We make our way over to the trees, telling the others to give us just a minute. A few crude remarks about how long it takes follows us but we both ignore it.
It's silent between us as I carefully lift my arms and let Ax wrap the familiar bands around my ribs. It hurts, but I know once we get moving it'll be the far lesser of two evils. When he's almost finished, I look to his face only to find he's already watching mine. Although we still say nothing, something seems to pass between us. A sort of truce, perhaps.
I know we are going to have lots to talk about from the past few days soon enough, but for now, I think we are both happy to leave it. We’re both stressed and under a lot of pressure.
The tiniest hint of a smile graces the corner of his mouth as he ties off the last strand and holds his hand out.
"Let's get started on the rest of our lives."
∞∞∞
We end up with Ciaran's body in our group, along with Brutus and Theo. Brutus picks up the corpse almost effortlessly and I crinkle my nose at the sight. Thank fuck he only died yesterday, or I'm sure it would be a lot worse. As it is, the sun is already beating down on us and I don't doubt the body will begin to smell soon.
In our small groups, we all leave camp and head west toward Sammi's hometown and the graveyard she told us about. Our plan is to bury the body quickly and get into town before evening. There isn't a whole lot of talk and I allow myself the luxury of keeping to myself.
Traveling constantly was the way I kept myself safe when I was traveling alone, but now that I have others with me, or rather, Ax with me, is that still the best way? I've gotten pretty used to life without creature comforts like running water or even regular meals. For years, I've spent about as much time in the forest alone as I have in random towns and cities. I know it's possible to live off the land, especially if we go a bit south of here which is where I was heading when I got imprisoned. Somehow, traveling for the rest of my life no longer seems like the thing to do. Something inside of me has changed, almost a nesting instinct. I want a home, a safe place to call my own.
Ax has been in one place almost his whole life though. Will he accept that and be willing to find a place to truly settle? And for that matter, where in the world could two people like us possibly hope to live peacefully?
For most of the morning, I'm left to the peace in my own head as I mull all of this over. I catch Ax watching me a few times, almost as though he is trying to pull my thoughts from my head. I smile to myself when I think that I've wondered more than once if he was doing so. The man has a real innate sense of me like he knows I’m thinking about us.
It's almost midday when we all agree to stop for a short break. Based on what Sammi said, I'd guess we will reach the cemetery within an hour or two at most. Plenty of daylight left to bury poor Ciaran and make our way to town. Talking quietly among ourselves, we pass out our few water containers, draining them quickly.
"I think I heard a stream over this way," I say, used to listening for sounds of fresh water from my travel days. "I'll go refill before we leave."
"I'll come." Ax replies.
We make our way over to the stream and start to fill the containers when my ears perk up again. It takes me a moment to register what it is, but when I do I feel myself break into a cold sweat. The distant sound is horses, and there are very few who live here who could afford such things, especially so many. I know this sound. My eyes widen and I turn to Ax.
"The Watch," I whisper and his face immediately hardens. Without needing to say more, we both move silently into the thick bush around us. The hoofbeats get louder and my heart pumps faster as they finally come into sight. Although I'm confident we’re hidden, I can't help but want to move myself back further into the safety of the forest. My eyes scan the clearing we were just in for any sign of us, footprints or anything else, but luckily there is nothing. Thank fuck we are traveling so light. I can only hope Theo and Brutus heard them coming and hid too.
No more than twenty feet in front of us The Watch stops, and we finally get a better view. Though the militia and Watches around the country are different, the same symbol adorns all of them. The mark of The Order, those behind the scenes who took advantage of the confusion following the death of so many women all those years ago. So little is known about them, despite their presence across New Europe. I’ve stayed far from the politics of it, and the varying Watches, for years. Slowly but surely, their reach has followed me though, and I can’t help but wonder if there is anywhere left that’s safe from their reach.
As I look at The Watch in front of me, I realize this may very well be the same one that threw me in the Tomb months ago. My body tenses further and I feel a hand on my back. Ax's eyes never leave the men in front of us, but in slow motions he rubs me, as though reassuring us both.
There are about twelve men on horses talking amongst themselves until one points in a few directions. The group splits up and I send up a silent prayer that they don't find Theo and Brutus.
Clammy sweat continues to break out over my whole body as we wait until there's a shout in the distance. Ax and I look to one another. It's coming from close to where we left the others, but we can't move that way to see without being discovered.
"What is it?" The apparent leader, who is still close to us, shouts.
"It's a body! I think it's one of those escaped prisoners from the look of it!" The voice shouts back and I feel my heart both jump and drop at the same time. They obviously haven't found Theo and Brutus, but poor Ciaran.
"Search the rest of the area!"
My eyes turn to Ax and I notice a familiar twitch in his hand. If Ethan or a few of his boys were here, I don't doubt he would try to take on The Watch himself. He has no idea what they are really like though, and I'm grateful it's just us right now. At least I don't think he'd leave me for a suicide mission. Then again…
Shouts sound in the distance and I start, looking toward the noise even though I know it's futile, there’s too much blocking our view.
Laugher. A scream. Some kind of scuffle.
Minutes pass, though it seems like hours.
The waiting seems to last forever.
Eventually the hoofbeats fade into the distance but we remain unmoving a while longer before I turn to Ax and we nod at one another, agreeing its time.
My body feels like it's floating as we make our way toward the clearing, no words spoken between us. The sounds of the forest that usually would calm me seemed to be drowned out by my own heartbeat in my ears. Before I even see anything, the dread washes over my soul and I know something terrible happened.