Chapter 108: The confrontation
The storm battered the quaint village for three days. Three days spent inside the inn made the young king grow increasingly anxious.
He couldn't help but ponder how long this journey had already taken. They had been gone for fifteen days, yet they seemed no closer to finding the man they sought. Ceremus could only hope that Hael was doing well and that his condition wasn't worsening.
Rising early that morning, the king took out a piece of parchment and penned a quick letter to Anemone, inquiring about Hael's condition. He also made sure to update the advisor on their progress, assuring him that they were closing in on Tiresias and, by extension, the plant. Once finished, he glanced out the window and saw that the snowstorm was beginning to ease up—soon, they would be able to leave.
By the following day, the weather had finally cleared, allowing Atilla and Ceremus to depart from the inn. They thanked the young woman who had hosted them, and Ceremus made sure to pay her well before they left. Moved to tears by his generosity, the innkeeper offered them a piece of advice in return.
"There's a base not far from here where one of the Brotherhood's leaders resides. Though they don't usually cause trouble around these parts, I hear the Chief is currently looking for a foreign warrior who recently entered our village. You seem to match his description, so please, sirs, be careful not to cross paths with them."
Ceremus and Atilla exchanged a glance, sharing the same thought. It must have been those mountain bandits they encountered a while back. Their leader must have caught wind of their skirmish and was looking to settle the score.
Yet, the king showed no concern about people searching for him. If anything, he looked eager at the prospect of another fight. After being confined for three days, his body craved action.
Without hesitation, the two set off toward the place the shopkeeper had mentioned—the land where the sun never sets. Their journey would take them further north.
As they rode in silence, Ceremus sensed a presence trailing them. He wasn't sure where it originated, but he knew it was close.
"Looks like we have company," he murmured to the young knight, who furrowed his brows in confusion.
"What do you me—" Before Atilla could finish his sentence, a group of men emerged from the snowy landscape, causing his eyes to widen.