Chapter Fifteen

When Alex woke that morning, the camp was still dark and quiet. For a few minutes, Alex lied on his thin, ragged mattress on the ground and stared blankly up at the roof of his tent. His thoughts were wandering aimlessly; thoughts about what the day ahead would have in store for the Runners. Ever since their encounter with the Domineers the previous day, Alex had been highly on edge, and he hated the idea of allowing whatever message that they were carrying to be delivered to Ramon Morenno. 

Nearly twenty-four hours had gone by at this point. By now, the Domineers would be nearing the outer layers of their territories, if they had not reached it by now. The Runners would have to traverse more than twenty miles before they caught up with them. Alex knew they were more than capable of doing it. The only thing that concerned him was the risk of having to rush into enemy lines. With the Runners’ numbers nearly halved, they would need to be extra cautious of what the Domineers might have in store for them. More than anything, Alex tried to convince himself that he did not have to worry about Rowan.

As Alex pulled himself to his feet, he was completely awakened by the sound of the Runners rousing themselves for the mission ahead. Alex stretched himself out, cracking his neck and back, and he immediately went about gearing himself up. One last run before they headed back to the Citadel, and he did not intend to return empty handed.

Kota was already armed as he quickly made his way throughout the campsite rallying every last one of the Runners. Most of them had left their gear and weapons laid out in their quarters so that they could wake up and prepare to leave as soon as commanded. As Kota passed each of the Runners’ tents, he produced his sword and began calling out to them.

The Runners had come together from all bloodlines and households of the Ravennites, and they formed a new family amongst each other. Since the days of their first battles against the Domineers, Arin rose above all the rest and came to be seen by the Runners as a leading figure answerable only to Alex Lee before she met her untimely end. 

In her absence, Kota took it upon himself to assume the place she had left behind. He was among the last of the Ravennites to train alongside Alex, but he had proven both his mettle and his devotion to their cause, and he could not wait to return to the territories of their enemies and avenge all they had lost.

“Kota!” one of the Runners called out to him as he left his quarters, fully armed and prepared. “Where are we heading?”

Kota turned his attention to the young Ravennite warrior. “Back to the Domineers’ lines,” he answered with confidence. “Arm yourselves, and rally at the edge of the forest!”

In the dark of the morning before dawn, the Runners hurried to gather at the border of the campsite. Kota could not help but feel anxious about the future, with a mix of thoughts going through all their minds. Alex was visibly worried that the Domineers were preparing for something big, and after the fight that they brought to the Citadel, nobody wanted to see the balance of power shift again in favor of their enemies. Kota felt the same way, and he was sure that all of the others did as well.

Turning around, Kota saw Alex heading over to him. He was fully armed; his weapons slung on his back and a series of makeshift ammo packs around his belt. Kota saluted Alex as he approached. “Ready to go,” he said.

Alex clapped him lightly on the shoulder. “Good,” he took a quick glance around the campsite. “Head for the woods and prepare to move out. We’re just waiting on Rowan.”

“Rowan?” Kota responded curiously. “She’s coming with us?”

“That’s right,” Alex nodded. “We need her to track the Domineers’ footsteps.”

“But I can track them,” Kota argued.

“Our numbers are cut, Kota. We have to cover more ground today than usual and we have less time to do it with every minute we waste. Your skills are good, but there’s no one better who can track down the Domineers.”

For a brief moment, Kota looked as though he wanted to argue his point, but he simply nodded his head in compliance. “I understand.”

“Then go and join the Runners,” Alex commanded his Ravennite companion. Without questioning, Kota instinctively bowed his head and headed off toward the tree lines. In the eyes of the Runners, as well as the rest of the Ravennites, There was no sense questioning his decisions. Alex had proven himself capable of leading them wherever the fight would take them.

Rowan secured everything she could carry to travel both lightly and sufficiently armed. As she stepped outside, she breathed in the cold, fresh air and briefly stretched her arms and legs before heading over to join Alex and the Runners at the base of the woods.

“And where do you think you’re going?”

Rowan jumped as the sudden voice startled her, groaning quietly as she could predict the conversation that was coming.

Matheus approached her from behind as if he had been waiting for her to emerge from her quarters. “A little overdressed, aren’t we?” he commented sternly as he looked over Rowan’s armed appearance.

Rowan was not in the mood to deal with the overprotective facade coughed forth by her older brother this time. “I’m going with the Runners,” she replied bluntly. “They need my help.”

Matheus shot her a cynical look. “You don’t think Alex’s team has been able to get along just fine on their own?”

The stinging comment made Rowan grow a glaring expression. “No one here can track footsteps better than I can, Matheus,” she responded proudly. “And you said it yourself; we’re pressed for time. We need to move quickly.”

“Indeed,” Matheus replied calmly. “But Delmar has recalled everyone to the Citadel for a reason, and the storm always consumes the mountains from the east. It’ll strike the Domineers’ territories first, and we can’t risk being caught out here with insufficient shelter when it comes. We have to consider the time it’ll take to gather our resources and return to the Citadel. I’m sorry, but for the sake of your own safety I don’t think I can permit you to leave the campsite.”

Rowan was angered by his words. She was sick and tired of everybody continuing to treat her like a helpless child. She was no such thing anymore. She was more than that. In fact, she was far more than every Ravennite could ever dream of being. It had always been in her bloodline and she knew it. “Permit?” she repeated in a quiet growl. “I don’t need your permission, Matheus! I’m the sister of the Chief, and I will do whatever I see fit is best for my people!”

Matheus was speechless. Rowan had never reacted to his concern like that before. It scared him to the point of fearing how far she might go to prove whatever point she was trying to make.

“What is it with you?” he breathed passively. “Why are you so different?”

“Different?” Rowan tried to hide her expressions from Matheus. “I’m not different. I’m just trying to do my part to save our people’s way of life, just like Alex is. Shouldn’t we all be doing the same?”

Matheus felt a cold rush go through his body. “Tell me, Rowan,” he began, almost fearful to wade into these dark waters. “What are you trying to prove to this boy?”

Rowan narrowed her eyes in annoyance. “I’m not trying to prove anything to anyone! Why are you questioning Alex? He’s been far more proactive than any of us and he’s never let us down. If we trust him then we owe it to him to follow his lead; to give him every chance to prove that he really cares about us!”

Matheus was taking all of this in very intently. “You think he would truly have a place among the people when this is over?”

Just like that, Rowan’s expression changed from anger to astonishment. It felt like Matheus was trying to steer her thoughts, and she could not help but try to repress her emotions. “Is that such a bad thing?” she muttered as her eyes went down. The resonating trauma in her chest took over again as she brought up a shaky hand to rest against her heart.

“You love him.”

Rowan froze in her tracks. Her blood suddenly ran cold, and the darkness drained from her eyes as she seemed to be awakened from her sleep. Rowan realized now how much her judgment had been clouded.

Matheus knew he was unveiling skeletons from a long-locked closet. “Am I wrong?” he said, trying to remain as calm as he could.

Rowan’s hands were shaking at her side. A man she had known all her life, the one who watched over her when her brother could not, was now threatening to send her mind into chaos. She did not know what to think. She began to breathe more rapidly as her heart continued to ache.

“I-” she stammered, struggling to decide which words were right to say. “I don’t know what love is. I never had the chance to learn. You know that, Matheus.”

In truth, Matheus did not want to tread any further. He could tell he was causing Rowan a great amount of pain, but for her to have such unchecked affections for an Outsider was a serious matter, especially in times like this.

“But you can feel it,” Matheus responded. “It’s not something you learn to understand, Rowan. You can feel it in your heart, can’t you? It’s like a constant strain, as though your entire being is collapsing around this one powerful sensation, and you feel you can’t possibly live on without the one person who can satisfy the pain; the one you love.”

Rowan could not move. She could not speak, or even think clearly. All that she could do was stand there and tremble as the burning tears forced their way from her eyes no matter how much she resisted. She knew that Matheus was unraveling a painful truth, no matter how much she tried to deny it..

“You’re right, however,” Matheus’ voice continued. “You don’t know what love is. It’s not your fault, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s something that should not be taken lightly. Now please, turn and face me.”

Rowan felt like she couldn’t move. She stood frozen in her weakened state. “Stop…” she muttered shakily. “Please.”

Matheus let out a quiet sigh. “Listen to me, Rowan,” he said in a low but serious tone. “I’m telling you this because I love you as a friend and as family; now, more than ever, you need to keep your feelings in check. Don’t do anything to put yourself at risk because of that boy, and do not make the mistake of thinking no one else cares for you. Do you understand?”

Rowan did not want to hear anymore. The way she saw it, Matheus was the one causing more harm than good, not her, and certainly not Alex. “My love,” she straightened herself up and turned around to face him. “My love is for my people, as it always has been. Nothing is going to change that, and nothing will turn me from my path.”

Well, that was it, then. Matheus was caught in the middle of wanting to respond to her sentiment and trying to keep himself from digging deeper into the wound. Rowan had clearly heard enough as she turned and walked briskly off to join with the Runners. 

Matheus could not help but feel a slight sense of anger. Why would he be feeling that towards Alex? At first, he thought it was simply because he was fearing for Rowan’s safety. Matheus knew his thoughts right now were geared more toward Alex than Rowan. He did not understand, he had no reason to distrust him. So where were these thoughts coming from?

Alex and the Runners, accompanied by Rowan, finished rallying and headed swiftly into the woods. Matheus watched until they disappeared from sight. Rowan was a tough fighter, she proved that many times. She was not a child anymore. She was growing into a strong, compassionate, and beautiful young woman, and as Matheus continued to see her alongside the Outsider, he was ashamed to admit that he was beginning to feel a shred of jealousy.