Chapter 626: Living Free

Chapter 626: Living Free

Living Free

Martel woke, feeling refreshed. While he had spent half the night keeping watch as usual, there had been no need to wake up early this morning to continue a hurried flight. Eleanor had let him sleep, and the sun had long since risen. As he looked around until he saw her, she smiled back at him. "Good morning."

"It is." Martel remembered the few times he and Eleanor had travelled on their own between Esmouth and the outpost. This felt the same, except it was not a temporary reprieve. Nobody expected their arrival. No orders awaited them. There would be no march into ambushes and daily skirmishes nor cannons firing at them while hiding behind walls. Martel laughed and all but leapt to his feet.

"Martel!" she exclaimed, taken aback.

He grabbed her by the shoulders to pull her up. "We're free!" He laughed again and embraced her.

"We are," she replied with a surprised chuckle before pulling back. "Every Asterian legion will be searching for us, and we are in enemy lands. But other than that, we are free to do as we please."

"Spoilsport." He smiled even as he said it. "If we can have just this small patch of woods to ourselves, I'll take it."

"Speaking of that, I should hunt. Our rations will not last forever. We should also find a source of water. We are too exposed going to the river."

"I can enchant a few rocks for us. Hot enough that we can use it for cooking without starting a fire."

She gave a wry smile. "You are useful."

"Hey, you almost didn't sound surprised this time."

The sound of movement alerted Martel, waking him from a nap. Eleanor made enough noise to identify herself even without speaking, though he still frowned; it was in the middle of the day. Perhaps she had been fortunate on her hunt and decided to bring back her game rather than carry it around.

He crawled out of the small opening that served as the door to the thicket and looked up at her. She stood before him emptyhanded but with a concerned expression. "I saw something."

"Soldiers?" he asked, getting on his feet.

"No. Or rather, I did not see them as such. But I saw their boot prints."

"Asterian?"

She shook her head. "They did not resemble mine. I think it is a Khivan patrol."

Martel relaxed a little. "Well, they have no idea we are here. I can't imagine the legate sent them a friendly notice to watch out for two wizards running around in their forest."

"Probably not, but one patrol might be followed by others."

"I'll be careful when next I go collecting food," he promised.

"I am not sure that is enough. I think we need to follow the tracks and see what we may learn. This area is desolate do they really conduct patrols of such an empty land, or has something drawn their attention?"

Martel sighed. "Alright. Let's go."