Chapter 19: The King's Dogs

The mounds of soil that lay before our feet didn't look so out of place in the charred field where they lay. I felt exhausted from burring the bodies all afternoon. I let out a sigh as finish piling the dirt on the last grave. Stella wanders over with some yellow dandelions in hand. She wanders along the rows to pay a visit to each mound while placing a flower on top of each one. Her eyes are filled with sorrow and distance as she walks back to us.

"Why am I alive?" She asks in a quiet voice. "Why me and not them?"

"Well that's a question you'd have to ask Order." Cynthia replies calmly. "But what we know is that they'd all be happy you're here."

Stella lowers her gaze to the earth. "I think I'm ready to go."

Cynthia nods and I watch them head back hand in hand to the horse. Standing alone in the field I can still smell the char from the nights before. The gentle breeze whisks through my cloak as I look down at the graves with an aching heart. How can someone slaughter a bunch of orphans so mercilessly? I shake my head at the thought.

"I'll avenge you, in one way or another." I say to no one before turning around to head back to the girls. I'm greeted with a loud yap from Lucy as she bounds around Teddy's feet.

"Where to now?" Stella asks.

"We were heading for the Crestia mountain peaks to search for the elf village. Though, you're here now and I don't think this journey is kid friendly." I reply.

"Why don't we bring her back to Aelia?" Cynthia suggests. "She can stay at the orphanage in town."

"You're just going to ditch me now?" Stella whimpers, balling her hands into fists.

"It's just not safe out here, besides you just barely escaped the Houndstooth men." I retort.

"But I don't want to go!" She shrieks, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Perhaps we can bring her along until we get back. If we stay far away from the city of Crestia itself it shouldn't be as risky, right?" Cynthia suggests with caution.

"If you insist." I sigh, backing down. "I would rather not be responsible for anything happening to her."

"B-But you're a hero Darwin, you can protect us." Stella stutters.

"I suppose you're right." I say with false confidence. "Just promise me you'll do as you're told, even if you don't like it."

"I promise." Stella nods, wiping her face.

"Let's try to breach the city outskirts before nightfall, I don't trust it out here anymore." I start jogging along the path. I can hear Teddy follow close behind in a trot. We continue along the trail as the sun begins to glow orange in the sky and the air around us begins to cool drastically. I can feel my legs becoming more resistant to the burns I felt before. Perhaps this was proof of my improvement. My mind continues to wander through the possible lives of the children in the burnt cart. What were they like? How could they have come to a point of risking their own lives to escape the city? I know it's fruitless to ponder over questions that can't be answered but my curiosity only peaks.

"Master Darwin, why don't we stop for a bit, we're close to the city borders and it's quite dark." Cynthia hollers from behind, snapping me out of my daze.

"Sure, let's head off the trail then." I suggest, slowing myself down before turning left off the path into the brush. We climb up a slight incline and finally find a spot where the trees part just enough to make a camp.

"I've never been camping before. Is this camping?" Stella exclaims, sliding off Teddy's back.

"You could call it that." I say, pulling our supplies off Teddy. "Fish for dinner?" I suggest, pulling out a pack of salted fish.

"Yummy!" Stella says, edging closer to get a better look.

"I'll start a fire. Stella why don't you go get some kindling?" Cynthia says, hauling over some rocks into the middle of the camp.

"On it!" She says, saluting stiffly before robotically marching into the woods as Lucy chases after her. Cynthia watches her go before beginning to arrange the stones in a circle.

"Strange one isn't she?" I say, placing the fish beside the firepit.

"I think she's just having trouble understanding how to feel after everything."

"Makes sense." I say, leaning in to help her. "I just want her to be somewhere safe and here isn't safe."

"I know, but it's not like we're headed back to Aelia any time soon." Cynthia mutters.

"I have the sticks! Lucy fetch!" Stella hollers, tossing a large branch infront of her. Lucy bounds after it, picking it up in her jaws. The dog proudly parades around the camp with it. "Sorry, she's not good at bring it back." Stella apologizes, dropping the armful of kindling beside the pit.

"Thank you, Stella." Cynthia says, sparking some flint to set the wood ablaze. I pull out the pieces of fish and skewer them on some longer branches accordingly.

"Here, when the fire grows a bit more you can cook it." I say, handing Stella a branch. She nods enthusiastically, watching the fire intently. I hand one to Cynthia and hoist mine over the fire. The flames begin to seize and crackle as they begin eating away at more of the wood.

"Are you two married?" Stella asks innocently. Cynthia's cheeks swell up in a light pink. I bite my tongue.

"N-no, she's my attendant." I reply.

"Oh... Does that mean you're dating?"

"No." I say bluntly. "It's her job, right Cynthia?" I peer over my shoulder. She nods slowly. Stella squints smugly before shrugging.

"If you say so..." She chimes, spinning her fish on the stick before pulling it out of the fire. "Mm, it looks so tasty." She chirps while tapping her feet in a little dance of anticipation. I pull my stick out of the fire.

"Just eat it off the stick." I say, blowing on my own piece to cool it off before taking a bite. Stella mimics me without hesitation.

"So good." She mumbles, sitting herself down before taking another bite. "I think I like camping." She says in between chewing.

"Well, that's good because you'll be camping for awhile until we're back in Aelia."

"Camping!" Stella giggles, dropping a piece of fish for Lucy who eagerly wolfs it down.

"She can use my mat tonight." I mumble to Cynthia.

"Are you sure? I can always share." She says.

"It's fine, you both need a good sleep."

"Hey look! Fireflies!" Stella squeals, pointing through the trees in the direction of the path. I pause my thought to squint through the tree trunks. Little orange lights in the distance light up the dark woods. I feel the sense of dread creep up my spine.

"Uh- those aren't fireflies Stella." I whisper as I see them growing in size and number.

"What should we do?" Cynthia whispers.

"Just stay calm for now, we don't know what they want." I hiss under my breath, hearing the sound of footsteps over dries leaves approach. I clutch my sword hilt while eyeballing the torches. Then I hear something else, the sound of feet flying across the forest floor. Ones far too fast to be human. Lucy let's a snarl rip from her throat, for such a friendly dog it throws me off guard. Out of the corner of my eye I see a dark shadow leap towards me. A large black dog lunges towards me and sinks it's teeth into my arm. I grunt, fighting it with the rest of my strength before getting it to loosen it's grip. I slide my sword from Locke out of my cloak. The dog snarls and turns it's attention towards Stella. Lucy jumps in front of it and the two dogs wrestle each other into the ground. Lucy thrashes around, jaws flying as they wriggle in a mass of fur on the forest floor. Whimpers and growls fly astray into the night as Stella shrieks in horror.

"Help her!" She screams as I watch the dog fight. It's difficult to aim for the right dog as they scuffle with each other. Lucy let's out a wail. The black dog is three times her size, if I don't do anything soon it might not end well. I take a deep breath and land a hefty kick into the black dog's side. It growls and flips it's head towards me, foam and blood leaking from it's jowls. I grit my teeth and sink my blade into it's throat. It yelps and continues to try and snap at me in a strange fit of possession before falling into a heap. Stella wails and rushes over to Lucy whose white fur is stained a bright red. She gets to her feet and wags her tail at the little girl.

"Take Stella and get out of here." I spit, urging them out as the sound of footsteps draws closer. Cynthia nods and ushers Stella along back towards Teddy. I turn my back to them, my bloody sword at my side.

Whoever these people were had no good intentions.