Chapter 111: Echoes of the Past

As they descended into the valley, the forest around them grew denser, the trees casting long shadows that made it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. The air was cool, but Rodrigo felt a cold sweat trickling down his neck. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, made his heart skip a beat. He knew they were being hunted.

Dona Maria moved ahead, her movements quick and deliberate. She seemed to know this terrain well, and Rodrigo trusted her instincts. But even she couldn't shake the unease that had settled over them.

"What happens if we can't outrun them?" Rodrigo asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"We'll find a way," Dona Maria replied without turning back. "We always do."

Rodrigo wished he shared her confidence. His thoughts drifted to Sebastião, wondering if he had managed to hold off the hooded man long enough to escape. But deep down, Rodrigo knew they couldn't rely on luck forever. The relic was drawing attention, and with every passing moment, it seemed to be attracting more danger.

They reached a small clearing, and Dona Maria stopped abruptly, her eyes scanning the treeline. Rodrigo could see the tension in her stance. Something wasn't right.

"We're not alone," she whispered.

Rodrigo's hand instinctively went to his dagger, but before he could draw it, a voice rang out from the shadows.

"You've come a long way," the voice said, low and gravelly. "But this is as far as you go."

Two figures stepped out from the trees, their faces obscured by hoods. Rodrigo's grip tightened on his dagger, but he knew they were outnumbered—and possibly outmatched.

Dona Maria stood tall, her eyes narrowing. "We're not looking for trouble."

The taller of the two figures chuckled darkly. "Trouble's already found you."

 Chapter 112: The Old Bonds

The standoff was tense, both sides sizing each other up. Rodrigo's pulse quickened, his mind racing with possible ways out, but each one seemed more futile than the last. The two hooded figures were clearly skilled, their movements calculated, their weapons sharp.

Dona Maria took a step forward, her hands raised in a gesture of peace. "We don't want a fight. We're just passing through."

The taller figure scoffed, pulling back his hood to reveal a face lined with scars. His eyes gleamed with amusement. "You think you can walk away from this? Not with what you're carrying."

Rodrigo felt a jolt of fear. How did they know about the relic?

"Hand it over," the man demanded, taking a step closer. "And maybe we'll let you live."

Dona Maria's hand subtly drifted to the hilt of her sword. "I don't think you know who you're dealing with."

The man smirked. "Oh, I know exactly who you are, Dona Maria. You've got quite the reputation. But even legends fall eventually."

Rodrigo's heart sank. This wasn't just a chance encounter. These men had been hunting them.

Before anyone could react, the second hooded figure lunged at Rodrigo with lightning speed. Rodrigo barely had time to raise his dagger, parrying the blow with a loud clash of steel. The force of the strike sent him stumbling back, but he managed to stay on his feet.

Dona Maria's sword was out in an instant, intercepting the second attacker before he could land another blow. The clearing erupted into chaos as blades clashed, sparks flying in the dim light.

Rodrigo fought to keep up, his movements sluggish compared to the swift, deadly strikes of their opponents. But despite the odds, he refused to go down easily 

 Chapter 113: The First Fall 

The fight stretched on, every swing of Rodrigo's blade feeling heavier than the last. His muscles ached, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. The hooded attackers were relentless, their strikes precise, calculated. Rodrigo's years of survival on the road had taught him how to hold his own in a fight, but this was different. These men were trained killers, and every second of combat made that clear.

Dona Maria was faring better, her movements fluid and deadly. She fought like someone who had faced death countless times and emerged victorious. Her blade was a blur of silver in the dying light, parrying blows with ease, and striking with deadly precision.

But even she couldn't hold off two attackers forever.

Rodrigo barely had time to register the movement before a sharp pain exploded in his side. One of the attackers had slipped past his defenses, a dagger slicing through his shirt and into his flesh. He cried out, stumbling back as blood seeped from the wound.

"Rodrigo!" Dona Maria shouted, her voice laced with urgency.

She fought harder, driving one of the attackers back with a series of rapid strikes. But the other attacker pressed his advantage, moving in for the kill. Rodrigo could see the glint of steel as the man raised his blade, aiming for his heart.

Time seemed to slow. Rodrigo's thoughts raced, but his body was too slow to react. He was going to die.

And then, a sudden force collided with the attacker, knocking him to the ground. Rodrigo blinked, trying to process what had just happened.

Sebastião stood over the fallen attacker, his sword gleaming with blood. His face was a mix of anger and relief, his chest heaving with exertion.

"Get up," Sebastião growled, his voice low. "We're not done yet."

Rodrigo forced himself to his feet, wincing as pain shot through his side. Blood dripped from his wound, but he couldn't stop now. Not when they were so close to escaping.

Dona Maria finished off the second attacker with a swift, final blow. The clearing fell silent, the only sound the ragged breathing of the three survivors.

"We need to move," Sebastião said, his voice tense. "There'll be more of them."

Rodrigo nodded, his mind still spinning from the close call. They had won this fight, but the battle was far from over.

The relic still hummed in his pack, a constant reminder of the danger they were in.