Fiction! A Million Shines of Blood that Haunts Me (II)
They navigated a maze of abandoned outposts and makeshift trenches, Anya's memory of the battlefield her only guide. Every rustle in the wind, every shadow cast by a passing cloud, sent shivers down Anya's spine. Finally, they reached the desolate edge of the desert, where the golden dunes met the jagged teeth of a sprawling mountain range.
"Here," Anya said, pointing to a narrow, hidden pass. "It leads through the mountains. There's a small village on the other side, neutral ground. We can find passage from there."
Relief washed over Kael's face, a flicker of a smile gracing his lips for the first time. But relief was short-lived. A guttural voice echoed in the night.
"There you are, Demon of the North!"
Anya whirled around to face a group of enemy soldiers, led by a hulking brute with a cruel scar etched across his face. He recognized Anya instantly, the hatred in his eyes burning bright.
"And who's your friend?" the scar-faced soldier sneered, his gaze flickering to Kael.
Anya felt trapped. Fighting was futile, their injuries making them easy targets. Kael, understanding the situation, straightened his weak frame, the defiance back in his eyes.
"Leave her out of this," he rasped, his voice firm despite the fear that threatened to overwhelm him. "I'm the deserter."
The scar-faced soldier laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Even better. You'll both pay for your betrayal."
He raised his sword, ready to deliver the killing blow. In that split second, Anya lunged forward, her forgotten loyalties screaming at her. She shoved Kael aside, taking the blow on her shoulder.
The world went white with pain. Anya collapsed, the metallic tang of blood flooding her mouth. Dimly, she heard shouts and the clash of steel. Through bleary eyes, she saw Kael, an unlikely warrior, fighting with a ferocity born out of desperation.
Kael fought like a man possessed, using his knowledge of swordplay to disarm and disable opponents. Anya watched, her vision blurring, a mixture of pride and horror rising in her chest.
Finally, Kael disarmed the last soldier, the scar-faced brute. He held the sword to the man's throat, his chest heaving with exertion.
"Let us go," he rasped, his voice hoarse.
The scar-faced soldier, defeated and surrounded by unconscious soldiers, spat on the ground. "You think you've won? We'll find you. The desert has eyes everywhere."
With a final glare, he kicked a rock at Kael and fled into the night with his remaining men.
Anya weakly reached for Kael, her hand stained red with her own blood. He rushed to her side, panic etched on his face.
"Anya, no!" he cried, cradling her in his arms.
She winced at the movement, pain lancing through her. "I… I'm alright," she lied, forcing a smile.
Their escape route was compromised, Anya knew. They couldn't risk staying close to the battlefield. With a surge of adrenaline, she made a decision.
"We have to keep moving," she rasped, ignoring the protest in her body.
Kael gently lifted her, supporting her weight as they navigated the treacherous mountain pass. The journey was a blur of pain and exhaustion. Anya drew strength from Kael's unwavering support and the shared dream of a life beyond the war.
After days of grueling trek through the unforgiving mountains, they stumbled upon the village Anya had described. It was a small, peaceful haven nestled in a fertile valley, untouched by the war's brutality.
The villagers, a people known for their neutrality and hospitality, took them in. They treated their wounds, their initial suspicion melting away as they witnessed the bond between the unlikely pair.
Months passed. Anya healed, her strength returning along with a newfound appreciation for life. Kael became a part of the village, his skills with a sword proving useful in training the young men. Their nights were filled with whispered dreams of a future together, a future far away from the battlefields that haunted them.
But fate, it seemed, wasn't quite ready to let them go.
One day, a ragged group of soldiers from Anya's homeland arrived at the village, searching for deserters. Anya felt her heart plummet. They had tracked her down
Anya's breath hitched. The past she thought she'd outrun had come knocking. Panic choked her, threatening to drown out the concerned murmur from Kael beside her. The leader of the soldiers, a woman with a stern face and a familiar glint of determination in her eyes, scanned the crowd. Their gazes locked.
Recognition dawned on the woman's face, surprise morphing into a flicker of understanding. It was Elara, Anya's childhood friend and confidante, now a rising star in the Northern army.
Relief washed over Anya, a wave so powerful it left her weak. Elara wouldn't just condemn her, not without a fight. Slowly, Anya stepped forward, Kael by her side, his hand a silent source of strength.
Elara's gaze flickered to Kael, then back to Anya. In that shared look, a silent conversation unfolded. Anya saw the weight of duty on Elara's shoulders, the burden of loyalty. Yet, Elara also saw the love in Anya's eyes, the bond she shared with the man who was once her enemy.
With a sigh, Elara addressed the villagers. "We are here for a deserter," she declared, her voice firm but devoid of animosity. "But it seems Captain Anya has found a new path. A path that serves peace, not war."
The villagers, who had grown fond of Anya and Kael, murmured their agreement. Elara turned back to Anya, her gaze unwavering.
"The North still needs you, Anya," she said. "Not as a soldier, but as a bridge. You've seen the cost of war firsthand. You can help us build a future where the million shine of blood no longer haunts our dreams."
Anya's heart pounded with a thousand emotions. The future Elara offered was unexpected, a chance to use her experience for something far greater than vengeance. She looked at Kael, searching for his reaction. He squeezed her hand, his eyes reflecting a love that transcended borders.
"We can do this together," he whispered, his voice filled with quiet determination.
Anya turned back to Elara, a small smile playing on her lips. "Together," she echoed, the weight of the word settling on her shoulders like a mantle of responsibility.
Their journey north wouldn't be easy. There would be suspicion, prejudice, and battles still to be fought, but this time, they would fight for peace, not bloodshed. Anya and Kael, the former soldier and the enemy-turned-lover, would walk hand-in-hand, a testament to the transformative power of love, even amidst the scars of war.
The million shine of blood might stay a haunting memory, but it would no longer define their future. They would write a new story, one painted with the hopeful hues of reconciliation and a shared dream for a world bathed not in crimson, but in the gentle light of dawn.
