The first soldier went down with a dagger to his throat. The second managed to pull the hems of my shirt before an arrow penetrated his skull.
Boots slammed against stone as we sprinted through the narrow streets of Rwelai's outer districts. My shirt, ripped and dirty, flared behind me with torch lights chasing us. Silas was ahead of me, notching another arrow as he waited for the perfect moment. As soon as I was a hand reach away from him he fired, a soldier tumbling far behind us.
I wanted to halt and cheer, praise Silas for his shot, but we had no time. I ran faster than ever, dust scratching my face. I quickly outran Silas, but paid him no mind, not because I didn't care—but because a soldier blocked our path.
His horse neighed as the soldier abruptly reined it back. "Who are you?!" The soldier shouted.
"Your last regret!" I screamed as I lunged, ramming my sword into the soldier's torso. There was a disgusting sound I wasn't familiar with. A bloody stench and a devilish feeling haunted me. But I grit my teeth and withdrew my blade, pushing the soldier's body away; but to my annoyance, the saddle fell off with the soldier. I cursed and hacked the saddle straps loose.
"Get on!" I shouted to Silas.
"You know how to ride a horse?" He asked as he ran.
"How hard could it be?!"
Silas cursed but hopped on the horse. I whipped the reins hard, the horse screeched and we galloped away.
A sudden gust of wind sliced across my face, sharp and unexpected, pulling the scent of ash and blood with it. I was an inch away from certain death.
I jerked my hand toward the soldiers firing from behind. "Shoot 'em, Silas!"
Even as we moved with surprising speed, Silas let loose several arrows. A few soldiers fell, and a few ran away.
I leaned forward as I gently continued whipping the reins. I could hear screams in the distance and fires raging in the forests.
I remembered seeing my city burn to ashes as soldiers invaded. I cursed and gritted my teeth at the memory.
I would kill them.
Kill all of those Halua soldiers.
However somewhere in my heart, I still had hope.
"Please be alive..." I muttered mainly to myself.
Before long, the noises in the distances faded away. Only the rhythmic gallops of our horse could be heard, harmonized by the desperate beating of our hearts.
"Are we... are we safe?" Silas asked in a whisper.
I didn't know. I didn't want to answer, in fear of jinxing our fate. "I hope so," was all I could say.
A hush came over the land. No screams, no flames, and certainly no battles took place here. Only a galloping horse, two beating hearts, and a fierce breeze could be heard. Upon noticing the heat of the sunlight, I looked up, realizing that we were heading north.
Going north would lead us to the Sea of Mist, going further on would take us to the Freelands.
"The Freelands..." I muttered.
Silas heard, asking, "Is that where we're going? The Freelands of nomads?"
"We have to," I said sternly, "They'll hunt us down. The Halua Empire will find us if we stay in this continent."
"But... our families."
I felt an arrow shoot through my heart. Nevertheless I looked down as I continued reining the horse, "We must survive."
Silas trembled, realizing what I meant.
If we wanted to live, to grow up big and strong like how our parents wanted us to—then we couldn't stay.
We had to escape Kesan, away from the Halua Empire.
We had to abandon our home.
I felt Silas's heavy hands fall on my shoulders, then, his hair brushed against my neck as his head rested on my back. A repetitive motion, up and down, slowly yet suddenly, began. I shuddered as a sound left Silas's mouth, trembling, sniffing, and sobbing.
I wanted to turn around and comfort my friend, but I tightened my grip on the reins. My jaws clenched as I noticed the trees thinning and soil giving way to sand.
Beyond the thinning trees and fading soil, a sea of water rose—vast, never-ending, and waiting—
Waiting for two young men who were desperate to cross the sea of no return.