Nyssa's lungs felt like they were tearing apart from the inside. The heaving was becoming unbearable.
Every breath burned, hurting and rash, as she ran through the forest with branches whipping against her arms and legs. The hem of the borrowed gown was ruined now, heavy with mud and torn at the edges, but she did not dare slow down.
Oren was ahead of her, his black boots pounding against the damp earth. He was so fast and Nyssa at this point, wished she could have at least half of his agility.
Behind them, the sound of hooves thundered. Nyssa gasped. She could hear horses! Damon's men! They had caught them?
"They're close," Nyssa gasped, fear crawling up her spine.
Oren glanced back with his eyes flashing. "I know, but don't stop."
The forest that had once seemed like salvation now felt like a trap. The trees grew tighter and denser as they ran deeper.
Nyssa stumbled, barely catching herself before falling, and Oren's hand shot out to steady her.
Then the horns sounded again.
Nyssa's heart plunged deep into her stomach. "They're gaining on us!"
"They won't take you," Oren said fiercely. "I promised you, didn't I?"
She gulped, doubt starting to creep in at this moment.
A rider suddenly burst through the trees behind them, his armor glinting in the sunlight. Then another rider appeared and then another.
"There!" someone shouted. "The princess!"
The riders urged their horses forward, shock rippling through them as they closed the distance and truly saw who they were chasing.
"She's not alone," one of them barked. "She's with a man!"
Nyssa heard it, the disbelief and sudden confusion. She almost laughed hysterically at the absurdity of it. Even now, they could not comprehend her as anything but a fragile thing meant to be caged and guarded.
Oren swore under his breath. "That complicates things."
And in a blink of an eye, an arrow sliced through the air, striking a tree trunk inches from Nyssa's head. She cried out, ducking instinctively.
"Oren!" she screamed. "They are shooting arrows!"
"I've got this," he shouted back, though his voice sounded strained.
They finally burst into a small clearing on their left side and Oren skidded to a halt, spinning around to face their pursuers. Nyssa stopped beside him, her chest heaving, terror, fear and anxiety flooding her veins.
"What are you doing?" she whispered urgently.
Oren closed his eyes for half a second. He knew it was futile, but he just decided to try.
He then reached inward.
For days, his magic had felt like trying to grasp smoke with bare hands. It was repelled and nullified.
But now, beneath the pounding of hooves and the worried eyes of Nyssa, something stirred within him. Warmth, just a flicker.
Oren's eyes snapped open.
"I can feel it," he breathed, disbelief lacing his voice. "It's weak, but it's there."
Nyssa stared at him with confusion. "What is that?"
"My magic," he turned to look at her and her eyes widened.
"It's back?!"
"Yes," he said, lifting his hands slowly. "But.. I don't think I can teleport. Whatever Damon is using still blocks that. But this…" He flexed his fingers. "This might work."
The riders finally burst into the clearing, forming a half circle around them. Horses snorted and neighed, stamping impatiently. Then, their respective swords were unsheathed.
The steel glinted under the light and one of the men laughed harshly.
"Well, well," the captain sneered. "The princess and her lover. How touching."
Nyssa stiffened. "He's not—"
Oren stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of her. "Take another step," he warned quietly, "and you'll regret it."
The men laughed again.
"You think one man can stop us?" the captain said. "Surrender now, Princess. The Emperor might still show mercy."
Nyssa's stomach twisted. Mercy? After her kingdom? After her family?
Oren inhaled deeply. He didn't want to waste any time. The air around his hands shimmered faintly and then, heat bloomed.
The riders faltered, unease rippling through them as the temperature in the clearing rose unnaturally.
"Magic," someone whispered.
Oren then looked at them, then clenched his fists.
Sudden fire erupted.
A wall of flame burst from the ground between them and the riders. Damon's men roared upward with feral anger. The horses reared in terror, neighing, throwing their riders into chaos. Men shouted, scrambling backward as the sparks flew dangerously close.
Nyssa gasped, staring at the inferno. "Oren!"
He was so powerful.
"Run!" he yelled over the crackling flames. "Now!"
She hesitated only a second, then turned and ran, the heat at her back searing but protective. Oren followed, beads of sweat streaming down his face, his breathing ragged as he forced the flames to hold. But his body weakened a little. God, he had really lost a lot of stamina these past years.
But, the riders regrouped quickly.
"Go around it!" the captain roared. "Split up!"
Oren's magic wavered, the fire lessening, sputtering like a dying torch.
"I can't hold it much longer!" he shouted. His magic was still weak.
Nyssa's legs felt like fluid, but she pushed harder, tears streaming down her face as fear and hope clinged to her chest painfully.
They plunged back into the trees just as the flames collapsed inward, leaving scorched earth and the furious men behind.
An arrow suddenly flew past Oren's shoulder, grazing him. He hissed in pain but did not slow down.
"Are you hurt?" Nyssa looked at him frantically.
"Just a scratch," he said through clenched teeth. "Keep moving."
The forest swallowed them again, branches snapping, leaves tearing at skin. The riders crashed after them, relentless. They were even more determined.
Oren's magic flickered once more, with weak embers sparking uselessly at his fingertips.
"Damn it," he muttered. "That took almost everything."
Nyssa's breath hitched. "What now?"
Oren's eyes scanned the woods desperately. Then he saw it, a tunnel.
"This way!" he shouted, veering sharply.
They ran toward the edge of the tunnel just as the riders burst through the trees behind them, shouting in triumph.
Nyssa skidded to a stop, staring at the hole, "Oren!"
"Trust me!" he said, grabbing her hand.
The ground beneath them crumbled as the hooves thundered closer. Nyssa panicked but before she could think, Oren grabbed her and leaped.
"Ahhh!"
Nyssa screamed as they plunged downward, the darkness swallowing them whole.
Behind them, the riders reined in hard, staring into the darkness below, shocked and furious.
"They jumped," someone breathed.
The captain cursed viciously. Brats!
Far below, Nyssa and Oren crashed into solid ground, the pain stealing her breath as darkness closed in.
But they were alive. That was better.
When she opened her eyes, Nyssa noticed Oren was able to manipulate a little ball of fire, for light. Her eyes then took in her environs and her eyes slightly widened.
They were in a cave.