The river appeared shortly after midday, a ribbon of silver cutting through the dense green of the forest.
The water rushed violently between smooth, ancient stones, sparkling with a clarity that made the dust of the road feel like a heavy burden.
Kaelen was the first to dismount, his boots hitting the ground with a thud of relief.
"Finally," he declared, already unbuckling his belt.
"If I spend another hour smelling Commander Vaelith's bandit collection, I may actually die. And I'd prefer my demise to be less stinky."
Elara laughed, a bright sound that seemed to shock the silence of the woods.
Vaelith looked down at his sleeves, stained with dried blood and the grime of their escape.
The contrast between the violence of the last few days and the pristine nature before them was jarr
