Chapter 46: A Thrilling Chase "DESERTER! SOMEONE GET THE BOY!"
The moment Riven heard those words, he immediately broke into a full sprint without daring to look back, as he knew that slowing down even for a single moment would most likely mean getting caught.
*Crunch* *Crunch* *Crunch*
The sound of several pairs of boots crushing through the snow entered his ears from behind, as his breathing shortened and his mind became painfully alert to the fact that more than one Yellowtail warrior was chasing him.
’Three... maybe four...’
Riven guessed, as the rhythm of the footsteps behind him grew louder while his fingers tightened around the strap of his satchel to keep it from bouncing too violently against his side.
Without even realizing it himself, Aether began circulating through his body, as his legs suddenly carried him forward at a speed that no ordinary boy of his age should have been capable of sustaining while carrying such a heavy load.
However, despite making good pace, Riven knew that speed alone would not save him.
The village around him had become too chaotic to be considered safe, as every road ahead contained either corpses, fire, broken carts, fighting warriors, or terrified villagers stumbling blindly through the snow.
’Don’t run straight. Don’t panic. Remember the path. You’ve got this.’
Riven told himself, as he forced his eyes to keep scanning the road ahead despite the fear steadily rising inside his chest.
For the moment, it did not seem like the Yellowtail warriors were closing the distance between them and him, which meant that his greatest enemy right now was not the men chasing him, but rather the possibility that he could make a silly mistake leading to a fall or stumble, giving them the opportunity to close the distance and catch him.
Which was why he took extra care to avoid every potential mistake.
’Shit shit shit, why did you have to die there of all places?’
Riven thought, as almost immediately, his concentration was put to the test, as the corpse of an Ashfang warrior suddenly came into view lying across the road ahead with one arm twisted beneath his body and a spear protruding through his back, while blood continued seeping into the snow around him and staining it a deep crimson.
The body posed a problem because it had collapsed directly across a narrow drainage ditch, while the melting snow and spilled blood had turned both banks into a slick layer of slush that offered almost no reliable footing, meaning that if Riven attempted to step around it, there was a real chance that he would lose his balance and fall, while there was no way to bypass it altogether without deviating heavily from his current trajectory and risk slowing down.
Left with little choice, Riven adjusted his stride at the very last second before pushing off the ground as hard as he could, as he committed himself to a long leap over both the corpse and the drainage ditch while praying that his footing would hold the moment he landed.
*LEAP*
*LAND*
For one terrifying instant, he felt himself tilt forward.
’No!’
Riven thought, as he threw his weight to the side and managed to land awkwardly on his feet, stumbling only two steps before regaining his rhythm.
While behind him, one of the Yellowtail warriors cursed loudly.
"Damn brat moves like a fox!"
The insult barely registered inside Riven’s mind, because the next turn was already approaching, and he knew that if he took the wider road ahead, he would expose himself to the warriors fighting near the central square.
So instead, he veered sharply left and headed towards a narrow passage between two huts that were both on fire.
*Sizzle*
*Crackle*
Burning straw continued to rain down on the passage between the two huts, as despite the danger, Riven lowered his head and charged through.
*Step* *Step*
Heat brushed against his face as he passed, while sparks scattered across his coat and forced him to slap one sleeve against his body without slowing down, while the warriors behind him hesitated for only a moment before following.
"How is he still so fast? Wasn’t he supposed to tire out long ago?"
One of them shouted, as the distance between them failed to shrink despite their larger strides.
"Somebody get in front of him, damn it!"
Another voice roared, as those words immediately sent a fresh wave of panic through Riven’s chest.
’They’re trying to cut me off. If some third party jumps in front of me, I’m done for.’
Riven realized, as he began scanning every intersection ahead with even greater urgency.
A few steps later, he saw exactly what he feared.
Two Yellowtail warriors were fighting an Ashfang defender near the mouth of the next road, and although they were not yet looking at him, their position meant that if he kept running straight, he would pass close enough for either of them to grab him.
And so, Riven changed direction immediately.
Instead of continuing down the road, he jumped onto the side of an overturned cart, using one broken wheel as a step before climbing over the tilted frame.
The cart rocked beneath his weight.
For a moment, the wooden frame shifted dangerously, as though it might collapse under him, however, Riven threw himself forward before it could.
*THUD*
He landed on the other side with a painful jolt running up his knees, as the breath nearly left his lungs, however he forced himself to keep moving before the men behind him could close the distance.
"Cut around the cart!"
One of the Yellowtail warriors yelled.
"No, throw something and kill the boy now!"
Another said, as a third threw an axe straight at Riven’s head.
*WOOSH*