Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty
Chapter 83: The journey begins.

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: The journey begins.

The sun rose over the sprawling camp, its golden rays spilling across the dew-covered grass. Horses neighed and pawed on the ground, their saddles gleaming with polished leather. Cassian stood at the head of the group, his sharp eyes scanning the team as they prepared to depart.

The wagons were loaded with supplies—barrels of fresh water and sacks of dried meat and grain. there is also tightly packed medical kits, a very important stuff for their mission.

Every item had been meticulously checked twice by Orion, who stood beside wagons and continuously checking them to find that had they missed anything or not.

"Orion,"

Cassian called Orion and said in soft but calm voice, "Are we ready to move?"

Orion snapped to attention and nodded quickly. "Yes, Leader Hayes. The supplies are loaded and the horses are rested. Everyone is accounted for."

"Good," Cassian replied while glancing over the group.

The trainees were clad in light armor and stood beside their horses. They looked eager but slightly nervous.

Llyris Wilson was adjusting the straps on his saddle while his twin brother, Ivis, was whispering a quiet prayer.

Kallus Adair and Orion Hart stood side by side. They seemed to be discussing the map of their route, and Aerich Ford, who was the most composed of them, was sharpening his dagger on the stone.

Behind them, Sir Alistair, Sir Morren Roneyev, and Sir Oronik Faelor inspected their weapons. Alistair as usual was playing with his dragger, tossed it in the air and caught it with a flourish.

Morren smirked but said nothing, while Oronik simply shook his head, muttering something about wasting time.

Keren Cavrov stood a little apart, his lean figure wrapped in a dark cloak. His silver hair shimmered faintly in the morning light, and his sharp, elven eyes watched the preparations silently.

His presence was always a mystery, but none dared question it. His healing abilities were indispensable, and Cassian trusted him implicitly.

"Mount up," Cassian ordered, also pulling himself onto his horse. His horse is a sleek black stallion with a white blaze on its forehead.

The others followed suit, and also mounted on their own horses, they were ready to depart. The preparations were all done.

The group began their journey with a slow start but slowly caught speed. the rhythmic clatter of hooves breaking the morning silence.

The road was stretching far and wide, and everyone was filled with the newfound energy of going on a new mission. and the trainees were particularly more excited as it was their first time.

Alistair rode up beside Cassian; he asked Cassian with a grin on his face. "So, Leader Hayes, any predictions for the trip? Will we be fighting bandits, monsters, or just each other?"

Cassian gave him a sidelong glance. "Focus on the road, Alistair. You’ll have plenty to deal with soon enough."

"Ah, come on," Alistair said with a laugh. "You’re no fun, Cassian."

"Enough chatter," Oronik called from behind. "Save your energy for when it counts."

The group continued through the day, passing small hamlets and scattered farms.

The people they encountered were friendly; they offered warm smiles, and some child waved at them as the group of knights passed through them. They always got admiration wherever they went. It was not the first time for them to receive so many welcoming gestures.

"The monsters have been restless lately," one farmer said as they stopped to refill their waterskins at a well. "We haven’t seen them this active in years. You’re brave to be heading west."

"Why? Is something causing a problem?" Cassian asked.

"Who knows? What happened to those monsters? but many villages had been destroyed by them in the west. You need to be careful," the farmer said and left with his bucket filled with water.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, they set up camp in a clearing near the edge of a forest.

The trainees worked quickly to set up the tents and light a fire; the earlier nervousness was nowhere to be seen as they busied themselves with the work.

Hey buddies! Look at this! This is what I brought for you! Alistair shouted while dropping the game he hunted in the forest.

Finally, I don’t need to eat that dried meat. Alistair muttered and started skinning the game he brought and asked the Wilson brothers to come and chop the meat.

Yes! Sir Alistair. They replied in unison and started helping him to tend the game.

After a while, Everyone gathered around the fire and started eating the roasted meat.

We are going to Galdreth, Cassian spoke, breaking the silence on the camp.

Everyone slowed their movements and looked at Cassian and listened carefully to his next words.

Have you ever heard about it? Cassian asked again, but everyone shook their heads. They have never heard about it.

Cassian looked at Keren, and seeing his slight nod, he continued his words.

I also never heard about it.

If you also don’t know, then how will we go there... Alistair immediately voiced his question, but Oronik smacked him on the head and asked him to shut up and let Cassina continue his words.

"How dare you hit me." Alistair lifted the leg piece and was ready to strike Oronik with the bone on his head; Oronik was also ready to fight him.

but one glare from Cassian silenced both of them.

Keren knew about this place; Cassian continued. Everyone’s attention shifted to Keren, but he did not even glance at any of them and was busy eating the roasted meat.

"It is the city at the border of Morthagar’s western duchy. It also shares the border with the elven domain and other domains.

"What I mean is, Cassian stopped and looked in the eyes of everyone present; the fire from the camp was reflecting in his eyes. He continued, That place was very dangerous, and the mission I received did not say what we have to do."

"We are like a ship sailing into a storm with no map to guide us. and the only thing we trust is ourselves, and we have to complete our mission without knowing what it is. Cassian said with a calm voice.

the camp shrouded with silence, as everyone listened carefully, the only sound was the fire crackling and the meat sizzling in the fire.