The Obsidian Veil

Chapter 14 - The Watcher's Warning

Iria found herself standing in the middle of a small cottage. The space was hauntingly familiar, the steady crackling of a fire, the scent of earth and herbs clinging to the air, the cool morning breeze slipping through the cracks of the wooden walls. It was as though she had been here a thousand times before, yet she always felt unsettled. This place was part of her recurring dream, and again, she's in it.

She looked around, expecting to see the two figures she always encountered: the young man and the woman named Ildri. But today, the cottage was empty.

Taking a cautious step, the floor creaked beneath her, the sound sharp in the stillness. She scanned the room, touching objects as she moved, an old chair, a woven basket, a stack of parchment. They felt real, too real for a dream. She turned toward the window, where the first rays of the sun were beginning to peek through. Ildri always stood by that window, waiting for the sound of the carriage. It always arrived, the wheels creaking to a stop.

But this time, no sound came.

Her heart quickened. Something was wrong.

Suddenly, the air seemed to shift behind her. She spun around, and there, looming in the shadows, stood a hooded figure. Its face was hidden, but when it spoke, the voice was unmistakable, cold, rasping, filled with menace.

"I will find you. I will watch you, Ildri."

The voice echoed in her mind, dragging her violently from the dream. Iria's eyes snapped open, her heart pounding in her chest.

Sabia's worried face hovered over her. "Your Highness, are you alright?"

Blinking in confusion, Iria took in her surroundings. They were no longer in the cottage. She was in the small room of an inn, the events of the previous day flooding back to her. Her head still ached, though the pain had dulled compared to before.

She pushed herself up slowly. "Yes... I'm fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sabia sat beside her, studying her closely. "Was it the dream again?"

Iria hesitated, her mind racing. Was it just a dream? Or something more? A vision? A warning? Who is Ildri, and why do I feel like I need to save her?

She forced herself back to the present and nodded. "Yes, the same one."

Sabia frowned. "It's been so long since you've had that dream. Maybe it's the trauma... but don't worry. You're safe now."

Iria offered a small, grateful smile, but the words did little to ease her mind. Safe? She wasn't sure anymore.

A knock broke the silence - a coded sequence. Three fast raps, then a pause, followed by a slow one. Sabia's expression shifted to alertness. It was their signal.

She rose swiftly, opening the door a crack. Cedric stood on the other side, his eyes flicking between her and the Princess.

"Apologies for the intrusion," he said quietly, "Is Her Highness awake?"

"Yes," Sabia replied, glancing back at Iria. "And she's feeling better."

Cedric nodded, but his expression remained serious. "Good. We need to leave soon. Iben's been scouting the area, and we're not as safe here as we thought."

Sabia's brows furrowed. "Did you find anything?"

"We haven't found the culprit yet. That's the problem. Iben thinks it's better if we leave without warning. Move quietly."

Sabia nodded, her tone grim. "I understand. We'll be ready."

"Meet us across the street, in front of the stationary shop. Townsfolk are already stirring, so we'll blend in better that way," Cedric added.