The footsteps grew louder. I whispered again, "Lord Caelvorn, we have no time."
He shook his head.
Now was not the time for his little stubborn ass. I searched the large room. I realized all the places we could hide had been destroyed by his own hands. He was useless when it came to serious situations. My eyes drifted all over the room, desperately trying to find a space where his huge frame could fit. I ran a hand through my hair in frustration.
I glanced at Lord Caelvorn. He was as still as stone. Under the bed was too small. The closet was an obvious location—too tight. Only one thought occurred to me.
The window.
It was an easy exit, although it was on the second floor, too high for us to jump safely without injury. I didn't want more bruises—or worse, a broken bone. I quickly grabbed Lord Caelvorn's shirt and dragged him to the window.
"Open the window and step out. You won't fall. There's some room before you actually drop."
I looked into his eyes and shook him. "Go, I'll be right there."
He hesitated, but finally walked to the window and opened it carefully. I made sure he was outside before I quickly grabbed a chair, shoving it under the doorknob to buy us some time.
Voices echoed louder through the hallway now. Some sounded like young lads, others were older, rougher—and there were women too. My heart pounded.
From behind each door came the same words:
"Get him! He's here!"
"Faster—we'll get a great sum for that pathetic lord."
Laughter followed.
With every room, furniture was tossed, doors flung open. I darted to the window just as the room beside us slammed shut.
The doorknob twisted.
Then came a heavy kick.
"He's here!" someone shouted.
No. I needed to get him far away.
I slipped out the window, a little ledge giving just enough room to balance. After all, we were on the second floor. I turned to look at him—his lips trembled. Fear?
"Lord Caelvorn, hold my hand," I whispered, reaching for him. But he pressed his hand against the wall, unmoving.
I took a deep breath. "There's no way down. They'll burst in any second. And once they do... they'll catch us. Do you know what they'll do to you once they've got you? They'll kill you, Lord Caelvorn."
He looked down.
"Do you not understand? They. Will. Kill. You," I pronounced each word slowly.
He finally gave up. He nodded.
"I won't allow that. So we need to jump."
His eyes widened—and before I could even offer to go first, he jumped. Hard. He landed roughly on the ground below.
He opened his arms, looking up at me.
"You don't need to—"
But I didn't have time to finish. The door behind me slammed open, and boots pounded into the room.
I jumped.
Strong arms caught me.
I opened my eyes to find his staring up at me.
"Let's keep going," I said quickly as he set me down.
I scanned the garden, then the path to the forest—the same one I had wandered into, the one where Rael had been.
"Here," I said and started running toward the trees.
But no footsteps followed.
I looked back.
Lord Caelvorn was limping, struggling. The morning heat made everything harder. I ran back, crouching down.
I laughed to myself—mentally, at least. What was I doing? I could never carry him. He was huge. I was nothing compared to him.
But I couldn't give up. I stopped breathing until I felt him climb onto my back.
I grunted under his weight, managed a few steps, then fell to my knees. Still, I got up again and carried him until we reached the trees. The shadows shielded us from the sun.
I let him go, and he stumbled backward.
"We should keep walking. It's still morning. If we stay here, they'll find us. They have a whole day to look. And in daylight, it's easier for them. I promise, once the sun sets, we'll rest."
He said nothing, as usual.
I kneeled in front of him, offering my back again—then stood and shook my head.
"I'm sorry. I can't lift you anymore. It'll only slow us down."
I helped him stand, his arm wrapping around my shoulder. He groaned with each step.
An old man's voice rang out through the trees.
"I know you're here, you bastard!"
I crouched, dragging Lord Caelvorn down with me, hiding us behind a fallen tree. I covered my mouth. His eyes watched me, full of confusion.
Bootsteps approached.
I gripped his hand tightly.
Closer.
"Friket, I think they went that way," another voice called.
The old man paused.
Then their footsteps grew fainter.
I didn't breathe until they disappeared.
I let go of his hand.
"Come on."
He grabbed my hand, pulled me toward him.
His shoulders trembled.
Panic.
I wasn't good at this. I wasn't the person you wanted in a crisis. But still, I let him hug me. He held me so tightly, as if he'd break apart if he let go.
His grip began to loosen. His breathing steadied.
I didn't hug him back. I should have.
His arms fell from me completely. He looked down, embarrassed.
"Don't worry, my Lord. I won't tell anyone what just happened," I reassured him gently. I took his hand and helped him up.
"Does your leg feel better?"
He shook his head and suddenly threw his arms around my neck.
"My Lord! I can't carry you again. I might hurt you more if I fall," I said, flustered.
He wrapped his arm around my shoulder again.
We kept walking. Sometimes, he had to sit when the pain was too much.
We stopped again.
He looked pale, his lips losing color. He placed a hand over his stomach and groaned.
I stared, confused. He had eaten breakfast, unlike me. I had only a piece of bread and warm milk, yet I felt fine. I rubbed my sore shoulder.
He gripped his shirt, his eyes dilating.
I panicked.
"Let's wait here. You should rest."
I cleared a space on the forest floor, making sure there weren't any snakes or bugs. He lay down with a soft sigh.
While he slept, I watched sweat form and roll down his cheek. The sun was blazing and the air was still. I groaned and fanned my face.
How had it come to this?
What had happened to the servants? What would Rael say when he came back?
Rael.
He was in the village—a place I could maybe take Lord Caelvorn to hide. But the village knew his face. They wanted him dead. Getting him there would be near impossible, especially when I didn't even know how to get there.
And did I even need to take care of him anymore?
I couldn't just leave him, though.
By now, there were probably posters of my face next to his, with the words "On the loose."
I laughed quietly.
Me? Wanted?
Never in a million years.
If the king wanted Lord Caelvorn's head, he wouldn't blink before demanding mine too.
The sun started to set. The hot air was replaced with a cool breeze.
He shivered.
His lips were still pale. He was still ill. But at least he had rested.
How many sleepless nights had he suffered through?
I shook him gently. His eyes snapped open. He grabbed my wrist.
"It's me. It's alright," I whispered. "We should find somewhere safer to rest for the night. Definitely not here."
He let go.
We continued walking until my ears caught a sound I knew too well.
The same sound I once described as a roar.
Not beast-like, but something else.
A waterfall.