Chapter 11 – The Pursuit Begins

The morning mist clung to the rolling countryside as the carriage hurtled down the dirt road, its wheels churning through the damp earth. Eleanor sat rigid, her hands clenched in her lap, eyes fixed on the narrow, winding path ahead. The rhythmic clatter of hooves against the ground was both reassuring and foreboding—a reminder that every passing second carried them closer to freedom, yet left their pursuers little time to catch up.

Sebastian sat beside her, his body tense, his hand never straying far from the hilt of his dagger. Though his expression remained unreadable, Eleanor knew the weight of their escape pressed heavily upon him. He had taken a dangerous risk, not just in helping her flee, but in defying Nathaniel. And Nathaniel was not a man who accepted betrayal lightly.

"They will come for us," she murmured, unable to suppress the fear tightening in her chest.

Sebastian's gaze flickered to her, his dark eyes filled with determination. "Let them."

His confidence should have reassured her, but instead, it only reminded her of the magnitude of what they had done. Her brother would stop at nothing to reclaim what he believed was his—his sister, his control, his pride. And in his eyes, Sebastian was nothing more than a thief who had dared to steal from him.

A sharp knock against the carriage's roof made Eleanor jump. The driver's voice filtered through the wooden frame, urgent and clipped. "We're being followed."

Her breath hitched. Sebastian was already moving, shifting to peer out the back window. His jaw tightened. "Riders. Three of them."

Panic surged through her. "Nathaniel?"

"I can't tell." He turned back to her, eyes blazing. "We need to leave the carriage. Now."

"But—"

"There's no time, Eleanor. If they catch us on the road, we'll have nowhere to run."

She swallowed hard but nodded. Trusting him had brought her this far, and she would not falter now.

Sebastian rapped on the carriage wall. "Stop the horses."

The driver obeyed without question. The moment the carriage lurched to a halt, Sebastian swung the door open, stepping onto the road before reaching for her. She placed her hand in his without hesitation, allowing him to pull her down. The damp earth soaked through the hem of her gown as she landed beside him, but there was no time to care.

Sebastian turned to the driver. "Take the carriage forward. Draw them away."

The man hesitated only a moment before nodding, snapping the reins, and setting the horses into motion once more. As the carriage disappeared down the road, Sebastian pulled Eleanor toward the dense woodland bordering the path.

"Come on," he urged, leading her into the shadows of the trees.

The moment they were concealed by the thick foliage, Eleanor chanced a glance over her shoulder. The riders had reached the road's crest, their dark figures silhouetted against the rising sun. She couldn't make out their faces, but the urgency in their pursuit was unmistakable.

Sebastian tightened his grip on her hand. "We keep moving. No matter what happens, do not stop."

She nodded, her heartbeat roaring in her ears.

They pressed on, weaving through the underbrush, their steps muffled by the damp ground. Branches snagged at Eleanor's skirts, leaves brushed against her skin, but she barely noticed. Her mind was focused only on the promise of escape.

Then—a shout.

They had been seen.

Sebastian cursed under his breath. "Run."

And so they did. The world around them became a blur of green and gold, sunlight filtering through the treetops as they fled deeper into the forest. The sound of hooves crashing through the undergrowth grew louder behind them, the pursuit relentless.

Eleanor's breath came in ragged gasps, her muscles screaming in protest, but she refused to slow. She had made her choice, and she would see it through. She would not be caged again.

Sebastian suddenly veered left, pulling her with him. They stumbled down a small incline, landing on the bank of a narrow river. The water rushed past them, cold and swift.

Without hesitation, he turned to her. "We cross."

Eleanor hesitated only a second before nodding. Together, they stepped into the river, the icy water biting at their skin. The current fought against them, but they pushed forward, each step a battle against the force of nature itself.

Halfway across, the first rider broke through the trees, his horse skidding to a halt at the river's edge. Eleanor's heart pounded as the man raised his musket, aiming directly at them.

Sebastian shoved her forward. "Go!"

A shot rang out. The bullet splintered the water beside them, sending a spray of droplets into the air. Eleanor gasped but kept moving, her fingers clenching around Sebastian's.

Another shot. This one missed entirely.

Then, as suddenly as it had begun, they were across. Sebastian pulled her onto the bank, his chest heaving. The riders hesitated, their horses unwilling to enter the strong current.

Sebastian turned to her, his face alight with triumph and urgency. "We keep moving."

And with that, they disappeared into the depths of the forest, leaving the pursuit behind—for now.