I'm here now, and you're only learning about the forge presently. But, they would've returned me. Had I been caught and gone missing, Barrett would've known, and he would've spoken to your father." There was no doubt in his voice. She couldn't believe that she once trusted Felin like that. "It would've been a mess, and I would've lost my privilege of going out on my own out of the city, but Barrett knew the risk, and he trusted me."
"I see. I'm glad that I didn't know. Otherwise, I would've told my parents." She released a sigh. "It would've put them in a difficult position had you been caught, but I guess that Barrett and your secrecy is serving us well now." While she glanced around their surroundings, keeping an eye on them as best she could, she continued, "But, what about May? I know that she has a promise to you. But, why not offer for her to come back? Why not give up the forge for her safety?"
"I've asked, (F/n)," he chuckled out lightly. "Are you trying to question my integrity right now? Judging if I'm really such a nice man?"
"Well, I guess." She huffed. "You've given me little reason to doubt you other than my own issue with trust. So, I just want to make sure you're not hiding something from me. Is that so surprising?"
"No, it isn't." She couldn't see the amused smile on his lips. Her quiet huff of frustration was cute. "But yes, again, I have asked May, but she wishes to stay. It's her home, and it's been her relatives' home long before her. It stores precious memories for her."
"Yes, I ... know that feeling." She wished that she could go back home and turn back the clock, go back to the times where she was happy with her family. "Despite all that's happened, I miss it or rather the memories there. I wonder if ..."
Cutting her off, he finished, "You will. You'll get to return."
She wondered how he was so sure of himself. How would they exactly do that? They'd be killed on the spot, and this time, they would succeed in killing her. Plus, they were only two people, maybe three with May. But if she didn't wish to leave the forge, she couldn't help them ... What, take back the kingdom? The idea seemed so laughable that she almost did laugh in disbelief at it. But, a small part of her did wish it to be possible. Maybe, just maybe, it was.
Before she could utter a word, though, their ride north was disturbed. Scenery changed in the course of a second. Their painted stallion bucked up, and Keiran held on tight, using both hands on the bridle. His upper arms pressed against her to keep her between him, and she quickly tried to figure out what had happened.
Hooves stomped into the ground before they were off again. "Keiran, what's going on?!"
"I'm not sure. It's just one man back there. I didn't see him." (F/n) felt her heart tighten. Her one job and she failed at it. "It's not your fault, (F/n). I can already tell you're thinking that. He was well hidden; he knows these woods."
"And, you've never encountered anyone like that before up here?"
"No, I've met those who like to cause trouble, but I was able to lose them or fight them off. This one is different. He's no common thief." He cursed under his breath. "He had leather armor and a long bow. His arrow barely missed our stallion." Just as he said that another one went whizzing by. She heard it fly by her right side. Keiran veered them to the left, and he took them around several pines as another arrow darted past.
(F/n) now saw their attacker. He was on his own horse, brown coat and mane. Leather plates guarded his arms, and a leather cuirass protected his chest. On his shoulders was a brown cloak. The stranger stared them both down. Keiran held her protectively. One of his hands went to his knives.
"Since we're both stopped," their attacker started, "why don't you tell me who you're guarding? Maybe, I won't kill you."
"If you cared, why attack us first?" Keiran responded, his whole body fixated on the cloaked man.
"Well if you have who I'm after, I figured that I'd ask later. None of my attacks were meant to be fatal." There was arrogance in his tone, and (F/n) wished that they had lost him, but Keiran wouldn't have stopped if he believed he could outrun him. He didn't want interaction outside of the two of them until they got to the forge.
"And, who would that be?" There was no way that this man was from Credel, right? How could he have caught up to them unless he slept less. Then again, she did slow them down, but Keiran was thinking the same thing as (F/n). Despite their travel times, he shouldn't have been missed so quickly that anyone would've gotten ahead of them.
"A magic user from the palace. He escaped and abandoned his duties. Their majesties would very much like him back."
(F/n) never had met any of the royal magic users from Stowwen. They never came to the meetings, and most kingdoms didn't want their magic users present at such meetings. If something went south in a meeting, it would be the magic users who would be targeted first. Not to mention that kingdoms wouldn't advertise their users' abilities. It simply was made known that they had them and that their kingdom was made stronger because of the magic users that were on their side.
"My companion is not him. Leave us." His hand was on a knife now.
"How do I know that you're not lying? That cloak covers them almost completely; it even shadows their face from my view."
"Leave. That's my last warning." Keiran refused to show the man who he had with him. He didn't know if he'd recognize the true heir to the Credel throne and wouldn't take any chances. Last thing he needed was for word to get out that (F/n) was alive.
The hunter drew his bow. "I'd rather not. Disappointing the king and queen isn't in my plans today." An arrow released. It looked fairly fatal to both of them. If Keiran hadn't leaned back in time, he would have an arrow through his head. In the process, though, she was moved forward for a moment. As she felt herself begin to fall off, Keiran caught her and moved her back up against him as he grabbed the bridle and rode off again. Right behind them, he was following.
"Keiran, we can't run forever. He clearly isn't going to let us go."
"I just need a better angle." His arm remained around her waist and continued to hold her against him. He turned them to their left, and she saw the man follow. Keiran kept turning the horse before he began to maneuver them around the trees more swiftly. When they made another turn, he halted them. A loud neigh sounded from their horse, and Keiran used the moment to throw a knife. It was in direct line with the man, but he dodged in the nick of time.
His bowstring was pulled back before it was released. An arrow shot directly towards them. Keiran leaned them both forward, and the arrow whipped by overhead. As their attacker drew another arrow, Keiran unhooked another knife and threw it. It wouldn't hit the man, but it might ... It struck its target. Another loud neigh sounded as the horse bucked up from the pain it just felt of being hit in its upper left leg. Not expecting the sudden movement, the man was thrown off. Keiran didn't waste a moment. He lifted up (F/n), set her down against a tree and unsheathed his sword. Quickly, he was upon the man just as he was about to regain himself. He pointed the sword at his neck. "Who is this magic user?"
Chuckling, he answered, "Like I'm going to tell you anything." His eyes drifted over to (F/n), and he noted how the fabric draped over her form. "Looks like whoever's with you really isn't him." Amusement laced his eyes. "But, you're with someone you shouldn't be. I've heard rumors, but I never thought that I'd ..."
His sentence never became complete. A head rolled on the ground, and Keiran wiped the blood off on the man's cloak. There was no point. He didn't need to listen to the garbage that would spill out of his mouth, and he wouldn't gain any information. What he did learn is that there is someone else with magic out in the woods and that he didn't want to encounter this man with no information on him.
Like them, this magic user was on the run, but that didn't mean that they wouldn't run into problems with him. It was best to get to the forge. Swiftly, he turned around and picked up (F/n). "Keiran, what ..."
"He wasn't going to say anything useful. He would've kept coming after us. He recognized you were from Credel and a prisoner." She tensed at that. "The punishment you received, it looks like it's known around these parts. At least, he didn't know who you were exactly."
Both of them were now on the horse. "... I see." It was the first time she saw him kill someone. Realistically, it was bound to happen at some time given their situation, but it was still a shock. The motion of the sword was so smooth. Then again, she had seen him testing the weapons he made before he gave them away for the guard and army. And, he had trained with Barrett in fighting too. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to thoroughly test the weapons. So, it made sense that he knew how to fight.
Perhaps, she was in shock because she had never killed anyone, and she just realized that she might have to kill someone in the future. And, might was being optimistic. More likely, it was a certainty. Could she? She didn't know. But, she knew that she didn't want Keiran to die because of her hesitating.
"Are you alright, (F/n)?"
She broke out of her thoughts at his words and nodded. "Yeah, just in shock a little bit. I'll ... be fine." Keiran hoped that this wouldn't change things between them, but the man was a danger, and he wasn't going to take any risks when (F/n)'s life was threatened. So, he nodded and rode by the other horse.
For a moment, he thought of bringing the horse with them, but it'd slow them down. And, he didn't want to slow down. No, they needed to move, so he left it behind and carried on. Hopefully, they wouldn't have any more surprise encounters. "Well, talk to me if you need to."
"I will."
Keiran didn't push further and picked up the speed once more. Soon, they'd get to the forge. Then, they could relax a little, and he could get started on the promise he made (F/n).