The Forsaken Hero
Chapter 346: Guards

Chapter 346: Guards

As we approached the lower-rim checkpoint, the refugees began to grow restless. They were dry, worn, and weary, exhausted from a month of grueling travel. Blue Canyon offered much in the way of water, but I’d been forced to walk long distances before and knew how hard it could be on the body and feet for regular, unenhanced mortals. Just how many times had I collapsed and had to let Soltair carry me in the early days of our adventures?

A minute later the light vanished plunging us in shadows. The temperature dropped several degrees, and I shivered, drawing my cloak tight about me. The cliffs towered high in the air, blotting out the sun, split by crags and jagged blue peaks. The road was wide enough for two wagons side by side, but it seemed no thicker than a hair working its way up the cliffs. Several small forts jutted out high above at each switchback, built into the cliffs themselves.

I paled, gripping my staff tightly, wishing I hadn’t looked ahead. We had to climb up there? This side was even higher than the rim we had come down before, and unlike back then, it wouldn’t be over with a single jump. With any luck, I could walk close enough to the cliff without being forced to look over the edge.

The thought calmed me, but I immediately tensed as a nearby gray-haired woman stumbled toward me, knocked off balance by another gruff-looking refugee. She seemed to fall toward me in slow motion, but my body was heavy and unresponsive, leaving me powerless to dodge. I had just braced myself for the impact, praying she wouldn’t collide with my Sunpurge, when a flash of silver blurred in front of me.

"Easy there, ma’am," a feminine voice said.

I peeked up, startled to find one of my guards standing protectively over me. She gripped the woman by the shoulders, gently setting her on her feet. My guards cowl had fallen off in the commotion, revealing a beautiful woman in her twenties, with shoulder-length black hair and intense green eyes. The silver gleam had been from her armor, which peaked out of her rags. Her voice was deeper than most women, but resonant and beautiful, like a bass.

The refuge stared up at the woman in awe, struck by her intensity. She just smiled in response and gave her a little nudge, breaking her from her stupor. The refugee jumped and quickly bowed her head, mumbling an apology, before fleeing deeper into the caravan.

The guard chuckled and replaced her cowl, giving me a worried glance. "Are you alright, milady?"

I nodded, gripping my staff in both hands, my heart still pounding. "Thank you. I, um, don’t think I got your name...?"

"Luxxa," she answered with a relieved simple. "I apologize for not being closer before the incident. I stopped to help a man with his wagon, and nearly didn’t catch up in time."

"It was my fault. I could have cast a spell, but that would have been, well, it would have given us away. Thank you for saving me."

She frowned, the intensity in her gaze returning. "With all due respect, Milady, your safety comes first. Do not hesitate to protect yourself even if it means jeopardizing the mission."

"Yes ma’am," I squeaked, my hands twitching at the hem of my skirt, nearly dropping an instinctive curtsey. I blushed softly and forcibly moved them away, hoping she hadn’t noticed.

If she did, she gave no such indication, simply returning to scanning the nearby refugees for threats. Korra, on the other hand, sidled up beside me, grinning.

"Yes ma’am?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Despite her teasing tone, she kept her voice lowered.

Feeling a little bashful, I looked away to hide my blush and twirled a strand of crimson around my finger. "It’s just that I...I guess she reminds me a lot of...um, you know..."

"I’m afraid not. Whatever do you mean?" Korra tilted her head, feigning confusion. Or perhaps she really didn’t know. It was hard to tell with her."

Before I could answer, a new, masculine voice spoke, startling me. I’d been certain we’d been speaking too low for anyone to hear!

"That’s probably because of her background," one of the other guards said, peering at me intently from beneath his cowl. Unlike the others, his cloak wasn’t a disguise, but a mottled green and yellow ranger cloak, like Rasce had worn.

Recovering my composure, I waited for him to continue, but he simply turned his attention back to the road. I shared a look with Korra, who just shrugged, as confused as I was. Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait long for answers.

"That’s not very nice, Gith," Luxxa said, frowning at the ranger. His shoulders rippled in a silent shrug, and she sighed, turning back to us. "I’m not sure what context he mentioned me in, but if it’s background, then that’s easy enough to explain. I was the daughter of a major noble in Radia before finding my way to the Last Light Company. Many say I hold to my mannerisms as a noble, though I see it more as continuing to hold to my pride and dignity."

Ah, so that was it. It’d been so long, yet the slave training forced upon me lingered in my muscles. No matter how much I tried to erase it, some things weren’t so easily forgotten.

"You could still stand to lighten up a bit," Orion said, his voice coming over my shoulder. "Not everything’s about protocol and formality, you know."

Luxxa turned her eyes on him, frown deepening. "Words most unbecoming of a senior officer in the Last Light Company. One of your rank should–"

A flurry of shouts echoed from up ahead, breaking through our conversation. The three guards tensed and quickly took up a stance around Korra and me, eyes sweeping our surroundings.

"Where’s Jenna?" Orion asked, his voice low.

I glanced over the caravan, looking for the unique soul signature of the fourth guard, but before I could so much as focus, Gith pointed to the rear.

"Speaking with a mercenary guards. It looks very friendly," the ranger said.

His sentences were awkward and choppy, proving his antisocial tendencies, but I was more concerned with what he had said. Now that he pointed her out, I could make out the faint emanations of mana, but she was hidden behind a wagon. How had he seen her? Was it one of his unique abilities?

"He has an ability that detects presences," Korra whispered, noticing my confusion. "Jackal explained some of their abilities to me before you got there. They’re all good at what they do, which is why, I guess, they were chosen for the mission."

"Oh...that makes sense," I admitted, "What about Jenna?"

Korra grimaced, an expression I noticed the others were wearing as well. Save the other guards seemed to mix in disgust with their disdain. "She’s kind of...easy," she finally said. "That’s about all I’ve got about her from the others."

Easy? Like Alex? I shivered at the thought, but quickly put the fourth guard from my mind as another round of shouting came from up ahead. The caravan came to a stop, merging with a long line of refugees waiting before the fort at the bottom of the massive cliffs. With my sharp hearing, I could make out what seemed like a violent disturbance, but even when I strained on my tiptoes, I couldn’t see above the heads of the refugees.

"What’s happening?" I asked, still straining to see.

Orion answered, voice grim. "Seems like the guards are giving a group a hard time on inspection. Damn. I’d hoped they’d be more concerned with clearing the refugees of the canyon, but it seems we might have to bluff our way through."

"I agree. It would be best if we stored our armor and weapons in our spatial rings and pray they don’t demand to check," Luxxa agreed.

I glanced at my finger, at the worn, unassuming ring Thron had prepared for me. What would happen if they found the trove of valuable items he had...acquired for me? Each of the sixth and seventh-circle tomes was worth a small fortune, some of them enough to buy an entire castle.

As the guards began storing their things, Jenna finally appeared, strolling up with a contended look on her face. She didn’t bother wearing her hood, revealing a wave of long, white hair that reached her waist. She had pretty wide, pretty eyes and a face that was too close to some of the women I’d been forced to associate with in my last life. The ones who wanted to be there.

"Perhaps we could try a different approach," she said, licking her lips.

Orion snorted, smothering a chuckle, but Luxxa stared at her, appalled. "Such a crude suggestion. Do you really think offering to seduce them would–"

"Hey now," Jenna said, holding up a hand and looking a bit hurt, "I can’t believe you think I’d sell myself that easily. Well...maybe I would, but not here. I was speaking with a rather shady-looking fellow, and he admitted to knowing an old smuggler’s path to the top. I can’t vouch for his intentions, he did seem rather unsavory, but he didn’t seem to be lying about the trail."

The others were silent for a moment before Korra broke out laughing. The guards stared at her, not to mention the tense refugees nearest us, but she didn’t seem to care. Finally, she wiped the corner of her eyes and looked at Jenna.

"I can’t believe it!" she said, suppressing a fit of giggles. "And here I’d heard you were a good-for-nothing hooker. I’m going to have to keep an eye on you."

I tilted my head at her, confused, as did the others.

"Looks like I’m exposed," Jenna said, winking flirtatiously.

Korra chuckled and folded her arms, glancing back toward the fort, where the commotion was finally dying down. "I’d rather not risk betting on this smuggler. Let’s take a look at what we’re dealing with before making any decisions."

Orion nodded, shaking his head and choosing to forget whatever antics the two were playing. "I agree. Keep an eye on that smuggler friend of yours until we get a little closer."

"Will do. Entertaining his type proves no challenge," Jenna said with a smirk. "Just flash a little here and flutter your eyelashes, and–

"Enough," Orion sighed. "Just Whisper if he tries anything funny."

"As you command," she replied, dropping an exaggerated curtsey.

I watched her slip back into the crowd, then glanced at Korra. She’d been right, this woman was far from simple. She carried something the other three guards lacked: charm and an unhealthy dose of cunning. They really were a well-rounded team, with abilities and skills that covered all avenues. Setting aside their extreme personalities, I was...excited? It was an unfamiliar feeling, but even if for a short time, I was excited to get to know them better.

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