Kingdom Come {END OF AN AGE -- BOOK 1}

: chapter 16 | into the woods :

Max didn't recognize the clearings they hurried through as they ducked from bush to bush. It was clear they were avoiding familiar trails, a smart move considering their current wanted status.

Even so, as they went, Max could hear the distant sounds of shouting men and the irritated 'neighs' of their horses as they were spurred into action.

Every part of him hated this. Running away from the law, when for two years, he'd been the law. Now he had no idea if the last two years had been a time where he participated in working to keep his kingdom safe... or if he'd helped in the murder of dozens of other innocent men, women, and even children. His grip on the sword in his hand tightened. The feeling of the leather pressed against his pale skin was the only thing familiar about this situation. Sure; Ross and Shelby were with him, but running through the woods for their lives could hardly be considered familiar to them.

Ross. His gaze shifted back to his best friend as he ducked into another bush. They paused there for a moment to see if anyone was around, and Max used this time to examine him and to think.

Why was Ross here? They were best friends, sure, but Ross had just thrown away his own life too. He couldn't help, but to think back to what he'd believed he'd seen on the top of his friend's head earlier.

Ears. Animal ears.

However, he pushed the thought away. He'd been more than a little disoriented by the lack of oxygen. What he'd seen was his mind playing tricks on his him in the dark shadows below the gallows.

Or had it been?

He thought to question his friend next time they stopped; both to find out what the hell the plan was once they found this warlock, and to hopefully get Ross by himself for a moment so he could talk to him.

Before he could even possibly think of what to ask though, he was yanked from his thoughts by Ross suddenly pulling him and Brice back into the bushes. Brice grunted, not expecting to be stopped and pulled back. However, Max managed to remain quiet, quickly ducking back behind the holly bush in front of them. Shelby had been behind Ross and therefore had never gotten up to run, so she stayed down close to the ground, while Ross held a finger up to his lips, warning the others to remained silent.

Max breathing went from heavy to stifled in a matter of two seconds, and his sisters and Brice's followed suite. As they did, the bushes across the clearing rustled loudly, and half a second passed before a soldier pushed his way through, lacking a horse. Two more came after, all looking wary as they barely glanced around the clearing.

At first, Max didn't recognize any of them due to the way they were facing. However, he quickly recognized one to be Jasper Mercer, a recruit who was often so wasted he could barely stand. Now though, the pale boy's eyes were slightly widened as his gaze swept over the clearing, no sign of the familiar dazed and glazed look they often bore.

The hidden group barely breathed as the soldiers passed through the clearing, before moving on. Once they did, Max felt Ross untense against his back, where they'd been squashed together when the soldiers had passed through. Max had managed to remain a bit calmer, keeping himself from tensing, yet remaining alert.

"Let's keep moving." Brice had sat right in front of Max, and now he was back up on his feet, though he was kneeled down a bit to keep from exposing to much of himself. Max, nor the others, had any time to respond before Brice had disappeared behind the next bush. With a sigh, Max slunk forward. Brice was moving with a new determination, one that Max had yet to really see. He was used to Brice being quiet, often standing near the edge during training sessions, or sitting by himself during the short break around midday, at which time the soldiers were permitted to eat something.