Chapter 4: Brindlemark
Brindlemark. The name had sounded so promising, a beacon of hope and safety after her ordeal. But as Nienna makes her way into the town, she's met with a scene of utter devastation. The air reeks of blood and smoke, the acrid scent burning her nostrils and making her eyes water.
The land itself looks ravaged, as if some great and terrible force had swept through, leaving destruction in its wake. Bodies lie scattered everywhere, some of them charred beyond recognition, others frozen in twisted poses of agony. Nienna's stomach churns as she picks her way through the carnage, her heart heavy with grief and horror.
Ember chirps sadly beside her, as if sensing her distress. Nienna sighs, reaching out to stroke the creature's head. "I know, little one," she whispers. "It's terrible. Whatever happened here, it was recent. The bodies...they haven't even begun to decompose yet."
As she speaks, Nienna's eyes scan the surrounding area, taking in the details of the destruction. Buildings lie in ruins, their walls cracked and crumbling. Trees are splintered and broken, their branches torn from their trunks. And everywhere, there's the smell of blood and smoke, a constant reminder of the horrors that have been committed here.
Nienna's mind reels as she tries to comprehend the scale of the devastation. What could have caused such destruction? An army? A natural disaster? Or something even more sinister? She doesn't know, but she's determined to find out.
As she walks through the town, Nienna notices something strange. Despite the carnage, there's a sense of...orderliness to the destruction. It's as if the perpetrators of this atrocity had a plan, a deliberate strategy for causing the maximum amount of damage.
Nienna's eyes narrow as she takes in this detail. This wasn't just a mindless rampage, she realizes. This was a calculated act of destruction, carried out with precision and intent. And that makes it all the more terrifying.
Just as she was picking through the rubble, trying to see if there were any survivors, Nienna heard a faint rustling noise coming from one of the damaged huts. Her ears perked up immediately, and she turned towards the sound, her hand instinctively going to the hilt of her dagger. Ember, sensing her tension, hissed softly beside her, its eyes fixed intently on the hut.
Nienna's heart beat slightly faster as she walked carefully towards the hut, her senses on high alert. She called out firmly, trying to relay that she was not afraid of whatever was ahead. "Hello?" she said, her voice clear and steady. "Is anyone there?"
As she got closer, the rustling noise stilled for a moment, and Nienna paused, debating whether to still go in or not. She hesitated for a heartbeat, her eyes scanning the surrounding area, wondering if she was walking into a trap. But something about the silence seemed...off. It seemed like whoever - or whatever - was inside was waiting for her, holding its breath in anticipation.
Nienna took a deep breath and continued, her voice steady. "I come in peace..." she said, trying to sound calm and reassuring. Ember, however, was not convinced. The little creature scurried into Nienna's pocket, its eyes wide with fear.
Nienna smiled wryly, feeling a pang of sympathy for her timid companion. She pushed aside the torn fabric that served as the hut's door and stepped inside. The dried leaves that were used to thatch the roof crunched under her feet as she entered, the sound echoing through the stillness.
Just as she was about to take another step, Nienna froze, feeling a presence behind her. She tried to turn, but a blade was drawn to her throat, the cold metal pressing against her skin. "This is the part where you beg for your life," a low, gravelly voice growled in her ear.
Nienna's heart skipped a beat as she realized she was trapped. She tried to swallow, but her throat was dry, and her voice caught in her throat. She was at the mercy of this stranger, and she knew it. Ember, sensing her distress, let out a tiny chirp of fear.
"This was your community, yes?" Nienna asks, trying to keep her voice steady despite the blade still pressed against her throat. The man grunts a non-committal sound, but she can sense that she's at least correct. She takes a deep breath and continues, "Well, if you kill me, you may be killing the only person willing to avenge them."
The man stills, and for a moment, Nienna wonders if she's made a mistake. But then, to her surprise, he takes the knife away from her throat. With that newfound freedom, Nienna turns to face him, her dagger pressed against his throat.
Finally, she gets a good look at the man. He has the bluest eyes she's ever seen, and locks of gold that catch the light in the sun, even though they're covered by a cloak. He looks haggard, but he's definitely a young man.
The man looks at her with ire in his blue eyes. "This is for the not-so-warm welcome," Nienna murmurs, trying to sound calm.
The man frowns, his eyes narrowing. "Good for you, you can use a weapon. Now, watch where you use that thing before you poke your eyes out."
Nienna glares at his audacity. No one has ever spoken to her like that. True, they're in the middle of a war, but people are still polite these days. She pulls away, tucking her dagger back into its sheath on her belt.
"I'm sorry about your people," she mumbles, trying to be polite despite the man's attitude. "I've heard only good things about them."
Ember hisses, and Nienna takes that as a sign to continue on her way. She takes out her map from her satchel, looking for the next point from here.
Footsteps behind her tell her that the man is following her. "And now he's following me," she mutters under her breath.
The man doesn't let up, even when he hears her. He just continues to follow her, his footsteps steady and determined.
"Stop it," she says sharply, turning to him.
"I would love to, but with the way you handle yourself, you'll be lucky to survive the next ambush. Trust me, I'm nice compared to the other rogues that roam the planes now." The man scoffs in disdain, his eyes rolling.
"Please, I can take care of myself, thank you very much," Nienna says haughtily, continuing to walk.
But the man's next words make her stop dead in her tracks. "You're doing a terrible job hiding your identity, Princess."
Nienna's heart skips a beat. How did he...? "I don't know what you're talking about," she says cautiously, trying to play it cool.
The man snorts, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Your cloak is crooked, and you reek of naivety," he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're not even trying to hide who you are."
Nienna's face burns with embarrassment, and she wonders how she's been so careless. She tries to think of a response, but the man's words have left her speechless.
"Look, you're my least favorite person at the moment, but if you genuinely care and if you really want to help restore balance back to the world, then I'm coming with you," the man says, his voice showing that he's determined and not likely to give up. Nienna sighs, feeling a mix of emotions: annoyance, frustration, and a hint of curiosity.
"I suppose having a bodyguard won't hurt," she says, trying to sound nonchalant, but the man's response catches her off guard.
He barks out a laugh, a deep, rumbling sound that makes Nienna visibly shrivel up. She feels a surge of embarrassment and anger, realizing that he's mocking her.
"No, precious, I'm not your bodyguard," he says, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm just someone who wants that bastard on the throne dead." He rolls his eyes, and Nienna's anger boils over.
She clenches her fists, feeling a strong urge to punch him. But before she can react, he snatches the map from her hand and starts walking forward, leaving her to follow.
"Hey!" she protests, hastening to catch up with him. "Now, will you just stand there looking like I insulted your mother, or will you walk faster?" he calls back over his shoulder. "The Shadow Realm isn't an easy walk."
Nienna's anger simmers just below the surface as she quickens her pace to keep up with him. "How did you know that?" she grumbles, still feeling a sense of unease about how much he seems to know.
He glances back at her, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "You drew butterflies around the point on the map that says the Valley of Shadows," he deadpans. "You couldn't be more obvious."
Nienna's face burns with embarrassment. She had indeed drawn those butterflies, a silly habit she had developed as a child. She hadn't thought anyone would notice, let alone use it to decipher her plans.
As they continue on their journey, Nienna can't help but feel a sense of unease. She's not sure what to make of this annoying, yet seemingly capable, man. And what's with his motives? Is he really interested in helping her, or does he have an ulterior motive?
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