Glad to know you are one who seeks progress," Roe'nika said.
Adrel's response was to the hearing of all the Erref. No one could argue. If it was their call, they also would've agreed.
Adrel sighed, knowing full well that he would have to give a good account of his actions to the rest of the Seket. Regardless, the thoughts in his mind were all about the mysterious woman before him.
"Allright, let him go," he said.
Roe'nika released her grip on the dagger. Ehud burst out of her grasp, coughing hard as he covered his throat.
Staggering to his comardes, they took him away.
Adrel's sword was still pointed at an unfazed Roe'nika. She had gained what she sought.
"So," Adrel began, " how do we kill Rahiel?"
Roe'nika twisted her neck, a muffled crack sounding.
"That," she said, "…will have to wait, Inquisitor."
"What? What do you mean?," Adrel barked.
"Rahiel has already noticed my absence. It will be bad for both of us if he connects the dots. I'm already thinking of what sort of excuse will go past him."
Adrel's tension faded.
Roe'nika continued.
"I shall return tomorrow, and we will draw our plan. We will execute everything tomorrow, and in that very morning, Rahiel will be yours."
Roe'nika stepped away as she said this, and with inhuman speed she disappeared into the forest's darkness.
Adrel remained as the other Erref began recuperating mentally. It had been so sudden and so unexpected. Adrel lowered his sword, and sheathed it. He began walking back to his tent, his silence masking a deep frustration.
Roe'nika burst through the forest even faster than she had done before. She had wasted much time, and Quantum had more than noticed it. As much as Roe'nika didn't want to risk Quantum suspecting her, she couldn't help it. It was expected that the Inquisitor would stall. The situation was far from a regular one.
Her leather boots rushed across curling roots she perceived even in the mask of black. It seemed the patrolling guards had moved east. Her frame burst through thick bushes and weeds, as she approached the hollow. High up above, the storm raged on.
Roe'nika reached the hollow, making sure to slow down and approach from a reasonable direction. She walked slowly as she neared the hollow. It was the same manner she had used to leave. She couldn't risk anything.
She cleared the shrubbery, and entered the dark hollow.
Quantum had not moved since she left.
Nhea continued to slumber deeply, her head on his chest. Her mouth hung open slightly, her breaths barely audible. Nekea slept opposite them, curled on the grass.
Roe'nika suddenly felt a severe weight on her. Turning slowly, her gaze met Quantum's.
Unblinking and stoic.
His gaze seemed to peer into the dark pact she had made. Her talisman glowed slightly.
Roe'nika slowed crawled to her position, sighing as she rested her head on the thick earth behind her.
"I took long didn't I? I'm sorry," Roe'nika began, aware of the question Quantum was about to ask.
Quantum stared at her silently.
"Yes. Did something happen?," he asked, concerned.
Roe'nika calmed herself within her mind. If she wanted to sell this, she would have to believe her own lie.
Roe'nika wheezed hard, feigning exasperation.
"After I was done, I sensed the presence of two soldiers walking away. Curious, I followed them. After walking for a while, we came to a clearing and I saw a large group of soldiers camped out. It was towards the west."
Roe'nika tuned her voice to be just like it was before she left. Inconsistency would point her out.
A pang of guilt hit her heart as she paused. It rendered her silent for a moment, before she continued.
"They spoke of many things, but most of it was senseless chatter on Rahiel. "
Roe'nika rubbed her temple.
"They just conversed and drank. Their chatter honestly gave me a head ache. I didn't realise how far out I had gone."
Soft rumbles filled the hollow.
"I almost got lost on my way back," She said, chuckling.
Quantum's eyes were fixed on her. She felt the cold from them. They stood on guard, as though they knew what she had done. The pact she had made not too long rung within her. Her blood and the blood of the hostage were pounding on the door to her mind.
"You should have been more careful."
His voice was like a gentle storm.
"Yes, yes, I believe so as well. I think what aided me was the cover of night," she said.
"Indeed," Quantum reaffirmed.
"Nekea wouldn't know what to do with herself if you got hurt."
Quantum's last words hit Roe'nika hard. It was a blade that attacked her pretense and lies. A blinding light that hunted the darkness.
Her resolve cracked.
She was expecting harsh suspicion, and at least a little bloodlust. However, Quantum was doing the exact opposite.
Quantum turned, staring blankly at the shrubbery.
Every time Roe'nika interacted with Quantum, she was reminded harshly of the fact that he was above-human.
Even Nekea would definitely carry suspicions.
Quantum showed absolutely nothing.
It was so muvmch that it made Nekea wonder.
'Does he already know? Or is he just manipulating me as well?'
She simply couldn't tell.
The dark cloud passed, but a larger one was over her heart.
The hours passed quickly, and morning soon erupted.
"Nhea, wake up."
Quantum gently nudged her. She stirred, still sleepy. A final nudge did the job, and she let out a large yawn, blinking intermittently. She turned her gaze to Quantum, looking down at her.
"Quantum," she said, "I-Is it morning already?"
She turned to the entrance, and saw the morning light filling the hollow.
"We need to set out," Quantum said.
Nhea stared blankly for a while, and slowly slid off his lap.
Roe'nika woke Nekea up, and the light greeter her crimson eyes warmly.
Quantum removed the shrubbery, and the four stepped out of the hollow. Cold mist had settled upon the forest. Drops of dew slid of the leaves of shrubs and herbs. The morning light burst through the mist, painting the forest a hazy white.The trees faded away into white in the distance.
"We continue," Quantum said, leading the march onwards. "The soldiers drifted east during the night. I doubt we shall encounter them."
The tweets and chirps of the forests birds filled their ears as they walked. Nhea played a little game to herself, trying to dodge the dew on the grass.
Quantum smiled.
She was full of energy again.
Nekea turned to Quantum.
"Quantum," she began, "I had a dream."
Quantum faced her, listening as they walked. Nhea run along a little ahead, jumping from one curled root to the other. Their gentle footsteps created a peaceful melody. It tuned like a symphony with the calling birds. The mist shifted gently as they passed through it. Roe'nika trudged carefully behind, her eyes on the ground, her mind distant.
Nekea went on.
"I saw four leaves of four different herbs respectively. They lay in my hand. A gentle breeze came, and blew two north. I followed the two as they gently soared through the air."
The silence listened to her. The mist parted. Nhea's voice bubbled.
"As I followed, the two in my hands turned into a beautiful sapling, rooted in my hands. It began to grow, and different leaves grew from its stem. Eventually, one of the leaves in the air returned into my hands. There was great rejoicing when the other leaf arrived. It joined with the sapling, and it turned into a little tree. Many leaves sprouted from its little branches."
A warm smile grew on her face as though she felt the wonder she described.
"However," she said, her voice dimming, "The final leaf did not return to me. It fell into a large fire, and burned."
Quantum glanced over Nekea's face. Her expression was that of fear, wonder and alarm in minute amounts.
Quantum voiced a low hum like that of thought and affirmation at the same time.
Nekea looked up at him as he pondered. His sharp eyes cut through the mist, seemingly doped with a bit of wonder.
"What do you make of it?" she finally asked.
Her hands were clasped in front of her, as she graced through the dew-covered grass. Her black dress swished with each step, the dirt-stained edges collecting the drops of water.
"Time will tell," Quantum said. His certainty was like an insurmountable wall, the confident smile still on his face. Although Nekea feared capture, Quantum's warmth stood above the fear, almost taunting it.
Nekea's brows furrowed. She stroked her chin, trying to decipher whatever mystery was hidden in 'time will tell'.
They forged onwards.
Passing over a brook, Roe'nika approached Quantum. Her determined steps sloshed through the water.
"Quantum, it would be right to scout behind us. The soldiers I saw yesterday may follow our trail."
Quantum pondered. It was true, since it held in the fact that the soldiers were passing eastwards. In the daylight, some of them could easily notice their tracks. They weren't really doing much to hide them.
Quantum turned, looking behind him. He wanted to eliminate any risk, even outside his range of detection. The shrill calls of predatory birds met his ears.
Roe'nika pressed on, "I can head back and take a look at things, and then catch up once I'm done."
Quantum knew Roe'nika was more than capable. Even in the off chance that she was found out, she'd be able to pull out of it and hold her own. Her distance wouldn't complicate Nhea and Nekea, either.
However, it carried a dull risk with it.
Quantum considered the absolute worst scenario. A scenario where she did get found out, and captured. It would make things very difficult for them. But if they continued on their path, they would have no knowledge of what was going on behind them. Anything could happen.
Quantum turned to Nekea. Nhea stood with her, holding her hand, and looking up in wonder.
"Do as you must, Quantum," she said, reading his thoughts.
"Inasmuch as the One is with us, everything will work out to our good," Nekea said, smiling. Her voice rippled past them. To Roe'nika however, it was less of a ripple and more of a violent slap.
Her resolve reformed again, a hard exoskeleton developing on it.
Roe'nika needed to leave that dreamy nightmare, and return to reality. The peace she had with the Blood Witch resonated with her resolve.
"I believe its all right then. However, do your best not to keep too long. If you do, then it would mean something's happened. I'll come to you in that case."
Roe'nika nodded sharply.
She stepped back into the brook and as she went she said, "I'll be back soon."
Nhea waved at her.
In the moment of her turn, she shot a slight glare at her.
Nhea's naivety sickened Roe'nika. As though she didn't know the damage she had done. She run into the mist, leaving Nhea a little hurt.
Soon, Roe'nika wouldn't just leave her hanging. She would thrust a blade of fire deep into Quantum. She would shatter Nhea's hopes.
Her leather boots lifted dirt and dew as she ran. Leaping past tree roots, she danced swiftly through the forest.
In only a little while, she was at the Erref's camp.
The Erref were prepared for her. They stood with sharpened swords, their armour shining faintly in the misty morning sun. Their hardened faces were ready for battle.
Adrel came up to meet her.
"Here I am, Inquisitor. Let us set our plans, fast."
"Indeed" Adrel replied.
His voice was laced with caution. A man's life was being scaled against that of a monster. And he knew well which side he was on. The mist sat on the forest canopy like a veil. Adrel's voice broke through.
"Today, Rahiel falls."