Chapter 11: The Journey to Kardia

The early morning air was crisp, the sky a soft shade of blue as the group prepared to set off from Ironclad Hold. The capital city of Velmora, Kardia, lay ahead to the east—a journey that would take them several days on horseback.

Cassia stood near the stables, fastening the strap of her leather gloves as she turned toward her uncle, Marcus. His expression was unreadable, his sharp eyes studying her as if memorizing her features.

"You're certain about this?" Marcus finally asked, his voice calm but firm.

Cassia exhaled, giving him a small smile. "I can take care of myself, Uncle. Besides, I won't be alone." She gestured subtly toward the others, who were making their final preparations.

Marcus nodded, but something in his stance remained tense. "Stay vigilant, Cassia," he murmured. "Not all threats wear a familiar face."

She inclined her head, acknowledging his warning before stepping back. Selene approached with an easy stride, leading two horses toward her. One was hers—a sleek mare with a rich, dark brown coat that gleamed under the morning sun. The other was a striking black stallion, its powerful frame exuding quiet strength.

"Lucius has a beautiful horse," Cassia noted, admiring the beast as she adjusted her saddlebag.

Selene smirked, brushing a hand over her mare's neck. "He would say the same about yours, if you had one."

Cassia rolled her eyes but mounted swiftly, falling in line with the others. Ulderic, Dorian, Castor, and Lucius were already waiting, their own horses ready for departure. Lucius sat astride his black stallion with practiced ease, his presence commanding even in silence.

With one last glance at Ironclad Hold, the group set off, hooves kicking up dust as they rode out toward the open road.

...

The first leg of the journey passed in relative peace. The road stretched before them, winding through patches of forest and open plains. Occasionally, they would slow their pace to navigate uneven terrain or stop to let the horses rest, but for the most part, they traveled steadily toward Kardia.

As the sun began its descent, however, Lucius held up a hand, signaling for them to halt.

"Something's off," he muttered, scanning the dense tree line ahead. The others instinctively reached for their weapons, muscles tensing as an unnatural silence settled over the area.

Cassia narrowed her eyes, feeling the familiar prickle of unease at the back of her neck. Then—movement.

A shadow darted between the trees. Then another.

"We're not alone," Ulderic murmured, drawing his sword.

Before anyone could react, masked figures emerged from the trees, clad in dark clothing with their weapons drawn. Their movements were precise, practiced—assassins. But not Kleos Exilium.

Lucius barely had time to register the realization before the attack began.

The first assailant lunged toward Selene, but she maneuvered her horse skillfully, drawing her curved blades as she parried the strike. Dorian and Castor worked in tandem, their movements synchronized as they cut down the nearest attackers.

Cassia barely had a moment to unsheathe her dagger before a figure rushed at her. She ducked under their blade, twisting her body to the side as she countered with a quick slash across their arm.

Lucius, meanwhile, had dismounted, engaging two opponents at once. His black stallion reared up, kicking one of the attackers square in the chest as Lucius dealt with the other. His sword sliced cleanly through the air, forcing his opponent back.

One of the assassins, seeing the tide of the battle turning, suddenly made a reckless move—lunging toward Cassia from behind.

Lucius saw it a second too late.

"Look out!" he barked, moving without thinking.

His blade met the assassin's weapon, diverting the attack away from Cassia—but in doing so, he left himself open. A second assassin seized the moment, their dagger slicing across Lucius' arm.

He gritted his teeth as pain flared through his shoulder, blood already staining the fabric of his sleeve. But there was no time to dwell on the wound. With a sharp twist, he drove his sword into the attacker's side, sending them crumpling to the ground.

The remaining assassins, seeing their numbers dwindling, quickly retreated into the woods, vanishing as swiftly as they had appeared.

The air was heavy with tension, the scent of blood lingering in the aftermath of the skirmish.

Lucius exhaled, rolling his injured shoulder slightly. "They weren't Kleos Exilium," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Cassia turned to him sharply. "You're hurt."

"It's nothing," he dismissed, but the blood dripping from his sleeve said otherwise.

Selene sighed, shaking her head. "We should keep moving. We're too exposed here."

Lucius nodded, reluctantly allowing Cassia to help him back onto his horse. As they resumed their journey toward Kardia, his mind remained troubled.

If these weren't Kleos Exilium assassins, then who had sent them? And why were they after Cassia?

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