“Look, I know I didn’t explain it but –”

“No!” Werond exclaimed, shrugging off her silks dramatically. “You lost the chance to explain when you made us shove off before the sun was up!”

“But Werond –” Pavel stammered, only to be cut off by Werond’s hand.

“Serena, tell our dear captain of the guard that I’m too pissed right now to talk with him.”

Serena grinned, and pulled her hands out from her makeshift silk robe.

As she did, voices pierced the air from further up the caravan, close to the front.

Pavel’s head snapped to their direction. Without a word, he urged his horse forward, and took off, leaving the pair in the dust.

“Hey,” Werond said dejectedly. “I wasn’t done yelling at him.”

“What’s happening up there?” The silks fell from Serena’s shoulders as she stood up on the bench, craning her neck around the moving wagon in front. Even from her height, she could barely make out Pavel and the other guards riding next to the Zultans’ carriage. Off to the right, a figure was jogging alongside the wagon train, though she couldn’t make out who it was.

“Dunno but you best sit-down boss,” Werond tugged at Serena’s arm, pulling her back into the bench. “stay seated when the thing’s in motion.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Serena signed, before wrapping the silks back around her. “We don’t seem to be stopping though. Must not be a huge problem.”

“Maybe.” Werond said, returning her arm to the backrest. “Suppose we’ll figure out later.”

…

One last overnight stop along the Trade Way, and the caravan would finally be clear of the Misty Woods. Until then, another guard rotation kept watch as the wagons settled in for the night, only some paces away from the tree line. Serena thanked the gods above that she was not assigned for tonight’s rotation.

Gentle murmurs of conversation filled the food line as Serena and Werond waited their turns. Though the day had been long, many teamsters were excited about the prospect of real beds in the not so distant future. They stood behind Cruck’aa in the food line, though he paid them no heed; more animated than Serena had seen him for some time, Cruck’aa talked business with his employer, chattering on about the inadequate sizes of cages for the various birds. To his credit, Cruck’aa’s employer seemed to be taking his suggestion to heart, repeating each suggestion back to the Aarakocra as he made them.

Next to Serena, Werond rubbed her eyes as though she could scrub away the dark circles that seemed to live there. She looked as though a stiff breeze might blow her over.

“Tired?” Serena asked as they moved forward. Werond nodded.

“Very. Wanna eat and call it, gods.” She gestured to Cruck’aa and lowed her voice. “Hey, does he not like me or something? I feel like he never talks to us anymore.”

Serena shrugged. “He’s always been prickly. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

Werond shook her head but remained silent as they approached the front of the line.

As they were served and stepped out of line, bowls of soup in hands – the only food they seemed to be served anymore – Serena noticed Pavel off to the side. Similar dark circles sat under his eyes, and his normal straight posture was replaced by a more slouched stance – the look of a man who could drop at any moment.

Serena nudged Werond and with one hand signed, “Meet – back – wagon.”

Werond nodded and took the soup bowl from Serena. “Sounds good, see ya in a few.”

Serena nodded, and walked over to Pavel. Somehow, the light from the fires that dotted the wagon made Pavel appear even more haggard up close. She grimaced, knowing how many hours Pavel had been working recently. It had to have been taking a toll on him.

“Hey,” Serena signed. “how you’re doing?”

“Oh you know…” Pavel said, adjusting his belt, a small but forced smile on his lips.

Serena cocked her head.

“I don’t. That’s why I’m asking. You look dead on your feet.”

“Ah fair.” Pavel shifted his weight and adjusted his belt again. “Well, we had a…situation, I suppose, with the Zultans. Been dealing with it all day.”

“Oh,” A sense of unease seemed to settle in her bowels. “what happened?”

“Well, the Lady booted the Lord from the wagon. He was jogging to catch up. Lady was just laying into him.” Pavel grimaced. “Honestly, been awhile since I’ve heard that much verbal shit thrown someone’s way. Beats my old drill captains. She was threatening to kill him where he stood – er, walked I guess, and all the Lord could do was apologize over and over again. Went on for hours. Had to convince her to let him back on, but that was a while ago, but she’s been pissed since.” Pavel crossed his arms. “He’s got no stones in him.”

“Did she do anything to him?”

“Beat him up a bit, yeah. Nothing new, just the usual bruises and marks from that lovely relationship. Slapped him pretty hard too.”

“Hmm.”

Serena knew she shouldn’t be concerned, especially with someone like Lord Zultan. Whatever happened with him happened, and there wasn’t anything she could do about it. Nor did she care to do anything about it.

At least, that’s what Serena wanted to tell herself.

“You didn’t happen to see him when we stopped tonight, did you?” Serena signed, hoping her voice came off indifferent.

“Who, the Lord?” Pavel glanced up and scratched his chin. “I think he took off into the woods just as we stopped. I think, I’m not –”

“What?!” Serena exclaimed; Pavel almost jumped out of his skin. “How did he get past the guards?! You just let him walk off?!”

“Why does everyone yell at me,” Pavel grumbled, rubbing his head. “Yes, he went into the Misty Woods Serena. I’m not too worried about him, he looks like he can handle himself. You try stopping him when the contract says not to touch those two.”

“So, after all that talk about being worried about what’s in those woods,” Serena waved a hand towards the trees. “you just let a member of the caravan walk right in?”

“For someone like him, yes.” Pavel replied, sincerity in his voice.

Serena’s hands twitched violently, letting loose a guttural sound through Pavel’s head. She spun on her heel and began marching toward the trees.

“I didn’t know you could make that sound!” Pavel yelled after her. Serena ignored him and marched off past the meal wagon.

It took Serena only a few seconds to walk past the wagons and stand before the dark trees; they lived up to their name, as a ominous mist hovered about the trees, concealing anything further than three feet in front of her.

One of the caravan guards – a tall woman who Serena had only spoken to once before – sat on her horse towards the edge of the woods, further down the caravan. She began to turn her horse around and ride to her, before Serena raised her hands, slightly higher than she normally did.

“All good!” she shouted. “Pavel said I could go!”

The guard halted her horse, face twisting in thought. After a moment, she stuck a thumbs up towards Serena, and leaned back in the saddle again.

Serena turned away and rolled her eyes. None of the guards, save Pavel, were paid enough to investigate a claim like that.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Serena raised her hand, focusing on the well of power within her. A bright flame sprung up from her palm, burning away the mist, darkness, and whatever childhood fear that still clung to the back of her mind.

Worry gnawed at her as she stepped into trees. She knew that Pavel and the guards were likely exaggerating whatever it was in the woods, but that didn’t change the fact that Serena hadn’t a clue how to find the Drow. It wasn’t as though she could yell his name.

Though if anyone had seen Lord Zultan, it was probably the guard. For a moment, Serena thought about going back and asking, but came to the conclusion that it would cause more problems than it was worth.

She paused and took in her surroundings. With a glance behind her, Serena realized that, if Lord Zultan was somewhat smart, he wouldn’t go far enough in to lose sight of the caravan lights. Which, thanks to the mist, meant that he should be close.

Sucking in a deep breath, Serena focused on the already burning flame; it burned taller, wider, until the light shed in a large radius around her.

As she stepped forward, she swept it around, her head on a swivel, scanning the trees around her.

Nothing.

She cursed silently. Not for the first time did Serena wished she’d someway of screaming. Though if she had just listened to Ned –

“Serena?” A familiar voice called out from somewhere deeper in the woods.

Serena pivoted towards it and held the flame high, before finally locating the voice’s source.

Lord Zultan sat on the ground, leaned up against a tree, one leg tucked to his chest. As always, his usual dress attire had been swapped for another pair of dull brown work clothes, somehow rattier than the last pair.

A slap mark burned brightly against his cheek, emanating with a dull glow. He turned his head towards Serena, and as he did, she realized that he sat in a puddle of sweat.

“Bahamut’s Teeth,” Serena signed; she released her focus on the flame, plunging the woods into darkness, before quickly flicking out a dull blue light over their heads. “you look like shit.”

“By all means, tell me something I don’t know.” Zultan replied; his voice was thick with exhaustion, and Serena was surprised that he hadn’t nodded off. “What’re you doing here? The woods are dangerous –”

“For someone to be left alone in?” Serena signed, casting a hard look at the Drow.

Lord Zultan gave her a small smile.

“Fair.”

“What’d she do to you?”

“Ancient Drow punishment, handed down to only the most trusted of priestesses.” He grinned as Serena stared at him. “You believe I am joking. Wish I was.”

“Can I at least heal it?”

Zultan cocked his head. “Are you able to?”

“Yeah, I’m good for more than just lighting fires.” Serena crossed the distance and knelt beside the Drow. “But…isn’t she going to be mad? When she notices it’s gone?”

“No, she knows I could heal it myself. She counts on that. In fact, why don’t I –”

She ignored his words and focused again, this time willing a different heat. Serena’s hand lit with a silver glow and she reached out and laid her palm – fingers curled in – against Zultan’s face. Immediately, steam began to rise as his skin warmed, shifted, and reknit itself back to its original form. The Drow grimaced and bit his tongue as he squeezed his eyes shut.

After a moment, the light and steam faded. Serena pulled her hand back and admired her handiwork. It was as though the slap had never occurred.

“Sorry it hurts,” she signed, standing back up. “but people take it better if I don’t tell them.”

“I suppose that is one way to do it.” Lord Zultan rubbed his cheek and flexed his jaw around. “Though I am surprised you could do it.”

“Again…”

“I know, I know.” Zultan leapt to his feet and gestured towards the way Serena came. Serena wrinkled her nose as a thin stench of sweat wafted off him. “Now, we should probably get back to the caravan, afore some notice our absence.”

“Are you going to be okay?”

Zultan paused. His eyes glazed over in thought, though to Serena, he looked ready to collapse where he stood.

“Right now? Perhaps.” He gestured again towards where the caravan was. “Please, let’s converse while we walk.”

Serena waved her hand; the blue light moved down and floated lazily just above her head. Zultan set off at a brisk pace, with Serena alongside him.

“Right now, perhaps,” Zultan repeated, ducking under a branch. “later though? I cannot say. My better half is becoming extremely short with me and my trips to avoid her. I make no attempt to disguise these flights, she knows about them. Regardless, her violence towards me has only grown during our trip. She falls into her rages and looks for something to lash out against, which often happens to be me. Tonight, has been the first in quite some time where she has been more violent than normal…and I feel as though if we don’t settle things soon, well…”

Zultan let his words hang in the air. Serena grimaced.

“Well, you’ve told me enough I suppose, if you need my help.”

“Really? We’ve only talked once, don’t I –”

“Just,” Serena waved her hands, a guttural sound filling Zultan’s mind. “call it fine.”

“Hmm. If you insist.”

The pair reached the edge of the tree line, the caravan some feet away. The lights from the torches that sporadically dotted the wagons shed enough light for Serena to flick away the ball over her head.

Zultan paused, standing just inside the shadows cast by the trees.

“I’m loathe to go back right now. Fear she isn’t asleep yet.” His eyes flicked to Serena, brows raised. She shook her head, causing him to grin. “Doesn’t hurt to ask.”

“What’s the plan?” Serena signed, stepping closer. “If you’re fearing for yourself, we need to do something soon.”

“Agreed. Well, how much longer till Daggerford?”

Serena scratched her head, glancing up.

“I think Pavel said we’d get there tomorrow morning. Or something close to that. Not too far out.”

“Perfect.” Zultan leaned against a tree, running a hand over his face. “I’ve been thinking of multiple plans, and by far the only one to make sense to me is…to disappear. Daggerford would be just the place to aid me in such an endeavor.”

“How? And where would you go?”

“How should be simple. One more slip, as I’ve always been doing, and I’d be free. She’s getting…irritated though, and I feel that tomorrow, she might not be as charitable to let me out of her sight. Perhaps that is where you would come in. Make a distraction of some sort.”

“I think she’d try to kill me if I bothered her again.”

“True.” Zultan grinned. “But that’s what the guard is for, is it not?”

“No! It’s not!” Serena yelled, causing Zultan to flinch. “I don’t want to drag Pavel and the others in on this, it doesn’t concern them.”

“Fair, fair.” Zultan said. “Well, have something cooked up then when we reach Daggerford then.”

Serena sighed; it sounded just like the Drow to leave the brunt of the problem on her shoulders.

“Where do you even plan on going?” She asked.

“Mirabar.” Zultan replied without hesitation.

Serena’s heart leapt into her throat. Memories of years past flooded her mind, and a pit settled in her stomach.

“Uhm…can I ask why?”

“I have –” Zultan coughed and scratched his neck. “Mirabar is the furthest place up north that I can think of that’s not the Spine. Should be a safe bet towards anyone trying to find me.”

“R-right,” Serena had heard just as much from her mother. “well, that’s…okay. Daggerford then. I’ll think of something. When should we plan for?”

“Perhaps the night the caravan is about to leave.” Zultan replied. “That way she discovers what happened in the morning and has no time to wreak havoc on the local populace…as she used to enjoy.”

“That doesn’t give us much time.”

“No. But I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

Serena sighed again and shook her head.

“Right. Fine. I’ll fill you in when I do. I’m heading back then. Stay safe.”

“As much as I can.” Zultan said with a grin and a wave. He slinked back into the woods, and began his way up, no doubt towards his own carriage. Serena stood for a moment, watching his form disappear into the trees before she began making her own way back.

Serena hadn’t a clue as to why she was helping the Drow. Yes, she had made an agreement that she had no intention of backing out on, but Lord Zultan wasn’t the kind of person that Serena went out of her way to assist. Dumping the entire problem on her irritated Serena, but she understood; it couldn’t be easy to think of an escape plan when every day is a struggle to avoid abuse.

Perhaps that was why Serena was helping him. To remove him from the torment he suffered daily at the hands of his ‘better half’. Though to her, it seemed like a contradiction to help someone who so easily dished out abuse themselves.

Maybe that wasn’t why then. Maybe she just wanted Zultan out of her life as fast as possible, and this way was the only way she saw fit to do so. The moment that he was gone, Serena knew that her life would improve.

She grimaced, then quickly smiled as she waved to the teamsters on Cruck’aa’s wagon as she walked by.

That wasn’t right to think. Despite how much she disliked him, Serena couldn’t let someone continue to suffer as Lord Zultan did. It just didn’t sit right with her.

“Hey boss.” Werond said as Serena walked around and hoisted herself in the driver’s bench. Werond had been stretched across the bench but shifted to her normal spot when Serena was halfway up.

She reached down to her feet and lifted Serena’s now cold soup bowl. “I didn’t have much to keep the food hot. Sorry.”

Serena accepted the bowl with one hand, as a small flame burst to life in her other palm. She held it under the bowl and shot a smirk to Werond, who didn’t need to know that an open flame like that wasn’t needed to warm a bowl of food.

“You know, never thought about that, neat trick.” Werond said, leaning back in the wagon. “The elven stove.”

Serena giggled, extinguished the flame, and set the now steaming soup on the bench next to her. “Honestly, if I had my hands on a real stove, I could cook up something even better than this…soup, I guess.”

“Dunno about that. Something happen, by the way? You’ve been talking to Pavel for a while.”

“Stopped talking with him, went into the woods to find Zultan.”

Werond stared at Serena as though she’d grown a second head.

Serena rolled her eyes.

“I was fine. Fire, remember?”

“I’m more surprised you went after him.” Werond spit at the mention. “What he have to say? He the reason why we heard all that yelling?”

“He’s…well, yes, his wife was abusing him again. And he thinks we’ll need to help him get away in Daggerford. Any time after and he might not live.”

“There a problem with that?”

Serena rolled her eyes again. “Yes Werond, there’s something wrong with that. I’m not going to let him die. Much as I dislike him.”

“Fine, fine.” Werond waved a hand. “Did he say what he’s doing afterwards.”

“He…he wants to head to Mirabar.”

Werond straightened up, brows raised.

“Aren’t your parents in Mirabar? Oh,” she shook her head. “stupid question, that’s your hometown.”

“Yeah…he says it’s the furthest place up north as he can get, but…” Serena shifted about on the bench. “I don’t think it’s related, but I was still surprised when he said that.”

“Yeah, seems odd. Well, not much you can do right now.” Werond leaned back again and laid her arm across the backrest. “Did he say how he plans on getting out?”

Serena shook her head. “Nope. That’s on me to figure out. Not thinking about it tonight.” She picked up her soup – now cooled – and began sipping from it.

“Of course, that piece of shit throws it at you.” Werond grumbled; her arm slid down the backrest and laid across Serena’s shoulders. “Well, we’ll think of something. Shouldn’t be too hard to figure out, right?”

Serena nodded, and hoped she was right.