Chapter 5 Shadows in the Night

The air had turned cold by the time they reached the foothills of the mountains.

The sun was nothing more than a fading ember on the horizon, casting a dull red glow across the landscape.

The towering peaks loomed ahead, their tops hidden by clouds, and the promise of shelter was a small comfort to Kaelin, whose legs burned from the day's relentless march.

Eamon led them to a small, rocky outcrop nestled between two slopes. It wasn't much, but it provided a degree of protection from the elements and, more importantly, from prying eyes.

Kaelin dropped his pack onto the hard ground, letting out a sigh of relief as he sank down beside it. Every muscle in his body ached, but his mind wouldn't let him rest.

The threat of the Ashen Sovereign's scouts hung over them like a specter, its shadow growing longer as the night approached.

"We'll make camp here," Eamon said, his voice low and steady. He crouched beside the entrance of the small alcove and began gathering stones for a fire. "No flames tonight, though. They're still out there."

Kaelin nodded, his mouth dry. He hadn't seen the scouts since Eamon had spotted them on the ridge, but he could feel their presence, waiting.

He had to remind himself that they weren't ordinary men. The Ashen Sovereign's scouts were far worse, creatures who thrived in the darkness, with an unnatural patience and cunning.

"What do they want?" Kaelin asked, keeping his voice hushed as he leaned back against the cool rock wall.

Eamon didn't look up from his task. "They want the relic. And you."

Kaelin clenched his jaw. Of course they wanted him. The mark of the Seeker had changed him into something valuable, something dangerous.

But even so, the idea that he had become a target for the Ashen Sovereign's minions felt unreal.

"How long do you think they've been tracking us?" he asked.

Eamon paused, glancing out toward the plains they had crossed. His face was hard to read in the fading light, but there was a grimness to his expression that made Kaelin uneasy.

"Days, probably," Eamon said at last. "They're patient. They like to watch, to learn their prey before they strike. If they're following us now, it means they think you're important."

"Important?" Kaelin scoffed, though the bitterness in his voice surprised him. "I'm just a woodsman. I don't know how to fight off creatures like that. I don't even know how to use the relic."

"You'll learn," Eamon said simply.

Kaelin didn't respond. The truth was, he wasn't sure he wanted to learn. He didn't want any part of this relic, the scouts, the Seeker's mark.

His life had been simple once, and now it was slipping further and further away from him. He could feel the pull of it, drawing him deeper into a world of magic and danger that he barely understood.

Eamon sat down across from him, leaning against his pack. "You'll get through this, Kaelin. We both will."

Kaelin looked up, surprised by the sudden softness in Eamon's voice. It was rare for the man to speak in anything other than practicalities and warnings.

This moment of quiet reassurance felt strange coming from him, but Kaelin was grateful for it all the same.

He nodded, though he wasn't sure if he believed it. "What about them?" Kaelin asked, gesturing toward the mountains. "The scouts won't follow us into the peaks, will they?"

Eamon's expression darkened. "They will. The Ashen Sovereign's reach is long. The mountains won't stop them, but they'll slow them down."

A chill ran down Kaelin's spine. He wasn't sure what frightened him the thought of climbing into the mountains or the knowledge that they would still be hunted even there.

"We'll need to be careful," Eamon continued, lowering his voice. "Once we reach the higher passes, it'll be harder for them to track us. But the terrain is dangerous. One wrong step, and..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but Kaelin didn't need him to. He could imagine it well enough endless drop into the jagged chasms below, swallowed by the mountains themselves.

Eamon finished setting the small pile of stones together, then gestured for Kaelin to come closer. "Keep your voice low.

We don't know how far they are, but they can hear better than we can."

Kaelin moved over, positioning himself near the stones, and Eamon began whispering instructions. "We'll take turns keeping watch tonight. You rest first. I'll wake you in a few hours."

Kaelin wanted to argue, to insist that he could stay awake, but exhaustion was already tugging at the edges of his mind.

He nodded wordlessly and leaned back against the rock, his pack serving as an uncomfortable pillow.

The wind howled around them, carrying the distant sound of shifting rocks and the occasional cry of an animal in the wilderness.

But despite the eerie stillness, sleep came surprisingly quickly. His body, tired beyond reason, finally gave in.

It wasn't long before the dreams came.

Kaelin found himself standing in a place he didn't recognize-a vast chamber with walls of cold stone, towering above him like the ancient ruins of a forgotten kingdom.

Shadows danced in the corners of his vision, and though he couldn't see them clearly, he could feel them watching him.

In the center of the room stood a figure, shrouded in darkness, its features obscured by the shadows that clung to it like a cloak.

The figure was tall, imposing, and though it didn't move, Kaelin could feel the weight of its presence pressing down on him, suffocating.

He tried to speak, to demand answers, but his voice wouldn't come. His throat tightened, and a cold fear gripped him.

The figure extended a hand, and in its grasp was something familiar relic.

Kaelin's heart pounded in his chest as the figure stepped closer, its hand outstretched, offering him the relic.

But there was something wrong about it, something twisted and dangerous in the way it held the artifact, as though it was a thing of immense power that could not be controlled.

Before Kaelin could react, the figure spoke, its voice a low, rasping whisper that echoed in his mind.

"The Seeker's burden is heavy... and you are not strong enough to bear it."

Kaelin woke with a start, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His heart raced, and for a moment, he didn't know where he was.

The dream had felt so real, so tangible, that it took him a few seconds to remember where he was in the mountains, on the run, with Eamon at his side.

But the dream... the voice still echoed in his mind. He sat up, running a hand through his hair, his skin clammy with cold sweat.

Eamon noticed his movement and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

Kaelin shook his head. "Just a dream. I'm fine."

Eamon didn't press the issue, though Kaelin could see the concern in his eyes. "You should try to get more rest," Eamon said quietly. "We've got a long climb ahead of us tomorrow."

Kaelin nodded, but he knew sleep wouldn't come easily after that. He lay back down, staring up at the starless sky, the weight of the dream still pressing on his chest.

The figure's voice echoed in his mind, chilling him to his core.

The Seeker's burden is heavy... and you are not strong enough to bear it.

For the first time since this journey had begun, Kaelin wasn't sure if the voice was wrong.

Kaelin lay there, staring into the darkness as the wind howled across the rocky peaks. Every gust felt like a whisper in his ear, reminding him of the dream, the voice, the relic.

He clenched his fists, feeling the cold bite into his skin. Sleep wouldn't come easily, not after the dream and not with the looming threat of the Ashen Sovereign's scouts.

He sat up quietly, pulling his cloak tighter around his shoulders, trying not to disturb Eamon, who was still keeping watch a few feet away.

The small shelter of the alcove did little to keep the cold out, but at least it kept them hidden from prying eyes. Kaelin's gaze wandered over to the dark outline of his companion.

Eamon had been nothing but cautious and prepared since they left, yet there was something unsettling about him, something Kaelin couldn't quite place.

It wasn't distrust exactly, but a wariness that clung to him in moments like this, in the silence between heartbeats.

The dream had rattled him more than he wanted to admit. The figure's voice echoed in his mind, taunting him.

The Seeker's burden is heavy... and you are not strong enough to bear it. Kaelin shivered, though whether it was from the cold or the memory of the dream, he couldn't tell.

The weight of the relic in his pack suddenly felt heavier than ever.

He glanced over at Eamon again, debating whether to tell him about the dream. But what could Eamon do? The man already had enough to worry about, watching their backs and guiding them through hostile territory. Besides, it had only been a dream-hadn't it?

Kaelin pushed himself to his feet, moving carefully so as not to disturb the stones beneath him. He stepped out from the alcove, letting the wind hit his face full force.

The cold was bracing, and he welcomed it, hoping it would chase away the lingering unease from his dream.

He looked up at the sky. No stars. The clouds that clung to the peaks had swallowed them, casting the night in an oppressive gloom.

He took a few slow breaths, trying to clear his mind, but the heaviness lingered.

As Kaelin stood there, his thoughts spinning, he heard a faint sound rustling in the distance, just beyond the rocks. His instincts kicked in immediately.

He crouched low, pressing his back against the stone wall of the alcove, his eyes scanning the shadows.

"Eamon," Kaelin whispered, barely audible over the wind.

Eamon was already on his feet, his sword drawn, eyes locked on the direction of the sound. His movements were silent and fluid, as if he had anticipated this moment for hours.

"Stay low," Eamon murmured, his voice steady but alert.

Kaelin obeyed, drawing the small dagger from his belt. It was little more than a hunting blade, but it was all he had.

His heart pounded in his chest, and he fought to control his breathing. The rustling sound grew louder, closer and closer.

Eamon shifted his stance, his muscles taut, ready for action. He moved with the practiced ease of a seasoned fighter, but even he couldn't hide the tension in his shoulders.

Kaelin could see the faint outline of figures moving through the rocks, creeping ever closer.

The scouts had found them.

Kaelin's grip on his dagger tightened, his pulse racing. His mind raced through everything Eamon had taught him over the past days, but it all seemed to blur together in the face of the imminent threat.

The dream's words echoed once more, filling him with dread: You are not strong enough to bear it.

Eamon caught his eye, giving a sharp nod. It was the signal to stay calm, to hold his ground, but Kaelin wasn't sure he could.

The shadows moved closer, their forms becoming more defined, gaunt figures with pale skin and glowing eyes that pierced through the dark.

They moved like predators, swift and silent, their bodies almost blending into the night itself.

Eamon's voice came in a low whisper. "We don't fight unless we have to. They don't know how many of us there are yet. Stay hidden."

But Kaelin knew it wouldn't last. The scouts were too skilled, too attuned to their surroundings. It was only a matter of time before they found them.

His heart thudded loudly in his ears as he pressed his back harder against the stone, willing himself to disappear into the shadows.

Then, without warning, one of the scouts stopped. It tilted its head as though listening, its glowing eyes scanning the area. Kaelin held his breath, his muscles frozen in place.

For a moment, he thought they might have been spared, that the scout would move on. But then, with terrifying speed, it turned toward them, its eyes locking onto the alcove.

Eamon cursed under his breath, raising his sword. "Stay behind me," he hissed.

The scout let out a low, guttural sound, and the others followed suit, closing in like a pack of wolves. Kaelin's blood ran cold. There was no escaping this.

Without hesitation, Eamon surged forward, meeting the first scout head-on. His sword clashed with the creature's clawed hands, the impact sending a shockwave through the air.

Kaelin could only watch in awe as Eamon fought with a skill and precision he had never seen before. But even Eamon was struggling weren't ordinary foes.

The scouts moved with an unnatural speed, their bodies twisting and contorting as they dodged and struck.

Kaelin's instincts kicked in, and he leaped to his feet, clutching his dagger tightly. He knew he wasn't much of a fighter, but he couldn't just stand by and watch.

As one of the scouts lunged at Eamon, Kaelin darted forward, driving his dagger into its side. The creature screeched in pain, its glowing eyes flaring brightly before it collapsed to the ground.

For a brief moment, Kaelin felt a surge of triumph-but it was short-lived. Another scout was already upon him, its long, bony fingers wrapping around his throat.

Kaelin gasped, struggling to breathe as the creature lifted him off the ground, its cold eyes burning into his soul. He kicked and thrashed, but the scout's grip was ironclad.

Then, just as Kaelin thought the darkness would consume him, there was a flash of light and blinding.

The scout screeched, dropping him to the ground as it staggered back. Kaelin hit the dirt hard, coughing and gasping for air.

He looked up, disoriented, to see Eamon standing over him, his sword glowing with a strange, fiery light.

"Get up!" Eamon shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

Kaelin scrambled to his feet, grabbing his dagger once more. The remaining scouts had backed off, wary of the glowing blade in Eamon's hand.

For a moment, there was an uneasy silence-the air crackling with tension.

"Run," Eamon said, his voice low and deadly. "Now."

Kaelin didn't need to be told twice. He bolted, his legs burning as he sprinted toward the steep incline ahead.

Eamon was right behind him, his sword still glowing faintly as they fled into the night. Behind them, the scouts snarled and screeched, but none dared follow.

As they ran, Kaelin's mind raced. How had Eamon's sword suddenly started glowing? What kind of magic was that? And more importantly, how much more of this could they take before they were caught again?

By the time they reached the relative safety of a narrow pass higher up the mountain, Kaelin could barely stand.

He collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath, his body trembling with exhaustion and fear.

Eamon crouched beside him, his face grim. "We're not out of this yet," he said quietly. "But you did well back there."

Kaelin managed a weak nod, though the words felt hollow. The weight of the Seeker's burden still pressed down on him, heavier than ever.

And somewhere in the back of his mind, the voice from his dream whispered once more: You are not strong enough to bear it.