Chapter nine
The sky was gloomier than the previous days and chillier than I expected it to be.
Rain was just around the corner; I could feel it in my bones.
I scanned the nearly empty paths around the war tents and noticed half as many warriors walking about as I stepped towards the one that would take me to the edge of the war camps.
I took a deep breath.
I could almost feel the freedom in my grasp, just waiting for me.
Looking down at my dress, I made sure I had everything I needed: bread, nuts, cheese, herbs, and fresh water in the skin I stole.
I even grabbed several short and long linens for the journey back home in case I’d need extra coverage.
Passing several drunk and wounded warriors, I moved swiftly and quietly.
My ears twitched when I heard their bursts of laughter and felt their curious gaze follow my body.
I took short pathways and cut corners, getting closer and closer to the edge of the war camp.
The sun had set the previous hour, and darkness crept through the war camps.
My heart raced, and so did my legs.
The smoke from the camp was being blown away by the wind that grew stronger with each hour.
I could smell the rain preparing itself to scatter through the valley.
Out of nowhere, a hand encircled my wrist and jolted me to the side of one of the tents.
A hint of rosemary wafted in the air as I gasped, stumbling to find my balance.
I looked up to see Klawdia.
She kept one finger on her lips as she yanked me further between two tents.
I moved my feet to keep up with her pull but knew the longer I was in this camp, the sooner the emperor and the others would arrive to find me gone.
Klawdia whirled around to face me.
“You have to take me with you,”
she pleaded with wide eyes, tightening her grip on my arm.
“What do you mean?”
My voice was hoarse.
“I know exactly what you’re doing, Solei.”
She grabbed my shoulders, and her brown eyes glistened.
I swallowed and stared at her bruised and cut face.
Everything in me was telling me to rip myself out of her grasp and leave her to a fate she deserved, but a nagging feeling reminded me that no one truly deserved that fate.
“I see the food you pocketed, and I know where you’re heading, so don’t try to convince me otherwise,”
she whispered.
“Klawdia—”
“Please! I’m begging you,”
Klawdia cried.
“I can’t survive this—no one can!”
A moment went by.
“Okay,”
I agreed reluctantly.
“But come quickly.”
I freed my arm from her hold.
We stepped back on the dirt path and walked discreetly, but swiftly.
“Do you have enough for yourself, or do we need to get more supplies?”
I murmured.
Klawdia knew what I was referring to: food.
I wasn’t about to give her all my supplies even though she’d most likely steal them anyway.
“We can stop here.”
She pointed across the pathway to another red tent.
“There’s a cook there who’s been kind.
I’ll ask for some extra portions.
Wait here.
I’ll be back.”
Her voice trailed off as she darted towards the red tent.
Every part of my body told me to run, not just from these war camps and warriors but from her as well.
There was barely any light out anymore.
Whether it worked in our favor or not, I was unsure.
My feet tapped fervently.
Something in my bones didn’t feel right.
Hurry.
Hurry, I thought in my head.
I looked at my surroundings and caught the eyes of some of the warriors across my path.
They were mumbling to themselves and laughing from the flagons of ale they downed earlier.
They could barely hold themselves up.
I diverted my gaze, wiped my brow and waited. My stomach twisted against itself, and though night was approaching, my skin began to feel feverish.
Where is she? I couldn’t stop my fingers from strangling each other as I waited for Klawdia.
Darkness was appearing, and I wondered if I should leave without her.
Regardless, at some point, I’d need to leave her.
There was no way I was going stay with her after escaping.
What’s taking her so long?
Finally, Klawdia emerged from the red tent and crossed over to where I waited.
We walked together towards the edge of the camp with our supplies intact.
Our legs moved faster as we got closer.
Step by step, we went down the pathway.
Klawdia and I reached the edge of the woods after what seemed like a thousand miles.
The trees were tall and dark.
They had a different type of mystery about them that made me uneasy.
We weren’t in the clear just yet as there were more white tents scattered throughout the edge of the woods, but at least our chances of being seen were significantly lower.
We saw a few warriors hunched over a fire, too busy in their drunken conversations to notice two captives escaping through the woods.
My own heart felt like it might escape from my chest as it raged against my ribs.
I felt like every breath I took was too loud.
That perhaps they could hear my breathing or even sense the fear of losing my chance at freedom.
Faster, we walked.
With each step my worry grew, and so did my hope.
I scoured the area we were walking and made sure there weren’t any warriors ahead.
The empty woods lay in front of us, beckoning us to move forward.
We were careful where we placed our steps in fear of making too much noise.
Slowly, but quickly enough that we could make the escape.
Even the leaves crunching underneath our steps were too loud.
I could hear Klawdia’s breathing behind me as I pushed a branch from the pathway.
Constantly checking over my shoulder to ensure no one was following our steps, my heart raced faster and faster as we got closer to freedom.
“Just past these boulders ahead, and we should be in the clear.”
Klawdia’s voice grew in confidence the further we got from our captors.
I wanted to shake her shoulders and scream for her to shut up.
Light raindrops fell from the sky, and the further we walked into the woods, the harder it was to see ahead.
We had only heard the soft crunch of our boots hitting the ground until we finally passed the large boulders—
“Hey! Stop there!”
a warrior shouted in our general direction.
Whirling around, a warrior marched towards us at a distance, pointing a finger straight at us.
“I see you! Don’t move!”
he roared.
They found us.
No, this can’t be it.
“They’re coming for us.”
Klawdia faced the warrior quickly approaching us.
There were now multiple warriors following the first man and rushing towards us.
“Run,”
I cried out, daring a moment more before I sprinted into a run.
I no longer cared about the steps crunching on broken twigs and leaves.
I ran as fast as I could.
I heard Klawdia behind me, but I focused on the path ahead.
This was it.
This was my chance.
Branches ripped my face as I burrowed my way through the woods, my dress catching on thorns and branches.
Run, I told myself. Run.
The warriors were getting closer.
I only heard the sound of my breath, my heaving, until I heard her screams.
No. Klawdia.
I looked over my shoulder, but I didn’t see her or the warriors.
Her screams echoed through the woods.
They caught her.
I froze in my tracks, my thoughts scattered, wondering what I should do.
Before I could decide, a hand from behind went over my mouth.
Before I could react, another arm went around my waist and dragged me behind a wide boulder.
“Don’t even think about it,”
a rough voice said in my ear.
“You’ll never make it out of here.”