He was too slow. Eldric had already positioned himself in front of Ronin when their blades clashed, the sound of steel ringing through the air. Eldric pressed forward, trying to overpower Ronin’s wrists in an effort to disarm him. However, Ronin, taller and more experienced, used his strength to his advantage. He advanced steadily toward the carriage, his attacks driving Eldric to retreat. Despite Eldric’s evasions of every blow, he remained unaware of Ronin’s strategy. When his back hit against the carriage wood, he saw himself trapped.
Ronin kicked Eldric’s hand, causing his grip on the sword to falter and sending the weapon clattering beneath the vehicle. Eldric had only a split second to react before Ronin’s bladestruck the carriage wood where his face had been moments before. Taking advantage of the slippery, muddy ground, Eldric slid beneath Ronin’s legs to position himself behind him. In the next instant, he grasped Alissa’s dagger as she tossed it to him and drew her arrow taut from her seat. Although Ronin still held his weapon, Eldric was now behind him with a dagger pressed firmly against his nape, and Alissa looked down from the carriage with an arrow aimed at his forehead.
He surrendered with a grunt, his sword buried under the inches-tall mud and the puddles of dirt outside of Nyfrel.
“You can have me. Just let Desi go, please!” Ronin pleaded, and a muscle in his jaw twitched as he failed to contain his rage.
Eldric burst into laughter, moving to tie him up. “You think we’re keeping her hostage?”
Ronin looked up at him, his brows furrowed in confusion. He couldn’t fathom why Desi would be willingly involved with criminals.
Eldric patted his shoulder with a sigh. “You think so poorly of us, my friend,” he said, tightening the rope around his wrists and ankles. “She’s our guest, not our hostage.”
The man’s hurtful, disappointed gaze traveled to where Desi sat in the carriage. Her sorrowful stance spoke more than words ever could.
“What do we do with him now?” Alissa asked, wondering how this could impact the continuation of their journey.
“Are you going to kill him?” the healer asked, her lips trembling.
“Kill him?” Freyah repeated in disbelief. “We are no monsters, Desi!”
“You killed a dozen men in Porjea where you were last seen,” Ronin interrupted, still resentful for being defeated and tied up to the back of a carriage like a wild animal. Desi’s eyes grewwider at hearing his confession—it explained why her travel companions were now fugitives.
“They attacked us, sir!” Alissa snapped. “Look, you should avoid accusing us before I change my mind and accept Desi’s suggestion of killing you.”
“It wasn’t a suggestion,” Desi said, shaking her head exasperated.
“Was it an order then?” Alissa asked, her arrow still aiming at the man’s forehead, teasing him. By the way this man looked at her, Alissa had assumed Desi would intervene, fearing the man’s death. Instead, she sat still, watching it all unfold.
That’s odd.Perhaps Desi was too stunned to react at the moment, or maybe she knew Alissa well enough by now to recognize when she was joking.
Freyah gently removed the bow and arrow from Alissa’s hands. “Don’t worry, sir, she was messing with you. You are safe with us. My friend has a weird sense of humor, but you’ll see, with time, that we are good people.”
“You say you are good people, but you have me tied up to this carriage like an animal.” Ronin’s nostrils flared as he spoke.
“If we hadn’t acted, it would be you killing us instead, wouldn’t it?” Eldric asked in provocation.
Ronin sat silently, shrugging in acknowledgment, fully aware that the statement was true.
“So, what’s the plan?”
“I don’t know yet, maybe leave him unconscious in some hidden spot with enough supplies to survive a few days before we get to our destination… Let’s keep him with us on the road for now.” A silent agreement fell between them as they got back on track.
“How did it feel?” Alissa asked, whispering in Eldric’s ear.
He frowned. “What?”
“Being the one to tie the rope instead of being tied up?” she teased, her smile widening as she referenced the time they had kept Eldric restrained when they headed to the canyons.
Eldric cursed softly, giving her shoulder a gentle push. A half-smile tugged at his lips. If anyone could make him smile in the most inconvenient of moments, it was her.
Chapter 23
White Lies
117 DAYS UNTIL DHALIA’S DEATH DATE.
Three days separated the group from their final destination. Time went by faster than Alissa could have dreamed of, and for that, she was deeply grateful. Being on the road for so long made her life in Bryniard seem like a distant dream, and the absence of her daughter hurt badly.