chapter 11
856 Words
After taking every precaution to ensure Silitsia's safety, Beni returned and made his way back to the palace.
There were moments in the palace as Artis and Setis anxiously awaited what course of action their cousins would take on the matter. Could the failure of Aris's plan be a sign of a greater danger within the palace?
After spending the night in the forest, Silitsia and her team woke up in the early hours to extinguish the fire. They packed their belongings and prepared to embark on a long journey. However, the long journey and Felix's exhaustion from carrying the two dryads put a strain on the group.
Rodrigo noticed the situation and intervened immediately: "We need to find a horse. Felix can't carry this load, and he was on watch all night."
Alessandra agreed. “I know a place. It’s about an hour away in the forest, like a market. We can get some food and clothes for ourselves.”
Everyone agreed to this proposal, and they set off for the market. Along the way, Rodrigo covered Silitsia with an old blanket and told Andres to hide in the forest. Appearing like a knight could attract attention in this area. Andres climbed to the top of a tree near the market and began watching the group.
While Rodrigo, Alessandra, and the others made their way to the marketplace, Felix found some time to relax. They would try to stock up on supplies and necessities there, making their journey a little easier. Andres, however, would carefully hide in the forest and continue to monitor the safety and well-being of Silitsia and her team.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, they entered the colorful, crowded streets of the market. The stalls were overflowing with a variety of wares: shimmering fabrics, exotic foods, and weapons of all kinds. The commotion around them was accentuated by the laughter and shouts coming from within.
As Silitsia and Alessandra examined the thick clothing, Rodrigo paused for a moment. His gaze drifted to a dark corner beyond the crowd. There, he spotted the door to a place he used to recognize. With a suspicious smile, he said, "You keep looking, I'll take care of some business," and left the girls.
Silitsia tried for a moment to figure out where Rodrigo had gone, but Alessandra caught her attention, pointing to a coat. "Look, this is perfect for winter," she said, and the pair focused on the clothing.
When Rodrigo arrived in front of a low building, he took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy door. The interior was dark and smoky. He paused for a moment while his eyes adjusted, but the people inside immediately noticed him. The massive, sharp-toothed creatures gathered around several tables suddenly fell silent.
Rodrigo walked over, grabbed one of the drinks on the bar, and downed it. But before he could finish his sip, a deep, tense voice rose from behind him:
"Let's not see you here again, you freaking fairy!"
Rodrigo's eyes flashed with momentary concern, but he kept his smile. Just as he was about to turn and speak, the creatures suddenly advanced on him, and he found himself outside. The door to the room slammed shut behind him. Rodrigo, covered in dust and dirt, collapsed to the ground, frowning and taking a deep breath. He slowly rose, dusted himself off, and began walking toward the girls as if nothing had happened.
Silitsia and Alessandra watched in astonishment as Rodrigo was hurled from the venue. “Who were they?” Silitsia asked, never taking her eyes off Rodrigo.
“They? My old friends… well, they were my friends,” Rodrigo muttered, making light of the situation. Alessandra rolled her eyes and added, “I see.
You definitely did them a disservice, that's why they kicked you out."
Rodrigo shrugged with a smug smile. “Okay, okay, maybe I did something. But there are more important things to consider now. Shall we choose our weapons?”
Although Silitsia and Alessandra wanted to continue investigating Rodrigo's story, they decided not to waste any more time in the market. After grabbing a few swords, knives, and arrows, the group finally gathered their supplies and prepared to leave.
After leaving the market, the group headed for the forest. The weather had grown colder and darkness had begun to envelop everything.
Rodrigo walked silently ahead, while Andres, trailing behind, couldn't help but laugh. Every now and then, a chuckle would break out, making Rodrigo glance out of the corner of his eye, but he continued walking silently.
“Rodrigo, it’s a good thing they didn’t let you into that place again. Otherwise, you would have caused us trouble too!” Andres said, chuckling. Rodrigo just shrugged and said nothing. As the group continued forward, they noticed dark shadows moving around them. Alessandra looked around anxiously and whispered, her eyes narrowed, “There’s something in the forest. It might not be safe to stay above ground. We should go underground.”
Rodrigo nodded quickly. “I agree with you. The dark shadows don’t look very friendly.”
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