At the rise of the moon, the paths of Maereth and Issen crossed once more, and their expressions showed that something was about to happen soon.
"How many people have you got that we can use?" Maereth asked.
"Five guys, not the best guys, but they're guys we can use, more or less. They're waiting for us back there at the campfire site, a mile off."
"Five?" Maereth asked. "You only found five in this entire settlement?"
"Hey, come on, you know that Vaelor did his job well," Issen muttered. "I told you all, he's a sneaky bastard. Guys like that, always pretending to be our brother, when actually..."
"You know that, there's not much we can do with five people," Maereth said.
Maereth looked away, breathing hard through her nose.
"Still," she said, "even five is something we should be grateful for. It'll be hard to cross the woods with so few, but we don't have a choice now I suppose."
"We survived so much in this life of ours, and I know we'll survive this also."
"All right then, let's go meet your boys."
Into the night, they returned to the old campsite.
There was no fire tonight or light to draw attention. Immediately, the silence pressed in on them. It was too deep, and too empty. Any experienced warrior could feel it.
"What is this? Why can't I sense anyone?" Maereth whispered.
"It's fine, it's fine." Issen said. "They're idiots, so they're probably hiding and making things more complicated."
They reached the clearing. And at its edge, a thin shadow stumbled forward, breathing heavily.
"Hey, Kareth?" Maereth asked. "I thought you said for us to go in different directions!"
"Get out of here, and get out of this place!" he shouted. "They figured us out and outsmarted us! Save your lives, now!"
Just then, a horrible thunder cracked behind them with the after-sound of screams. And straight away, an explosion paced after them through the trees.
"That can't be right, can it?" Issen yelled. "How many lightning attacks was that?"
"They've killed all of your people," Kareth said, panic rising. "There's only one place where we can go now!"
At least twenty presences surged through the forest toward them. There was no chance of fighting a force that large.
So they fled.
"We can't outrun them," Issen said. "Where are you taking us?"
"Just trust me."
They stopped at a seemingly random patch of forest, far from any trail. The terrain was poor, exposed from every angle.
"This is a terrible place to hide," Issen said.
Kareth ignored him. He pressed his palm against the roots of a massive tree, until the earth shifted. The roots slid apart, revealing a concealed entrance with narrow slits carved into its surface.
"A hidden fortress," Issen breathed.
"Inside!" Kareth said.
They sealed themselves within just as their pursuers arrived.
"No point hiding," a voice called from outside. "Come on out."
There was silence in reply.
"We'll start attacking soon. You won't last. Better to surrender before this gets ugly."
Kareth grimaced.
"My cousin Sava," he called out. "What happened to him?"
"He's with us."
Kareth sucked in a breath.
"What's wrong?" Maereth asked. "Why is that bad?"
"I left Ashar with Sava," Kareth said quietly. "That means they've taken him too."
He peered through one of the slits. Lightning struck instantly, forcing him back.
"We're in checkmate," he said.
"So what do we do?" Issen asked.
"There's only one option left," Kareth replied. "We fight."
And elsewhere in the settlement, Vaelor sat with Bethryl inside a small wooden hut once used for recreation.
"So your father was with the Shadow Clan?" Vaelor asked, masking his disgust.
"Yes," she said. "I think so."
"And you want to join him?"
"No… I don't know. I just know something happened to him. If I stayed any longer, I would have lost my mind."
Vaelor studied her.
She wasn't a fool. She had seen through the Faceless Conjurers' illusions on her own. She had escaped the city, crossed the borderlands, and reached this place all on her, all without any Axiom abilities by the looks of it.
"The Shadow Clan doesn't accept just anyone," Vaelor said. "They expect a certain kind of person."
"I don't want to join them," Bethryl replied. "I just want some answers."
"Then I could help you," Vaelor said smoothly. "I could put you in touch with them."
"Really?"
"Of course. If you're his daughter, I'd be happy to take you to him."
She studied his face.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I should be going."
Vaelor froze.
"What?"
"I appreciate your help. Truly. But I must leave now."
Impossible.
"Come back," Vaelor said.
She hurried away.
This couldn't be. How had she seen through him so quickly?
"Stop!" he shouted, stepping into her path.
This girl was dangerous. Far too perceptive.
Miles away, Sava carried Ashar through the trees.
Ashar glanced around. "You're taking me to the Shadow Clan alone?"
Sava chuckled. "We're not going to the Shadow Clan."
"Then where?"
"Vaelor never liked you," Sava said. "Neither did I. I don't care what my cousin told you."
Ashar smiled faintly.
"Are you going to kill me?" he asked.
Sava didn't answer.
"My body is restrained by a mental seal," Ashar continued calmly. "But the moment I sense danger, my spirit will awaken. Which of us survives then?"
Sava smiled then.
"Vaelor was right about you," he said. "There's something wrong about you. Something unreal. I don't know why but it makes me feel like you deserve to suffer."
They reached a cave jutting from a strip of pale sand, a massive boulder resting beside its mouth. Sava rolled Ashar inside.
"Let's see your spirit handle this," he spat.
He sealed the entrance and left.
Darkness swallowed Ashar. Water dripped somewhere deep within. As his vision adjusted, he saw them, skulls, bones, scattered remains. They were human remains.
Just then, something growled from deeper within the cave.