Lahat ng Kabanata ng Where Ashes and Oaths Collide: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 28

Luz froze mid-turn, his crimson eyes locking onto her form in the midnight blue fabric. The fabric clung to her curves in a way that sent a jolt of heat through him, awakening parts of himself he had though dead long ago. His breath caught in his throat. “I– of course,” he managed, his voice dropping an octave. He strode forward with deliberate steps, the metallic sound of his armour sharp in the quiet tent. “Turn around.” His gauntleted hands moved with practiced efficiency as they sought the strap of the leather waist cincher, pulling the strap through a buckle and tightening it with a firm, practiced motion. Amelia turned around and adjusted the skirt, lifting and letting the layers fall so the slits sits where she wanted.“Thank you,” she said calmly as the slid on for the leather brown bracers onto her forearm, tightening the straps one by one, each pull snuggling the leather into place. “So, how does it look?” she asked as she repeated the process on the other arm, unti

The Corrompido army fell into formation behind them, black banners snapping in the increasingly strong wind. “Tell me if you feel uncomfortable at any point,” Luz called out over the rhythmic clatter of hooves on packed earth. The destrier’s powerful strides ate up ground rapidly, leaving the slower-moving infantry to struggle behind them. Luz kept one hand firmly on the reins while his other arm remained wrapped protectively around Amelia’s waist, ensuring she stayed balanced despite the jarring motion. “We will reach Montaxe Dividida by sundown if we keep this pace,” he estimated clinically, though his grip tightened slightly whenever they passed too close to Corrompido units whose eyes flowed with curiosity at their commander’s unexpected passenger.Around noon, they were riding along a cliffside path, the ground beneath the destrier was uneven and rocky, with patched of dirt, loose stone and sparse vegetation. Small wildflowers and grasses clung to the edges of the path.

At the base of the watchtower, a narrow stone staircase winds upward from a small, fortified entryway. Beside the tower stand rough wooden structures in disrepair– remnants of siege equipment. The ground is uneven and rocky, with patches of dirt and scattered debris. On the other side of the tower, the terrain slopes down toward the ocean, the water reflecting the sunset in shimmering streaks. Luz’s crimson eyes narrowed slightly at Amelia’s stubborn refusal, a hint of exasperation mixing with grudging respect. The stubbornness was familiar– it was one of the things he remembered most fondly about her. “Running away keeps you alive,” he retorted bluntly, his voice returning to its commanding tone as they approach the tower’s base.“Something I seem to recall you value highly.” His gaze swept over the watchtower, assessing its defences with practiced military precision. “This structure offers good defensive positions but limited escape routes. If we are attacked while climbing

“Because if you are giving me orders now, I might have to salute you properly later.” Luz leaned in closer, lowering his voice so only Amelia could hear over the distant clatter of camp life. “Fine. I will hold you to that deal. You run when things get bad, and I will fight like hell to come back to you.” His gauntleted hand finally gave in to temptation, gently cupping her cheek. The touch was hesitant but firm, the metal cool against her skin. “Good,” Amelia said satisfied. “Now, where is our tent?” she looked around as she asked. Luz chuckled softly, the sound surprisingly warm against the backdrop of Corrompido camp noises. “Our tent? I suppose we can share one tonight. Though I doubt it will be very comfortable.”He gestured with his head toward a cluster of larger tents set apart from the common soldier’s tents. “Over there. Those are for high-ranking officers and their... companions.” His cri