The night was at its height illuminated by the moon that was already beginning to wane, the sky was clear and the cold cut the skin of anyone who was exposed.

Lyaria ran through the woods with difficulty due to the accumulated snow. Several times stops and sharpens her senses as tries to drown out the sound of her breathing.

“It's still not very far, but I won't be able to keep up at this rate. I have no choice.” Lyaria quickly removes the equipment she was wearing selecting the essentials from the expendable, trying to arrange everything as compactly as possible, and when she is finally satisfied, she gets rid of her clothes changing her body shape to that of a white wolf that was perfectly camouflaged in the snow.

The difficulty with which she had previously moved through the forest now seemed like a lie. Her movements were fluid and flexible, if someone did not pay enough attention, only the footprints she leaves behind would serve to notice her presence. In spite of everything, this was not her maximum capacity, the backpack and the short spear that she had tied to her back bothered her, but this was something that she could not leave behind.

At regular intervals Lia howls to let Ezer know she was nearby and also to call for help if any of her own were in the vicinity. Although knew that by doing so she broke the laws of his exile, it was also forbidden to be seen by humans and that is why the change of form in this territories was also prohibited.

"As I expected... no response." She was alone, she still had enough time until the escort reached their destination, which allowed her to think well how to create a favorable situation. Although it didn't matter how well she planned it, it was very unlikely to close the disadvantage of more than thirty enemies against her.

Lia approaches the group that captured Ezer several times, putting herself in danger by evading the scouts who were in all directions on the lookout for any anomaly.

No matter how many times she watched, couldn't see any opening to take advantage of, any flaw or error that compromised all the soldiers.

Ahead, at an ever-closer distance, lay the last small village before reaching the port. If Lia wanted to get a chance, that would be the place, so she goes ahead to intercept the group.

The village was not large, a few houses crowded together around the road that ran between them. The forest, fishing, hunting, farming and having a busy road that led to the port was the only thing that kept the community alive. The height of the houses was not much, nor were there people at this hour to blend with them... nothing that would give Lia an advantage.

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The scouts would arrive soon and that is why she decides, for the moment, not to return to his human form and enter the village. Lia could only hear some snoring coming from inside the homes, no one was outside which allowed her to move freely for now.

Several dogs threaten to bark, but Lia silences them with a look and a growl that makes it clear who is in control, many run away scared, even some escape into the forest.

A small market occupied the center of the village that also seemed to serve as a meeting point, wooden shelves, posters and old rags that fluttered in the wind created an ambush place, although far from the best.

Lia makes sure no one is around and breaks one of the most important laws she has ingrained since childhood, not to shapeshift around humans. She puts on some clothes that had stored and clutches her spear firmly in a hidden place, not far from the main road.

A scout soon arrives on horseback, scans the area quickly with a bored face, and returns to report. It wasn't long, Lyaria could feel it.

Perhaps it was because of the wait or the nervousness, but time seems to pass painfully slowly until the escort finally arrives. Seeing from close up the thing did not seem to be better, a large number of soldiers who, although they did not take their work seriously, would react instantly if they detected something abnormal. Lyaria could eliminate three or four before they could react, however, twenty of them would be upon her in a matter of seconds.

There were two carts and Lyaria had already distinguished which one was carrying Ezer previously thanks to her sense of smell, although she never make eye contact, perhaps he was badly injured, unconscious, or immobilized. Whatever the reason, it added one more uncertainty to the suicide plan.

“Now or never...!” Lyaria can't wait any longer, she propels her body with the force of her legs while the adrenaline shoots up. However, a hand grabs her shoulder from behind and forces to the ground leaving her bewildered.

“There are better ways to die miss.” Hearing those words that bring her back to herself, she directs the point of the spear at the source.

The edge oppresses the neck of the man who managed to slip behind her without being noticed. With a quick glance Lyaria highlights the main features of the young man, short and badly groomed hair, one eye was light green while the other was covered by a grayish mist. With his hands raised and a smile on his face, the man seems to be amused by Lyaria's reaction.

"Miss, I didn't mean to scare you... my intentions aren't ma-" The metal spike presses down on his neck even more to the point where a few drops of blood trickle from it. "I don't know what kind of hatred you have against the nobility, but believe me, it's not worth your life..." The man tries to speak slowly and without making any movement. “Your eyes say that you’re not afraid of death... although there are worse things. You are a beautiful woman, if you get caught by the soldiers... well, I think you get my point. And even if it wasn't like that, they would catch you, that miss, is worse than death."

Lyaria begins to calm down, normalizing her breathing, the pressure from the ambush added to the shock messed up her thoughts. She looks away for a second and feels his only chance slip away.

“What do you want?”

“That lady, that's a good question.” The man smiles making it difficult to discern his true desires, at least Lyaria can feel that he had no bad intentions, or so it seemed.