[BETA] To Break A Curse

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

~ EILITH ~

SWEAT dripped from the side of my forehead. Even the horses were breathing heavily to gasp for air that had suddenly warmed up. It was still muddy, but their hooves now clacked as we reached a more rocky part of the road.

"Hoo! Mapulon must be drunk," Henry exclaimed from the back, undressing his robe. "Tell me, monster. Why haven't you melted yet? They say your kingdom never sees this kind of heat."

Lia and I exchanged glances. Only the cart wheels thudded in response.

"Not even a drop of sweat. I bet human flesh helps with that too, huh. Inutil," He cursed and spat.

Rather than he unbolts the cage and stabs the captives mindlessly, it's best if we just let him lash out his anger with words. I knew Lia silently agreed, her gaze distant as Summer led the way through the woods.

My eyes dropped to her left boot. It had a tear on one side, and its sole had significantly thinned from the constant travels. Her robe, still smeared with mud and bloodstains, looked heavy and damp despite the sudden heat, drying only her disheveled brown hair. I stared ahead and sighed.

"How's the orphanage doing?"

She glanced at me at the sudden question. Then she smiled, rummaged through her stash, and brought out two scrolls. "From the children and the Babaylans. They wanted to know how I was doing. I'm yet to send any replies. Not certain what to tell them."

I unrolled one of the letters and smiled at the messy handwriting. They were barely readable, but I could see boys and girls grinning and arguing upon who gets to write first to their big sister. In their eyes, she was a hero, a symbol of hope that they can fight and win for their dreams too, and not just dwell in a place of abandonment. I could even see the old Babaylans whipping some butts here and there for being too overly excited and almost ruining the paper.

"We'll drop by when we head back to Gray Fort," I muttered, still smiling as I returned the scroll. "I need you and Henry to head over to our treasury house once we arrive at the capital. Tell them to send twenty-thousand gold Sols to Lord Herron from my account. Aid for the refugees."

She nodded, and then shook her head. "I can't believe it takes a month before the king's provision is approved."

"'A lot of other important matters' as the council would say."

And if it weren't for the two captives behind, I would've told her the king's reserve is probably being watched for a possible invasion. Apollo and whoever on the council he had convinced would make sure of that.

"That will sustain them for the time being. Lord Herron will not complain."

"I'm certain he won't. That's more than a month," she scoffed.

"And when you're at the treasury, don't be stubborn and accept the helpers' offers. Get new boots. Change robes. Have a bath. I'll meet you at the inn tonight."

"Will do, milady."

I squinted my eyes. She giggled. "Okay, captain."

I just smiled at the tease and looked ahead.

"Stop."

The hooves halted and the cartwheels paused. Summer froze in place, tail unmoving and ears perking up.

"Can you hear that?" I mumbled.

None of the trees were rustling. There's not a single gush of wind. Not even a sound of distant birds or crickets. The whole forest was dead silence.