Kael adjusted the leather straps on her new attire, testing the range of movement as she stepped into the clearing where Riven was waiting.
Her new outfit was vastly different from her usual black attire. She now wore a fitted leather vest over a long-sleeved tunic, cinched at the waist with sturdy belts holding small pouches and throwing knives. The fabric of her tunic was a muted earthy tone, blending seamlessly with the traveler's cloak she had draped over her shoulders. The hood concealed most of her bright red hair, but strands peeked out, framing her sharp, wary expression. Her boots, well-worn yet durable, whispered against the dirt as she walked.
Her fingers brushed the daggers strapped to her thighs—a reminder of her skills and a reassurance in this unfamiliar disguise.
Riven, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, looked up as she approached.
If she had changed, so had he.
He wore a desert-toned outfit, a combination of flowing tunic layers and fitted leather armor. A hood covered most of his darkened hair, and the scarf-like fabric wrapped loosely around his shoulders gave him the look of a seasoned wanderer. A cross-body belt secured a sheathed sword at his hip, while leather bracers covered his forearms.
He looked like someone who had traveled across continents.
"Well, well," Riven drawled, eyeing her up and down. "I have to say, Kael, I almost didn't recognize you. Almost."
Kael raised a brow. "You're not so bad yourself. You finally look like someone who doesn't belong in a palace."
Riven smirked. "Careful, sweetheart. I might take that as a compliment."
She ignored him and crossed her arms. "Let's go over the plan."
Riven sighed dramatically. "Ah, straight to business. Fine, come here."
They sat near the base of an ancient oak tree, the scent of damp earth and pine thick in the air. The morning sun filtered through the branches, casting shifting patterns of gold and green on the forest floor.
Riven pulled out a worn, hand-drawn map and spread it over a flat rock between them.
"Alright, listen carefully. This is the map of Aelyndor*," he said, tapping his gloved finger against the parchment. "As you already know there are five continents, but for now, we focus on two: Velmont, where we are now, and Varendel, where we're going."
His finger traced a thick green mass. "This is the Seryndel Forest, the natural border between Velmont and Varendel. We're here—" he pointed to a small clearing on the edge. "Once we pass through, we'll officially be in Varendel territory."
Kael studied the map, nodding.
"The fastest way to the elven lands is through the city of Saint-Aure*," Riven continued. "It's a major trade hub, filled with merchants, travelers, and adventurers. If we blend in, no one will look twice at us."
Kael's gaze flickered up. "And our names?"
Riven smirked, clearly enjoying this part. "For the next few weeks, you are 'Renna Solis,' a wandering mercenary. And I…" He touched his chest dramatically. "Am Cassian Vale, a simple adventurer."
Kael exhaled slowly. "Fine. 'Renna' and 'Cassian' it is."
Riven winked. "Try not to miss saying my real name too much."
Kael rolled her eyes. "Let's move before I regret this."
With their cover identities set, they mounted their horses.
Riven had chosen well.
Kael's stallion was a sleek black beauty, powerful and silent, its coat gleaming like polished obsidian. Riven's horse, in contrast, was a majestic white stallion, its mane catching the sunlight like spun silver.
Kael ran a hand over her horse's neck. "You matched them to our real hair colors," she murmured.
Riven grinned. "Of course. I have good taste."
For once, she didn't bite back. Instead, she straightened in the saddle, looking at him thoughtfully.
"You went through a lot of trouble preparing all of this," she said quietly. "Thank you."
Riven blinked.
He had expected sarcasm. He had expected her to brush it off. But genuine gratitude? That, he wasn't prepared for.
He felt a strange heat at the back of his neck.
Clearing his throat, he swung onto his horse. "Well, don't get used to it. I'm just a very generous person."
Kael smirked. "Sure, 'Cassian Vale'."
He shook his head, chuckling, but as they galloped into the dense green of the Seryndel Forest, his thoughts lingered.
That soft smile she had given him.
That look in her eyes.
Damn.
This journey might be more interesting than he thought.