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"We're not stopping here. I will not spend another night in such a hovel."
The driver frowns through the little carriage window. "But the road ahead is treacherous in this weather. Surely, even this place is better than risking the darkness?"
I wave away his concerns stubbornly. "I'll take my chances with the road. Tell the driver to continue."
And so we do.
Eventually, the rocking of the coach lulls her into sleep, resting her head on my shoulder.
I catch the scent of her hair – jasmine and cedar.
Soothing, with a hint of something more. I feel myself starting to doze as well, the pattering rain masking all but our slow breathing.
Eventually, my eyes close, and my muscles relax.
But it feels like only a moment later when a crack of lightning splits the sky. Followed by a roar of thunder. Jasmine stirs against me. Suddenly, I hear it – harsh yelling muffled by the storm.
My eyes fly open. This is real. I peer out the coach window but can make out little through the deluge. Jasmine sits upright, fear creasing her brow. She claws into my arm.
Another flash illuminates misshapen figures ahead, blocking the road. Even in silhouette, I recognize the mountain clan orcs. Jasmine screams as they descend on the coach. Our entourage has stopped, the armored soldiers doing their best to defend against the brutal orc clan now swarming us.
But they are outmatched. One of my soldiers crawls over to my overturned cart. An arrow lodged deep in his shoulder. Blood stains his tunic crimson.
"Sir... you must run," he gasps out. "Make haste... there's too many..."
Before I can respond, he cries out as another arrow pierces his thigh. Yet still, he pushes onward, reaching for the cart and throwing himself over it to shield me from the onslaught. "Save yourself! Go!" he yells hoarsely. I hesitate, loathe to leave my men to their fate. But I know he speaks the truth - I will share their end if I remain. I grab Jasmine’s hand and we run.
We have no choice but to flee down the dark mountainside, scrambling desperately away from the attack.
Jasmine cries out as she slips on the steep, muddy terrain, her ankle twisting sharply beneath her. I catch her before she can fall, scooping her slender frame up into my arms. She clings to me, heart pounding against my chest. "Just hold on, I've got you," I tell her. I glance back to see the orcs swarming the road behind us, cutting down my soldiers. We have to keep moving or face the same fate.
I start down the treacherous mountainside, holding Jasmine tight against me. She bites her lip to stifle moans of pain as her injured ankle knocks against my legs. I murmur apologies, unable to prevent jostling her in the harrowing descent.
Thorny brambles tear at us, but I push forward relentlessly. I can still hear the bloodthirsty hollers of the orcs driving us onward. As long as their voices echo behind us, we cannot stop.
After what feels like an eternity, we reach level ground, having descended far from the ambush site. But we are well and truly lost in this vast wilderness. Jasmine's face is pale, her ankle horribly swollen.
She cannot go much farther. By fortune's grace, we come across an abandoned shack, half-collapsed with age.
And it will have to do for the night.
I lay her gently down on the weathered floor. She shivers against the chilly night air. I cover her as best I can with my cloak, wishing I had more to keep her warm. As darkness falls, her shivering grows worse, and her cheeks become flushed. I realize with dread that she has developed a fever from our frantic flight through the rain.
She whimpers, delirious in the throes of fever. I gather her into my arms, cradling her against my chest to give what little warmth I can, and pray her strength holds out till morning when I can search for help.
Holding her trembling body, I softly whisper words of comfort throughout the night. But her fever climbs higher. What if we cannot bring it down? The thought of losing her, this brave and beautiful girl who means so much in such a short time… I’m terrified.
I have no control.
"Stay strong for me," I plead softly, brushing the sweat-soaked hair back from her forehead.
"But why?" she rasps, her voice barely a whisper. “I have nothing…”
I swallow against the tightness in my throat. "Because I cannot endure losing you." Confusion crosses her flushed face at my words. I go on, "You've suffered such loss already. I would give anything to spare you more."
She lifts a trembling hand to my cheek. "You... care for me that much?"
"I do," I confess, clasping her hand in mine. "So you must get well. Can you do that for me?"
