Page 146 of The Starlight Savior

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

By the time they reached the outpost, the sun was high in the sky. The outposts were a handful of wooden structures with a beamed fence, blocking anyone from immediate access. At the gate, three guards stood watch in their olive green uniforms. Oiled swords rested by their side.

As their group approached, the guard’s gaze turned quizzical. Before they could reach for their swords, Baron rushed forward. Saige didn’t notice her friend had pulled his own blade until he swiped it across the three soldiers.

The first soldier, tall and lanky, fell to the ground. A clean line of blood emerged from his neck. His hands flew to the wound, attempting to stifle the bleeding, but it was too late. His neck gushed, staining the grass red.

The second soldier had jumped out of the way, swinging his own blade at Baron. But Baron was quick. Quicker than Saige had ever seen a mortal move. His movements were swift and precise, his body becoming a blur before them. The two remaining soldiers fell from injuries Saige couldn’t even see. But another pair emerged from behind the wooden pillars, pummeling towards Baron.

Saige looked from Althea to Conor.

“Why aren’t you stepping in?” she demanded. She’d do it herself, but she didn’t know how to fight. Conor was the trained warrior of the group.

Conor simply shrugged. “Your friend has it under control. Look.”

Saige looked back to see Baron leap out of the way as two soldiers danced on each side. Baron rammed into one of them, nicking exposed skin. His shoulder hit the soldier’s body, sending him to the ground. Baron lifted the second soldier up, throwing him against the fence and sliding a dagger into his chest. Before the first soldier rose from the ground, Baron was already on him, slitting his throat.

Conor grabbed hold of Saige’s shoulders as she stumbled back in horror. Baron killed them so quickly—soldiers who had been a part of the army. His family. She knew the oath the soldiers swore to their kingdom. She once loathed it, especially when Hadeon made that very promise. It was jarring to see Baron break it so quickly. Without a single moment of questioning.

“They would’ve killed him,” Conor murmured against her ear, sensing all the emotions flowing through her. She could only muster a shake of her head. The casualties of their plan were already beginning. “Executed us too. Baron had to do what he needed to do.”

“Come on!” Baron barked, waving them in. The three of them followed close as he guided them through the outpost. Any time a soldier leapt out from the shadows, Baron hit them so fast and hard that they were knocked out instantly. It was ridiculous how quickly Baron could wipe out an entire league of men. Their luck felt like it would run out any instant, but when they were attacked again, Baron eliminated all risks swiftly.

Althea didn’t blink in surprise. Conor didn’t have to lift a finger. Saige’s body didn’t surge with fear, nor did her magic emerge. Baron was there to protect them in every instance.

“Your brother…” Saige bit out.

“I know, he’s good, isn’t he?” Althea said. “It was never a surprise when he became a soldier. He’s always been able to take care of himself.”

“Hm,” Conor said from beside Saige, narrowing his eyes.

“What?” Saige hissed under her breath. But Conor waved her off, moving forward.

Baron found the stables quickly. With only two horses whinnying in their stall, the decision was easy. Baron and Althea took one, its brown hair brushed and sleek. Saige and Conor took the other, a black and white speckled horse that was more interested in the hay than the intruders.

The horses were saddled up quickly, and their packs were secured with ropes and hooks. Saige’s stomach lurched as Conor hoisted her in the air and placed her on the large beast. Before she could adjust herself, he sat firmly behind her, securing both her legs tightly. Conor’s hard abdomen brushed against her back, sending her gut dancing.

With a single nod, the horses took off, galloping towards the rushing river.

They moved quickly across the open fields of Brevil, away from the mountains, and towards the widest expanse of the river. No one stopped them as they passed scattered cottages, manors, and grouped communes.

After hours in the saddle, Saige’s body ached. At some point, she began to rest against Conor’s body, letting his warmth comfort her. She replayed the plan in her head until a headache pounded beneath her eyelids.

Once they’d reach the trigger point, Baron and Conor would do a sweep of the area. If all was clear, Saige agreed on practicing her magic twice before fully enveloping herself in starlight. Baron and Conor would guard her. Althea would be on the edge in case any healing was needed. Hopefully Saige would never get to the point of needing her friend’s salves or Conor’s burnout elixirs.

The plan was simple. Once she felt grounded and her magic encompassed her, she’d place her hands into the earth next to the river and summon as much starlight as possible. Yet manifesting her magic into something tangible still proved difficult. The only thing she could imagine was the pervasive burn of her light. Sometimes it almost felt like fire in her hands, the way it disintegrated everything around her. If Niana was right and Saige was overcomplicating it, she’d simply have to strengthen that. Time had run out for being more creative.

Conor’s hand lightly grazed Saige’s quivering thigh, urging her to open her eyes.

The river was no longer a simple stream, but a rush of glimmering ceraluen, bursts of water dancing across the tides. The land around them was no longer green and flourishing like the rest of Brevil. It was dead and barren. The land was decaying, burnt grass crunching under the horses hooves. No mist lingered around them, but across the river she could see it rolling in the distance.

It’s so close.

“What kingdom is that?” Saige asked.

“Tiranos,” Conor said curtly. She could hear the scowl in his voice.

“So we’re on Brevil land. That is Tiranos.” She pointed towards the other side. “Etrane?”