Richard's Pov
The room is dimly lit, a single overhead bulb casting a yellow glow over the sprawling map on the table. The edges of the map curl slightly, worn from being rolled and unrolled too many times. Nathan and I are hunched over it, our fingers tracing potential routes and safe zones.
“We can’t stay here any longer,” Nathan mutters, his voice low but tense. “The longer we linger, the more vulnerable we become. His men are relentless. If they find us here—”
“I know,” I cut him off, my tone sharper than intended. I take a deep breath, steadying myself. “I know.”
Nathan doesn’t flinch. He’s used to my temper by now, and he knows it’s not directed at him.
“We could head south,” he suggests, tapping a spot on the map near a cluster of dense forests. “The terrain is rough, but it’ll
