Marcus’s expression hardened. "And you think that why?"
"Whole guild knows by now. Wanted posters went up yesterday. Five thousand gold reward." Renn shook his head. "Who would’ve known that pals would turn against each other for that much coin? Haha, of course it’s worth it. Five thousand could set a man up for life."
He stepped closer and patted Marcus on the back a solid thump that felt genuine despite the casual words. "Wish you luck. I have stuff to catch up to." He grinned. "And don’t die. You owe me a drink or two."
Then he zoomed off down the road in the opposite direction, whistling.
"Such a joke for a man." Marcus muttered, watching Renn disappear down the road.
"Liz, you ready? Let’s push." His eyes turned toward the eastern road, focus sharpening.
She nodded, her expression settling into something harder. "Ready."
They turned their horses toward the eastern road the one that would take them through farmland, then forest, then eventually to Ashveil. According to the maps Liz had studied last night, it was a three-day ride if they pushed hard. Four if they took it easy.
They weren’t taking it easy.
The horses settled into a steady trot as the city disappeared behind them. Fields stretched out on either side, golden wheat swaying in the morning breeze. Farmers were already working, bent over their crops with the kind of single-minded focus that came from knowing winter was always one bad harvest away.
The morning sun climbed higher. The road stretched ahead, empty except for the occasional merchant cart.
"Think Corvin’s still alive?" Liz asked after they’d been riding for an hour.
Marcus considered the question. "If they wanted him dead, they would’ve killed him already. The fact that there’s a wanted poster means they want him brought in. Alive or dead, sure, but preferably alive."
"Why?" Liz’s brow furrowed, curiosity sharpening her gaze.
"Because he knows something." Marcus kept his eyes on the road ahead, his voice level.
"Something worth keeping him breathing long enough to extract."
Liz was quiet for a moment, her grip tightening on the reins. "And if we find him?"
"Then we figure out what he knows." Marcus’s eyes stayed fixed on the road. "And why it’s worth five thousand gold to keep him quiet."
***
The road wound through the farmland for most of the morning. They passed merchant caravans heading toward the city, a few traveling peddlers with carts full of questionable goods, and once, a group of soldiers marching in formation toward some distant conflict Marcus didn’t care about.
By midday, the fields gave way to forest. Thick trees pressed in from both sides, turning the road into a narrow corridor of packed dirt and exposed roots. The temperature dropped as the canopy blocked out the sun.
This was bandit country. The kind of place where travelers disappeared and no one asked too many questions.
Marcus’s eyes scanned the treeline, his body tensed and ready to materialize Dagon at the first sign of trouble.
They rode in tense silence. The forest had weight to it. Not corruption something older. More primal.
Marcus closed his eyes briefly, extending his Soul Reading outward. The ability swept through the trees, scanning for any human presence.
"There".
Six signatures. Human. Positioned in the trees ahead and to the right. Not moving, just waiting. The emotional residue was sharp anticipation, greed, the particular flavor of predators waiting for prey.
"Bandits." Marcus’s voice dropped to barely a whisper. "Six. Trees ahead, right side."
Liz’s posture shifted in the saddle, her hand moving closer to her weapon. "How do you want to handle it?"
"Keep riding. Same pace." Marcus’s eyes stayed forward, his tone even. "If they’re smart, they’ll let us pass."
They continued forward. Neither speeding up nor slowing down.
Marcus’s Soul Reading tracked the signatures. For a long moment, they just sat there in the trees. Watching. Weighing the risk.
Then, slowly, the signatures moved away. Fading into the forest.
"They’re leaving." Marcus’s shoulders relaxed slightly.
Liz exhaled, tension bleeding from her frame. "Smart bandits." The relief from unnecessary conflict.
"The smart ones live longer." A faint smirk crossed Marcus’s face.
The forest continued for hours. By late afternoon, Marcus’s legs were protesting the long ride. Not damage just fatigue from hours in the saddle.
"We should camp soon," Liz said. "Before we lose the light."
Marcus scanned ahead with Soul Reading. No human signatures. No corruption. Just forest.
"There’s a clearing about half a mile ahead."
They found it as the sun touched the horizon. A small clearing with a stream running along one edge. Defensible. Good water for the horses.
They set up camp with practiced efficiency. Marcus gathered firewood while Liz tended to the horses. Within twenty minutes, they had a fire crackling and bedrolls positioned with clear sight lines to the surrounding forest.
Liz pulled out dried meat and hard bread. "Not exactly a feast."
"Better than prison food." Marcus bit into the tough meat. It tasted like leather and salt, but it was protein.
They ate in silence, watching the fire dance.
"Marcus." Liz’s voice cut through the quiet after a while.
He looked up, meeting her gaze.
"I haven’t been back to Ashveil in a year." Her voice was quiet. Controlled. "One day everything was normal. The next, half the village was gone. Bloodshed everywhere. Unknown beasts devouring my people. Bodies torn apart. Screaming that stopped too quickly."
Marcus waited, saying nothing.
"My mother was one of them." Liz stared into the flames, her jaw tight. "And I ran. Left everyone behind and tried to forget Ashveil ever existed."
"You survived." Marcus’s tone was firm, matter-of-fact. "That’s not cowardice. That’s smart."
"Then why are we going back?" Liz’s eyes lifted from the fire, searching his face.
Marcus met her gaze across the flames. "Because now we’re strong enough. And because whatever happened there it’s still happening. Your mother, Corvin, all of it. It’s connected." Maybe I could find out more about myself.
Liz was quiet for a long moment, the firelight casting shadows across her features. Then she nodded slowly. "Yeah. I know."
The fire crackled between them. Night settled over the forest, thick and absolute.
"Get some rest." Marcus shifted his position, settling in for the watch. "I’ll take first watch."
"Wake me in four hours." Liz rolled into her bedroll, pulling the blanket up to her shoulders. "Don’t stay up all night."
"Wouldn’t dream of it." A faint smile crossed his lips.
Within minutes, her breathing evened out into the steady rhythm of sleep.
Tomorrow, they’d reach the halfway point. The day after, Ashveil’s border territory.
Then they’d get answers.
One way or another.