Chapter 17: Crossing Borders
Chapter 17: Crossing Borders
Silvia's POV
Silvia and Dragon sprinted through the darkened streets, their boots pounding against the cobblestone as they navigated through the maze of back alleys leading away from the docks. The alarm bells hadn't rung yet, but she knew they were working on borrowed time. The enforcers wouldn't let a stolen package delivery go unnoticed for long.
"We need to get to Rook before they close the exits," Dragon muttered, his voice even despite the fast pace.
Silvia clenched her jaw. "You think he's going to be thrilled when he finds out we left a mess behind?"
Dragon shot her a grin. "He's a smuggler, sweetheart. 'Messy' is part of the job description."
They turned a corner, cutting across a rickety wooden bridge spanning over the lower canals of Ashen Hold. The water below was murky, reflecting the glow of flickering streetlamps. Silvia risked a glance over her shoulder—no pursuers yet, but she wasn't about to get comfortable.
As they neared Rook's shop, Dragon held up a hand, signaling for her to stop. He scanned the street ahead, his golden eyes narrowing.
"Something's off," he murmured.
Silvia tensed. "Trap?"
Dragon nodded. "Wouldn't be surprised. Let's go in quiet."
A Sudden Betrayal
They slipped through the side entrance of Rook's shop, careful to avoid making noise. The place was eerily quiet. No humming machinery, no muttered curses from the smuggler's usual tinkering. Silvia's pulse quickened.
She spotted movement in the back room. Dragon reached for his dagger, but before they could react, Rook stepped into the light, hands raised.
Silvia let out a breath, relief flashing through her—until she noticed the gun pressed to his back.
A man stepped out behind him, clad in sleek black tactical gear, his face hidden beneath a reinforced helmet. The kind of elite mercenaries that only the most powerful factions could afford.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," the mercenary said, his voice distorted through his helmet's modulator.
Silvia felt Dragon shift beside her, ready to strike. She laid a hand on his arm, stopping him—not yet.
"What do you want?" Silvia demanded.
The mercenary chuckled. "Not much. Just you. Our employers would like a chat."
Silvia's heart pounded. Whoever had been hunting her had finally caught up.
Dragon exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, see, that's not happening."
Rook gritted his teeth. "Sorry, Silvia. They made it clear I didn't have a choice."
Silvia's gaze hardened. "You always have a choice."
The mercenary's grip on his weapon tightened. "Enough talk."
Dragon moved first.
A Desperate Fight
In the blink of an eye, Dragon kicked the nearest crate, sending a pile of metal scraps tumbling into the mercenary. Silvia reacted just as fast, igniting a blast of fire in her palm and hurling it toward another armed figure who stepped through the back door.
Chaos erupted.
Rook ducked, rolling away as Dragon slammed his elbow into the mercenary's helmet, sending him staggering. Silvia turned, fire flaring around her fingers as she launched another burst at the remaining guards trying to push their way inside.
One managed to dodge, raising a rifle. Silvia dropped low, sweeping her leg out to knock his feet from under him before grabbing a nearby wrench and smashing it against his visor. The glass cracked, but didn't break.
"Little help?" Silvia called.
Dragon was already there, yanking the man up by his collar and slamming his head into a workbench. The mercenary slumped, unconscious.
Rook scrambled to his feet, panting. "You idiots just made my shop a war zone!"
Dragon wiped his hands off on his coat. "You're welcome."
Silvia's stomach twisted as she heard the distant sound of sirens. More enforcers were coming.
"We need to move—now."
The Escape Route
Rook cursed under his breath but didn't argue. He led them through a trapdoor beneath a stack of crates, revealing an old, half-flooded tunnel that smelled like rust and stagnant water.
"This leads outside the city?" Silvia asked, already hating the idea of walking through waist-high sewage.
Rook nodded. "It'll take you to a waterway that connects to the trade routes. There's a cargo ship leaving in an hour. If you're lucky, you can stow away and be out of Ashen Hold before dawn."
Silvia exchanged a glance with Dragon. It wasn't ideal, but it was their only shot.
"Fine," she said. "Let's go."
As they climbed down into the tunnel, the distant clang of metal doors being forced open told Silvia they were seconds away from being surrounded.
Dragon looked at her, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Ever wanted to take a midnight swim?"
Silvia groaned. "I hate you."
"Yeah, yeah." He grinned. "Let's go."
With that, they waded into the dark water, the cold seeping through Silvia's clothes almost immediately.
She hissed at the temperature. "This is miserable."
Dragon chuckled, moving ahead. "Think of it as an adventure."
Silvia grumbled. "I'd rather not."
The tunnel stretched on for what felt like forever, winding beneath the city. Water sloshed around their legs, and distant echoes hinted at other tunnels connecting to the passage. Silvia kept her fire low, a flickering glow barely lighting the way forward.
Dragon suddenly stopped, his ears twitching. "Wait."
Silvia froze, senses sharpening. "What?"
A faint sound drifted from ahead—voices, low murmurs carrying through the damp air.
Dragon pulled Silvia to the side, pressing her against the curved tunnel wall as he whispered, "Looks like we're not the only ones sneaking around."
Silvia exhaled. "Terrific."
They moved cautiously, inching forward until they spotted the source—a group of figures huddled around a lantern, whispering over what looked like stolen supplies. Smugglers, possibly. Or worse.
Silvia tightened her grip on her power, just in case. "What now?"
Dragon smirked. "We watch, we listen, and if they try anything stupid…" He flexed his fingers. "We introduce them to our charming personalities."
Silvia rolled her eyes but kept quiet, her pulse steady as they observed from the shadows.
The escape wasn't over yet.