Chapter 25: Ch25 – Embarrassing Failure

Aralus POV

Aralus stood at the edge of the forest, his eyes narrowed as he surveyed the dense foliage. The explosion and skirmish caused by the town guards had thrown his soldiers into dissarray. Aralus clenched his jaw, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the hilt of his sword.

“Report!” Aralus barked at a nearby soldier.

The soldier quickly responded, “Sir, we have lost 28 men, with another 12 wounded. We have 60 soldiers still fit for duty, 40 of whom are currently pursuing the heroes. The remaining men are securing the perimeter and tending to the injured. All 12 wounded require immediate care, as both of our healers was assassinated. Most of the town guards are dead, and some ran, after some investigation we believe at least 5 survived and also escaped to the forest.”

Aralus’ eyes shook. This was an embarrassing defeat, how could I have let those two heroes escape and have lost 28 elite soldiers to town guards! “Ensure the wounded are transported to the nearest hospital. Send a message for reinforcements and explain that we are closing in on the heroes. Make sure they arrive quickly, we cannot let those scum escape.”

Ryan’s POV

Ryan and Eleanor did not stop, even after the sounds of pursuit faded into the distance. They ran until their legs burned and their lungs screamed for mercy. Only when their bodies could bear no more did they collapsed against a pair of old trees, the rough bark pressed into their backs as they gulped down air in desperate, ragged gasps. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath, the silence broken only by their laboured breathing. They shared a brief, weary glance, the unspoken understanding of their peril passing between them, before pushing off the trees and forcing their aching bodies to move once more.

Their journey resumed in a tense, oppressive silence, the weight of their fear and exhaustion hanging heavily in the air. As they trudged onward, dappled sunlight filtered through the canopy, offering fleeting glimpses of a vibrant forest now turned ominous prison.

Dawn’s sun-rays illuminated Ryan and Eleanor’s downtrodden faces as they slowly walked through a sparse forest.

Each step sent a dull ache radiating through Ryan’s legs, the toll of last night’s frantic escape weighing on his muscles.

Eleanor finally broke the silence, “Do you see those mountains over there?” Eleanor said, pointing far into the distance, “I believe that is the mountain range separating this kingdom from the Rupes Kingdom.”

Ryan’s eyes followed Eleanor’s finger, through the many trees landing on the silhouette of a towering mountain range. It loomed in the distance, its peaks shrouded in mist, rising majestically above the forest canopy.

“We have to go through that to reach the Rupes Kingdom,” Eleanor murmured, her voice tinged with a mixture of hope and exhaustion. “If we can reach the mountain pass, we’ll be close to safety, I heard from the rebels that there are over a million humans in that mountain range.”

Ryan nodded, his thoughts racing. The mountain ridge loomed ahead, its craggy peaks seeming to pierce the sky like jagged obsidian daggers. “If we can make it there within a couple of days, we should be in the clear.” Continued Eleanor.

The terrain grew more challenging with every step. The forest floor became a maze of uneven surfaces – jutting rocks, thick roots twisting up from the loamy soil, ready to entrap an unwary foot. Dappled sunlight filtered through the canopy above, the air crisp and tinged with the piney scent of the high altitude.

Despite their exhaustion weighing on them like a shroud, a renewed sense of determination propelled them forward. The distant cries of mountain birds provided a new sound to their own labored breathing. But then a different sound filtered through the trees – the unmistakable thud of boots, hooves and distant shouts.

Ryan’s head snapped up, eyes wide. “Soldiers, on our trail!” he hissed.

Eleanor’s face drained of color, but she gave a terse nod. They broke into a desperate run, branches whipping at their faces as they plunged recklessly through the forest. The sounds of pursuit grew louder, more shouts joining the fray now that their hunters were closing in on their target.

Ryan’s heart thundered in his ears as the shouts from behind grew louder. His legs burned, but fear propelled him forward at a desperate sprint.

Adrenaline spiked through his veins as a crossbow quarrel embedded itself in the tree trunk just ahead with a heavy thunk. Too close.

Minutes turned to hours as they ran and jumped over obstacles, the soldiers’ pursuit driving them relentlessly onward. If it wasn’t for Eleanor’s relentless casting of “Rejuvenis” they would have resigned to their fate long ago. The sun tracked across the sky, casting ever-changing patterns of light and shadow through the thinning tree cover. At times, their hunters’ voices faded, only to swell in volume again, bouncing off of the forest tree trunks.

By evening, they had finally broken through the treeline and found themselves at the base of the mountain itself. A narrow trail snaked up the rugged incline, beckoning them with unspoken promises of sanctuary.

Ryan paused, chest heaving, as he scanned the trail urgently. Why do the elves have no one guarding the trail? What if humans from the Rupes kingdom invaded? Maybe there are elves waiting for us to take another step closer?

Eleanor wavered on her feet beside him, her face ashen. Behind, crashing footsteps and shouts signaled that the soldiers were very close now. They’d be cutting off the path ahead in minutes.

With a muttered curse, Ryan grabbed Eleanor’s hand and started upward at a desperate lope. The uneven trail was a minefield of loose scree and jutting rocks that seemed to conspire against their pace. More than once, they stumbled and nearly fell, the soldiers’ raucous voices echoing up from below like a hunting pack closing on its prey.

The trail grew wider, they were reaching a plateau.

A shout rang out, and a fireball whipped past Ryan’s face, so close he felt the heat radiating off of it. He threw himself and Eleanor behind a chunk of weathered granite as more soldiers streamed up toward them.

The voices grew closer, so close that Ryan could now hear exactly what they were saying.

“They are stuck! Behind that boulder over there!”

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