Right on the outskirts of the village, Wylen dug his heels into the horse's flank, muscles tense as the beast galloped onto the dirt road leading to the heart of the Ellos clan.

Jaelan's cries had grown more frantic and desperate in the hour since they'd blown caution to the wind and pushed the horses to their very limit.

Already high strung and nerves frayed, Wylen cursed as Jaelan gave another sharp yelp. It seemed that every minute that elapsed was more torturous than before for the young half-god. Wylen's throat stayed dry as he tried not to dwell on the penetrating screams of pain. Alone they were able to completely and utterly pierce right through his heart.

Like a mad man, he galloped down the road, only stopping his crazed dash when his horse reared its head and gave a loud cry of its own, nearly throwing him off. Luckily Wylen had spent much of his life atop a horse and managed to remain within his saddle, using his muscled legs to keep him seated as the beast kicked its hooves.

"WOAH!" He yelled, trying to get the horse under control again.

Behind him, the sound of wood splintering rang clear as day.

As if their luck could get any poorer, the carriage had hit a rut and gotten stuck—splintering its wheel in the process.

While trying to get back control of his horse, Wylen could hear Raygar give a loud and mighty curse. And at that moment, everyone immediately halted. The distress they were all feeling seen as plain as day in their frenzied actions.

Kovis and Dellos had immediately jumped from their saddles, feet beating down the ground as they ran to access the damage.

Irreparable.

Unable to bear the circumstance any longer, Wylen sprung out of his saddle upon calming down the thoroughly exhausted horse. His boots sunk into the Earth as they absorbed the shock of the warrior's landing. Without wasting a single minute, Wylen ran towards the carriage, sweat peppering his skin as he thrust out his arm and grabbed hold of the wooden door, throwing it open.

From within the small carriage, Heekam looked at him, his face worried and tense as Jaelan screamed in his arms. "Wylen!"

"It'll be faster if we just run there." The young warrior shouted, motioning for Heekam to move Jaelan towards him so he could lift the writhing half-god. "Help me get him on my back!"

Deciding to follow Wylen's lead, Heekam nodded in affirmation and quickly began to position Jaelan from within the carriage. With a few rearrangements and some extra pushes, Wylen was able to grab hold of Jaelan's long arms and haul the man onto his back, Heekam working alongside him to help secure the writhing half-god in place.

Thus, holding Jaelan's legs around his waist and begging for the feverish warrior to hold onto him as tightly as he could, Wylen took off at a run.

"Forget the blasted carriage!" Prince Taemor roared, spittle flying from his mouth in his haste to get the words out. "Unhitch the horses and mount them! We need to help clear the road for Wylen!"

Raygar nodded, eyes on the quickly departing Heekam and Wylen taking off down the dirt road.

In a matter of minutes, the Prince's guard rushed past Wylen and took the lead, clearing the way on horseback while the young warrior sprinted down the hillside with Heekam on his heels.

With each galloping step forward, Jaelan's cries would hitch and pierce through him, the young man's hold growing slack as the pain threatened to consume him.

"Hold on, Jaelan!" Wylen kept repeating like a mantra as he ran, sweat dripping into his eyes and doing almost all but blinding him. "We're almost there! Just a little bit further!"

Upon reaching the village, it was almost like a godsend.

Every clansman present urged him on to the village center, pointing and shouting instructions as if they knew they'd be arriving.

So wrapped was Wylen in his current task of getting his lover the attention he needed—the warrior didn't even register the faces of his people as he rushed past the clusters. His mind solely focused on getting Jaelan help above all else.

"Go! The village center pavilion!"

"Get him to the pavilion!"

"Quickly!"

"This way!"

"Hurry!"

As soon as Wylen reached the previously mentioned pavilion, a string of women rushed towards him dressed in arrays of violet silks.

"Come with us!" They adamantly insisted, tugging at him to follow.

"You too!" One of them shouted, grabbing Heekam by the sleeves of his robe and hastily pulling him along.

However, the other members of their party were detained immediately. The strange clothed women barricaded the way for Prince Taemor and his men with their arms outstretched.

"You cannot enter!"

"I'm here to help!" Prince Taemor insisted, trying to push through, having jumped off his mount to gain entry.

A selection of the women that approached them shook their heads after seeing their temple sisters usher both Wylen and Heekam inside the pavilion. "You cannot enter! Only those pure and untainted can step within the hallowed ground!"

"Hallowed ground?" Prince Taemor repeated back in bafflement. "What are you talking about?"

"The bringer of Nations is about to arrive!" One of the women explained in a shout, baring entry with her whole body as Kovis tried to push through. "Any mistake, and we may lose Jaelan and the child!"

The four men stilled, eyes growing wide.

Child?

What child?

"What?" Prince Taemor uttered in annoyance, arms falling to his sides. "Child? What child!"

Just then, both the Chieftains of Ellos and Aldor clans appeared before him. Their expressions fret with worry.

"Who are you?" The Aldor clan leader called, brows furrowed as he accessed these newcomers with a suspicious eye.

Prince Taemor bowed his head towards the two men, showing his respect and hoping that he and his men didn't appear to look like they'd cause any harm. "I am Crown Prince Taemor of Dorl. I was assisting both Jaelan and Wylen on their way here. These are my men." He motioned to his armed guards, who were all but ready to unsheathe their swords. "May I ask you what this is all about?"