The very next day after the soldiers returned, King Nelson Naharog and his family together with his advisors finally decided to return to their capital, zorin.
The mansion's front entrance stood as a backdrop to the poignant farewell scene. The air was infused with a sense of both fond farewells and impending departure.
The waiting carriages were alive with activity, as servants bustled about, ensuring that bags and belongings were carefully loaded onto the carriages.
Amidst the organized chaos, King Nelson of Naharog stood tall and resolute, flanked by his family and advisors. The carriages were laden with the remnants of their stay; trunks, bags, and parcels.
"Are you sure you're not going to stay a bit longer?" Riz inquired.
Nelson offered a warm smile, grateful for Riz's hospitality. "I appreciate your kind gesture, Riz, but I have stayed for quite so ti. It's ti to return to zorin."
Riz nodded understandingly. "Well, if you say so. To ensure your safe journey, I will dispatch a troop to escort you ho. The roads can be unpredictable."
Nelson's expression conveyed his gratitude. "Thank you for the generous hospitality, Riz. I doubt I would have fared as well without your help."
"No worries, I'm glad to have been of assistance," said Riz, offering a reassuring smile.
As the conversation settled into a comfortable pause, Riz's attention turned toward a figure nearby. "And it's been a pleasure to have you here as well, Priest Gliibious."
Priest Gliibious, his deanour radiating a sense of tranquillity, offered a warm smile. "It's nice to be here, Your Majesty. Your capital is truly a wonder in and of itself."
During his stay, Priest Gliibious imrsed himself in the pursuit of knowledge, dedicating his ti to learning from the vast repositories of wisdom within Bideford. His days were marked by an insatiable thirst for understanding.
Riz, aware of the priest's unique identity and his magic capabilities, had discreetly facilitated the priest to interact with the Ryntum's scholars.
He hoped that the priest's presence would foster a subtle exchange of insights—particularly in the realm of magic.
However, he trod lightly, ensuring his intentions remained hidden.
Regarding how much his scholars have learned, he doesn't know yet and will find it out later.
As the brief exchange between them ended, Nelson, his family, and advisors began to board the awaiting carriages.
With each step, the creak of carriage doors punctuated the air, echoing the farewell that was about to unfold.
Nelson's family, their expressions a blend of weariness and relief, settled within their designated carriages.
As the carriages took their occupants, the horses' hooves began to rhythmically strike the ground, setting the wheels into motion.
The procession began its gradual exit from the grandeur of Riz's mansion, each carriage turning a corner and disappearing from his line of sight.
The mansion's entrance, once bustling with activity and discussions, now stood serene and sombre.
....
Sowhere in the south, deep within the embrace of the forest, Bain Lawrence and a handful of his surviving soldiers pressed forward.
Their breaths ca in ragged gasps, mingling with the sounds of their hurried footsteps in the undergrowth. Panic gripped them, their expressions etched with a wild mixture of fear and determination.
The forest around them was dense, the tall trees casting elongated shadows that seed to reach out like fingers.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating dappled patterns on the forest floor, but the beauty of the surroundings was lost on Bain and his n.
Their focus was solely on their escape, their ears straining for any hint of pursuit.
Bain himself led the frantic retreat. Dirt and sweat streaked his face, and his chest heaved with exertion. Behind him, his companions showed similar signs of exhaustion, their clothes were torn and grimy.
Branches snapped against their clothing, adding to the cacophony of their escape.
The forest seed to close in on them, every rustle of leaves or distant call of a bird sending jolts of adrenaline through their veins.
Their eyes darted around, scanning the shadows for any sign of danger.
The soldiers' breaths were punctuated by hushed exchanges, their voices trembling as they urged each other forward.
The forest path ahead was uncertain, and the ground uneven. But they pushed forward, driven by the primal instinct to survive.
"Keep moving!" Bain's voice was hoarse but commanding, his words a constant reminder of their goal, to cross the border into their kingdom.
The events of the ambush in Norish had forced Bain and his remaining soldiers into a harrowing retreat. Regrouping in the shelter of Lakish, they then had to carefully navigate through the Inver Kingdom.
From there, they walk for days through the cities like Esyver, Uppaver and Griver.
In each city, they threaded carefully, seeking shelter in the obscurity of alleyways and abandoned structures.
Currently, they are on the way to the city of Filgen in the north and attempted to make their way to Baroks.
The distance they had covered felt like an eternity but they still manage to arrive at Filgen's outskirts nonetheless.
However, the city stood as an obstacle in their way, an imposing barrier that could not be circumvented. To reach the other side and continue their journey to Baroks, they had no choice but to traverse through its heart.
"Alright, everyone, be calm and act naturally," Bain's voice was a steady reassurance, cutting through the tension that hung in the air.
His soldiers nodded in unison, a collective determination etched onto their faces. They get into the line, waiting patiently to enter the city.
One by one, they paid the entrance fee. The transaction was quick, and soon they found themselves in the city of Filgen.
The soldiers blended into the urban flow, their movents unremarkable amidst the city's vibrant tapestry. The streets were alive with the murmur of conversations.
The urgency to reach the other side pulsed beneath their every step.
Each street corner turned was a step closer to their destination. In the end, they erged on the other side.
"We're almost safe, everyone," Bain said enthusiastically.
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