Chapter 34: Before Dawn
As the carriage rolled steadily onward, a mounted guard finally broke the silence.
"Tenth Sun, forgive the intrusion, but it isn’t safe atop the carriage," he said with a respectful tone.
Asher, eyes closed in quiet thought, slowly opened them. He turned to the guard and gave a slight nod. With effortless grace, he slipped back into the carriage, his movements fluid and unhurried.
"How was your moment of peace, Young Master?" Lyra inquired from her seat opposite him, her voice calm.
"Refreshing," Asher responded briefly.
He had little else to add, though he had genuinely enjoyed the wind’s gentle caress and the fleeting glimpse of the vast world passing by.
The sun dipped beneath the horizon, and the cloak of night began its slow descent, casting the world into shadows. Not once during the journey had they paused for rest, but with darkness now reigning, they had no choice but to halt.
Asher stepped down from the carriage, the silver light of the moon catching in the strands of his purple hair, giving them an ethereal glow.
The moment his boots touched the earth, Lyra positioned herself a single step behind him to the right, while a guard mirrored her on the left.
Asher made no remark about the added vigilance. Night had fallen, caution was no longer a courtesy, but a necessity.
Asher’s gaze drifted to the horses, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. They had been running since morning without pause, yet even now, they showed only the faintest signs of exhaustion, just a soft panting as they lay gracefully upon the grass.