They didn't agree to walk together.Not really.
Fedran had simply started moving, and Arya—wary, confused, but unwilling to stay behind—followed.
No words passed between them about trust, or plans, or even names. Just footsteps, squelching in the mud, drifting through the heat-hung silence of the forest.
The trees whispered with every gust, as if warning the forest of their steps.
Steam curled around their boots, and the mud clung with every drag forward.
Neither spoke at first.
Fedran moved ahead, silent and sharp-eyed, his gait relaxed but alert—like a predator that had his prey taken from his jaws before he could even have a taste.
Arya followed, arms wrapped around herself, glancing now and then at his back.
He hadn't looked at her once since they started walking.
"You didn't have to scare them like that," she said, breaking the silence.
Fedran smirked, though she couldn't see it."If I wanted to scare them, I wouldn't have left them breathing."
A pause.
She exhaled through her nose."You always talk like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you're trying to convince yourself you don't care."
He glanced over his shoulder, eyes unreadable."Maybe I just don't."
Arya didn't answer.
The fog was heavier now, wrapping the trees in a haze. The heat made her temples ache.
"So what were you doing out here?" she asked, cautiously. "Waiting for someone to rescue?"
Fedran scoffed."Rescue? That what you think this is?"
"You did stop them."
"I stopped being polite. That's not the same thing."
She eyed him, unsure whether he was serious or just trying to mess with her head.
"You're not from Mayfrost," she said.
"No."
"Then where?"
A long pause.
"Somewhere that doesn't matter anymore," he replied. "What about you? A lady out in the swamps alone? Sounds like a story full of bad decisions."
Arya frowned."I didn't wander. I left. There's a difference."
He finally looked at her—just briefly."You say that like you're proud of it."
"I say it like I meant to."
Fedran tilted his head slightly, the hint of a grin tugging at the edge of his mouth."Well. Let's see where meaning gets you out here."
Arya stayed quiet again.
Her gaze drifted through the mist, searching—for what, Fedran couldn't guess.
"Looking for something?" he asked casually, breaking the silence again.
"Just wondering how far we have to go," she said softly, her tone distant. "We shouldn't linger here too long."
Fedran tilted his head slightly."In a hurry to be somewhere else? I thought escaping from soldiers would feel a little more relaxing."
She hesitated, glancing briefly at her wrists, rubbing the faint marks left by the ropes.
"I'd just feel better out of this forest," she said finally."It feels… wrong."
Fedran narrowed his eyes but said nothing.
He'd felt that wrongness too—but from her, not the forest.
There was something off about the way she moved, the rhythm of her breath. Even the way her eyes shifted nervously whenever he drew closer.
It felt like fear, but not exactly—not quite.
She caught his gaze lingering on her and quickly turned away.
"What?"
"Nothing," he said slowly, shifting his stare back to the murky path ahead."Just thinking how soldiers usually aren't gentle with hostages. Yours were different—almost like they were worried about you getting hurt."
Arya's expression hardened, but only for an instant.
She composed herself quickly, forcing a faint smile."I suppose they had their orders."
Fedran gave her another glance."Yeah, suppose they did."
They walked on, the silence between them thickening like the fog itself—each step carrying them closer to something neither fully understood yet.
Their footsteps halted abruptly as a distant voice tore through the murky silence of the forest.
"Is anyone there?" the voice echoed clearly."If you are human, know that I come from Mayfrost. My name is Ralme Verdar, and I'm looking for my sister, Arya."
Fedran froze, eyes wide.
Slowly, he turned to Arya, a look of disbelief etched plainly on his face.
"Verdar?" he whispered."Did he just say Verdar—your name?"
Arya didn't immediately respond.
A flicker of worry danced across her face, replaced quickly by a carefully composed mask of calm.
Fedran took a cautious step toward her, scrutinizing her reaction."You knew he was here. That's why you wanted to hurry?"
"I didn't know," she replied smoothly, forcing her voice to remain steady."But if that's my brother, I need to go to him now."
Fedran watched her closely, his expression unreadable as he weighed her words.
The moment felt fragile, suspended like a droplet of water about to fall.
Finally, he nodded slightly, stepping forward with caution.
"Then let's go see your brother," he said slowly."I'm eager to find out exactly what kind of trouble I've walked into."
Arya took a deep breath, steadied herself, and followed closely—too closely.