I exhaled sharply under my breath. For someone who held so much power, he had a rather irritating way of using it.
The General followed his lead soon after, dismounting from his horse and guiding the creature toward a nearby tree before tying it securely.
One by one, the soldiers moved to assist the maidens down from their horses. Soft murmurs filled the air as feet touched the ground. The tension of the long ride slowly eased into quiet exhaustion.
I stepped aside, choosing a place a little removed from the others before lowering myself carefully to the ground. The ache in my side protested immediately, but I ignored it, drawing in a slow breath as I tried to steady myself.
Around us, the forest remained thick and watchful, the torchlight flickering against the tall trees, casting long, shifting shadows that made the darkness feel closer than it should have been.
No one spoke too loudly. Even in rest, something about the night felt… wrong. And despite everything…
