Shadows of the Past

The storm had finally passed, leaving the world washed clean in its wake. The sun, hidden behind thick clouds, casted the landscape with muted rays of light. The wind had quieted, and violence of the waves below had quelled. A strange stillness percolated through the air, as if the land itself was holding its breath.

Alenya stood at the mouth of the cave, her cloak damp and clinging to her smooth skin, her mahogany hair tangled in a mess from the rain. She didn't move for a long time, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. It should have been peaceful out here, with nothing but the sound of the waves and the whisper of the wind. But instead, all she felt was unease. She was still too close. Too close to the hunters. Too close to everything she was running from.

Behind her, Kael remained inside the cave, watching her with that same guarded expression he always wore. She could feel his eyes on her even though she didn't turn around. He was waiting for something, perhaps for her to speak, or to slip up and reveal the truth. The silence stretched on between them, growing heavier with each passing moment. Alenya could sense that Kael was losing patience, though he hid it well. His calm demeanour, his measured words…it was all a mask, and she knew it. She just didn't know what lay underneath.

Finally, Kael broke the silence.

"What's your plan?"

Alenya didn't respond at first, keeping her eyes on the sea. She wasn't sure she had a plan anymore. She had been running for so long that it felt like her entire life was just a series of desperate escapes, one after another. But she couldn't say that. Not to him.

"Why do you care?" she asked instead, her voice sharper than intended.

Kael sighed softly, barely audible over the distant crash of waves. "Because I don't think you want to keep running."

Alenya's jaw tightened. He didn't know her; he couldn't know what she wanted, or what she didn't want. Nonetheless, his words were alarmingly close to the truth. She'd been running for so long that she had forgotten what it felt like to stand still and immerse herself in the present, without a constant fear of being hunted.

Kael stood up with deliberation and strode towards her. He stopped just short of the cave's entrance and laid a steady gaze on her back. His wandering eyes followed the symbol of a golden rose, faded but eminent on the back of her coffee-coloured cloak.

"You can't outrun them forever," he said quietly. "The hunters, they won't stop."

Alenya flinched. He was right. The king's hunters were relentless. They had resources, connections and were ultimately guarded by the king's support. Compared to them, she was a single, unprotected woman. Powerful, but not invincible. Not anymore at least.

"I know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Kael tilted his head slightly, studying her. "Then why keep running?" Alenya didn't answer. She couldn't. The truth was too complicated, too raw. She wasn't just running from the hunters. She was running from herself. From what she had done. From what she was. Alenya turned to face him, meeting his curious green eyes with her daring amber ones. "You're awfully interested in my plans, Kael," she evaluated in an icy tone. "Why is that?"

For a moment, Kael's expression flickered with a look of regret, but it was gone as abruptly as it had appeared. "I told you," he reinforced. "I'm looking for someone. Someone dangerous."

"And you think that's me?" Alenya posed, arching an eyebrow. Kael didn't answer, not that he needed to. Between the both of them, it was quite obvious. The tension spoke for itself. He didn't trust her. And why should he? She was hiding something, just as much as he was.

"I'll be leaving at first light," she informed him, turning back to the sea. She could envision the king's hunters treading the marshes to catch up to her. "You should do the same."

Kael didn't move. "You're headed inland, aren't you?"

His knowledge of her unspoken plan made Alenya's heart skip a beat, but she kept her voice steady. "Perhaps."

"You won't make it far. The roads are flooded, and the king's men would have set up checkpoints at every major crossing by now." Kael's unwarranted warning sparked fury inside her, but as much as she wanted to deny it, he was right again. She was so concentrated on putting distance between herself and the hunters that she hadn't thought about the consequences of the storm. The roads would be impassable for days, and the longer she stayed in one place, the more dangerous it was for her.

She turned back to Kael, narrowing her eyes. "Mind offering me some suggestions, then?" She inquired in a civil manner. Taken aback by her humbleness, Kael stayed silent and considered the options.

"There's an old trade route through the hills," he said. "It's dangerous, but it's not patrolled. You could avoid the hunters altogether."

Alenya frowned. "And how would you know about that?"

Kael's gaze didn't waver. "I've been through these lands before. I know where the king's men are, and where they aren't." Alenya found solace in his helpful suggestion and felt a sense of peace dilute her previous feelings of vexation towards him. Though it wasn't the answer she was looking for, she didn't have time to press further. The storm may have passed, but her window of escape was shrinking by the minute.

"So, you're just offering this out of the kindness of your heart?" she prodded. Kael shrugged. "It's a trade. You need a way out, and I need answers."

Surprisingly, she wasn't mad. She knew she didn't owe him anything. Not answers, not trust, not anything. But she also knew that without his help, her chances of survival were slim. The hunters were closing in, and she was running out of options.

"What kind of answers?" she asked, opening doors for negotiation. Kael didn't waste a second in accepting this avenue to advance in his mission. He stepped forward, closing the gap between them. His eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.

"Who are you?" he asked softly, his breath gently caressing her cheek. "Why are the king's men after you?"

Alenya's heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't decide which was more nerve wracking, his unapologetic invasion of her personal space, or the deeply personal question he just asked her. She was expecting him to ask this question, but that didn't make it any easier for her to provide an answer. She couldn't tell him the truth…she couldn't let him know what she really was. If he found out, he might turn her in himself. But she also knew that she couldn't lie to him. Not completely. He was too intellectual for that, and she needed his help any way.

"I am...no one," she muttered, her voice tight. "Just someone who crossed the wrong people."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "The wrong people?"

Alenya nodded, her mind racing. "The king's court. I…made a mistake. Said something I shouldn't have. And now they want me dead." It wasn't the full truth, but it wasn't a lie, either. She had crossed the wrong people. She had made mistakes. And the king's court did want her dead. But that wasn't the whole story. Not by a long shot.

Kael observed her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. He then nodded, as if accepting her answer.

"All right," he accepted. "I'll take you through the hills. But once we're clear of the hunters, I expect more than half-truths."

Alenya swallowed hard, but she nodded. She didn't like the idea of traveling with him because she didn't like the idea of owing him anything. But she didn't have much of a choice. Not if she wanted to survive. Kael turned and began gathering his belongings, preparing to leave. Alenya watched him pull his leather rucksack over his right shoulder, her mind still racing. She didn't trust him. She wasn't sure she ever would. But for now, he was her best chance.

At that moment, his eyes met her concerned gaze and for less than a second, Alenya captured an essence of good-will somewhere deep within those mysterious green orbs. Despite having a distinct feeling that he was hiding something far more dangerous than she was, she felt a slightly reassured. She knew that she would be okay, at least for now.

The sun had barely risen when they set out, the landscape still draped in the pale grey light of the early morning. The path Kael led her on was treacherous, winding through narrow passes and over crumbling ledges, but he moved with the confidence of someone who had walked these lands before. Alenya followed in silence, her senses on high alert, constantly scanning the horizon for signs of danger. As they climbed higher into the hills, the air grew colder, and the wind picked up again, tugging at their cloaks. Alenya pulled hers tighter around her shoulders, glancing sideways at Kael. He hadn't spoken since they'd left the cave, and his expression distant, as if he was lost in thought. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching her, even when his eyes were elsewhere. He hadn't pressed her for more answers yet, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he did.

They hiked for hours, the landscape growing rougher and more inhospitable with every step. The cliffs loomed high above them now, casting long shadows over the path, and the sound of the sea had faded to a distant roar. Finally, Kael stopped. He turned to face her. "We should rest here for a while. The next stretch is dangerous, and we'll need all our strength."

Alenya nodded, grateful for the break. Her legs ached from the climb, and her magic was buzzing faintly beneath her skin, begging to be used. She knew better than to let it out in front of Kael, or out in the open for that matter. She sank down onto a rock, tightening her cloak around her shoulders and staring out at the horizon. In the distance, she could just make out the faint outline of the next village. It was small, barely larger than a speck on the landscape. As far off as it was, the village was their next checkpoint. Kael sat beside her, his gaze fixed on the horizon too. For a long time, neither of them spoke. Then, without turning to look at her, Kael asked, "What are you really running from?"

Alenya's heart skipped a beat, but she kept her expression calm, her voice steady. "I told you," she whispered faintly. "I made a mistake. And now I'm paying for it."

Kael turned to her then, his eyes piercing. "That's not the whole truth."

Alenya's breath caught in her throat, but she didn't respond. She didn't need to. Kael was already too close to the truth for her liking. And deep down, she knew that before this journey was over, the storm that had passed would be nothing compared to the one still waiting to break between them.