Chapter 12: A New Encounter

Juhtmed sat in silence after Arelion left, the Emperor's order pressing down on him. The others remained seated around the table, their expressions mirroring his unease.

Kaldor was the first to speak, breaking the silence. "So, what now? Do you will just pack up and leave?"

Juhtmed's gaze remained fixed on the inverted crescent moon symbol etched into the crossbow. "We have no others choice," he said quietly.

Kaldor leaned forward. "If you leaving i could sent you reports of what we find i still Dervain servant and they couldn't find someone more informed like me so i doubt they will keep me away from the investigation?"

Juhtmed met his gaze, his expression unreadable. "I appreciate it if you can do that."

Kaitsja lean back in his chair. "You're doing something dangerous, Juhtmed. this guy isn't the type to ignore defiance. And if he find that your informed about that case.."

"I know," Juhtmed interrupted. "But im not interfering with the case, i just keep informed on it and. He won't act unless I give him a reason to."

Lian broke the tension with a deep sigh, standing from her seat. "Well, if we're going to leave, we need to make sure we don't look like we're up to something. And we can't risk him taking action against us—or Kaldor."

Kaitsja raised an brow at her. "You think he'd actually act on it? The guy's your uncle, Juhtmed."

Juhtmed gave a bitter chuckle, leaning back in his chair. "Family or not, Arelion serves the Emperor first. Family ties won't mean anything if he thinks I'm a threat."

Lian frowned but didn't argue. She crossed her arms and paced the room. "Then we make it look like you're following orders to the letter. Kaldor can handle the subtle work here."

Juhtmed nodded slowly. "You're right."

Kaldor leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "I can arrange to keep my ear to the ground here. And give you any information i can gather here..."

Juhtmed's nodded. "Its what we will do."

The room fell into silence again, each member of the group lost in their thoughts. The stakes were higher than ever, and one wrong step could doom them all.

Later that night, Juhtmed stood at the edge of their quarters, staring out at the city. The quiet hum of activity below felt almost mocking—life continued as normal, even as the rebelle tension brewed in the shadows.

He turned when he heard soft footsteps behind him. Lian approached, her expression cautious.

"Do you trust Arelion your highness?" she asked quietly.

Juhtmed shook his head. "I don't trust any member of my family. your'e the only one who know about my memory loss, i can't trust any of them."

Lian studied him for a moment before nodding. "You're carrying a lot on your shoulders. Your highness."

Juhtmed gave a faint smile. "I'm not the same i use to be. If this rebellion has any chance of succeeding—or being stopped—I can't afford to hesitate."

She smiled back faintly. "Good. Because I have a feeling things are going to get a lot worse before they get better."

At dawn, the group prepared to leave. Their belongings are packed, and the horses were saddled. Arelion's vanguard waited outside the city gates.

Kaldor lingered by Juhtmed's side, his expression grim. "I'll keep you informed as best I can."

Juhtmed clasped his shoulder. "Take care of yourself and keep an eye on Ronin. If you find anything, send word immediately."

Kaldor nodded, stepping back as Juhtmed mounted his horse. The group rode toward the gates, their departure watched closely by Arelion's men.

As they passed through the gates, Arelion himself rode alongside Juhtmed. His eyes scanned the road ahead, his expression unreadable.

"You made the right choice kid," Arelion said after a moment.

Juhtmed glanced at him, his voice carefully neutral. "Did I have another choice?"

Arelion smirked faintly. "There's always another choice. You just have to be willing to accept the consequences of the others."

Juhtmed didn't reply. The road to the capital stretched before him.

But one thing was certain—this was only the beginning.

The ride toward the capital was uneventful at first, the group traveling under the watchful eyes of Arelion's vanguard. Juhtmed rode in silence.

Arelion broke the silence after a few hours. "You don't seem happy to return to the capital. Not that I blame you."

Juhtmed glanced at him, his expression guarded. "The capture of Rovan was personal to me."

Arelion's smile was faint and sharp. "I know this feeling to wanted to prove yourself, but you might have other chances."

Juhtmed's jaw tightened. "Is that supposed to be comforting?"

"Im not trying to comforting you." Arelion replied.

As the group approached the outskirts of the first major city on their route, the mood shifted. The vanguard slowed, their commander raising a hand to halt the group. Arelion turned in his saddle, scanning the surrounding hills.

"Something is wrong," he muttered.

Juhtmed tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his dague. Lian and Kaitsja exchanged a glance, both ready for trouble.

"What is it?" Juhtmed asked.

Arelion's sharp gaze didn't waver. "We're being followed."

Moments later, an arrow whistled through the air, striking the dirt just ahead of the lead rider. The vanguard reacted instantly, forming a defensive circle around Juhtmed and the others.

Arelion drew his sword. "Show yourselves!" he shout.

A group of figures emerged, their faces obscured by dark hoods. They were armed but didn't attack, their leader stepping forward with a raised hand.

"We didn't mean to harm you," the figure said, their voice muffled. "We only want to talk."

Arelion's expression darkened. "Talk? Ambushing the Emperor's vanguard isn't exactly a way to start a conversation."

Juhtmed narrowed his eyes at the leader. "Who are you?"

The figure pulled back their hood, revealing a young woman with striking features and piercing crimson eyes.

"I'm someone who wants to help," she said, her gaze locking onto his. "And if you're smart, Your Highness, you'll listen."

Arelion's sword was at her throat in an instant. "Give me one reason not to cut you down where you stand."

The woman didn't flinch. "We make a mistake we thought you were Rovan men, i didn't know the emperor send a part of his army here."

Juhtmed dismounted, his pulse quickening. "What do you know about Rovan?"

She glanced at Arelion's sword, then back at Juhtmed. "More than you do. But if you want answers, you'll have to trust me. And we don't have much time."

Arelion growled. "This is a waste of time. We don't take orders from insurgents."

Juhtmed raised a hand, silencing him. His gaze remained fixed on the woman. "If you know something, speak quickly. We're not exactly in a position to trust strangers."

The woman hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "The inverted crescent moon—this symbol you're chasing—it's more than just a mark. It's bigger than what you can imagine."

Juhtmed's stomach churned. "Do you have any proof of what you advance?"

She nodded. "I do but not here, a part of it is in the city ahead."

Arelion eyes narrowed. "What if all of this is a trick..."

"It's not," the woman said firmly. "I want this to stop as much as you do. But you can't do it alone. Not with the Emperor breathing down your neck." as she look at juhtmed.

Juhtmed studied her for a long moment, weighing his options. Finally, he nodded. "I'll go with her, to the city...tell your companions to stay with the vanguard. But if this is a trap, you'll regret it."

The woman smiled faintly. "You're not the one I'm worried about."

As she go back to her companions, Arelion turned to Juhtmed, his expression grim. "We need to talk about this. Now."

Juhtmed met his gaze. "I know what your thinking, but if her intentions align with ours its better to trust her..."

"Do you think ill let you go alone with her, we can't even know if what she say its true." he replied.

Juhtmed sigh, "If you are this uncertain just tell one of your man to come with me just in case, and for you return to the Dervain estate and do what the emperor had assign you."

 Arelion pinches his nose, "And if all this is a lie what are you going to do?"

"I'll just let her go since she couldn't be a threat alone and all her companions are in your custody." Juhtmed said while advancing towards kaitsja and Lian.

Lian turn to him as she sense him approach. "What do we do now, your highness." she asked.

"Were going to follow that girl to the next city and see if what she say is the truth." he said.

"Do you really believe what she said about the information we want are in the next city?" she replied with concerns. 

"I don't know but if she telling the truth that will be a great help." Kaitsja didn't say a word and look at the woman who still with his group.

Lian then said. "Fine i follow your judgement, your highness."

"What the name of the city ahead." he ask as Lian respond "If im not wrong the name is kõrgus."