The Obsidian Veil

Chapter 13 - A Dance with Death

Sabia's vision blurred as the cold bite of the forest crept into her bones. Ignar's arm tightened around her neck, cutting off both her breath and any hope of escape. She tried to move her legs, but they felt like stone. She blinked rapidly, struggling to stay conscious. The trees thickened, shadows closing in, and the air grew colder with every step Ignar dragged her forward. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her body limp in his grip.

A sudden sharp sound pierced the stillness of the forest—a whistle of metal through the air. Ignar staggered, his balance lost, and they both tumbled to the forest floor. Sabia hit the ground hard, pain shooting through her limbs. Her body felt like it had shattered into pieces, every breath a struggle. She forced her eyes open just in time to hear soft footsteps approaching, a sound that brought a flicker of hope into her heart. It couldn't be anyone else. It had to be him.

Iben.

Relief swelled in her chest, but it was short-lived. Ignar, undeterred, lunged for her, his massive hand clamping around her throat once more. He squeezed, and Sabia choked, her hands clawing weakly at his wrist. She kicked with all the strength she had left, but Ignar didn't flinch. Her vision began to darken around the edges. Just as she thought she might lose consciousness, Ignar was ripped away.

"You coward!" Iben's voice thundered through the clearing, fury dripping from every word. "I'm the one you're after, not her!"

Ignar hesitated for a heartbeat, but his snarl returned as he stood, his eyes blazing with malice. "This is personal now, Iben! You ruined me when you killed my clients. I'll make you pay for it with her blood."

Ignar charged at Iben with brute force. The two clashed, Iben dodging swiftly but unable to match Ignar's sheer strength. The forest echoed with the sound of metal and grunts of effort as Ignar forced Iben down, pinning him beneath the gnarled roots of a tree. Ignar's face twisted into a snarl as he raised his dagger high.

Sabia, her breath still shallow, watched in horror as Ignar turned back toward her, eyes wild with bloodlust. He raised his blade, intending to finish what he had started. Sabia's body screamed in protest, but she pushed herself up just enough to act. Her fingers found the hilt of one of Iben's fallen daggers. Without thinking, she drove it into Ignar's chest with all the force she could muster.

Ignar froze, his body trembling, eyes wide with shock. For a long, excruciating moment, the forest seemed to hold its breath. Then, as though the life had drained out of him all at once, Ignar collapsed, lifeless, onto the ground.

Sabia and Iben were left in the silence of the forest, their labored breaths the only sound. Sabia's hand shook as she withdrew the dagger, her body still weak from the fight. She glanced at Iben, who remained still, his eyes staring at Ignar's body in quiet rage.

Finally, Sabia spoke, her voice barely a whisper. "The princess... we need to get back to her."

Iben's expression darkened instantly, the reminder jolting him into motion. Without a word, he helped Sabia to her feet, and they raced back toward the campfire.

Meanwhile, Cedric's blade slashed through the air as another attacker fell. His muscles ached with the strain of holding the line, keeping the unknown soldiers from overwhelming them. But they were outnumbered, and the situation was growing desperate. Behind him, Iria loosed arrows one after another, her back pressed against a massive tree for support.

"We can't hold them off much longer, Princess," Cedric muttered, his voice strained as he parried another blow. "You need to escape while you can."

"I'm not leaving you!" Iria fired another arrow, determination hardening her voice. "If you fall, I fall."