Scarlett's POVElara sighed, furrowing her brow in thought. "To be honest, Scarlett, I have no idea how he found you," she replied with a thousand wit. "Perhaps he's just incredibly lucky and stumbled upon your scent by chance while wandering the wilderness, or maybe he hired mystical tracking hounds to track you."Despite the gravity of the situation, I couldn't help but crack a small smile through my tears. "Mystical tracking hounds? You have quite the imagination, Elara," I said, a hint of amusement in my voice.Elara chuckled softly. "Well, a bit of humor never hurts when dealing with these painful situations," she said. "But in all seriousness, since he once worked with Swiftclaw, we really need to be careful. It's possible he has some inside knowledge or connections that could be used against us.""I know," I replied, my expression growing more serious. "We can't afford to underestimate him or the danger he poses to us and the pack."Elara nodded. "Exactly. That's why I'll do so
Scarlett's POVThe maid shook her head. "I'm afraid not, Lady Scarlett," she replied. "I've only heard bits and pieces of conversations. But if you need any more help or information, please feel free to ask."Elara thanked the maid for her help with a warm smile. "You've been most kind," she said. "We truly appreciate it."As the maid left the room, Scarlett turned to Elara, her eyes shining with hope. "So, it seems Michael's presence hasn't gone unnoticed," she said.Elara nodded, her expression serious. "Indeed," she replied. "We should continue gathering information discreetly. The more we know, the better prepared we'll be to face whatever challenges lie ahead."Scarlett's mind raced with possibilities, and she felt a renewed sense of determination. "I won't rest until we find out everything about him," she said.Elara placed a reassuring hand on Scarlett's shoulder. "We will, Scarlett," she said. "We'll uncover the truth. Now you need to eat, you need strength for you and your un
Marco’s POVThe King seemed to hesitate for a moment, as if contemplating whether to reveal his thoughts or keep them hidden. Eventually, he sighed, his expression softening. "It's nothing, Marco," he replied, attempting to brush it off."Okay, Your Highness," I said, genuinely grateful for his faith in me."Now, go get some rest," the King urged, his tone gentle but firm. "Tomorrow is going to be a challenging day, and you need to be well-prepared."I nodded, taking his advice to heart. "I will, Your Highness," I assured him. "Goodnight."As I made my way to my quarters, my mind buzzed with thoughts and emotions. I couldn't shake the feeling that the King had held back something important, something he wanted to share with me. But I also respected his decision not to burden me further, especially when we were on the brink of a perilous rescue mission.Once inside my room, I closed the door behind me and sat down on the edge of the bed. I knew I needed rest, but my mind was restless.
Marco’s POV"Marco, you raise a valid point. Splitting our forces strategically is crucial to increase our chances of success and maintain an element of surprise. I have devised a plan based on the information we've gathered and the capabilities of our warriors."He turned to the map, his finger tracing a path between the marked locations. "Our first priority is to strike at Swiftclaw's suspected hideout. I will personally lead half of our warriors to this location. It is vital that we do not underestimate his defenses. I anticipate traps and ambushes, but we must be steadfast and prepared for anything.""As for you, Marco," Thane continued, his gaze locking with mine, "I want you to lead the other half of our warriors to the area where Scarlett is said to be kept captive. If this information is accurate, rescuing her will be a significant blow to Swiftclaw and his forces."I nodded in agreement, feeling the weight of responsibility on my shoulders. Scarlett was not only a valuable al
Marco’s POV"Marco," Thane began, his voice carrying the weight of his experience, "we've reached a critical point in our journey. These two roads lead to different camps of the Swiftclaw, and as we discussed before leaving the palace, we must split up to get t Swiftclaw both camps on time"You will take the road to the east,as our scouts have said that will be where Scarlett would be held captive" Thane continued, pointing toward the path on the right. "I will take the one to the west. Where is it said Swiftclaw is. That way we will be bale to kill two birds with one stone.""I understand, Thane," I replied, trying to suppress any sign of hesitation. "We'll execute the plan as we discussed. The sooner we execute the plan, the better it will be for both of us."Thane smiled, his expression one of pride mixed with concern. "I have faith in you, Marco. You are a skilled warrior, and I know you can handle yourself well. Remember the training we've been through, and trust your instincts."
Marco’s POVI looked around at the scouts, waiting for someone to step forward with a suggestion. It was essential that we not only successfully rescue Scarlett but also have a clear escape plan to get her and ourselves safely out of the Swiftclaw camp.One of the scouts, a young and agile warrior named Rook, stepped forward. "I might have an idea for the escape route," he said, his voice steady despite the weight of responsibility."Please, share your plan," I encouraged, eager to hear his thoughts.Rook took a deep breath before continuing. "Behind the camp, there's a dense thicket that leads to a narrow ravine. It's a challenging terrain to navigate, but it should provide us with enough cover to slip away undetected.""Could it accommodate all of us, including Scarlett?" Sage inquired, concern etched on his face."Yes, it might be a tight squeeze, but we can manage," Rook replied confidently. "Once we're in the ravine, we can move in single file and maintain silence to avoid drawin
Marco’s POV Sage's question hung in the air, and I found myself considering it deeply. He had a point – sending scouts to survey the camp's perimeter at this juncture might indeed be a risky endeavor. We had just discussed the possibility of the Swiftclaw being aware of our presence and potentially setting a trap for us. Sending scouts out could inadvertently reveal our position and intentions. I glanced at Sage, his concern mirrored in his furrowed brows. "Sage makes a valid point," I acknowledged, addressing the group. "If the Swiftclaw is on high alert, sending scouts now might expose us prematurely. We need to prioritize caution and ensure that we're not falling into a trap." Rook's expression was thoughtful, and he leaned in, his eyes searching my face. "So, what's the alternative? How do we gather information about the camp without risking our cover?" "That's where our own observation skills come in," I replied, leaning back against a tree trunk. "Before we make any moves, le
Marco’s POVTaking another deep breath, I continued my walk, my thoughts a tumultuous storm that raged within me. I wanted to believe in our plan, but the fear of repeating history loomed large.The memories of my comrades, their voices and laughter, their camaraderie – they all played like a bittersweet melody in my mind. I couldn't let their sacrifices be in vain. This mission wasn't just about rescuing Scarlett, it was about proving to myself and to them that I could lead us to victory, that their trust wasn't misplaced.I looked down at my hands, clenching and unclenching them as if searching for some physical reassurance. The scars that adorned them were a reminder of past battles, both won and lost. I had learned from each one, and now, faced with this monumental task, I had to summon every lesson, every ounce of courage within me.I resumed my walk, my steps guided by the moon's ethereal glow. The path ahead might be uncertain, but there was one thing I knew for certain – I cou