For a change, I woke before my husband.
From the sound, there wasn't a single person up this early. I got up and was a little surprised to see all the soldiers soundly sleeping in the back.
With all this snoring, it was a wonder we could sleep at all.
By the time I changed into my armour, the others were slowly waking up as well.
I spotted Viela sleeping next to Nifa and Cintia embracing them. Her wild hair was a clear indication of the good time she had.
We shared some breakfast mostly in silence, despite all the preparation the task ahead of us was dangerous enough to keep it to ourselves this morning.
Except my husband.
Zephyr was in a good mood and ate most of the sandwiches left behind occasionally, patting someone in the back, or offering them a bite.
" .. Look at you lot. Like a funeral here. " He said it, giving us a mocking smile.
" Ughh .. " My stomach wasn't behaving, and my husband antics are getting on my nerves.
I was nursing the same cup of tea for a while now, but I couldn't help it. My throat was so closed that it felt like it couldn't even accept liquid at this point.
" Calm down a little and concentrate on your inner self .. "
I looked up, seeing Lucian trying his best version of a pep talk on Eli.
" Even myself who's not unfamiliar with combat can't help but feel a little nervous. " Carlos spoke up. " .. there is no shame in it, I bet that even Zephyr himself felt the same .. he just can't remember anymore. "
He pointed at him .. still eating .. God, it made my stomach spin just watching it.
" He is right. " Zephyr agreed. " Probably.. "
He finally put down his bread and walked over.
" I know you feel the pressure .. but if it makes you feel any better. There are others who happened to be worse off. "
Still worse than me?
He pointed to my left where our soldiers rested in the back. Despite numerous warnings, they still wore yesterday's frivolity on their faces.
" Yeah, but hangover is not the same as..
" Look at their hands. " he cut in.
I took a better look and saw ..
They were shaking.
Some tried to hide it by doing light exercises and stretching, but it was there. Even without actually being in combat themselves .. I guess Carlos was right.
" Not you, though.. " I turned back to him.
I lifted his hand and felt him steady as he always was. No shaking.
He smiled and cupped my face.
" I'm afraid for different reasons. " he smiled, but his eyes were serious.
He caressed my cheek and turned to the others.
" Eat people .. I know it's a tall ask when your stomach is actively against it, but do your best. Listen to experience. " He nodded towards Carlos. " .. We move out in 10 minutes. "
After his words, even Demelza and Eli tried to dip some bread into their tea just to have something in their stomach.
Zephyr kept staring at me until I had done the same.
Dispite my fears of hurling .. Once the food touched my stomach , I started to feel marginally better.
10 minutes often felt like hours .. unless you wanted it to last.
Before we noticed, we were out of the Inn and saw a glorious sight as the sun slowly crawled up behind those long mountains.
I took a second, taking some of the cool air in before I got tapped by the girls pointing the way towards Hori village stables.
Zephyr was talking with those who will stay behind and .. were supposed to protect us. Now left to protect the sleeping village.
We catched some of his departing words.
" .. and don't raise alarm if we won't. If we still haven't arrived by sunset.. something went terribly wrong. You will follow your orders .. Understood? "
""" YES LEADER! """
As he walked away from them, he was replaced by their respective captains, probably to hear those same words again.
" What was that about? " I asked as he walked closer.
He shook his head, adjusting his armour.
" Just some last second orders .. just in case. "
" In case we all died? " asked Eli.
" Unfortunately, dear one .. it's a possibility. " he smiled, tapping her head. " It obviously won't happen.. but better they know what to do IF .. it happens. "
With that, he walked towards Fenex as the captains joined him as he passed them.
We shared a look, and I saw the same thing on their faces that were probably on mine.
Realisation.
We could die. This all could go horribly wrong.
I would bet anything they were thinking about all those we might not see again. All the things we should've said while we were with them.
A loud whining rocked us all.
Fenex got impatient, and I could swear.. she was looking specifically at me.
" Ladies? .. you can always just sit at the Inn. Maybe do a few sandwiches.." Zephyr shrugged.
His taunts were always a good source of motivation.
I took the lead and walked over to Sky, mounting him as a seasoned pro and rode by his side.
" You should know the woman you married. "
" I do .. " he smiled.
As the girls settled on their horses with the same fire in their eyes that fueled me, we headed towards the one place I never thought I would go willingly.
To the mouth of the beast.
---
The ride was short on horseback.
We three with Nifa and Cintia stayed between Zephyr, who rode on the front, and the captains who were at our back.
The atmospheres changed as we rode further in the forest. As if the air itself got heavier.
For a second, I imagined all those who rode in my place in the past and lost their lives to these beasts Ehlite cursed the land with.
Over the centuries, those numbers were most likely in the hundreds.. thousands even.
An endless amount of blood that kept the beasts from roaming free and destroying the land ..
" Stop! "
I looked ahead and saw Zephyr holding his hand up, stopping out little convoy.
As the others pulled their reins, he tapped Fenex side delighting the animal.
" We're on foot from this point on. " he pointed at a narrow road up the side of the mountain. " .. tie the horses and keep your head on a swivel. Hori is just a few more minutes away. "
I took a deep breath and climbed off Sky.
" This place feels .. eerie. " Eli looked up at the trees as she tied Shadow Flame. " The sun rays barely penetrate the trees canopy. "
The extra darkness added a layer of creepy to this place for sure.
" I say this .. hunting divine beast felt less scary from the safety of our home. I'm not sure how Alex found the courage each year to do this. "
I did find new respect for my brother in law.
Each year, he and other fools challenged Emet .. and without someone like Zephyr to lean on. It must've been ..
" Are we ready? "
Lucian quietly got behind us, keeping his rapier in hand.
As always, I wanted to say something quipy.. but the seriousness on his face stopped my words.
We were playing for keeps now.
He waited until we all nodded one by one.
" Nifa .. Cintia. Keep close to Manata and Stuart. They will close the line. Girls .. keep your weapons ready, please. "
As Martell Boreas moved further back, we all took out a red arrow and kept our bow low.
Zephyr was without a weapon and kept his eyes on the road ahead as we crawled up slowly and almost without a sound.
I treated every unexplained sound as a potential danger .. and not just me.
Eli and Demelza were constantly raising their bows as well and then dropping them once, realising it was just natural sounds nature made with or without us in the forest.
" Do you think Hori knows we are coming for him? " asked Demelza on my right.
" Probably not .. I mean, how could he? "
" Granny told me once that Emet came down his mountain once ..
I remember that story.
" .. if it's not for hunger and without intelligence, maybe he would've died up there without ever bothering us. They must have similar.. instincts. Like all wild animals. " Eli said, scanning the left.
Before I could compliment her quick thinking, a terrifying roar shook even the air around us.
( TRUMP.. TRUMP .. )
Maybe I was wrong, Demelza.. Hori might know we came for him.
Zephyr looked behind and gave us a small but encouraging nod.
I felt my hands sweaty but also ready as I ever was.
Finally .. here we go.