Erwin stood beside the table ,staring at Duke's face, trying to read his thoughts. A knight has been sent after kai, instructed to help if he needed it.
Knight reached the Sanlow's entrance few hours after kai and found nothing but a forest in the place of village. It didn't take him long to realize that the village had also became the victim of forest.
Without waiting for another minute he rode back to Duke's fortress to deliver the news.
When Erwin informed about the news to duke, he listened showing nothing on his face, and then asked few questions to knight at the end. His face showed a darker side of Caspian, he didn't yell. His breaths slowing and getting more controlled.
Erwin POV-
I understood his worry.
He didn't show it—never openly— but the way his questions were circling back to kai told me enough. He asked about surroundings, animals , routes, and survivors but the centre of questions was always his son.
And then his expression changed.
I recognized it very well, it wasn't the same as Duke of North ,Caspian Draconis. It belonged to the warlord— Hero of Fyrndral who had once burned the battle field to bring his people back alive.
Sanlow
Another village swallowed by Forest.
The Duke finally spoke, his voice low and measured. " Erwin what do you think?" His eyes on map of Fyrndral in front of him which he always kept there.
"We should see it ourselves." I replied and instantly regretted. " but—I think we should wait for sometime.just one day. Then the day after tomorrow we will–" he raised his hand and I stopped.
"Erwin it took knight 2 whole days to reach fortress back from Sanlow." Duke said quietly and paused as if measuring his next words.
"That means Sanlow disappeared 2 days ago and— kai has been inside that forest for more than two day already." He fingers slowly curled against the table.
"If we waited for one more day" he continued . "and add 2 days of travel. He will have been there for 5"
I said nothing. After all what could I even say because I cannot understand a father's worry. I am not a father myself.
His back straightened as he stood up. His armor of calm again charmed his face.
"Prepare for tomorrow to leave." He ordered and walked to the door. He held the door and without turning he spoke." I will leave at sunrise—and prepare some blueberry pies too." And he left.
Blueberry pies were late Duchess favorite and now Kai's too.
End of pov
Kai woke up to Tris and William chattering and squealing like little girls. When his eyes opened fully—he saw the reason. they had one small kitten cradled up between them , patting and kissing it aggressively.
"Careful" Louis stood beside them watching and smiling like a tired father."you'll smother it". He was ignored ofcourse.
He noticed Kai sitting up and nodded. Morning made it.
Morning came with a little hope in form of sunlight. It filtered in through the vines, golden thick lines lightening up the cave from inside.
Valarie who was nearby approached with mug of water and offered it to kai. He glanced at her face once and took the mug from her hand.
He gulped it down in one go and gave it back to her. "How are you now?" He asked while his gaze dropped to her bruised hands.
Valerie noticed and curled her fingers into a fist, then opening them slowly. "I am fine now. No pain. My Back is healed too, my lord."
"Just call me kai." He muttered, rubbing his eyes not noticing Valarie's eyes on him.
"How can I just— call you by your name?" She hesitated.
"I hate those formalities."he said standing up."You can call me by titles and all that fancy title after we get out of here—alive."
With that , he walked over to Remus who was awake now , helping him getting up.
Remus had been his first teacher.
And seeing him getting old and the strength that once felt unbreakable now falter—hurt in a way kai never admitted out.
"I am retiring after this." Remus groaned as straightened his knees and thanked Kai before walking over to Louis who also now holding the kitten.
Valarie lingered nearby and Kai noticed too how her eyes stayed on him like studying him but something different was in them that he couldn't pinpoint. They were different in mysterious way.
....
Jerry stood at the mouth of cave, his palm against the vines. They moved — minimal but they did like inhaling.
"Ready?" He asked, glancing back.
No one answered but everyone was.
"Remove it." Kai stepped forward first , ready with his sword just like every knight there.
Jerry inhaled and pulled his magic back. The vines recoiling and uncoiling with a wet sound, slipping into his palm like they had never existed. Henry removed his shield too, the faint shimmer fading into the air.
Cold rushed in immediately making Jerry shivered a little. Kai stepped in front of him like shielding him from danger outside.
They stepped outside one by one noticing forest still stood before them— unbothered, watching , unchanged.
Their boots crunching against the snow. The air smelled wrong—decaying and heavy. No birds , no wind. Just silence.
"Formation." Kai raised his hand. "Eyes up and dont spread out."
Knights moved instantly. Years of training made them efficient and sharp minded in such situation. But even as they formed up, the unease crawled under their skin.
They felt like entering a territory of something dangerous and the enemy was nons other than a curse — a legend and nightmare.
"Louis—we should find a way to get the hell out of here. " kai spoke staring at the beaches up. Sulnlight wasn't touching the forest ground but enough to see on between leaves and branches.
Nothing.
"Tris. You go up and check above treeline." Kai ordered.
Tris pulled out another sword from his hip and dropped it flat on the ground just to stand on it. The sword shook a little, magic surged in it and started floating in air with him on it. Slowly he rose up and in few seconds he reached above treeline.
"OH SHIT. WE ARE DOOMED."
Every head tilted up waiting for him to yell what he was seeing.