Chapter 22: Echoes in the Sand

The desert stretched endlessly before them, a golden sea shimmering beneath the unrelenting sun. Kael wiped the sweat from his brow, his muscles aching as he trudged forward, each step kicking up fine grains of sand that clung to his boots. Behind him, Tayo muttered curses under his breath, clearly unimpressed with the unforgiving terrain.

"How far do you think this goes?" Tayo asked, shielding his eyes against the glare.

"Far enough that Marek's men won't follow," Kael said, his voice rough from thirst. His eyes scanned the horizon, desperate for some break in the monotonous landscape. "At least, that's the hope."

Lirien was trailing slightly behind, her silver braids gleaming faintly in the sunlight. She glanced back over her shoulder, as if expecting to see Marek's soldiers riding after them at any moment. "We need to find shelter soon. If we don't, we won't need Marek to kill us—this heat will do it for him."

"We'll manage," Kael said, though even he didn't sound convinced. His attention flicked to Frenna, who walked beside him, her steps slower and more deliberate than usual.

Frenna's face was pale, beads of sweat glistening on her brow despite the cool breeze of the late afternoon. She gritted her teeth, clearly trying to suppress the pain in her side. Her arm was wrapped tightly around her midsection, where the fabric of her tunic was darkened with fresh blood.

Kael's stomach twisted at the sight. "Frenna," he said softly, stopping in his tracks. "How bad is it?"

"It's fine," Frenna said, though her voice wavered. "Just a scratch."

"That's not a scratch," Lirien said, her tone sharp. "You're bleeding again."

Frenna waved her off. "I'll be fine. We just need to keep moving."

Kael stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "We can't keep going like this. You're tearing the stitches."

Frenna scowled at him, but there was no real heat in her glare. "I can handle it."

"No, you can't," Kael said firmly. "We're stopping. Right now."

Tayo sighed, his hands on his hips. "I hate to say it, but Kael's right. If we don't stop, you'll bleed out before we even make it halfway south."

Frenna muttered something under her breath but didn't protest further as Kael guided her toward a rocky outcrop in the distance. The jagged stones jutted out from the sand like the ribs of some long-dead beast, offering a small patch of shade from the relentless sun.

When they reached the shelter, Kael helped Frenna sit against one of the rocks. She hissed in pain as she shifted, and Kael's chest tightened at the sound.

"Let me see," he said, kneeling beside her.

"I'm fine," Frenna insisted, but her voice lacked conviction.

"Just let him look," Lirien said, crouching down on Frenna's other side. "We don't have time for pride right now."

Frenna sighed heavily but relented, lifting her tunic to reveal the wound on her side. The stitches the healer had placed were stretched and torn, and fresh blood oozed from the jagged gash.

Kael swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly as he pulled out the small bundle of supplies they had managed to grab before fleeing. "This is going to hurt," he said quietly.

Frenna smirked weakly. "It already does."

Kael worked quickly, cleaning the wound as best he could with the limited water they had. Frenna flinched but didn't make a sound, her jaw clenched tightly as he wrapped a clean strip of cloth around her midsection. His fingers brushed against her skin, and he felt a strange warmth bloom in his chest despite the dire situation.

"You're good at this," Frenna said, her voice softer now.

Kael glanced up at her, surprised. "I used to help the healers back in the tribe. My father thought it was important to learn."

Frenna's expression shifted, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. "Talar was a good man."

Kael nodded, his throat tightening. "He was."

For a moment, they were both silent, the weight of everything they had lost hanging heavily between them. Kael's hands lingered on the bandage, his fingers brushing against Frenna's as he finished tying it off.

"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kael met her gaze, his heart skipping a beat at the intensity in her eyes. "We're going to get through this," he said, his voice steady. "All of us. I promise."

Frenna didn't respond, but the slight nod she gave him was enough.

"Alright," Tayo said, breaking the quiet moment as he plopped down nearby. "Now that we've patched up the walking wounded, what's the plan? Because I don't think wandering aimlessly through the desert is going to cut it."

Kael sat back on his heels, his mind racing. "We need to head south. Find a settlement, maybe even a caravan to join. Somewhere Marek's reach doesn't extend."

"South is a big place," Lirien said, crossing her arms. "Do you have any idea where we're actually going?"

Kael hesitated, his jaw tightening. "No. Not yet. But we'll figure it out."

"That's comforting," Tayo muttered, earning a glare from Lirien.

Kael ignored them, his gaze drifting toward the horizon. The sun was beginning to dip lower, casting long shadows across the sand. They would need to move soon if they wanted to avoid traveling under the midday heat tomorrow.

Frenna shifted beside him, wincing as she adjusted her position. Kael placed a hand on her shoulder, steadying her.

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly.

"I will be," she said, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Don't worry about me, Kael. I'm tougher than I look."

Kael chuckled softly, the sound foreign in the heavy silence. "I don't doubt that."

The moment was interrupted by a distant sound—a faint, rhythmic thudding that made Kael's heart sink.

"What was that?" Tayo asked, his voice low.

Kael held up a hand, signaling for silence. The sound grew louder, the steady beat unmistakable now.

Horses.

"They've found us," Lirien said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kael's mind raced as he looked around, his heart pounding in his chest. The rocky outcrop provided some cover, but it wouldn't be enough if Marek's men were searching the area.

"We need to move," Kael said, his voice urgent. "Now."

"But Frenna—" Tayo started, but Frenna cut him off.

"I'm fine," she said, struggling to her feet. "Let's go."

Kael helped her up, his grip firm but gentle. He turned to the others, his jaw set. "We stick together, no matter what. If they catch us—"

"They won't," Lirien said firmly, gripping her spear. "We won't let them."

Kael nodded, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him as they slipped into the shadows of the desert once more, the sound of approaching horses driving them forward.