Unspoken

Chapter Eight

Well, isn’t this a predicament we’ve found ourselves in?

I suppressed a sigh, dwelling on that thought as I packed whatever belongings I could get my hands on. For the past two minutes or so, I’d been stuffing my necessities into the large travel bag currently slung over my shoulder.
“Fray, you put the map in your bag, right?” Adara asked, casting him a quick glance.
“Y-yes,” he hastily replied as he shoved a pouch of coins into a hidden compartment within his satchel—which was made of fur and leather, something he’d brought with him from Amarin.
So, what exactly was going on? Well… I’d been woken up extremely early this morning—before the sun had even risen—by Adara and Fray. They’d been horror-stricken, having discovered suspicious men on horseback searching up and down Extorris’ streets. Searching for what, you might ask?
For us.
There was no more time for planning or extra sparring lessons, no more time for preparations. We had to get moving now, less we wanted to be found by these men. We’d thrown a quick plan together to make an escape to the forest, hide there, and wait for them to give up. Once the coast was clear, we would head to the docks.
This is an absolute nightmare. Why did that loathsome Avartian from my dream warn me if it was too late, anyway?
Feeling more than a little peeved since I had no answer to that question, I made quick work of packing a few changes of clothes into my bag. Something caught my attention, though, and it was a dusty trunk resting at the foot of my bed. Looking at it brought on a sad and wistful feeling, considering it was filled with trinkets and treasures that had survived Aridor’s fall. Most of them were our parents’ belongings, and they would all have to stay here. We certainly couldn’t bring a trunk with us and keep any hope of escape.
Don’t worry about it. For now, focus on getting out of the city unnoticed.
“Are you almost done?” Adara asked, suddenly popping up beside me. She’d startled my bones right out of me.
“Yes,” I replied, giving her a displeased look for scaring me. “Just one more thing.”
I then grabbed my father's sword from the wall, the hilt gleaming just as it should. Next, I put my utility belt on, put the sword into its scabbard, then quickly walked with Adara to the living room. Fray was sitting on the ragged couch (which had been here when we moved in), his leg bouncing nervously. That was a common habit from him, and lip biting as well.
“What about food rations?” I asked. “Did you gather them yet?”
Fray nodded. “We both took as much as… A-as we…”
It’s alright, Snowflake, I wanted to say, though I knew we didn’t have time, I know you’re worried, but we’ll be fine.
“Are you ready to go, then?” I asked, knowing it was an impossible question, since none of us could truly be ‘ready’. After all, our enemies awaited us.
“Lead the way, Phoenix.” Adara replied, without hesitation.
Fray nodded. We… We’ll be fine. I know we will.”
Ah, they looked so brave… Fray armed with his dagger, Adara with no weapons to speak of, since she relied on her mageia. But still she was standing tall, and Fray as well… Both of them ready for possible battle. I managed a faint smile, though fear almost instantly washed it away. I supposed it was inevitable, though, because after all…
The men outside could very well be the same ones who set fire to Aridor. I have every right to feel afraid.
“Come here, both of you.”
Fray and Adara exchanged a curious glance with each other, but both stepped forward anyway. When they did I walked up to them and hugged them both at the same time, as tightly as I could.
“Ph-Phoenix—!” Adara exclaimed. “What’s gotten into you?”
“Haha,” Fray laughed. “I think she’s finally revealing her emotions to us, yeah?”
“Oh shut it, you two, I just wanted to do this because… Well, because what we’re dealing with right now isn't exactly pleasant, so I… I just wanted to, alright?” I muttered as I backed away from them, then headed towards the kitchen.
“Let’s get going.”
“Mm-hm, so she’s going soft on us, right?” Fray asked as the two of them followed.
“Yep!” Adara agreed.
I sighed lightly in irritation and motioned to open the door, but then paused, keeping my back to them (what with my moment of humility and all.)
“Oh, and one more thing before we leave, Fray…”
“Huh?”
I glanced forward at the door and then downwards, trying to avoid the attention I’d brought upon myself. It didn’t help that what I was about to say would only draw more. I drew a short breath, then finally spoke.
“Welcome to the family. My family, officially—”
I couldn't finish, since Fray’d cut me off with a gasp. “Thank you-thank you-thank you, thank you!”
His excited outburst was one thing, but… Next I knew, there were snowflakes falling from the ceiling all around us.
Did… Did he really just make it snow because I made him that happy? How strange…
“Um, Fray, you do realize you've made it snow in the kitchen, right..?” Adara asked, partially concerned, mostly out of awe.
When I turned to look at Fray he was beaming and holding onto Adara's hand. Honestly, it was the happiest I'd ever seen him.
“S-sorry, didn’t mean to… But I cannot think about that right now, I feel too… Too happy!”
I shook my head, allowing the cheerful mood to linger for a second or two longer, but then spoke with an urgent tone. “Well come on, you two, we need to head out. The more time we spend here, the more we risk.”
I then opened the door and we snuck out, putting the hoods of our coats up to hide our features. Before I knew it we’d taken to the streets, though we made sure to keep our heads low, and stayed a good distance from anyone nearby. We’d figured it would be safest if we took the long way to the forest, and that meant there was only one open, ‘Avartian-free’ route left for us. The soldiers searching for us had blocked off all—though there were few to begin with—entrances and exits to the city. The docks were especially guarded, which meant that if we did make it to the forest unnoticed, it would likely be a long wait until they left. With nowhere else to go, we had no choice but to cut through the vast fields that bordered Extorris’ western edge. There was no doubt that those fields had once been used for raising livestock and growing crops, but now they’d just been left for weeds to overtake them.
It’s risky, though, entering those fields… We’ll be out in the open, and I don’t like it.
I glanced at Adara as she flashed us a warning signal to show she’d either seen or heard a sign of danger. I gave a short nod and led them to hide behind the nearest structure to us. It was a decrepit old house and probably abandoned, but hopefully it would provide enough cover.
“Here in a minute or so we’ll make a good sprint,” I whispered once we’d caught our breaths. “We can make it to the fields in one go.”
When they both showed their agreement, I took a deep breath, trying to force my racing heart to calm. It had been an intense few minutes, and I didn’t like this feeling at all.
The feeling of being put under pressure, and knowing that your leadership… That my decisions could and may very well cause grave consequences… Is terrifying.