“Who is it?” Warrick’s grip tightened around the hilt of his steel blade. His eyes, sharp and alert, were like those of a startled predator-full of caution and menace.
For the past few days, he had been on edge, like a cornered animal. He barely ‘slept and was constantly on high alert, fearing danger would strike at any moment.
The door slowly creaked open. An elderly man with gray hair stepped inside with a tray of fruit and pastries in both hands.
Before he could even register what was happening, a flash of cold steel appeared, and Warrick’s blade was at the elderly man’s throat.
The elderly man trembled with fear. The tray slipped from his grasp, and fruit and pastries scattered on the floor.
“Easy, Sir Prescott. He’s one of us.”
Mulder stepped forward and pressed down on the flat of Warrick’s blade with a finger.
He smiled and explained, “His name’s Leigh Houston. He’s mute and has served the Hall of Gods for years. He keeps watch over this tunnel entrance and has never slipped up.”
“He’s mute?” Warrick gave Leigh a once-over. Only after confirming he wasn’t a threat did he finally lower his blade.
Mulder glanced at Leigh and asked in a low voice, “Did you notice anything unusual lately?”
Leigh shook his head, then quickly signed something with his hands.
Warrick frowned. “What’s he saying?”
“He says this place is so remote that no strangers have come near, so we’re safe,” Mulder explained.
The Hall of Gods had chosen this location as the exit for their secret tunnel for a reason. It was a remote mountain village, isolated and sparsely populated. Most of the residents were either elderly or children, as the young adults had long
since moved to the city for work. 1
The rugged terrain and dense forests made it an ideal escape route. If trouble came knocking, slipping into the woods would make it easy to shake off any pursuers. It was a perfect temporary hideout.
“It’s good to be safe, but right now, I’m hungry. Tell him to bring me some food,” Warrick grunted.
“Leigh, get us some food,” Mulder instructed. “We’re going to have a nice, hearty meal.”
Leigh nodded, though a flicker of fear crossed his eyes. He glanced at Warrick and then quickly turned to leave.
An hour later, the table was set with a spread of food. It wasn’t particularly fancy, but the portions were generous, and nearly everything was meat-cured fish, smoked pork, sausages, chicken, and duck.
Still, caution was Warrick’s second nature.
Before taking his first bite, he gestured for Leigh and Mulder to taste the food first.
Only after they confirmed it was safe did he tear into his meal like a starving wolf.
Under normal circumstances, Warrick wouldn’t have spared a second glance at such rustic fare. But now, hunger gnawed at him, and he ate with relish, grease dripping from his lips.
Since becoming a fugitive, he’d barely had a proper meal. With a feast in front of him, refinement was the last thing on his mind.
After a hearty meal and a few drinks, Warrick finally got down to business. “We may have escaped Celestria, but we’re still in West Lucozia. The longer we stay, the greater the risk. I need the Hall of Gods to arrange for me to leave the country as soon as possible.”
“Stay calm, Sir Prescott. This place is safe for the time being,” Mulder replied with a reassuring smile. “Besides, even if we’re planning to leave West Lucozia, we need to prepare thoroughly. Acting recklessly without a proper plan could lead to disaster.”
“So, what’s your plan?” Warrick pressed.
“Given that you’re now a fugitive, leaving West Lucozia through official channels is out of the question. Your only option is to sneak across the border,” Mulder explained, taking a sip of tea.
“Sneak across the border?” Warrick frowned slightly. “If I remember correctly, Thaloria lies between West Lucozia and Artea. Wouldn’t that mean we’d have to go through Thaloria first?”
“That’s right.” Mulder nodded. “The Hall of Gods has a strong presence in Thaloria. Once you make it there, you won’t have to keep hiding. You’ll be free to travel openly to Artea and start a new life.”
“If that’s the case, then I have no complaints. But which route do you have in mind? How safe is it?” Warrick pressed.
“I’ve narrowed it down to five lesser-known smuggling routes. Before we make a final decision, I’ll send people to scout them out-just to be safe,” Mulder replied.
“Great. I like the way you handle things. Once I’ve established myself in Artea, you won’t go unrewarded,” Warrick said with a satisfied nod.
“In the meantime, you should get some rest. Once the time is right, we’ll leave the country,” Mulder responded.
“Fine. Get me a room. I need a good night’s sleep. And tell everyone not to bother me until I wake up.”
Warrick looked visibly more relaxed. Now that he had escaped Celestria, the immediate danger had passed.
With Mulder handling the arrangements, there was nothing left for Warrick to worry about. At last, he could get some proper rest.
