Denna

DENNA

T he tunnel's oppressive darkness pressed in, the steady drip of water echoing off stone walls a constant reminder of the vast weight of earth above us. I stumbled on loose rocks, Korrin's strong hand steadying me.

Frustration bubbled in my chest—was I destined to be a burden after all we'd been through?

Every few steps, pebbles crunched beneath our boots.

We rounded a bend and the tunnel terminated abruptly, opening into a wider passageway that stretched left and right. Korrin paused, cocking his head as if listening for something.

"This way." He nodded right, away from the gurgling water.

I followed without question, trusting his instincts after our harrowing journey. My sword hung ready, the weight reassuring against my hip.

A low rumble, like distant thunder, vibrated through the stone beneath our feet. We rounded the corner and?—

Three massive figures loomed before us, their bodies glowing like molten rock. Lava men, hunger etched into their smoldering faces.

"Back!" Korrin shoved me behind him, sword drawn.

We spun and raced the other direction, but a shallow pool blocked our path. The lava men closed in, their footsteps shaking the ground.

Korrin didn't hesitate. He grabbed me and hurled me into the water. I crashed through the surface, gasping as the cold liquid swallowed me.

Thrashing, I broke through, gulping air just as Korrin engaged the first lava man. Their blades clashed with a shower of sparks.

I scrambled back, drenched but alive thanks to Korrin's quick thinking. As the other two lava men approached the pool's edge, realization struck. Water was their weakness!

Sweeping my arms through the shallow pool, I flung waves of water at the nearest creature. Hissing filled the air as droplets struck its body. Cracks spread across its chest and arms.

It roared, steam billowing from the fissures. I didn't let up, hurling more water with every ounce of my strength. The lava man staggered, its form crumbling.

Korrin ducked a sweeping blow, then buried his sword in the first attacker's chest. It collapsed into a pile of rubble.

The final lava man charged straight for me, oblivious to its ally's demise. I backpedaled, grabbing fistfuls of water to douse it.

Korrin was there in a blur, ramming his shoulder into the creature and knocking it off-balance. ", now!"

I unleashed a torrent, the water splashing across its body. More cracks snaked through its form as it toppled backwards into the pool with an ear-splitting hiss.

Silence fell, broken only by our ragged breathing. Korrin extended his hand, hauling me out of the pool. We stood there, dripping and victorious.

Well, I was dripping. He'd managed to stay remarkably dry.

"Nice work." His eyes danced with pride and something more heated.

Heat blossomed in my cheeks at his approving look. "We make a good team."

His gaze drifted to my lips. "That we do."

The air hung thick with unspoken desire. Korrin's hand slid up to cradle my jaw, calloused thumb brushing my cheek. My pulse thundered in my ears as he slowly leaned closer?—

A distant rumbling echoed down the tunnel, snapping us out of the moment. More lava men, drawn by the commotion.

"We need to move." Regret laced Korrin's tone as he stepped back, gripping his sword once more. "Before they find us."

Reluctantly, I tore my eyes from his chiseled features and scanned our surroundings. The tunnel curved ahead, following the path of that beckoning air current. "This way."

We raced forward, splashing through shallow puddles. The tunnel sloped upward, each step bringing that tantalizing breeze closer. I could taste freedom, feel its electrifying promise.

Rounding a corner, pale sunlight filtered down from above. An exit!

Korrin grabbed my hand, his calloused palm sending tingles up my arm. Without a word, we broke into a sprint.

We burst from the cave mouth into a lush forest, the canopy filtering the sun's golden rays. I drank in the fresh, earthy scents, filling my lungs with air sweeter than ambrosia.

Korrin stood beside me, squinting against the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy.

"Any idea where we are?" I asked, turning slowly to survey our lush surroundings.

He shook his head, brow furrowed. "Not precisely. But I'd wager we're still in the mountains, west of Noemo castle."

The enemy castle. My own mission flooded back—finding the relic to stop the temple's dark plans. How much time had passed while we were trapped underground?

"Korrin, how long were we down there?"

He ran a hand through his tousled hair. "Hard to say for certain. At least a couple of days, I'd guess."

Days. Just days to turn my world upside down. I pushed aside the selfish part of me that had reveled in our quiet time together. But we both had our missions to think about now that we were free.

"Then I suppose we should get moving," I said, turning to scan the terrain. "That ridge looks like it might give us a vantage point to get our bearings."

Korrin nodded, already heading upslope with me close behind. My calves burned from the steep incline, but I tried to keep my breathing steady.

As we climbed higher, breaks appeared in the tree cover, affording glimpses of the surrounding peaks.

Cresting the ridge, I froze at the sight below. A massive stone castle squatted in the valley, its towering walls and parapets almost mocking in their impregnability, positioned between two rivers that converged in a swirling confluence before stretching out into vast plains to the east. A crescent of jagged peaks curved protectively around its western flank.

I crouched low, Korrin mirroring my movements as we studied the fortress. "Is that..." I trailed off, pulse quickening.

He nodded grimly. "That's where our intelligence says Baroness Balinta is being kept."

Korrin's gaze shifted to me, eyes softening. "...when this is over, when we've rescued the baroness, I'll speak with my mother. Ask if I can gift you my pendant."

I blinked, taken aback by the weight of his words, the implied promise. "Korrin, you don't have to?—"

"I want your mission to succeed as well," he cut me off gently. "If it is important to you, it is important to me."

My throat tightened at his words. He truly cared about my quest, not just his own goal. The realization unlocked a swell of affection in my chest.

A twig snapped from the trees behind us. We whirled, hands flying to our sword hilts.

"Turn around. Slowly," a gruff voice ordered from the foliage.

I whirled around, heartbeat loud in my ears.

A grizzled warrior stood there, bow drawn and aimed right at us.

"Roji?" Korrin's deep voice cut through the tension, laced with surprise.

The warrior blinked, eyes widening in shock as he lowered his bow. "Korrin? ?" His voice cracked with disbelief. "You're alive?"

Roji's bushy beard trembled as he stared at us, eyes glistening with unshed tears. The bow slipped from his fingers, clattering to the forest floor.

I became acutely aware of how disheveled and filthy we must look after our underground ordeal. My clothes were tattered, hair a tangled mess, and I could only imagine the state of the dark smudges and bruises covering my skin.

"We thought..." Roji shook his head slowly, words failing him as he drank in our appearances. A trembling hand rose to swipe at his eyes. "The cave-in... We searched but there was no sign..."

A shadow passed over his weathered face. "We mourned you, you know" he said softly. "Held a ceremony and everything." His voice cracked on the last word, and a lump formed in my own throat.

I exchanged a glance with Korrin, his own eyes suspiciously bright.

In a few strides, Korrin closed the distance and gripped Roji's shoulder firmly. "It's us, old friend. We're here."

Roji let out a choked sound, pulling Korrin into a fierce embrace. After a moment's hesitation, I joined them, wrapping my arms around both men.

We stood there amidst the whispering trees, a tangle of arms and ragged breaths, united in our improbable survival. Roji's broad shoulders shook with silent sobs as he clutched us tightly.

Finally, he released us, swiping the back of his hand across his eyes. "Girvek's blade, you gave us all a scare," he rasped with a watery chuckle. "Thought we'd lost our leader for good this time."

Korrin squeezed his arm reassuringly. "You know it'll take more than a few rocks to keep me down."

"Where are the others?" Korrin asked once we'd regained our composure.

Roji sobered, his features tightening. "Not far. We were scouting for another way into that damned fortress when I picked up your trail." His mouth set in a grim line. "Too many were injured in the collapse to risk our original plan."

"Take us to them," Korrin said, leaving no room for argument. "We'll figure out our next move together."

Nodding, Roji turned and set off at a brisk pace, weaving between the towering tree trunks with the ease of long experience. Korrin and I fell into step behind him, the crunch of our bootsteps muffled by the thick carpet of fallen leaves and pine needles.

As we walked, Roji filled us in on the situation, his gruff tones echoing through the still forest air.

"After you two went missing, we had no choice but to retreat and regroup. Surant took a nasty gash to his leg and Jaix broke several ribs." He shook his head, mouth pressed into a hard line. "Wasn't an easy call, abandoning the mission like that, but we were down too many able bodies to attempt another breach."

The trees thinned out, sunlight filtering through in bright splashes. Roji slowed to a stop, gesturing for us to wait as he scouted ahead.

A few tense moments passed before he reappeared, jerking his head for us to follow. "This way."

We emerged into a small clearing occupied by several large tents and a handful of men clustered around a low-burning fire. At our approach, they looked up, and a chorus of stunned gasps and exclamations erupted.

"Korrin! Blessed ancestors, you live!"

"And the Frostling too!"

The men surged to their feet, abandoning their tasks to swarm us in a tide of relieved embraces and raucous backslapping.

I found myself passed from one set of burly arms to the next, the air filled with joyous laughter and ribald jokes about our rumored demise. Despite their rough exteriors, the depth of emotion blazing in their eyes was unmistakable.

These were no mere warriors, I realized as Surant—his leg heavily bandaged—swept me up in a bone-crushing hug. They were a brotherhood bound by something deeper than blood, united in a way that transcended rank or status.

And for some inexplicable reason, they had accepted me as one of their own.

As I was finally released, I found myself gazing at Korrin. His eyes shone with a profound sense of belonging, of being home among his kin after facing the abyss.

I would do whatever it took to help him succeed.

No matter the cost.