Shadows of Honor: The Arcane Warrior

Chapter 14: Edge of Sacrifice

"I need to rest," Gareth gasped, gripping his side as his body nearly collapsed from exhaustion onto the narrow, snowy ground. His breath came in ragged bursts, each exhale a visible cloud in the frigid air. The dense canopy of trees above did little to shield them from the biting wind, which seemed to cut through their clothes like a thousand tiny blades. They had made little progress in the past few hours due to Gareth's injury, and the night of little sleep proved to be taking its toll on all of them.

Snowflakes continued to drift down, settling on their cloaks and melting into icy patches on their skin. The forest around them was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the crunch of snow beneath their boots and the occasional distant call of a raven. The stark white landscape stretched endlessly, broken only by the dark silhouettes of ancient trees standing like sentinels in the frozen wilderness.

Up ahead, Emile turned to face Gareth and smiled, though fatigue etched lines into his face. "That's fine. We can take another rest." He gently laid Braddick's body down, taking care to not damage it further. The lifeless form seemed so out of place in the serene, wintry landscape, a stark reminder of the harsh reality they faced. Emile's hands trembled slightly as he unlaced his backpack and began to retrieve the dried bread and meat from the bottom of the pack. The smell of the food was faint but comforting, a small reprieve from the cold and exhaustion.

He approached Gareth, his boots crunching softly in the snow, and held out the ration towards him. "Eat some," he urged, his voice gentle but firm. The dried bread and meat looked meager in the vast expanse of white, but it was all they had. Emile's eyes met Gareth's, conveying a silent promise of strength and support.

Rosaline, sitting a few paces away, rubbed her hands together to generate some warmth. The icy air bit at her fingers, making them stiff and clumsy. She glanced over at Emile and Gareth, her eyes filled with concern. The exhaustion was evident in her posture, shoulders slumped and head bowed, but she managed a small, encouraging smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. The three of them huddled together, drawing what little warmth they could from each other's presence. The forest loomed around them, vast and indifferent, its silence only broken by the occasional rustle of wind through the trees and the distant caw of a raven. They shared their simple meal in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, the bread and meat feeling like sawdust in their mouths.

"Emile..." Rosaline began, her voice a whisper carried by the wind, "We're not even halfway through the pass yet, and it's almost midday." Her words hung in the cold air, filled with concern and worry.

"I know," Emile responded, his gaze fixed on the vast expanse of the canyon that made up the Devil's Scar. The ledge they sat on offered a breathtaking, albeit desolate, view. Tall canyon cliffs rose on either side, their shadows stretching long over the serene white wonderland below. The scene was a stark contrast to the turmoil within them.

Moments passed, seconds turned to minutes before Emile finally voiced his thoughts, the weight of the decision evident in his tone. "Rosaline, go ahead of us. If you can find a patrol or make it back to the Academy, you can bring back help."

Rosaline's eyes widened in shock and defiance. "What? No! I am not leaving you two here," she protested, her eyes lighting up with a fiery rage. "If something were to happen..."

Emile cut in, his voice firm and eyes steady on her. "Then at least one of us makes it back to relay the information. I'll stay here with Gareth and Braddick. The snow..." he paused, swallowing hard, "The snow will preserve him, especially if I cover him in it."

Rosaline stood, her stance rigid with protest, but Gareth also intervened, his voice strained yet resolute. "Rosaline, it's okay. At the rate I'm going, it'll be another week, and we don't have the rations for that."