The squad crossed the border and entered the border village. As they entered, three soldiers came towards them and stopped them.
"We would like you to follow us…" The soldier said and looked at Flexin. "We will take the injured boy to the hospital. One of you can come with the boy."
They got off their horses, and two soldiers grabbed the reins of the horses.
"I will go with them…" Melfer said and went to the infirmary with the fourth soldier.
"Follow me…" The soldier said. And then Elna, Irnik and Felmer followed him.
The soldier took him to the military office and then to his senior officer. The senior was the captain of the border guards.
"My soldiers saw you entering our country in a rush and Morl Riders chasing you. I would like an explanation." The officer said.
Captain Irnik began to speak and explained who they were.
"Hmm…Two military officers, two princes, and an adopted brother." The officer looked at them. "And you say you are here only for travel purposes. Where?"
"To the old battlefield…" Elna said.
"The old battlefield? Trying to feel nostalgia?" The officer smirked. "Not that I have a problem. But be careful not to put our people in danger. Keep your travel and hunters to yourself. You can go now…"
They looked at him, then left the office and the building. They headed towards the infirmary. On the way, many villagers and soldiers stared at them. Amid the stares, they reached the infirmary. Walking through the corridors, they soon found Flexin and Melfer. A nurse was stitching Flexin's wound. His face was pale, and he grunted as the wound was sewn. Melfer stood in front of him, hands on his waist, looking at his young brother. When the nurse was done and walked away, Elna, Felmer, and Irnik came forward and stood near them.
"How are you?" Felmer said as he kneeled in front of Flexin.
"The wound stings and pains a lot. But, I am fine…" Flexin replied with a smile.
Felmer stood and ruffled his hair. Elna patted Flexin's back and stood near him.
"What do we do now?" Elna asked, looking at them. "He shouldn't travel."
"But we can't wait for much longer," Felmer said. "And we can't leave him alone."
"He and I will stay here at an inn. The rest of you head to the battlefield." The captain said in a low voice.
The rest looked at each other and thought about this idea.
"Fine…" Felmer gave his response.
The other two also agreed.
They left the infirmary and then headed towards an inn. There, the captain and Flexin stayed at the inn, and the remaining three continued their journey towards the battlefield.
The 8 Morl Riders ran towards the red and flare, away from their targets and the border. They reached the two men who fired the flare. Their leader got down his Morl and walked towards them.
"Change in strategy. You and your squad will enter Hormis as a trade caravan. You will switch to horses." One of the two men said.
"Huh? Why?" The rider's leader asked.
"Hormis is the country we would never like chasing us. And if they find out that Falvaria sent us, war could break out. They don't like Falvaria at all."
"Fine…We have injured one of them. So they may slow down."
"Okay…" The man said and signalled a far-standing man to bring the horses and the cart.
He arrived, and the 8 Morl Riders wore their disguise and rode on the horses. They set off towards the border.
As they arrived and crossed the border, a Hormisian border guard stood and looked at them suspiciously. He kept looking at them and watched them move past them.
"Hey, something's wrong?" Another guard asked.
"The direction from where they are coming…Isn't that the same direction where the Morl Riders ran to some while ago?"
"Yeah…So? You think they are a fake caravan?"
"Yes…"
"Don't think too much. The Morl Riders must have moved somewhere else, and then this caravan arrives."
"The riders were 8, and these men are 8 as well…"
"Stop overthinking. Relax." His friend said and cleaned his sword.
'Lazy bastard…' The guard said and sat on the ground.
The squad, now three in number, rushed under the blazing sun and on the lush plains. They swiftly covered the distance to the battlefield.
As evening approached and the sun began to set, they were now travelling on a barren, grey field. Soon, they reached the place. In front of them, in the barren, vast plain, dozens of swords, spears, and axes of stone stood on the ground, half buried in the ground.
"The battlefield of Tismera," Elna said as she stared at the weapons and the ground.
"The location of the third trial…" Felmer followed.