The chant rang out of the town. You could hear it from the town, to the forest, and even to the city of Eein in the distance.

The party neared the canyons, still indecisive of Rachid's condition. Shassii looked up to the sky and felt lament in her heart. She saw the moon give face to them.

Its moonlight kissed their regretful faces.

On her mind, one thing and one thing only.

"Aya" she sung out while looking at it, it filled her heart with emptiness.

Sannu was still grieving, holding tightly onto his wife.

Rachid bowed her head to Kairui and signaled.

The soldier still behind them dodged and shimmied past the mud swamps laid in front of him. In everyone's eyes, he lost some distance but his horse's stamina prevailed.

He gained it back urgently.

Kairui reading the signal made her way to stand behind him patiently and then pulled out Quine's short sword from her sword buckle.

Quine was surprised but it all happened too quickly for her to intervene.

Kairui knocked Sannu out in one swing using the hilt of the sword.

A loud thud was felt by everyone on the carriage.

He collapsed.

Quine flinched.

"Thank…. You." Rachid weakly praised her.

Quine was still surprised but followed to lay Sannu carefully off of Rachid.

The thud startled Yannu and Ussu they both turned back stupefied by seeing Sannu unconscious.

"Why's he out?? Yannu questioned alarmed.

Kairui picked up Rachid and leaned her against the carriage doors.

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"Am sorry, Rachid it's the only way. I'd put you out of your misery but I know that's no way to go. For a woman as faithful as you".

Rachid cleared her throat.

"That's putting it bl..bluntly. you'd slice my throat if you knew, ..... I was a liability…".

Kairui was surprised.

Quine turned back to the concerned duo at the reins and earnestly, shushed Yannu.

"This is hard for both of them, but the best we can do. Is stay, out of it" she reminded.

Yannu heeded and turned back to the road.

Ussu looked at him worried and wear of their situation. Everything was just happening so fast for her to keep track, then she looked back to Shassii and let it all simmer in.

"This is goodbye, I guess..." Kairui said slightly bewildered at what she had to do.

Rachid opened her eyes again.

"Come on Kai, that's what am gonna call you. I may be a jealous, posh, maybe… stuck up. Princess like you say. But I can read character".

"Saying goodbye isn't as heartfelt to you, as it is for others! It's not a first to you" she relayed.

Kairui was astounded.

"I guessed your profession from the minute I saw you. All black hooded up. Am a blacksmiths wife. Plus that light armour dressing. Tackyy, but cool" she joked in a weak animated manner.

Kairui smiled.

"Kai, hmph I like it" she responded.

"Yours is a fate worse than death if you survive. You're aware of that...".

The two paused for a moment.

"I'm aware.... but he needs hope. The odds will drive him..".

"I …. Was just jealous he never mentioned anything about you for four years".

"Yet, you were the only one he depended and mirrored in all his actions and thoughts, I thought maybe he'd see me as his other half but he never let you go. Even when scared he'd go....".

"if Kairui was here.... she'd do this and this. Kairui taught me how to... do this... etc etc"

"The fear the big guy had. I did save him a lot".

They both laughed.

Quine was confused and sat down.

Rachel held onto her smile, unfazed at what would come next.

Kairui had gained all her respect and envy these last few hours, they got to know each other.

The soldier once again emerged from the mist, giving chase yet again. Yannu compelled Ussu to go faster in response. The carriage jumped and bolted shaking the two reminiscing at the back.

"Its' .....it's time Kai. Promise me one thing before I go".

"What's that??"

Rachid mimed to Kai as the sound of the carriage bolting and shifting shook them.

Kai read each word and remembered it as she opened the safety lock.

The soldier looked dazed as he saw the mist start to clear up. Seeing a hooded black figure and a woman hurt rolled over to the side. Gazing at him, their eyes met.

A smile brandishing her rough defeated face and her golden-brown hair flickering in the air as Kairui kicked the body of the woman off the cart leaving her to tumble down the muddy road, skipping down towards the approaching enemy.

Quine was appalled at what Kairui had just done, lost for words she felt her loss of humanity and eery aura emit from Kairui after that unspeakable act.

She braced herself covering her mouth.

Pulling the reins of the horse to the side he stopped as he saw the body leap and crash next to him. The horse's hooves dug into the wet surface as it burrowed, tunneling into the slushy road.

He cemented his horse in the mud as he looked back at the cart escape into the last of the mist.

The black figure stood still with a revering look in her eyes.

Dressed in black sporting two crescent bladed daggers decorated with gems and stones at her hip.

Her boots sullied under the mud with staps bracing silver bracelets fastened around her ankles. Ringed iron gauntlets which the wind swayed when the conventional breeze passed by. Her dark black hair and brown pupils showed her remorse and conviction. Her well-graced face bore a mark, a small slit on her forehead. Her sharp lashes flicked up and down as she stared back at him. Frozen in fear he couldn't remove her eyes from her. She smirked at him pulling the cart doors back up and turned away from him.

Disappearing again, the ostentatious figure evaporated this time into the chasm that lay between the two canyons entrance.