King Luther and Gallen clasped each other’s arms, the gesture heavy with years of friendship, both relieved to have come out of the skirmish alive. 

“Luther here is better than me in a melee,” Gallen explained. “I am better at everything else, though.” He smiled, and the small salmon tattooed on his temple looked like it was going to leap into his golden eyes.

Luther smacked him in the stomach with the back of his hand, a small smile pulling the corners of his lips. For a bright second, I caught a glimpse of how Luther might behave when surrounded with friends. It ended as quickly as it had happened. 

“Do you have the documents?” Luther ordered me. 

I pulled out what I had stolen from my pack and showed them to Luther. He merely glanced at them and looked up at me, serious. 

“These will prove that Thornland is plotting to attack us in a year?” he asked.

“It’s all there,” I answered sadly. War had ravaged both countries in the past. I wished with all my heart that a new one could be avoided. I couldn’t bear the thought of more demons or humans experiencing what I went through… 

“There’s no time to examine them now, with Franco’s guards chasing us,” Luther said despite Gallen’s deep frown. “I will ride ahead to Ligones. There may be spies in the citadel who would talk if I return with a half-human straight from Thornland. Gallen will bring you with him to Ligones.”

“But what if she’s lying? What if the documents are fake?” Gallen protested.

Luther paused, before gazing at me. “If we discover that she is a spy, we will punish her accordingly. In the meantime, she has the right to be safe from her abusers.” 

Gallen backed down. I nodded, but my heart sank in my chest. I had reviewed the documents before stealing them, but what if Luther found them worthless? 

“Bring her to me quietly once you get to Ligones,” Luther ordered Gallen. “In the meantime, she will stay with you and Gaia.” 

Gallen agreed but his jaw was tense. I could tell that he wasn’t pleased at the idea of being stuck with me on a journey across Thornland. 

“See you on the other side, my friend,” Gallen patted Luther’s shoulder. 

With one last look at me, Luther mounted his horse and galloped away. When he disappeared behind a hill, riding East, a sense of loneliness settled in my heart. Luther radiated a calm confidence that I had grown fond of in the past hours.

“Will he make it back without trouble?” I asked Gallen, concerned. I had never seen King Hughes travel without an escort. 

“Our king is used to travelling alone. He doesn’t hide behind a wall of guards,” Gallen answered.

There was so much I didn’t know about the ways of demons. 

“Who is…” I started, but Gallen interrupted me. 

“I’m going to the next town over to find out if there are patrols looking for you,” he informed me as he untied the saddlebags from his horse. “We’re close to the border, and I want to make sure we can cross safely tomorrow.”

“Wouldn’t they be looking for you, too?” 

“I’m used to going unnoticed. Set up camp while I’m gone. If I’m not back by dawn, Voke is that way.” He pointed to where Luther had gone. 

“Wait!” I exclaimed. “I don’t know how to make a fire.” 

Gallen’s shoulders slumped. In no time, he gathered stones and kindling, igniting them with a stone device I had never seen before. 

“Don’t let it spread,” he ordered, before riding away. 

The night was thick and heavy with humidity. My first thoughts went to the documents inside my backpack. I took it off my shoulders. Despite being under my cloak, it was soaking wet. I opened it and sighed with relief. The scrolls were intact. 

I sat by the crackling fire. I didn’t know how to keep it alive, or prevent it from spreading. But Gallen had asked me to set up camp, so I opened each of his packs and took a quick inventory. A pouch with a few maps, small knives, a leather canteen, a woolen cloak, and what looked like a linen tent. 

I was out of my depth. My education at the castle hadn’t prepared me for a life on the road, and all I could think about was how thirsty and cold I was in my rain-sodden cloak. I gulped the water in the canteen, before hanging some of my clothing in a nearby tree. 

I must have fallen asleep because suddenly, I woke up, screaming: a man was standing over me. His hand covered my mouth to muffle the sound of my cry. I blinked and saw Gallen, glowering at me. In a half-daze, I sat up. 

“Do you want to die?” He reproached.

“No...I’m sorry,” 

“Guards are patrolling the area, looking for one of Duke Franco’s escaped servants.” He tossed a bundle of clothes at me. “Wear this. I suspect that Duke Franco doesn’t want King Hughes to know that you are the escaped servant. The guards don’t know they’re looking for a half-demon.”

“Oh. That’s… good.” Never had I felt less capable. If Gallen wasn’t here to tell me what to do, I would probably be dead already. 

“I’ve found a horse for you. We ride to Voke tomorrow.” 

I gulped, a knot of panic forming in my stomach. “Gallen...I don’t know how to ride…”

He stopped unfolding the linen tent to glare at me. It was easy to tell what he thought of me. I was learning that, unlike humans, demons would rather be honest than polite. 

“Remind me, Tatiana...why am I putting my life at risk to save you? Luther might be soft at heart and willing to let you into Voke without proof that you aren’t a spy, but as a Dryn, I am here to ensure his safety and the safety of our kingdom. Get changed, and then bring me the documents--I’m going to review them myself.”