"Alright, Einervaene, I think I've found us a path ahead..." I whisper to her as the noise of a passing patrol keeps my nerves alight. The way they're acting suggests they have no witches keeping their other eyes open but we have no way of telling. This gap in their defences has been growing, however, I'm hoping this means we are escaping whatever encirclement we've found ourselves in.
The magic beyond the next set of iron rises is quite strong, maybe that is keeping us hidden, I don't want to be a betting man right now. Taking Einervaene's hand into mine, I gently ease her up onto her feet and we start to make our way towards a convenient underpass. Not risking it, I sense for the men out there and tightly grab onto my friend. Running under the bridge, I put her down in the event the sound of metal on metal isn't picked up on.
Come on sky... Being noisier than usual!
"How close are we?" Einervaene asks quietly as she fails to adjust the way she is sitting. Helping her out, I let her use my arm as an additional bit of ground to rest on.
"Security has been picking up but it's also hollowing out. With how much magic is in the sky not that far from here, I think we are on top of it almost." I explain to her and she rubs her arms, nervous for the life of her mother. Putting a hand on her, however, I feel how she is shaking, she's completely terrified.
"Something doesn't feel right... I don't know, I feel like... It feels like death is out there looking for us. I'm scared for Mother's safety but..." she lets out and I move my hand to hers, grasping it with gentle firmness. Whatever it is, the nuance is wasted on me but I have no reason to doubt her concerns either. Looking away, I find myself glad she is blind once again.
A certain time might be upon us with how all of this is escalating.
"Remember, Einervaene, silly as it is to hear from me. Remember, I am right here, nothing will happen to you." I promise with every ounce of my being, divinely gifted magic or the flesh of a man.
"How is the path ahead?" she asks and I ease her off my arm, scuffling forward with great care so that the soft filth meets my soles.
"It's a bit of an open stretch, but, I can get us across. It'll be just like when we cross the Redstone Canyon." I explain, assuring her with a light memory so we can do something about those nerves of hers.
"Swordsman chasing us..." she drools before clutching her exhausted head. Bringing a brow up, I do the same with her and we slowly move towards the exit side. Looking around, I quickly figure out our path right as it seems some soldiers come to a stop above.
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"Doesn't it strike you a little weird we have ringguns entirely and have strict orders to stick to the road?" one of them asks another.
"Getting paid to get some exercise in, I don't care."
"H-HEY-" one screams as we rush out into the open, my armoured form covering Einervaene as I sprint as cheaply as I can across the land. Shots ping off my armour harmlessly and arguments quickly overtake the gunfire. Many bullets start to hit me sooner than the rest and I twist and turn around a boulder of rusting metal. Peaking out and having a bullet skid off my helm pathetically for the trouble, I put my backside back on the wannabe rock.
"Something's got them acting up." I ponder amidst the confusion I just saw amongst their ranks. Many are approaching but even now, I can hear them screaming for the lines to reform on the road. Desperate cries, voices breaking into shrills. Common man hysteria or superstitious backwardness?
"We need to find another way..." Einervaene whines as I look over the metal again, reinforcements as well as them nearly being on top of us.
"We move." I explain vaguely before grabbing her. Rushing out up towards what appears to be a pass, more bullets strike my back unimpactfully and a spell even comes scorching by.
"Brewbrt!?" Einervaene goes as I put her down, quickly making sure she has the pass on her hands.
"Keep moving forward, I'm right behind you." I explain on my way to reaching up for some kind of tower of stone-likes pieces. Dragging it down by the ropes and chimes on it, the path now behind me is blocked up a little. Catching up, I take her into my grip again.
"What did you do...?"
"Bought us some time out of the bullets." I explain as she starts to fight my grip.
"N-N-No! I heard wind chimes! I heard them!" she exclaims as she freezes in place.
"What's the matter with you? Eratheen is practically within arm's reach!"
"We need to go back and around here!" Einervaene hisses as the soldiers make quick work of my efforts.
"What we need is to not waste time!" I snap as I hoist her up, bringing the pair of us deeper down the passage until we come out onto an opening. Oddly, the entire rim of the place is marked with all kinds of text and decoration. In the far distance, there is a lone warrior on his knees praying before a shrine of some kind. The sky all the more vicious above than it normally is.
"HA, GOT YOU!" a young man roars triumphantly as his blunderbuss-like weapon goes off against my side. The sparking grains do nothing and the noise of his weapon breaks the virgin sound of thunder, ruining it. I frown at the strange thought I have just have and look closely at the soldiers as they choke on their own spit.
"What have we done..." one man breathes as his terror overtakes him. Yet, despite how clear it is that everyone's fight-or-flight instincts are blaring like the sky above, no one is moving. Securing my grip on Einervaene, I bring us down into the open ground as tears overtake her.
"Einervaene, it's alright, it's alright." I coo as I find myself slowing down as the distant man praying rises. His armour and sword define themselves and he turns, his hand on the ornamental handle. Helping Einervaene down onto her feet, I move her to my back and flex my fists, a series of bombs already loading up between my fingers.
"We- W-We- WE SHOULD'VE GONE AROUND!" Einervaene screams with all she has as the distant man lets the sound of his sharpening blade sing for its audience. It gently swings out to his side and the sky cracks with all the fury in its possession.