Returning to Callad

Exhaustion weighed down every muscle in my body. Even though this was true, I felt empty and hopeless. The memory of Deakin’s words and his tumultuous emotions resulted in fresh, silent tears flowing down my cheeks.

Amber nickered softly underneath me, echoing my sadness. I wrapped my arms around her sweaty neck and cried into her. Her desolate thoughts were so strong and potent, my heart was aching, and my mind was begging for it to end.

The longer we travelled, the more I retreated further into myself, as our ragtag group of escapees swiftly moved along the worn path back to Callad.

Alana, who had suffered the least physical injuries, set up the camps every time we stopped, which was not very often. When we did stop it was never for long. The fear of pursuit was too strong. Without even needing to acknowledge it, we all knew that Tynan would come after us. I was too valuable, and the other two Master Magicians far too powerful for him to not seek retributio