Chapter 7

Tying Eric to the chair, with some random rope she found laying around, was not an easy task for a measly someone like Avreale.

"Mph," Eric was trying to say something. Avreale had used a piece of cloth to stuff his mouth. Preventing him from shouting any warnings or threats that he had on his mind during that moment.

"I am not listening," she hummed. She busied herself with finding the best hunters knife that she could find. Avreale eventually found one. Or actually two. It was impossible to decide between both of them.

One was exquisite and looked more like a masterpiece rather than a weapon. There were carvings of unusual symbols in the shining yet dull and metallic blade. The handle was a plain deep ruby red. It was the heaviest of the two.

The other one was a bit more plain. A plain silver blade that was long and thin. It's handle was pure black but looked like it was glass. It felt extremely light in her hands.

Avreale bothered enough to hide the heavier one in her pack, as that one was more valuable, and to slide the lighter one in her thigh shift.

"Mph." Eric tried to speak again.

When Avreale did not respond, he let out a high pitched noise. He sounded like a dying cat being drowned in boiling hot water. "Would you just shut up!" Avreale groaned. She should have been out of there already. But, for sure, she couldn't let him go. But eventually someone would find Eric, and who knows what he might do or say.

Sighing, she hustled to the front door, closed it, and bolted it securely shut. She remembered a hidden back entrance that led to an alleyway, which was always used as some sort of trash can for the village.

"I am going to disappear, and you shall not see me for a long while. I made a promise two years ago to Rowan, which I fully intend to keep," she said as shook her head at herself and went deep in thought while she busied herself with remembering exactly where the hidden door was.

Avreale had to admit, once she remembered where the door was, Eric was a smart one. The secret door was hidden behind another door that was leaning against it.

Heaving the door to the side was not to hard of a task, but slowed Avreale down. When she finally got it, the other door's hinges squeaked in protest, causing her to once again slow down in fear of someone hearing it.

Speeding back to the counter, Avreale grabbed her father's journal, stuffed it into the bag, and was out the door in a flash.

But she made a slight mistake. The door slammed shut noisily behind her. Squeezing her eyes shut and groaning softly, she reopened her eyes and looked around to see if anyone had noticed.

Confirming that there was no one, Avreale crept along the wall of the alleyway, hopping around mounds of trash. Out of the alley way and into the beaming early morning sun she went.

There was no one in sight. Thank god for that. Retracing the path that Avreale and Eric had gone to get to the Blacksmith's shop, she once again found herself among the ashes of her old house.

Down the road that Avreale and Rowan had taken to escape the soldiers, she dared herself to cry, but no tears came.

Past the sight where Rowan had made Avreale leave him alone to face the soldiers while she escaped. She never did find out what happened to him after she escaped. But she figured that she did not want to know now.

Through the Aternitas forest, leaving Nixiton once again. But this time with a destination of where she might be able to find Rowan and keep her promise.

A destination where she vowed to never go, in fear of easily being caught.

But Avreale was more willing to risk it after the story Eric had told. She would not believe that Rowan was a traitor until she saw for herself.