The Red Cape

IV.

Volume I.

Rose grew more and more weary as she and Hunter traversed southeast.

As she watched the sun beginning to sink, her eyelids felt heavy and her body ached tiredly for sleep.

Rose noticed Hunter was growing tired as well. His breaths became heavier and his boots dragged slightly as he walked on.

Hunter slumped toward a tree and rested his arm upon it.

"D'you mind telling me how much longer it is until we have to reach our so called destination, love?" Hunter huffed tiresomely.

"I'm not sure," Rose answered.

"I know the land, if you would tell me where we are headed, I might be able to calculate how far away we are," Hunter said.

Rose closed her eyes slowly and opened them again, with much effort.

"I'm headed to Klaresport," Rose said, "any idea how far that is?"

"Why Klaresport?" Hunter asked curiously.

"That doesn't matter, how far is it?" Rose insisted.

"About 6 kilometers to the port, but why do you want to go there?" Hunter persisted.

"I'm trying to find a passage to Trailia," Rose explained.

"Trailia? Why Trailia?"

"Will you stop badgering me that way?" Rose snapped from exhaustion. "Is there anywhere where we can find shelter before dark? It looks like a storm is coming."

"There's supposed to be some places the farmers abandoned once the port business became more current. Just beyond that hill, most likely," Hunter pointed to the hill that lay in front of them speckled with tall trees.

"Let's get a move on before the sun sets, then." Rose nodded, and they both started to trudge forward to the hill.

Rose took a bit of bread from her pouch she kept hidden in her cape, she tapped Hunter's shoulder and offered it to him. He took it from her hand with a word of thanks.

"Do you have water?" Hunter asked Rose, slowing down his pace slightly and walking beside her.

She shook her head. "I ran out yesterday," she explained, "But, if it rains, then we'll have some."

Hunter nodded and looked toward the hill once more. Rose murmured a small prayer to the gods and ate the bread, taking small bites as they walked on. They reached the hill just as a small clap of thunder echoed across the sky.

Hunter pointed to an old barn closest to them, at the end of the hill. The port could be seen from the top of the hill, and ships docked with the sea churning from the storm just beyond them.

"There," Hunter said, pointing to the barn, "We'd better hurry, it's going to rain soon."

Took a lot to figure that out, Rose thought.

They hurried their pace toward the barn. A small spray of rain started to fall on them, but it became thicker and thicker.

Their clothes were slightly damp when they reached the barn, and they rushed inside. The rain became heavier and heavier.

The barn was filled with empty horse stalls, and a large pile of hay. Hunter and Rose walked over to the hay and sat, catching their breath.

Rose removed her cloak, revealing a pouch and a canteen strung onto her side. She folded the cape and set it beside her.

Rose wiped a bit of sweat from her brow, and looked around the barn.

It was old, and hadn't been in use for a long time. That much she could tell. There were boards that were broken in some places, so spaces were visible through the barn's wall.

The roof still held well, surprisingly, and there weren't any leaks.

Rose stood up and walked to the entrance of the barn. She held her canteen out into the storm, and raindrops filled her canteen.

She walked back to Hunter, and handed the canteen, he thanked her and took a hearty swig from it. Rose drank the water as well.

Rose looked at the cracks in the barn's walls, and the rain falling down and splashing on the wet ground. Hunter looked at her curiously.

"Rose?" he said softly.

"Hmm?" she responded, still staring.

Hunter put a hand on her face, and turned her chin towards him. She pushed his hand away.

"Rose, who are you running from?" he asked.

Tears glassed over her eyes, "I-"

Suddenly, the sound of horse's hooves splashing puddles and marching feet met their ears.

Rose looked through a crack in the barn, and saw familiar black soldiers marching down the hill.

"Hide behind there!" she pointed behind the hay.

"Rose! Relax, they're passing by here." Robin said.

Sure enough, the black soldiers walked past the barn. Rose watched them until they were out of sight.

"Rose, who are you running from?" Hunter repeated.

Rose looked down at the floor, "What d'you mean?"

"Don't lie to me, Rose."

"How do you know I'm running from someone?" Rose retorted. "I could be a simple traveler."

"Travelers don't wear bright red capes, carry magic dust, and panic when soldiers are passing."

Rose exhaled. "Queen Noire. That's who I'm running from. Are you happy now?"

"No." Hunter said. "Queen Noire? That's who you're running from? In Eserèe?"

"What other Queen Noire is there?" Rose said miserably.

"You said you were from Frigan, what business did you have with Queen Noire?" Hunter asked.

"I angered her."

"How?"

"I stole something of hers, and she stole something of mine, but that isn't enough for her." Rose said, looking back at the rain.

"She wants to kill you," Hunter guessed.

Rose nodded. "I understand if you don't want to help me."

"No," Hunter said, "From the stories I've heard about her... Well, not helping you would be helping her, and I don't want that."

"But, if she finds me, she'll kill you as well as me."

"Don't worry," Hunter said. "She won't find you with me."

"How?"

"Doesn't matter. What is our plan for tomorrow?" Hunter asked.

"We find a passage to Trailia. I have business to complete there."

Hunter nodded. "We should get some sleep." It had grown very dark.

"Yes," Rose agreed, yawning. She spread her cape out on the hay, and laid down. She fell asleep to the sound of rain.