Page 94 of The Dark Mage

This morning, he seemed more like himself.

They rode on, scanning the roadside and surrounding terrain for signs of a struggle.Hours passed, and Ren’wyn’s legs throbbed with fatigue, the constant strain of gripping the saddle threatening to undoher.

Around mid-morning, they stopped to rest Patina and refill their water.Ren’wyn found a low log at the roadside and stretched her aching legs.Whether by chance, fate, or sheer dumb luck, she noticed a dark stain by her feet as she leaned back.A pulse of her magic confirmed the truth—this was the blood of someone nowdead.

“Esrin,” she called, her voice tight.

He ran to her, his face tense.She pointed to the dark stain, and his sharp intake of breath sent a chill down her spine.Together, they combed the area.Esrin found more signs of a struggle farther from the road—blood spatter, drag marks, and hoofprints.Ren’wyn held back a dismayed cry at the realization that their opponents might be numerous.

The stench of decay hit her just as the Void grew agitated.Ren’wyn recoiled, leaving Esrin to continue into the grassland.He returned moments later, his expressiongrim.

“Six bodies,” he reported.“Mercenaries.”

Her fingers trembled as Esrin took the reins from her, leading Patina northward.Before them stretched a vast field of bluestem and switchgrass, rippling in the breeze, with a dark line of forest on the horizon.

“There’s smoke,” Esrin muttered, his voice low.He nodded toward a thin line of gray above the distant canopy.

Ren’wyn instinctively took his hand to calm her anxiety.He looked at her in surprise but gripped her tightly as they walked through the soft grass.The breeze carried the coppery tang of blood, and the trampled ground bore more splashes of dark brown.Panic tightened her throat.

Patina grew restless, the whites of his eyes showing as he hesitated.The air was heavy with the scent of death and decomposition, signaling more bodies nearby.

As soon as they entered the woods, Esrin stopped.

“We have to eat something,” he ordered.

The lingering, cloying stench made eating almost unbearable, but Ren’wyn forced the food and water down.She would need her strength for what lay ahead.

Before they set out again, Esrin clasped her arm, turning her to facehim.

“I never stopped loving you, Ren’wyn,” he said, his voice rich with emotion.He held her close enough for her to see the warning in his eyes.“I don’t know what we’re about to face.I brought you along against my better judgment.If things go south, you’ll take Patina and run.Ride out of the forest and back to Lipo.Find Leta and continue the fight.”

Ren’wyn started to protest, but he cut heroff.

“You are precious, Ren’wyn.I won’t lose you here.I will die to give you time to escape, and don’t try to argue with me.”

She stared into his eyes—raw with grief and love—and felt her heart twist.She hated how cruelly fate had torn them apart.

“Damn it, I love you, Ren’wyn,” Esrin whispered.

But before she could respond, he shoved her roughly away, turning back to the horse.

“I’m sorry, Esrin,” she replied softly.“I wish I could fix this, but I can’t.You’re important too.Your band needs you.Don’t sell yourself short.I will defend you, and I promise to run if Imust.”

He nodded, his back still turned and pulled Patina deeper into the woods.

Not an hour had passed when Esrin abruptly halted, throwing an arm out to stop Ren’wyn.His eyes narrowed, calculating, as he pressed a finger to hislips.

Ren’wyn heard it too—the soft rustling of leaves, incongruous with the stillness of the forest.

Esrin loosened his sword and wordlessly tossed her a dagger.

He reached for her hand, his pulse hammering against her own.The seconds stretched into tense minutes as birdsong filled the heavy air.Droplets of rain fell sporadically from the canopy above, and the forest seemed to close around them under the gloomy, cloudedsky.

Another rustle, closer this time, came from their left.Patina’s ears twitched nervously, and Esrin shifted his weight, preparing to strike.Ren’wyn released his hand as he drew his sword, steadying her breathing the way Fael had taughther.

Heat bloomed low in her stomach as she fought off panic—a growing desire to summon her magic, to kill.The intensity of her yearning startled her, her thoughts flickering to Lia, Sorya, and Fael.She wanted to save them, no matter thecost.

Perhaps the bloodlust helped her realize who was nearby.As Esrin adjusted his stance, the rustling grew louder.Ren’wyn grabbed his swordarm.