Chapter 76: An Unwritten Fate

  The final days of their journey passed in a calm, unbroken rhythm.

  Riding high atop his avian, Aeor looked down at the sprawling land below. Endless rolling hills of verdant green grass carpeted the expanse, shifting like a colossal, breathing ocean beneath the wind. Sol was beginning its slow descent toward the horizon, bathing the entire valley in a rich, burning copper hue.

  Aeor shifted in his heavy leather saddle, lifting his gaze to study his three traveling companions. It was an undeniably bizarre sight. Out of all the paths he had imagined, flying across the skies of Sol'Karenth alongside Kalvaxus and Gurz was not one of them.

  Surprisingly, the stark contrast of his new life was slowly beginning to settle. There were fleeting, quiet moments on the wind where the horrors of the unmade world felt like nothing more than a distant nightmare. But those peaceful moments never lasted long. The unseen scars he carried were too deep, and they refused to let him simply forget the cost of this second chance.

  "The Vaelkar Range should be visible any moment now," Gurz called out over the rushing wind, drawing Aeor smoothly from his heavy thoughts.

  As Gurz spoke, the distant, jagged peaks of the Vaelkar Range slowly materialized through the evening haze.

  Legend held that it had once been the longest, most impenetrable mountain range in all of Sol'Karenth. That was before Vaelkar had fallen. His cataclysmic death had essentially obliterated the central spine of the mountains, flattening the earth to create the sprawling, scarred region of Vaelkarreth and violently splitting the remaining peaks into two isolated halves.

  Thar'Ezun sat nestled deep within the treacherous crags of the southern half.

  "We are still a handful of hours out," Gurz called back, his thick voice cutting through the rushing wind. "But I suggest we stretch the day's travel and push straight through until we reach Thar'Ezun."

  He looked over his shoulder, waiting for a complaint. When no one offered any objection, the orc gave a firm nod and faced forward, urging his mount onward.

  The burning copper of the sun eventually dipped below the horizon, plunging the world into a deep, star-swept night. As the group crossed the threshold into the towering shadows of the Vaelkar Range, the air grew cold.

  Then, drifting up from the shadowed crags of the mountains, several distinct motes of golden light moved steadily into the sky, heading directly toward their flight path.

  "Patrol ahead," Gurz warned.

  He pulled back on his heavy leather reins, bringing his avian to a slow, deliberate halt. The others quickly followed suit. Within moments, the four great beasts were simply hovering in the night air, their broad wings beating silently as the distant lights drew closer.

  The glowing motes resolved into six distinct figures riding their own aerial mounts. As the distance closed, the soft light of their lanterns illuminated their faces. Aeor vaguely recognized a couple of the guards from his time in Thar'Ezun, although he could not recall their names.

  "Gurz," the lead guard called out, offering a respectful nod as his avian banked closer. "Is everything alright? Why are you approaching from the southern ridge? Were you not supposed to be running trades closer to Thar'Iluneth?"

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  "We took a slight diversion to hunt a few Harriers," Gurz replied, his tone smooth and entirely casual. "And as you can see from our remarkably pristine state, we did not find any."

  The guard let out a brief chuckle. "I hope the outer border patrols did not give you too much trouble."

  "None at all," Gurz lied effortlessly. "We stayed well within the lines."

  The guard nodded. "Considering you took a detour rather than flying straight back, I am assuming you have not heard the news."

  Gurz raised a heavy eyebrow. He cast a quick, questioning glance at his fellow smuggler before looking back at the patrol leader.

  "Heard what?" Gurz asked.

  The guard offered a soft, genuine smile. "I think you should speak to your sister."

  For a moment, Gurz looked entirely puzzled. He stared blankly at the patrol leader, his heavy brow furrowing in deep confusion. Then, a sudden dawn of understanding washed over him, shifting his expression from bewilderment to wide-eyed shock.

  "Well, it seems you were somewhat expecting it after all," the guard chuckled, pausing for a brief moment. "Sol shines upon your kin, Gurz."

  A rapid succession of possibilities raced through Aeor's mind, yet every frantic thought kept narrowing down to a single, glaring conclusion.

  Is Zura expecting a child?

  He was absolutely certain she had not been carrying a child when he met her in that phantom reality. He had expected there to be strange ripple effects and changes in this new timeline, but what truly made his blood run cold was not the news itself. It was the expression Kalvaxus currently wore.

  The ancient prince looked completely taken aback. His meticulously maintained facade had violently cracked. Kalvaxus was staring openly, slowly turning his head to lock his eyes directly onto Aeor.

  "What are you waiting for?" the guard laughed, waving them on. "Go."

  The command snapped Gurz from his frozen stupor. The orc gave a jerky, frantic nod, immediately urging his avian forward into a sudden, rushing burst of speed. Aeor and the others quickly banked their own mounts, following closely in his wake as they tore through the night sky toward Thar'Ezun.

  The frantic flight through the dark peaks finally broke as a massive, sweeping valley opened before them.

  Thar'Ezun clung desperately to the steep mountainside. The ancient city was carved directly into the stone, shaped into colossal tiers that spiraled ever upward toward the frost-crowned spires. High above, faded and tattered banners bearing the crest of the sun hung limp and lifeless from the silent watchtowers.

  Gurz guided his avian into a steep, rushing descent, aiming for the wide, flat plateau situated just outside the city's towering gates.

  The beasts hit the stone with a scraping thud, their talons kicking up a spray of loose frost. Before his mount could even fold its wings, Gurz was already tearing at his leather straps, desperate to reach his sister.

  Aeor dismounted much slower. His boots hit the freezing stone with a soft crunch, and he immediately cast a cautious, sidelong glance toward Kalvaxus. The ancient prince slid from his saddle in complete silence with his usual stoic mask restored.

  Gurz turned toward the towering gates of the settlement, his frame practically vibrating with the urge to run. Yet, he forced himself to pause, shifting his heavy gaze back to Kalvaxus and Aeor.

  "There are a few decent inns near the lower terraces," Gurz said. "Though you are more than welcome to stay at my sister's hearth. There are usually a few pilgrims gathered here this time of cycle, and a proper pilgrimage into Vaelkarreth will embark in about a week. If you wish to enter the lands sooner, I can arrange an escort for tomorrow morning."

  "That will not be necessary," Kalvaxus replied, his voice chillingly flat. "We will depart for Vaelkarreth immediately."

  The two smugglers and Aeor all turned to look at him, deep confusion marring their faces.

  "In the dead of night?" Gurz asked, his initial, frantic excitement fading into genuine concern. "That is an incredibly dangerous venture, especially at this hour."

  "I am intimately versed with the dangers that shroud the resting place of Vaelkar," Kalvaxus stated evenly. "But it is imperative that my companion and I leave now."

  The two smugglers exchanged a long, heavy look. Despite no words being spoken between them, a silent, grim understanding was reached.

  Gurz finally nodded. "Just be careful out there."

  The orc took a step toward the city, then hesitated slightly, looking back over his shoulder.

  "Before you go, can you at least tell me who gave you that sigil?" Gurz asked.

  "You will know in due time," Kalvaxus replied softly. "Now go visit your sister."

  Gurz opened his mouth to press the issue further, but he stopped himself. He simply gave a final, tight nod, turning with his companion to rush toward the settlement.

  Aeor watched the two smugglers disappear behind the gates before turning his attention back to the ancient prince.

  "Why the sudden rush?" Aeor asked, his voice low in the quiet night. "You looked rather taken aback there."

  "We have wasted enough time already," Kalvaxus said.

  "Is this about Zura?" Aeor pressed.

  Kalvaxus nodded. "It is not about her specifically. It is about what her condition represents."

  "Represents?"

  "In all the cycles I have known her, she has never carried a child this early," Kalvaxus stated, his golden eyes narrowing at the shadows.

  Aeor frowned, trying to piece the logic together. "Did you not say the timelines shift based on how you act?"

  "I did," Kalvaxus replied. "And while I knew your sheer presence in this reality would inevitably alter the flow of events, I did not expect the ripples to spread so violently and so soon."

  Kalvaxus finally turned his head, fixing Aeor with a heavy, calculating stare.

  "We must complete our tasks while this world still remains within the purview of my knowledge," Kalvaxus said quietly. "We need to move now, before the absolute chaos of your fate rewrites everything I know."

  Chapter 77 releases Monday at 6 PM EST.

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