Michrinor: The Fates of The Heirs

Chapter 36 - The Path of No Return

The first light of dawn had barely crept over the rugged peaks surrounding the Isle of Loxca when Harvan stirred from his slumber. The large brute of a man, known for his strength and silence, had always been an early riser, a habit ingrained in him from years of watchfulness. But today, there was a gnawing unease in his chest that he couldn't shake. It wasn't like him to worry, yet something about the stillness of the fortress felt wrong.

Harvan sat up, his long black dreadlocks falling over his shoulders as he glanced toward the narrow window of his chamber. The sky was tinged with a pale gray, promising a storm, though the air inside remained suffocatingly still. His instincts told him that something was amiss, and his mind immediately turned to Ava. The girl was more than a responsibility to him; she was a light in the darkness, a reminder of why they fought against the shadows that threatened their world.

Rising to his feet, Harvan quickly dressed in his dark tunic and heavy boots, his movements as silent as a shadow. He couldn't explain the urgency, but he felt it nonetheless—a pull in his gut that wouldn't let him rest until he saw her safe.

When he reached Ava's chamber, he hesitated for a moment, hoping to find her peacefully asleep, her fiery spirit at rest for once. But as he pushed the door open, the sight that greeted him sent a cold chill through his veins.

The bed was empty, its covers tossed aside as if abandoned in haste. The room was dark, the only light filtering in from the faint glow of the approaching dawn. Harvan's heart pounded as he stepped inside, searching for any sign that she was simply elsewhere, perhaps in the small adjoining chamber or by the window. But the silence was thick, heavy with the absence of the one person he had sworn to protect.

"Little Bean..." Harvan's deep voice rumbled in the quiet room, a rare softness to the endearing nickname he had given her. But there was no answer, no familiar sound of Ava's voice grumbling about being called such a childish name. She was gone.

Panic flared within him, more intense than anything he had felt in battle. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, his footsteps echoing in the stone corridor as he made his way to the others. His mind raced with possibilities, each more terrifying than the last. Had someone taken her? Had she wandered off alone?

He couldn't let fear consume him; there was no time for it. Bursting into the main hall, he found Taci and Yaroth already awake, their expressions shifting from mild surprise to concern as they saw the look on Harvan's face.

"What is it, Harvan?" Taci asked, her sea green eyes narrowing with the sharpness of a warrior's intuition.

"Ava's gone," Harvan said, his voice low but laced with urgency. "Her bed's empty. She's not in her room."

The words sent a ripple of alarm through the group. Taci immediately reached for her bow, while Yaroth's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword. Donamer and Lanonir appeared moments later, drawn by the tension in the air, their faces pale as they took in the news.

"We must search the fortress," Taci declared, already moving toward the door. "And the village as well. If someone has taken her..."

"We'll find her," Yaroth interrupted, his voice firm. "No one will get far on this island without being noticed."

The search began with a flurry of activity, the Naitseer rebels spreading out across the fortress like a wave. Harvan led the charge, his massive frame moving with surprising speed as he checked every corner, every hidden passage. The others followed suit, questioning the inhabitants of the Isle of Loxca, seeking any sign of Ava. But everywhere they turned, they were met with shaking heads and uncertain glances. No one had seen her leave; no one knew where she had gone.