After several more attempts at convincing him, Soren finally relented and allowed himself to rest, slumping sideways across the seat beside Alaric as dawn slowly crept over the horizon. The pale light filtering through the carriage curtains did little to hide how exhausted he looked with his gaunt complexion and dark shadows lingering beneath his eyes.
It was obvious that he had been forcing himself awake for far too long.
In the end, it was Alaric himself who curtly ordered him to sleep, reminding him that the journey ahead was still far from over.
At the front of the procession rode the knights of Davenmore, led by their vice-captain, accompanied by a contingent of elite guards tasked with securing the entourage's passage to the temple. Their formation was tight and disciplined, with steel and banners moving in practiced rhythm along the road.
