Two days had passed in a whirlwind of sweat and fire inside the forge, just making weapons nonstop. To Eon and his team, the forge had been their world for these days, hammers ringing against anvils from dawn until the stars came out. They'd shaped daggers with keen edges, swords that felt heavy with the elves' newfound determination. Blisters had formed on palms unused to such labor, but no one complained. But even after these bone-breaking two days, they were not satisfied for some reason with their own work. Even though for some it would be considered the best work of their life, Eon and his team knew they could do better if given proper time for making it once again. But regretfully, they had a very tight schedule. So they had to stop after two days.
****
Eon was shifting around in the saddle, the leather creaking under him. He felt the weight of the journey in every sway of his horse, the bay mare's hooves kicking up small clouds of dust with each step. His muscles were aching from the heat of the forge, a dull throb that lingered like an unwelcome guest. To his left, Kaelen rode steadily; the short sword he had forged for himself was strapped across his back. It caught the last glints of sunlight as the sun was setting on the horizon, a reminder of how far they'd come in just 2 hours of riding. On his right, Liam kept pace, his face set in that quiet alertness Eon had come to rely on. The dagger at his belt was simple but sharp, ready for whatever happened. Behind them, the other elves formed a loose line. Verra's braided hair danced in the breeze, her eyes were scanning the landscape with a mix of weariness and resolve. The group moved as one; their horses' hooves were a rhythmic drumbeat against the earth.
In the middle, Alaric rode his black stallion with his sister; the horse was prancing with barely any energy left in him for this long ride. On top of that, he had to carry two people. Elora felt very sorry for the horse, but had to ride on it because Alaric made a scene when she wanted to ride with Eon, so he made her ride with him now. Elora sat in front of him, her small body leaning back against his chest for stability. Her hands gripped the pommel tightly, knuckles white, but she didn't complain.
A few Denares soldiers brought up the rear; their armor grew with road dust. They didn’t bring many soldiers with them. The air was crisp with the first hints of autumn, carrying the scent of decaying leaves and the faint, comforting scent of woodsmoke from some distant farmhouse. It was a very peaceful scene, with no people seen as far as they could see. But Eon knew better than to let his guard down.
Their plan was straightforward: head to the Denares estate, get into the massive basement where elves are kept, and set them free. Alaric told them the details needed for this mission to succeed. Although Eon was very confused about Alaric’s cooperation at this level. He was not sure if it was his intimidation techniques or something else entirely, which made him talk! But whatever it is, he was grateful for the info he got from him.
A marquess' house like Denares treated slaves as status symbols, hoarding them without a second thought. Eon aimed to change that, to swell their numbers and turn the Edger estate and maybe the Denares estate also into a safe haven for the elves to live in. But seeing how far the distance is between the two estates, his hope for that was getting smaller as time was passing.
The road twisted longer than he'd anticipated, each mile amplifying the knot of tension in his gut. Many thoughts were going through his mind. ‘What if guards are waiting for us to ambush us, just as we got there? What if word of Alaric's slave collar’s news has somehow leaked? Had they already transported the elves somewhere before we arrived?’ Most of the questions in his mind were something like these.
Elora twisted slightly in the saddle, her hair catching the dying light like a shimmering veil. She glanced back at Eon, her brow furrowed with concern. “Eon, you look uncomfortable. The ride's been rough, right? If you want, you could switch with Alaric and sit with me for a bit. I wouldn't mind."
Eon shook his head, seeing how Alaric was glaring at him. He looked at the road again, ignoring the sharp twinge in his thighs from hours of unrelenting motion. The saddle wasn’t something he was used to riding, so suddenly riding it for this long time was hard for him. "I'm alright, Elora. No need to trouble yourself. I’ll manage somehow, plus we're almost to Oakhaven village."
She huffed a small sound of frustration, but settled back against Alaric. The man said nothing, just looking at Eon with a glare. Eon knew it in his heart; if he had agreed right now, he would have been in deep trouble.
As twilight deepened, the village of Oakhaven came into view. Stone cottages with thatched roofs clustered together, their windows glowing with the warm flicker of lanterns. The lowing of cattle echoed from nearby fields, signaling the end of the day's work.
Eon raised his hand, pulling his mare to a halt. The group behind him stopped, and horses were snorting and stamping in relief.
"We need to stop here," he called out, his voice steady and carrying over the tired riders. "There are many people who are not used to this long journey. So we need to rest here for the night. We can carry on at the early light tomorrow morning."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the group, shoulders sagging as they dismounted. Legs wobbled on solid ground after the long ride, and Eon felt his own knees protest with a sharp ache.
They led the horses to a communal stable, where young stablehands took the reins with quick nods and a handful of coppers. The air smelled of hay and manure, a grounding scent that cut through the fatigue.
A big inn named ‘The Oak's Rest’ stood out as the village's main inn, its sturdy wooden door spilling golden light onto the street. Eon pushed inside first, the common room wrapping around him like a warm blanket. He instantly felt very warm and cozy after entering the inn.
Low conversations hummed from patrons at scarred tables, and the rich aroma of simmering stew, carrots, onions, and something hearty like venison made his stomach growl with hunger. He didn’t even get to eat lunch, as they were already very late to begin their journey. So after this journey, just smelling the scent of food made his hunger amplify by many folds.
The atmosphere was very welcoming, unlike what he had in mind. A fire crackled in the hearth, chasing away the evening chill.
The innkeeper was a stout man with a beard that gave Eon the impression that he hadn’t shaved for years. He glanced up from behind the bar. His eyes swept over the group, appraising their dusty clothes and weary faces. "Rooms for ye all? Aye, we can manage. Some sharin', mind ye. Peak season with travelers headin' north."
Keys clinked as he handed them out. Kaelen and Liam grabbed one for a shared room, exchanging a quick nod before heading up the creaky stairs. Verra paired with a couple of the elf women, her voice low as she murmured something about watching each other's backs. The seven soldiers who had volunteered to come with them grumbled but accepted their cramped quarters in pairs. Alaric snatched a single key without a word, his tone brooking no argument as he strode off upstairs to his own room. Elsa also slipped away to her room with Martha, rubbing at a kink in her neck from the day's ride. Martha had to come because Eon wanted to bring back some potion ingredients from the Denares Estate, which were very hard to find in Edgar County. So Martha was the obvious choice to bring along so that she could identify and collect the herbs and weeds from the market when Eon and his team became busy with the other things.
Eon and Elora lingered as the others fled upstairs with their keys. The innkeeper snapped his ledger shut as Elsa and Martha went upstairs. "And that's the lot. No more rooms tonight, full up with folks from the south, fleein' rumors of border skirmishes."
Eon frowned, glancing out the window at the deepening darkness. Stars were starting to fill the sky, and the wind carried a sharper bite. "What do you mean, that’s the lot?!”
Elora also asked with worry, “Then what about us? Is there no room available for us? Just two small rooms is enough for us. Nothing at all? Even a corner in the common room?"
The man scratched his chin; his beard rustled like dry leaves. "Try the Willow 'cross the way. Decent folk run it, might have a spot or two left. But hurry, afore they lock up."
Elora's face brightened, and she tugged at Eon's sleeve with eager fingers. "See? It's right there. Let's go check before it gets too late. Come on!"
Eon hesitated, but her enthusiasm pulled him along. They stepped outside the inn, back into the night air. It was very chilly outside, which nipped at their skin like tiny teeth. Boots crunched on the gravel path as they crossed the street. The Willow Inn was smaller, but not that bad-looking. Flower boxes sat wilted under the windows, victims of the turning season.
They stepped inside the inn. Inside, the atmosphere was quieter, a few patrons nursing mugs by a snapping fire, the air thick with the scent of fresh-baked bread and drying herbs.
The innkeeper here was a woman with a warm face etched in laugh lines; her hands were dusted with flour from some evening baking. She was flipping through a worn book behind the counter; her eyes were kind but also tired. Just after seeing Eon and Elora come inside, she put down the book and pointed to them upstairs like she knew what they would ask, "One room left upstairs. Cozy, clean bed, with washbasin. It'll do for the two of ye?"
Eon shifted on his feet, a flush creeping up his neck despite the cool air. ‘What is this girl saying? I have to share a room with Elora? But Alaric would kill me if he found out.’
He instantly replied, "Ahh, thank you. But we can make do elsewhere. I'll go wake one of the others, Liam or Kaelen, and bunk with them. They won't mind."
Elora's eyes widened, her jaw setting in that stubborn way he'd seen before. "No, that's silly! It's just one room, one night. What's the harm? Everyone's already settling in, and they're exhausted from the ride and all that training. We can share, right? It's fine! Give us the room, please…."
He opened his mouth to protest again, but she latched onto his arm with surprising strength, her small fingers digging in like she was afraid he'd vanish. She pulled him toward the stairs, and the innkeeper hid a smile behind her hand, pressing the key into Elora's free palm.
"Elora, this isn't….."
She didn't let him finish, dragging him up the creaky wooden steps. Each one groaned under their weight, echoing in the narrow hallway. The door to their room swung shut behind them with a firm click, the latch falling into place like it was sealing a decision.
The space was modest, almost too good for an inn of this caliber: a single bed pushed against one wall, draped in faded quilts that smelled faintly of lavender and age. A wooden washstand stood in the corner with a chipped porcelain basin, and a lone candle was unlit on the windowsill.
Elora released his arm at last, spinning to face him with her hands planted on her hips. She lit the candle with her magic, making the dark room brighten up with warm color. Her cheeks were flushed in the warm glow, black hair framing her face like an actress Eon knew back on Earth.
She spoke first, "There. See? It's not so bad. We can make it work. Plus, you've been riding all day looking like you're about to fall over any moment. Just rest."
Eon stood there, the door at his back, feeling the walls close in a bit. The candlelight played across her features, highlighting the determination in her eyes. She wasn't the terrified girl from before; she'd grown bolder.
He rubbed the back of his neck, the ache from the forge flaring up again. "Elora, I appreciate it, but this... it's not proper. You're.."
"I'm what? Your responsibility? Yeah, I know." She softened a little, stepping closer but not too close. "But we're in this together, remember? The rules you set, they keep me close for a reason. And tonight, this is just practical. The bed's big enough for two if we don't sprawl out. I'll even take the side by the wall. You don’t mind, right?"
He glanced at the bed, its quilts inviting after the hard saddle. Exhaustion tugged at him, the weight of the day pressing down. Jin-Ho's old instincts warred with Eon's new reality: protect her, but also keep him at a distance from her. Yet here, in this quiet room, with the wind whispering against the window, it felt like a small surrender.
"Fine," he said finally, his voice low. "But just for tonight. And no more dragging me around like that."
She grinned, a quick flash of relief breaking through. "Deal. Now, let's get some sleep. Tomorrow's going to be even longer."
As she turned to the washbasin, splashing water on her face, Eon sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping under him. He felt very relaxed after lying on a soft bed after that horrible horse riding.