Two Weeks Ago

Something was off.

By Kain's calculations, moving by horse should have taken a week off of their travel. Which meant that they should've been halfway to Sol by the end of the first week.

For some reason, however, they'd only managed a third of the distance.

He hadn't noticed until talk of whether or not they should pause, or push to reach the next town had come up earlier in the day. Kain realized, then, that by all rights, their group should have passed Caelfield at least a day before. That afternoon, when they'd paused for lunch, he'd pulled out Artemios' maps and poured over their path with careful thought. In the end, instead of shortening their trip, the addition of the horses would likely only ensure they arrived by the end of the estimated three weeks.

As they broke for camp that evening, Kain watched the others, attempting to place where exactly they'd gone wrong.

Riding the same horse as Melitta had been awkward; but, if it had any impact on their pacing, it had probably increased their speed rather than slowed it. She and her brother were competent equestrians, which baffled him. When in their childhoods had they found time for riding lessons?

He might have asked her, but Kain found it hard to even look Melitta in the eye after their rides, let alone hold an extended conversation about a time in her life it was unlikely she wanted to reflect upon. Even days after they began, he still couldn't pull his attention away from the feel of his body pressed to hers, or how fluttering warmth sparked with each accidental brush of their skin. Was that normal? He should have adjusted by this point, right?

Regardless, the fault of their pace didn't lie with her. Or with any of their skills, actually. Even Rhode with her spotty memory had flawless control of her steed.

Unable to find an immediate answer, he refocused his attention on the horses.

Since the first night, Callias had insisted Kain should be the one to care for the horses. The merman had pointed out that it wasn't in their best interests for him to be so uncomfortable around the animals, and that by learning to handle their tack, brush them down, and all the other little details that went into daily care, he should stop being nervous. Riding lessons would come after.

Following the discussion, Natia had followed him to the horses, her own way of offering help he suspected, and silently took Kain through each step of the process. He'd been impressed, but also embarrassed. It felt wrong that someone so much younger than him, a wolf at that, knew so much more than Kain about a skill he should've mastered as a child.

It was when they had finished and joined the others at the fire that the answer to his earlier dilemma finally surfaced. Shadows stretched across their camp, but not near as far, or as heavily, as they should've.

Dusk was at least an hour away.

Given that a majority of the more dangerous nightmares were active at night, as well as the very mortal danger of bandits and their like, the group was careful to travel during the day. An average pace, like the one they had kept when traveling from Nokos, would have had them starting at sunrise, and breaking with just enough sunlight to set camp. Until he'd focused on the issue, Kain hadn't noticed a difference. No matter what time it was, the day rested heavily on his horse-sore body. In fact, he'd been aching so much that he'd been grateful for a break.

No, not a break. Breaks.

He nearly swore. How many times had they paused that day, and how had he not noticed earlier? It was at least three times that Kain could easily recall, but he was willing to bet the number was higher. Who had been suggesting it? It hadn't been him. He was too focused on the careful placement of his hands, and on not complaining about the pain.

He racked his mind as the others held quiet conversation, and Callias went about portioning out their dinner. He focused on the merman. Callias was too quiet, it couldn't have been him. Kain would've noticed. It was the same for Rhode and Natia. He doubted he would forget something Melitta said. That left Isidor?

"Copper for your thoughts?" Melitta questioned.

Her words startled Kain to the present. He glanced away from Callias, and found Melitta standing next to him with a smile on her lips. His mind blanked. Dying sunlight cast a luminescent glow on her golden hair, outlining her in the best way. Her shadowed eyes reflected concern, and something deeper.

"You're beautiful."

Melitta stared, a red flush creeping over her face. "I..."

Kain's brain kicked back into gear, leaving him lightheaded. Oh gods.

Not for the first time since the mountains, Kain wished he had his hat, if only to pull over his head and suffocate himself. He could only thank the fates that the rest of their group seemed distracted by one thing or another. Only Melitta had heard his runaway tongue. Hopefully.

"I--sorry, I uh." His thoughts were scrambled. "That's..."

Melitta looked away, one hand gripping her skirt as the other tucked back her hair. "...thank you."

His eyes focused on the red of her ears. Something in his twisting chest eased at the sight. She hadn't run away from his slip. Was she flattered? Or embarrassed? Gods, why was he putting so much thought into it? Why had he said it?

Silence hung in the air. It settled Kain's spinning head long enough for him to grasp his thoughts. A change of subject. That was what he needed.

"We're behind," he blurted.

Melitta glanced back at him, her hair falling loose once again. "Behind?"

She sounded baffled. Reasonably, all things considered. His hands curled into the earth where he sat, digging up dirt.

"We should've already passed Caelfield. Instead, we'll reach it in the morning."

Melitta knitted her brow, tension leaving her shoulders. He relaxed as she did, losing his strangle-grip on the grass.

"I see."

He waited for a moment, expecting Melitta would say more. She didn't. Confused, Kain studied her expression, and found nothing useful. At least, nothing he could understand. Her smile was weary, her cheeks no longer red.

"I think we've been stopping too much," he continued after a minute. "Fewer breaks would probably put us back on track."

"Or tire us out."

Callias' dry voice nearly caused Kain's heart to escape his chest. He hadn't noticed Callias' silent approach. Now, however, the merman's frown was all he could see. Was he upset?

Wait. He'd responded to the conversation. Shit.

The urge to hide returned, stronger this time. How long had Callias been listening? A while? Was that the reason for the chilling stare he was getting?

He was about to ask, but was distracted as Melitta swept back her skirts. She took a seat next to Kain, and expectantly held her hand out to Callias.

"My food?"

Right. Callias had been organizing their supplies.

Her brother studied them for a second, before offering a wooden-plated sandwich first to Melitta, then Kain. "Here."

Kain wiped his hands, then took his food, too nervous to actually consider eating. Callias watched Kain for a moment longer, then settled down before them. His decision did nothing for Kain's strained emotions. The silence that followed grated him, so he took a slow bite.

"It's good."

Callias raised a brow. "It's a sandwich. I would be impressed if anyone could make it taste bad."

Melitta kicked him. Kain coughed, covering his mouth with one hand as he attempted not to choke on his food. Callias scowled, rubbing his leg.

"What?" he demanded.

Melitta shrugged. "Figure it out."

Kain cleared his throat before Callias could retort. They both glanced at him, and he could feel heat flood his face. Still, he forced himself to continue.

"What I said before, about taking fewer breaks. I don't think it would tire us out. We were fine before, when we were heading for Erast, and that was a much faster pace."

Callias laid his food down, eyeing Kain with clear disapproval. It somehow hit stronger coming from the usually expressionless merman. "From what I understand, no one was injured, before."

"I'm fine," Melitta interjected. "As are the others. Picking up the pace wouldn't hurt anything."

"No, he's right," Kain said, guilt flooding him.

How could he have forgotten that detail? They seemed to have recovered, but had they truly? If Isidor was suggesting breaks, and he had to be the one, wasn't it likely he was doing it for the sake of the injured?

It would be selfish of him to ask them to keep moving for the sake of a hurried timeline.

Melitta looked like she might object further, but instead bit her lip. Guilt mixed with worry as she nodded, and looked back down at her sandwich. As their conversation devolved into what supplies they should purchase at Caelfield, and how long they should linger in town, Kain continued to study her as the chance arrived.

She didn't finish her food, instead setting it aside. Her legs drew closer to her chest, hands linking around them. Now that he was looking for it, he noticed the faintest pallor to her already pale skin, and the beginnings of darkness beneath her eyes. Had she not been sleeping, or were those remnants of when Callias wasn't with them? His return should have eased her nightmares, right?

Kain had been too tired to pay much attention to her sleeping habits, something he now deeply regretted.

"We should rest."

Melitta's words started him, and he realized he'd been staring. Callias stood, and gave Kain a pointed look.

"Help me with the clean-up."

Kain nodded and scrambled to his feet. Thankfully, Callias said nothing as they collected the plates and repacked any unused supplies. Even if it left the air between them awkward and taut, it at least meant Kain didn't have to come up with an excuse, or learn that Callias had been listening to their conversation prior to joining.

When they settled in for the night, Kain volunteered to take the first watch.

Melitta settled into her bedroll. Not once during his shift did she jolt awake from a nightmare, or even make a noise. It eased his worries to know that whatever her exhaustion, she was at least resting.

That was enough, right?

┈♔◦𓇣◦☽◦❤◦☾◦𓇣◦♔┈

The last week of their travel held a familiar uneasiness.

Kain was almost absolutely certain they were being followed. Despite their best efforts, however, and steps taken to try and bait the attackers, nothing happened. It left them exhausted and wary, which made for poor pacing. Still, by the twenty-second day after they'd left Erast, they reached the outskirts of Sol.

It was an amazing sight. Even if every part of Kain wished that the journey of the last few months could have been avoided, he would carry memories of his travels for the rest of his life.

The chill of early-morning autumn frost hung in the brightening air and the tips of endless farmlands. Each exhalation formed a near-visible breath. City walls of pristine stone stretched far into the sky, intimidating in their height. Barely visible beyond them were the distant castle towers. Towering wooden gates had been swung open, travelers waiting in a patient line to be admitted by the guards.

It was the biggest city Kain had ever seen, and it chilled him to realize that Chuteros, where they would start their search for Iliana, would be no smaller.

How did someone navigate such countless streets in search of a single person?

The hour it took them to be admitted did nothing to ease Kain's mounting concerns. Thankfully, while the guards seemed to eye them with unconcealed suspicion, they didn't request travel documentation. Kain wasn't even sure if he had identification papers back on the Airlea. Those sort of things were for soldiers, merchants, and politicians, not sailors.

The feeling of being watched only heightened as they searched the city outskirts for a cheap inn. Kain couldn't tell if it was paranoia created by his nerves, or the truth. Regardless, it drove him to agree to the first decision posed by the others, which resulted in them renting a room at the Crimson Flower. After their horses were stowed and things settled in their respective rooms, the group gathered on the first floor. Like many inns, it doubled as a tavern.

A bar ran along the back wall, and a handful of tables filled the room. Due to the early hour, the majority of them were empty. The only other notably sized group was settled at a table towards the back of the room. They spared Kain's group a glance as they settled, but then seemed to go back to their own business. It eased Kain's frayed nerves that they were ignored as the group found their own table.

"We shouldn't spend more than a night here," Kain said as they sat. "We don't have the funds for it. At least, I don't."

Melitta shook her head. "Neither do I."

Rhode murmured agreement, and Isidor simply shrugged. Natia seemed to hesitate, before she dug a hand into her boot. Kain was shocked as she pulled out a coin-cut ruby.

"Semele," Natia said, as if that was all explanation required.

Kain looked to Callias. The merman pursed his lips. "The group that captured Iliana was traveling with a harpy, Semele. She took a liking to Natia."

He remembered, once again, that Callias had a lot of information they lacked. In the weeks since they'd begun traveling, the merman had shared minor details here and there, like numbers and names, but they hadn't had a full conversation. Each time it came up, Kain had been distracted by other things.

"What were they like?"

Callias stayed silent for an extended minute, tilting his cup. Eventually, he shrugged. "Strange, seemingly noble hearted mercenaries. They could have been putting on a show, but it didn't feel like it. The leader, Lykos, felt strange. As did their healer. They were too polite, and helpful for people in their position. They armed us before the mountains."

"That's why Iliana had a bow," Kain realized.

"Could you describe them?" Isidor asked.

Kain glanced at him, curious. For the most part, Isidor had remained stubbornly silent during their travels. He insisted that he was accompanying them against this will, and therefore "had nothing nice to say." He hadn't bothered to ask about their reasons for the journey, nor had he questioned the strangeness of the group.

"Lykos was a tall Eolian," Callias began. "Dirty-blond, blue-gray eyes. Tall and broad. Eumelia... Letian, I think. A red-head, brown eyes. Had a child of similar coloring but the eyes. His right-hand, Nuri--"

Isidor shook his head. "That was enough. I think I know who you're talking about."

"You do?" Kain demanded.

The witch doctor shot him a dirty look for his tone, but Kain couldn't care. It was a potential lead!

"They came through town about once or twice a year," Isidor explained. "It was notable, because of how welcome they were. The lady who runs the local inn is a rude, private woman. The moment they showed up, however, she would treat them better than nobility. I even heard her kick someone out of her best suit before, just because they were in town."

Callias frowned. "I didn't think much of it at the time, but she offered me expensive rum. I'd been more distracted by how unusual it should've been to see inland, than the actual gift."

"That's what I'm talking about," Isidor confirmed with a nod. "She's weird about them."

"Perhaps she knew who they were," Callias mused.

"Who they are?" Kain prompted.

The merman hesitated. "I'd been meaning to bring it up, but they--"

"You sure?" a man demanded. "That much?"

The practical shout pulled Kain's attention from Callias. The group he'd noted upon their entry was still seated to the back, however the owner of the voice had lept to their feet, both hands pressed to their tabletop. Their companions waved the man down, glancing towards Kain's group with a wariness that had him tensing, but the man waved them off.

"Don't be such scared bitches."

Then, despite his companions' protests, the man spun towards their group. He swayed on his feet, obviously heavily intoxicated despite the early hour, but still managed to pull out a pistol with startling grace.

Kain jumped before he thought. It was probably the only reason he managed to reach Callias and Natia before the sound of a gunshot pierced the tavern air.

A/N: Another bonus update in order to catch up! And this one comes with a cliffhanger. :)