A love forged in exile

Chapter 7: Into the Depths of the Mountains

The following morning dawned cold and gray, the sky heavy with the threat of snow. Kaelin and Tarin had not slept well. The uncertainty of the prophecy hung over them like a dark cloud, but it had not dulled their resolve. After gathering their few belongings, they set out from the village with the information they had learned about the Arcane Order.

The journey westward led them into the heart of the mountain range, where the terrain became more treacherous with every step. The path was narrow and winding, with steep drops on either side. As they climbed higher, the air grew thinner and colder, biting at their exposed skin. Snow began to fall again, lightly at first, but gradually increasing in intensity as the hours passed.

Despite the harsh conditions, neither of them spoke much. The weight of the prophecy and the fear of what lay ahead were ever-present, but their bond had grown stronger since the night they had shared. Kaelin often found himself stealing glances at Tarin, her determination and strength a source of comfort in the midst of uncertainty.

After hours of trudging through the snow, the path ahead forked, and Kaelin paused to catch his breath.

"We must be getting close," he said, his voice muffled by the thick scarf wrapped around his face.

Tarin nodded, her eyes scanning the horizon. "I hope the Arcane Order is real," she said quietly. "If they're not, we'll be wandering these mountains for days."

"They have to be," Kaelin replied. "It's our best lead. And if the innkeeper was right, they might have the knowledge we need."

The two pressed on, the snow now falling in thick sheets, obscuring the landscape around them. Visibility was poor, and the wind howled through the mountain passes, but they kept moving, determined to find the Arcane Order.

Hours later, as nightfall approached, they spotted a faint glow in the distance. A fire, perhaps, or a torch.

"There," Kaelin said, pointing toward the light.

Tarin nodded, and they made their way toward it, cautiously descending a steep slope. As they approached, the light revealed itself to be a campfire, burning outside the entrance of a cave. A group of figures stood around the fire, cloaked in robes of deep blue and silver.

"The Arcane Order," Tarin whispered, her voice filled with both relief and wariness.

Kaelin nodded, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword. They had no way of knowing whether these mages were friend or foe. But they had come too far to turn back now.

As they stepped into the firelight, one of the robed figures turned to face them, his eyes glowing faintly with arcane power. He was tall and thin, with a long white beard and a staff carved with ancient runes.

"Who approaches the sanctum of the Arcane Order?" the mage asked, his voice calm but commanding.

"We seek knowledge," Kaelin said, stepping forward. "We were told you might have answers-about the Forsaken and the prophecy."

The mage regarded them for a long moment before nodding slowly. "You have traveled far," he said. "Come inside. There is much to discuss."

Kaelin and Tarin exchanged a glance before following the mage into the cave. Inside, the air was warmer, and the walls glowed with faint magical runes. The cave was deeper than it appeared from the outside, and it had been transformed into a sanctuary, with bookshelves carved into the stone walls and tables covered in ancient texts.

The mage led them to a large circular chamber, where several other members of the Arcane Order were gathered. At the center of the room was a large stone altar, inscribed with runes that seemed to pulse with a faint light.

"You are not the first to come seeking answers about the prophecy," the mage said, turning to face them. "But you may be the last."

"What do you mean?" Tarin asked, stepping forward.

The mage's eyes darkened. "The prophecy you seek to understand is one that foretells great sacrifice. The blood of mage-knights is the key to closing the Forsaken's portal once and for all. But there is no easy path. If the portal is to be sealed, it will require a sacrifice of blood-a sacrifice that only those with magic in their veins can provide."

Kaelin felt his stomach turn. "So it's true," he muttered. "We're the ones meant to close the portal."

The mage nodded solemnly. "Yes. The two of you are bound by fate to this task. But the choice of how it will end remains yours. The portal can be sealed with the sacrifice of both of you-or one of you alone, but at a great cost."

Tarin's face paled, and she clenched her fists at her sides. "There must be another way," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "We can't be the only ones left to stop the Forsaken."

"The Forsaken's power grows with every passing day," the mage replied. "The longer the portal remains open, the more of their kind will cross into this world. There are no others who can do what you are destined to do."

Kaelin felt the weight of the mage's words settle on his shoulders like a crushing burden. He glanced at Tarin, whose eyes were filled with a mixture of fear and defiance.

"There's still time," the mage said softly. "You need not make the decision today. But when the time comes, you must be prepared to choose."

The silence that followed was heavy and oppressive. Kaelin felt the world spinning out of his control, the future uncertain and terrifying. He had never imagined that his life would come to this-that he would be faced with such an impossible choice.

"We'll need time to think," Kaelin said, his voice hoarse. "To decide."

The mage nodded. "Take the time you need. But remember, the Forsaken will not wait forever."

Kaelin and Tarin left the chamber, their minds reeling from the enormity of what they had learned. They found a small alcove near the back of the cave where they could rest for the night, but neither of them could sleep.

As they lay in the dim light of the glowing runes, Kaelin reached out and took Tarin's hand. She didn't pull away, but he could feel the tension in her grip.

"We'll figure this out," he said softly, though the words felt hollow even to him.

Tarin turned to face him, her eyes filled with fear. "What if we can't?" she whispered. "What if there is no way out?"

Kaelin didn't have an answer. All he could do was hold her close and hope that, somehow, they would find the strength to face whatever lay ahead.