A Heart Divided

Chapter 33

Into the Wilderness

The journey south was treacherous. They left Blackthorn under the cover of night, slipping quietly through the winding streets as the village slept, unaware of the fugitives among them. The air was cold, and the weight of their fear hung heavy in the silence. Eliza's heart raced with each step, each moment feeling like a countdown.

They took to the woods at the edge of Blackthorn, using the thick trees as cover as they made their way deeper into the wilderness. The roads were dangerous, and James had warned them that the Duke's men would be watching all the main routes. So they traveled along forgotten paths, veering off the beaten track whenever they saw signs of movement or soldiers.

Eliza was unused to the harshness of the journey. Her life had been one of luxury, of courts and silks, of feasts and balls. Now she was trudging through wet underbrush, her feet cold and sore, her hands stiff from gripping the coarse fabric of her new clothes. Her eyes burned from exhaustion, but there was a fire inside her that refused to go out. This was her fight.

Alden walked beside her, his presence a silent strength. He never complained, never asked for rest, though Eliza could see the weariness in his eyes. He too was bearing the weight of this journey. But he had always protected her, always kept her safe, and now, she could feel the roles reversed. She was protecting him as much as he was protecting her. They were in this together.

By the second day of their journey, they had crossed through dense forests, avoiding the main roads and sticking to paths that only those who knew the land would recognize. The deeper they went, the further they felt from their former lives. The bustling streets of the capital, the courtly intrigues, the glittering gowns—they seemed like a distant dream.

And yet, every step they took toward the rebels was a step into the unknown. Eliza couldn't help but wonder: What would they find when they reached the rebels? Would they be allies—or would they turn her away, seeing her as just another royal pawn? She had no answers, only the resolve that had brought her this far.

The landscape around them changed as they neared the southern border. The trees became more sparse, replaced by rocky hills and barren grasslands. It was a harsh, unyielding place, and Eliza felt more exposed than ever. The wind howled around them, tearing through their clothes and cutting at their skin. The air felt thin, and the further they went, the more distant Blackthorn seemed.

It was on the third day of their journey that they reached the place James had described—an old, forgotten village hidden in a valley. The buildings were mostly ruins, long abandoned, but the walls still whispered of life.

"Here," James said, his voice low. He looked around warily. "They're here."

Eliza felt a surge of both fear and anticipation. This was it. They had come so far.