Korrin

KORRIN

I gripped the map tightly, the morning sun beating down as we waited outside the castle gates. A chill ran through me despite the heat, thoughts of Denna and our argument last night pushed aside.

I'd left her back in camp with the wounded, and her absence gnawed at me.

Focus, . The baroness's safety—our people's future—hinged on this moment.

The castle doors creaked open. Lord Orland strode out, flanked by a dozen warriors and Captain Lyxar. My men tensed, hands on sword hilts.

Orland's eyes glittered with malice as he approached. "Ah, and his merry band of outlaws," he purred, voice oily. "How the mighty have fallen. Tell me, how does it feel to betray everything you hold dear?"

I clenched my jaw, fighting the urge to wipe that condescending smirk off his face. "You've won, Orland. Let's not waste time."

He chuckled, the sound grating. "Don't blame me, dear boy. You could have ended this two moons ago. Did it really take this long for your foolish pride to wear down?"

"The map, ," he demanded, hand outstretched.

I unfurled the parchment, its markings clear despite smudges. "First, we see the hostage unharmed."

Orland's jaw clenched, lips pressing together in fury for a moment before he forced himself back under control. Turning towards the castle wall, he raised his arms and bellowed, "Bring her out!"

My heart pounded as a tiny figure was led out onto the ramparts high above us. My breath caught at her familiar form, the proud tilt of her chin.

"There, you see she lives," Orland sneered. "Now, the map."

Steeling myself, I stepped forward and held it up. "See for yourself. But this had better not be a trick. My men will cut you down before you can blink."

Orland's eyes narrowed, but snapped an order over his shoulder. "Lyxar! Come here."

The bastard knelt at his master's side.

"Check this out, will you?" Orland reached for the map, but I handed it to Roji instead.

"Mind playing guide?"

Roji took the map and stored it safely inside his vest. "I'd rather not, but you know I will."

Of course he would. Denna had foreseen this, made her plans well.

"Try not to be all day about it," Orland snapped. "Lyxar, I'll wait for your report."

Lyxar whistled sharply, and two villarts were brought forward. As they prepared to ride out and verify the map's coordinates, I fought to keep my expression impassive. This had to work.

Orland turned on his heel and headed back towards the castle's arched entrance.

"Wait!" I called after him. "What are you doing?"

He paused, glancing over his shoulder with an infuriating smirk. "I've waited long enough for you fools to deliver the map. I'm not going to stand around outside while Lyxar verifies the location."

A knot twisted in my gut. How long could I trust Orland to keep the baroness unharmed? I scanned the ramparts, searching for her small figure among the cluster of guards.

But to protest might provoke him. The smug bastard clearly enjoyed having the upper hand, lording his power over us. Any demands from me could give him an excuse to retaliate against Baroness Balinta or renege on our deal entirely.

Grinding my teeth, I gave a short nod. "Very well. We'll await Lyxar's report."

Orland's smile widened a fraction before he disappeared inside, the heavy gate slamming shut behind him. My shoulders slumped as the hostage was led away, lost from my view.

"Easy." Vornn's calming voice came from beside me. "Denna's plan is sound. We just need to trust in that."

I blew out a long breath, reining in my frustration. "You're right. Let's pull back to the tree line and wait for them to return."

With a subtle hand gesture, I signaled my men to retreat into the forest's edge. Concealed among the thick trunks and underbrush, we'd have clear sightlines to the castle's approach but be sheltered from any archers on the battlements.

The hours crept by as we waited in tense silence for their return. I paced restlessly, my mind alternating between picturing Denna's stricken look when I had accused her of trying to be rid of me, and imagining the baroness's face when she learned I'd turned over the map.

My thoughts were interrupted as the villarts crested the hill in the distance. Roji and Lyxar had returned.

Once again, the castle gates opened, the squad of warriors surrounding their lord as he emerged. As Lyxar and Roji drew near, Orland stepped forward to meet them, fists clenched. "Well? Is it the true location?"

Lyxar swung down from his villart, boots crunching on the dirt path. "There's an opening in the mountain, just like the map showed." He wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "We followed the tunnel down for a ways. The walls had streaks of silver ore glinting through."

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral despite the surge of hope in my chest. "That's just the start of it. The main veins run much deeper underground."

Orland's bushy eyebrows rose slightly at that. Good, let the greedy bastard envision piles of gleaming riches.

"Well?" Orland demanded, his tone impatient. "Is it worth pursuing further or not?"

I allowed a faint smirk to tug at the corner of my mouth. "I don't think you want to waste any more time. Why don't we seal this deal?"

Orland's eyes narrowed, but he extended his hand. "The map first."

"Not so fast." I held up my palm to halt him. "The baroness comes with us. Then you'll get your map."

His face flushed an angry red, but before he could protest, I cut him off. "Those were the terms. Baroness Balinta is released unharmed back into my custody. Then the location is yours."

Orland glared, but I didn't move. Couldn't.

It all came down to this.

Finally, he broke. Turning towards the castle ramparts, he bellowed, "Bring her down!"

My heart thudded as a tiny figure was escorted out by two burly guards. The Baroness of Trellen. Not a hair out of place in her upswept hair, her gaze as steely as ever. Her robes were crumpled, the rich embroidery at the hem nearly obscured by dirt, but the indomitable spark that held the Wandering Nation together still burned bright.

As she drew closer, I could make out the thunderous scowl etched into the deep creases of her weathered face. When her piercing gaze found me in the crowd, her eyes narrowed to slits.

"!" she barked out in that scratchy voice that could still cow the fiercest warriors. "What in the seven hells do you think you're doing, boy?"

I swallowed hard but stood my ground. "What I have to do to secure your freedom."

The baroness opened her mouth, no doubt to unleash another blistering rebuke, but Orland cut her off with an impatient wave of his hand.

"Yes, yes, very moving." His lip curled in a sneer. "But I've upheld my end of the bargain. Now for that map."

Lyxar prodded the baroness forward while Roji reached into his vest for the tattered parchment. My heart skipped as Orland's eyes lit up with avarice. This was it, the moment of truth for Denna's plan.

As Roji extended the map, I fought to keep my face totally still. One wrong move, one hint of deception, and everything would unravel. I held my breath, muscles coiled and ready to spring into action at the slightest provocation.

With a subtle hand signal, I indicated for my men to be ready. If this went sideways...

But Roji didn't hand over the map to Orland. Instead, he extended it towards Lyxar, who traded it for the baroness's arm in one smooth motion.

Swiftly, I moved the baroness to stand behind me. Orland took the map from Lyxar, a slow smile spreading over his face as he traced the route of the map.

"That the mine was so close," he mused. "It's the will of the gods that I find it."

Orland's smile vanished as he crumpled the map in his fist. "Seize them!"

In an instant, chaos erupted. Lyxar lunged at me, eyes blazing with vengeance. I dodged his wild swing, my fist connecting with his jaw. He stumbled back, spitting blood.

"Roji! Protect the baroness!" I shouted, drawing my sword.

Steel clashed against steel as my men engaged Orland's guards. The air filled with grunts and cries of pain. I parried a vicious thrust from Lyxar, his blade whistling past my ear.

"I've been waiting for this, ," he snarled, pressing his attack.

I sidestepped, letting his momentum carry him forward. My elbow slammed into the back of his head, sending him sprawling.

Nearby, Roji fought back-to-back with the baroness. Despite her age, she moved with deadly grace, Roji's dagger in her hand flashing as she fended off attackers.

"Your Highness, stay close!" Roji yelled, his sword a blur of motion.

I scanned the battlefield, assessing our position. We were outnumbered, but my men held their own. Orland cowered behind his guards, barking orders.

"Take them alive! I want 's head on a spike!"

Lyxar scrambled to his feet, murder in his eyes. He charged at me again, but this time, I was ready. I sidestepped his lunge, bringing my sword down hard on his wrist. His weapon clattered to the ground as he howled in pain.

With a swift kick to his chest, I sent him tumbling back into his own men. They fell in a tangle of limbs and curses.

"Vornn! On your left!" I shouted, spotting a guard flanking him.

Vornn spun, his ax cleaving through the man's armor like parchment. He flashed me a grin before diving back into the fray.

The tide of battle shifted in our favor. Orland's men, realizing they were outmatched, began to falter. I cut down two more guards, clearing a path to their leader.

"It's over, Orland!" I called out. "Call off your men before more blood is spilled!"

His face contorted with rage. "Never! I'll see you all hanged for this treachery!"

Suddenly, a blur of motion caught my eye. The baroness had slipped past the guards and now stood behind Orland, her dagger pressed against his throat.

"I think not, you sniveling worm," she hissed in his ear.

The fighting ground to a halt as both sides realized the standoff. Orland's eyes bulged, a thin line of blood trickling down his neck where the blade bit into his skin.

"Order your men to stand down," I commanded, leveling my sword at his chest. "Now."

Orland swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing against the dagger's edge. "S-stand down," he croaked. "All of you, stand down!"

His soldiers lowered their weapons, looking uncertainly between their master and us. Lyxar glared at me, cradling his injured wrist.

"Roji, gather our wounded," I ordered, not taking my eyes off Orland. "We're leaving."

"You can't just walk away!" Orland sputtered. "The map?—"

"Is yours, as agreed," I cut him off. "The baroness for the map. Those were the terms."

We backed away slowly, keeping Orland between us and his men. The baroness maintained her iron grip, her eyes daring anyone to make a move.

As we reached the edge of the forest, I addressed Orland one last time. "Remember this day, Orland. We kept our word, even when you tried to betray us. That's the difference between you and us."

With a nod to the baroness, she released him with a shove. Orland stumbled forward, rubbing his neck and glaring daggers at us.

"This isn't over, ," he spat. "I'll hunt you down to the ends of the earth!"

I allowed myself a small smile. "I'm counting on it."

With that, we melted into the shadows of the trees, leaving Orland and his men behind. As we went deeper into the forest, I caught snippets of conversation from my men.

"Did you see the look on Lyxar's face when the captain decked him?"

"I can't believe we pulled that off. No wonder she's our baroness."

I glanced at the woman in question, walking tall despite her ordeal. She met my gaze with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't think this means I approve of your methods, boy," she said. "We'll have words about this later."

I nodded, knowing full well the lecture that awaited me. But for now, we had succeeded. The baroness was safe, and Orland had his map.

At least, he thought he did. And that was enough.

As we neared our camp, a figure emerged from the trees ahead. My heart soared as I recognized Denna's golden hair gleaming in the dappled sunlight.

Her eyes widened as she took in our battered state. "! What happened? Is everyone?—"

Denna's words cut off as her gaze fell on the baroness.

The baroness's eyes narrowed, her gaze swinging back to me. "," she said, voice low, "who exactly is this?"