Chapter 20: Dark Tides

Chapter 20: Dark Tides

Silvia's POV

The caravan rolled forward as dawn crept over the horizon, the pale light casting long shadows over the dusty road. The tension from the previous night's attack still clung to the air. Silvia could see it in the way Tarren's people kept checking their weapons and scanning the hills. Whoever had tipped off the bandits might still be among them.

She adjusted the strap on her shoulder and sighed. "We need to figure out who in this caravan sold us out."

Dragon, sitting beside her on the edge of a supply wagon, twirled a dagger between his fingers. "Agreed. But we also need to be careful. Call someone out without proof, and we'll have the whole caravan turning on us."

She glanced at him. "So we wait until we get ambushed again?"

Dragon smirked. "Or we lay a trap."

Silvia exhaled. She knew Dragon was good at playing mind games, but they didn't have time for long cons. If there was a traitor, they needed to find them before they reached the next city.

The Next Stop

By midmorning, the caravan rolled into a small outpost nestled between rocky cliffs. It wasn't much—just a handful of worn-down buildings, a fueling station, and a single trading post. The settlement barely clung to life, a remnant of the old world that refused to fade completely.

Tarren called for a stop, giving his people time to stretch, refuel, and resupply. Silvia and Dragon stepped down from their wagon, their boots kicking up dust as they surveyed the area.

"I don't like this place," Silvia muttered. Something about it felt... off.

Dragon chuckled. "You don't like most places."

She shot him a look. "I'm serious. There's no movement. No sound of people inside the buildings. It's like this place is... waiting."

Dragon's smirk faded. He took a long look at the empty streets and nodded. "You might be right. Let's not stay long."

A Suspicious Lead

They split up to cover more ground. Silvia wandered into the trading post, keeping a careful hand near the dagger strapped to her thigh. Inside, a lone merchant sat behind the counter, his eyes sunken and wary.

"Looking for something?" the man rasped, voice rough with disuse.

Silvia leaned against the counter. "Information."

The merchant scoffed. "Information ain't free."

She pulled a small silver coin from her pocket and set it down. "Then let's make a trade."

The merchant eyed the coin before nodding. "What do you want to know?"

Silvia leaned in. "This caravan we came with—someone tipped off bandits to hit us last night. You hear anything about a deal being made?"

The merchant's expression darkened. "A man came through two nights ago. Dressed like a traveler, but he wasn't one of us. He was asking about a well-armed caravan passing through. Paid good coin for the details."

Silvia's fingers curled into fists. "What did he look like?"

The merchant hesitated. "Didn't see much of his face. Hooded. But he had a badge—one I've seen before. Corporate. The kind the big city-states use."

Her stomach twisted. If a corporate faction was tracking them, this was bigger than she thought.

A Silent Attack

Silvia stepped outside just as a gunshot rang through the air.

She ducked instinctively, her magic flaring in her veins. Across the street, Dragon was already moving, tackling a gunman who had perched himself on one of the rooftops.

More figures emerged from the alleys, silent, masked, and armed. Not bandits this time. Assassins.

Silvia clenched her fists, fire roaring to life in her palms. "I knew this place felt wrong!"

Dragon, dodging a blade swipe, grinned. "And yet, here we are."

The assassins moved with precision, targeting key members of the caravan. Tarren's men fought back, but the attackers weren't interested in supplies—they wanted Silvia.

One lunged at her. She sidestepped, sending a controlled burst of flames into his chest. He crumpled, but another took his place.

"They're not stopping!" she called to Dragon.

He kicked one attacker off the roof and flipped down to land beside her. "Then we don't either."

The battle was brutal and fast. Silvia barely had time to think, only react. The last assassin, realizing the fight was lost, threw down a smoke bomb and vanished into the chaos.

As the smoke cleared, Silvia's breath came fast. "We need to get out of here. Now."

Dragon wiped blood from his knuckles and nodded. "Agreed."

Tarren jogged over, face grim. "This was a hit squad. They weren't just here for the caravan—they were here for you."

Silvia's stomach dropped. "Then it's time we stop running and start figuring out who's behind this."

A New Mission

The remaining members of the caravan gathered around the fire that evening, their faces shadowed with worry. Tarren addressed them with a sharp voice. "We're moving before sunrise. Anyone who isn't ready will be left behind. We can't afford to stay in one place too long."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd. Silvia stood beside Dragon, arms crossed. "We need to go after the people pulling the strings. Waiting for them to send more assassins isn't an option."

Dragon ran a hand through his hair. "Agreed. But we need to find a lead first. If a corporate faction is tracking us, then we need more than just guesses."

Silvia thought back to the merchant's words. A hooded man with a corporate badge.

"Then we start at the next city," she said firmly. "Someone there will know something."

Dragon grinned. "You're thinking like a hunter now."

She rolled her eyes. "Let's just make sure we don't walk into another trap."

Tarren nodded. "Then we move fast. No more stops. We reach the city by tomorrow night."

Silvia felt a renewed determination settle over her. No more running. This time, they were hunting the hunters.