Lily was curled up beside Falkner reading a love story at his inn room. he had to make excuses to get the packing done privately since Nyssa is still recovering and in the next village it took about a week to get everything ready

“How is your sister doing?”

“well enough she’s almost ready to come here”

“That's nice,” Lily said, snuggling closer if that was possible. What else did I forget? plenty of food and water skins, thick clothing, all of our money, armor, kite shields and two of the best steel swords.

“I love this book. Do you have a favorite book?”

“Yes, the adventures of Jordan, did anyone find your serving maid? ”

“no” she looked up at me with those big blue eyes of her and his only thought was I would have done my duty but I have to leave you getting of the chair to meet up with Nyssa “I'll be back tonight” Falkner lied he passed his mother in the hallway giving her a hug “thank you for all you’ve done” she slowly gave one back

“of course” then he left her properly for a long time.

Back at Charles’s manor. looking out of the window with the setting sun. Falkner and Nyssa were alone

“Are you sure you are ready to leave in the morning?”

“I’ll manage” Nyssa said bitterly which didn’t reassure him

“Very well we leave at first light” at least it's winter Nyssa won’t need to keep warm and it’s not a problem for me, unlike farmboy unless I don't get anything to burn. Nyssa sat up with a sour expression white hair a mess

“Did you bring everything with you?”

“yes I brought it and by the time the king figured out that I left Lily we should be out of his reach”

“so people saw you're going on a journey”

“they will think I’ve gone to the capital at least for a while”

“without Lily?” I didn't think of that. We will have to ride like the wind or go off road. Moas can go off road pretty well. Brith came in unannounced

“So you're leaving,” he said with sadness

“What are you doing here?”

“John wanted me to watch over Nyssa.”

”I wouldn't leave if it wasn't important.” He looked at me with confusion

“where are you going?”

“I can’t say but it’s more important than the kingdom” his eyebrow shot up

“please don’t tell anyone” Falkner pleaded

“fine but I won’t taking the heat for this my lord” he gave him a hug

“I will see you soon”

“I hope you find what you are looking for” Brith said then left

“Be ready we leave before dawn” Falkner said before going to bed in the servant rooms the servant's faces were priceless there gossip of me sleeping here. ah who cares that the least of my worries was his last thoughts before falling asleep.

Waking up tired. with the sun barely rising, putting his cloak on I’m late Falkner thought. throwing her blanket off woke Nyssa and we hurried to the stables. getting his supplies from his hiding place in the crates behind the stable but found a small chest of silver coins among them. Brith you wonderful man!. while Nyssa got their moas. The two of them saddled with swords on their saddles.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

they mounted and rode out of the village Nyssa laying low in her saddle her head on her moa’s neck they rode out of the village they went slower than Falkner preferred with the two packmoa’s but a good pace

“We should get off the road in case we’re hunted and some farmer’s see us” Nyssa just gave a node. Heading south. but there won’t be any cover on the plains and the snow will have footprints they traveled and only stopped for food or to refill our water skins which Falkner melted snow for the moas when they could. Nyssa grew silent which was worrisome but stayed on word.

That night we camped in the middle of nowhere with not even a road. he didn't find anything to burn so no fire. Nyssa didn't react to the cold at all heck she didn't even have a cloak just her riding dress we sat behind a hill with are two tents set up we gnawed on rock hard bread for dinner

“Thanks for the trip, you know I’ve missed our hunting trip but at least It’s freezing cold” “your welcome” Falkner said bitterly. It is so cold I should have been a child of Hiems and not her.

In the morning they continued where we left off headed south. with nothing but what they brought with them the snow covered hills and a tree or two in the distance

“How are you holding up?”

“Fine,” Nyssa said, fatly clutching her armpit. We should have waited a few more days in the distance a village was seen

“isn't winter refreshing” Nyssa said with a smile

“no it’s too cold I can’t even feel my ears”

“nonsense I can so you can” Nyssa said at least she’s back to her old self again. That is a good thing right?

“We can stop there and get warm or eat real food”

“Sounds good” Nyssa replied the sky was starting to get cloudy which means snow Nyssa will enjoy that. but I need stuff to burn to stay warm or it won’t be very helpful my flames will be gone in a flash of warmth and I can’t do it forever

Finally they reach the village, a small place with not much else but rounded houses, a small mill and a low palisade wall of around nine feet tall. There was only one gate on the south side we entered and people noticed our rich clothing. These people probably didn’t see many lords visit this place since it wasn’t near the trade road. lords at least. there were only a few merchants but the vender was selling meat pies fresh and warm “I need that” Falkner said pointing

“alright” Nyssa agreed we spent a silver coin. Street vender food isn't great. The meat is greasy and the crust is a little flaky but it beats road supplies any day. After they wolf down our meal we headed out south again leaving the village behind. there was no reason to stay after they got there moa feed they now rode on the road for now

“do you think they realized we're gone”

“it’s been less than two days but maybe” Nyssa replied “Lily is going to be furious when she catches up to you” Nyssa went on

“Can we talk about something else?”

“Oh alright lovely weather” Nyssa said, Falkner sighed deeply. Why does she have to be so annoying? The weather has gotten colder these last few days. Winter is upon us

“Which one of us gets the power?” switching subjects Nyssa grew serious

“me who’s ever heard of a god of air and wind?” that is a good point but I risked everything. This is why bringing my men would be a bad Idea. That's a lot of power if I had them they might turn on me. The power over the very air we breathe

“I think we should put it out of our minds until we arrive,” Nyssa nodded. I won’t let this tear us apart. I need her.

That night he laid curled in his tent because nothing was found to burn. dreams of Nyssa stabbing him in the back for the power of a goddess before awakening from his nightmares with a gasp he stepped outside into the night with nothing around but there camp and a rabbit the wind picked up Nyssa was asleep still the nightmares surely we can figure out who gets it without violence she couldn't right?. Well better get breakfast digging meat and bread out of his pack he ate in silence until Nyssa came from her tent hair a mess

“get breakfast were near Cromerth are mounts will rest and we can stay there for a day or two

“my mount his name is stormbreaker” stormbreaker how could I forget? she rolled her eyes at me she sat next to me as she ate face going somber looking behind me “stormbreaker was named when I was a young teenager he got lost during a storm me and dad searched as beast we could but we couldn't find him and we had to take shelter at are manor in the morning we found him in a small cave he could barely fit but he survived the storm hence the name stormbreaker”

“I had no idea he meant so much to you. I don't remember that night” Falkner admitted “that's because it was just me and father on our hunting trip. well time’s a wasting let’s go hot breath. like you said were near Cromerth let’s go” they saddled up and continued their journey. Then Nyssa stopped

“Smoke” looking to where she was looking and saw dozens of goblins and satyrs about a mile away “we need to set watches from now on” Nyssa groaned in response.