The city of Aeltharyn was still half asleep its white streets bathed in a blue light. The usual noise of the city was reduced to echoes and the soft sound of people moving around. This was the time a princess could walk through her own kingdom without being watched.
Elira liked it that way, she did not want any ceremony or expectations and just wanted to focus on the what lies ahead.
Someone spoke from behind her.
The voice was calm and steady.
It was Kael. He walked a step behind her wearing a travel cloak over his armor.
He looked relaxed. He was never careless. His eyes were always moving, checking the distance and looking for any threats.
"You are certain about this Princess?" Kael asked.
"I would not be here if I was not Sir Kael" Elira replied.
"That does not mean it is a good idea " Kael said.
Elira glanced over her shoulder.
"Since when do you decide things based on what is a good choice or not?" she asked.
"Since I started keeping you safe " Kael said.
This almost made Elira smile.
Tomas was walking ahead of them. He was adjusting a faintly glowing symbol near his hand.
The symbol was reacting to something that Elira could not see.
"We are being watched " Tomas said without turning around.
Kaels hand moved towards his weapon.
"Do not worry " Tomas said.
"It is not someone who's close to us."
Elira stepped beside Tomas.
"How away are they?" she asked.
"They are enough away that it does not matter yet " Tomas replied.
"They are close enough to remind us that we are not alone."
"That is comforting " Kael said.
Lina laughed quietly.
"Do not worry " she said.
"If they get close, I will let you know."
Elira did not look for Lina.
There was no point in doing
Lina appeared when she wanted to and not a moment sooner.
They traveled without drawing attention to themselves.
They did not have any markings or banners.
They were four travelers moving through roads that were becoming less welcoming.
In Velmire a farmer offered them water. He would not look them in the eye.
"Travel is not safe near the border " he said quietly.
"When is it ever safe?" Kael asked.
The farmer did not answer.
By the time they reached Rathen Crossing the atmosphere had changed.
The city was alive. It was restless. The merchants were speaking quickly. The guards were watching everyone.
Rumors were spreading through the streets like the wind.
Some people were saying that Valtheris was gathering proof.
"Proof of what?" someone asked.
"That Kaelmyra plans to rise against them " another person replied.
Elira kept walking.
Her expression did not change. Her pace did.
That night they rested outside the city. They had a fire and they were using minimal light. Kael sat closest to the edge of the clearing watching everything around them. Tomas was tracing patterns in the air checking the flow of magic. Lina appeared briefly long enough to take some food before vanishing again.
"She does that on purpose " Kael said.
"She does everything on purpose " Tomas replied.
Elira stared into the fire.
"They have already decided " she said quietly.
"Who has decided?" Kael asked.
"Valtheris " Elira replied.
"They do not need proof."
"No " Tomas said.
"They need to know when to act."
There was silence for a moment.
Then Kael spoke up.
"We are walking straight into it."
Elira looked up.
"Yes " she said.
There was a pause.
"But not for them " Elira added.
The day the roads changed again.
The stone roads gave way to dirt roads and the dirt roads gave way to roads.
The villages were becoming smaller and quieter.
The rumors were becoming more specific.
"A blacksmith " Lina said as she reappeared beside them.
"That is the time I have heard that."
Kael frowned.
"That is a thing to repeat."
"It is not strange " Tomas said.
"It is consistent."
Elira slowed down slightly.
"Say it " she said.
Tomas took a breath.
"If different people are pointing to the person " he said, "then either it is a coincidence..."
"...or he matters " Elira added.
Kael crossed his arms.
"A blacksmith?"
"not " Tomas said.
"What he knows might be important."
Eliras gaze was fixed ahead.
"Then we will find him " she said.
They found the bard again near a roadside gathering.
He had the voice and the same story.
This time Elira did not stay for the ending.
She stepped forward as the final notes faded away.
"You left something out " she said.
The bard looked up. Recognition flashed across his face.
"It's you again " he said.
"Yes " Elira replied.
The bard paused.
"You should not be chasing this false hope " he said quietly.
"I already am " Elira said.
The bard studied her for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"The blacksmith " he said.
Kael and Tomas exchanged a glance.
"You have heard of him " Elira said.
"Everyone has " the bard replied. "At least everyone who has been asking the questions."
"What does he know?" Kael asked.
The bard shook his head.
"It is said that there is a man saved a child from Orcs at the forest near Durnholde " he said. "A man that has a crest symbol glowing on his right hand."
Elira stepped closer.
"The holy crest symbol of the hero " she said.
The bard nodded.
"They say he watches, always " he said. "They say he uses armor and other weapons made by the rumored blacksmith."
Tomas frowned.
"That is not enough evidence " he said.
"No " the bard agreed.
"But it is enough to make people wonder."
"And enough to follow " Lina added.
The bard hesitated.
"You are not the ones " he said.
Eliras eyes sharpened.
"Who " she asked.
A voice answered from behind them.
"People who never stopped in believing the truth."
They turned around.
A man was standing a few paces away.
He was wearing clothes and he did not look remarkable.
His eyes were sharp and focused.
"You have been watching us " Kael said.
"Yeah " the man replied.
Elira stepped forward.
"Ashbound " she said.
The man gave a nod.
"The name is Garrick " he said.
Elira said his name without any title or introduction.
Garrick was a name.
"You have been following the trail " Elira said.
"Longer than anyone has " Garrick replied.
"The blacksmith " Elira said. "Does he know the hero's whereabouts?"
Garrick did not answer immediately.
He studied Elira. Then he nodded.
Kael frowned.
"There is still not enough evidence to proof that he is still alive " he said.
"No " Garrick said. "It is not."
"But every lead we have followed from Sylvaris to Khaz-Gorim ends in the place " Garrick said.
Eliras breath stopped.
"Durnholde " she said.
Garrick nodded.
"A quiet town " he said.
"Near the border."
"Easy to hide in " Lina murmured.
Garrick gave a knowing look.
"Exactly " he said.
Elira stepped forward.
"Then that is our next destination " she said.
Garrick did not stop her.
He did not encourage her either.
"Do not expect him to give the information that you wanted " he said.
Elira held his gaze.
"I am asking for the truth."
Garrick watched her for a moment longer.
Then he stepped aside.
"Then Durnholde is where you must be " he said.
With that he was gone.
The road stretched ahead uncertain and dangerous.
It was leading them toward a man the world believed was a clue, not the answer.
For the first time Elira felt it.
That quiet certainty, beneath the doubt.
As if the truth they were chasing was already closer than it seemed.