The cold wind howled through the trees. The moonlight was also fading. Cerdic and Aldric ran through the dirt road leading to the outer perimeter of the Brightmoon estate. Lightning flashed overhead, and a low boom of thunder followed. Such a sudden shift in weather was not unusual in this part of the kingdom. The Brightmoon estate often saw weather shifting from clear skies to sudden downpours. The moon was already covered by storm clouds; it was getting harder to see the path.
"Brother, I can't see a thing," Aldric said, panting, struggling to keep up the pace.
"That's good," Cerdic said, his breath sharp, "Like this, they can't see us either." He dragged Aldric along. Cerdic didn't know if the assassins were still following them. But his instincts told him that they were.
A sudden gust of wind swept past them. They were still deep within the estate grounds when the first raindrop fell. Then another one. Then a downpour. Within seconds, they were drenched. The rain came down hard, completely shattering the calm that existed before. Thunder rumbled, and lightning painted beautiful silver paths across the sky. Cerdic and Aldric didn't stop running. But Aldric was already breathing heavily. His small legs were starting to give way.
"Brother, I—I can't keep up," Aldric panted. Cerdic stopped for a moment, then knelt in front of Aldric, his back turned towards him.
"Get on," he said over his shoulders.
Aldric didn't hesitate. He clung onto Cerdic's back, his arms wrapped around his brother's shoulders. The rain had turned the ground flooded and slippery. But Cerdic pressed on. His boots splashing through puddles and mud. They were getting closer to the edge of the Brightmoon estate.
Tick crouched on the edge of a thick line of trees. He was sniffing at the air.
"Damn it all," He slammed his fist into the mud. "Bloody rain! It's washing everything away."
His sense of smell was far superior compared to an ordinary human. But even then it wasn't easy to pick up their scent in this heavy rain. Still, he dropped low to the ground, sniffing the ground like a dog, slowly.
"Got you," he whispered, a grin spreading on his face.
He took off again, running hunched over like a beast. The scent was very faint. But he could smell them.
Cerdic pushed through the storm with Aldric on his back. His legs burned, but he didn't stop. Up ahead, he saw the trees getting denser. They were also taller, with twisted branches that shook violently in the wind. They have reached the edge of the Moonshade Grove. The private woods owned by the House of Brightmoon were previously used as a hunting ground. Cerdic remembered Gareth saying it was no longer used and was overgrown. To his right, the trees parted. And a faint outline of the main estate road could be seen through the storm. It would lead them straight to the estate's outer gates. But Cerdic stopped right there.
"What happened?" Aldric asked. Cerdic silently looked at his left. There was a path much more narrow. Faint and overgrown. But Cerdic knew where it led. It was a roundabout path that would eventually exit the estate through the far edge of the woods.
"You are not thinking of going that way, are you?" Aldric was puzzled.
The path to the right was quicker; it was clearer. But Cerdic's instincts told him the route wasn't safe. It was too exposed, too easy and too expected.
Cerdic clenched his jaw.
"Trust me," Cerdic said. And then turned towards the path on the left.
Aldric said nothing. But Cerdic could feel his tension. His hands were gripping his shoulders too tight. But Cerdic kept going. The woods were not a safe haven. Especially at night. In the middle of a storm. But it would be worse if they were caught. He walked deeper into the woods with steady steps.
Somewhere in the distance, a low howl echoed through the trees. Aldric shuddered.
"Wolves," Cerdic muttered.
"What will we do?" Aldric asked, frightened. Cerdic didn't reply, nor did he turn back. He kept walking. Aldric was feeling hopeless. His body already shivering in cold and fear. A gust of wind blew past them again, and a foul scent hit them. The air smelt of rotten eggs, and Aldric gagged quietly.
"Those are Moonshade flowers," Cerdic muttered in recognition. These were blue and white coloured flowers found inside Moonshade Grove. They hung low from the thick moonshade vines that wrapped around the trees. Despite its beautiful appearance, it had an unbearable, pungent smell.
"Good, wolves won't come around these flowers. I heard they can't take this smell," Cerdic said in relief. "Let's go. this way,"
Cerdic slightly deviated from the intended path again. Deliberately staying close to the Moonshade flowers. The storm was now starting to calm down. The scent of Moonshade flowers was so overwhelming. Aldric was grimacing with every breath. But he didn't complain.
"Better than the wolves," he muttered.
Tick crouched low on the mud. The rain was still pouring, but it was easing down. He sniffed once more, desperate. But he only breathed in the foul smell of Moonshade flowers. Thick, clinging and maddening. It coated the forest like fog. Making it impossible to discern the scent of his targets. They might be ten steps away or a mile. He couldn't tell any longer.
"F*cking flowers, f*cking storm," he cursed.
He thought of searching aimlessly. But something else started bothering him. His fingers were starting to tremble. He felt a slight pain in his chest. He cursed again, this time like a frustrated growl.
The medicine... he reached out into his belt pouch. There were some peculiar objects inside. A glowing stone, an empty vial and a few copper coins. But he didn't get what he was searching for. He took a dose before entering the estate. His master wouldn't give him more than that. It wasn't a problem. They were out to wipe out a mortal family. Not in their wildest dreams did they expect someone to get away.
"Damn it all," He stood up, slightly swaying. He looked into the distance with hatred. "You win this time, you little sh*ts."
He stumbled back. He knew he would be heavily punished. But it was better than death. His own life now depended on getting back before it was too late.