Chapter 287
Dark clouds swallowed the sun, leaving the sky a dull, oppressive gray. A solitary ray of the setting sun pierced through a tear in the clouds, spilling across the slate-blue mountain ridges and setting the snow-capped peaks aglow.
Athena and her group had galloped over fifteen grueling miles, the biting northern wind leaving the tip of her nose raw and red. She lifted her gaze. Up ahead, the town gates stood faintly visible. Beyond them lay Lochmere; their destination at last. The rest of the group were utterly exhausted, while Jessa alone remained alert and energetic. Jessa now looked at Athena with newfound admiration in her eyes.
Jessa had assumed that, with Athena’s delicate constitution, there was no way she could endure such a grueling journey. But to her surprise, Athena turned out to be far tougher than she had imagined. She had been running all this time without a single complaint.
“My Lady, let’s stay the night in Lochmere and set out at first light tomorrow. It’s safer that way,” Jessa said. Traveling at night was simply too dangerous. As much as Athena was desperate to find the evidence, she couldn’t risk the lives of her companions. Thus, Athena nodded wearily. “Very well then.”
Jessa jerked her chin at the person behind her. “You, go ahead and make arrangements.”
What Jessa meant by “making arrangements” went far beyond simply booking accommodations. Jessa dispatched the shadow guards to scout ahead for suspicious individuals or potential threats. The shadow guard gave Jessa a curt nod before darting ahead. Half an hour later Athena rode into the town.
The shadow guard who had scouted ahead stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and reported, “My Lady, all arrangements…”
Athena reined in and followed the shadow guard to a tidy inn. Lochmere was a bustling crossroads, thronged with merchants and travelers from all directions. Athena and her party blended seamlessly into the town’s bustling crowds, drawing no attention to themselves.
Soon, a waiter brought in a table of food and wine, then quietly withdrew. Athena and Jessa each had a private room, while their retinue slept in the common quarters.
After finishing their meal, Jessa turned to Athena and said, “I’ll be right next door. Just shout if you need me.” With that, Jessa strode out without another word.
Athena had been forcing herself to keep going all this time. Now that she finally let her guard down, sharp waves of pain radiated through her body, especially her thighs. The grueling journey had left her utterly spent, feeling as if every bone in her body was coming loose.
Her thighs burned with a raw, stinging pain, especially on the inner sides. Athena lifted her skirt, only to see that a large patch on her inner thigh was chafed raw. The fabric clung to the raw wound, and even the slightest movement sent a searing pain shooting through her.
Athena retrieved some gauze and carefully tended to the raw wound before applying a medicated salve. After tending to everything, Athena, utterly exhausted, collapsed onto her bed and quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
It wasn’t until the sudden commotion reached her ears that Athena jolted awake from her dream. People were shouting “Fire!”
Panicked shouts erupted from every floor of the inn. Suddenly then did Athena realize her room was choked with thick smoke.
“Jessa! Jessa!” Athena shouted several times toward the door. Suddenly, the door burst open with a crash as someone kicked it in.
Jessa burst into the room, sword in hand. Flames raged behind Jessa as she frantically searched for Athena, calling out, “Viscountess, I’m here!”
Athena followed the voice, reaching out blindly through the thick smoke. Suddenly, several black-clad figures materialized behind Jessa. Instantly sensing the danger, she whirled around to engage them.
Jessa cried, “Watch out, My Lady!” At the same moment, a strong hand suddenly clamped around Athena’s wrist.
He smashed through the window with Athena in tow. In just a few swift, agile leaps, they left the inn far behind.
In the inky darkness, Athena couldn’t see who the person was, but she instinctively sensed he meant her no harm.
“Who are you?” Athena asked breathlessly as soon as they came to a halt.
“Athena, it’s me.” That familiar voice sent a jolt through Athena’s heart.
Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and there in the night, Michael’s face came into sharp focus before her. Athena drew in a sharp breath. “Michael? What are you doing here?”
Michael’s brows knitted tightly, a flicker of panic crossing his face.
Michael said to Athena, “The moment you left the city, someone started following you. I was worried and came to check on you. Thank God I made it in time.”
Athena’s eyes darted nervously. “How is that possible? I didn’t tell a soul about leaving Pidence City.”
Michael frowned and said, “It’s not safe here, let me take you back to Pidence City now!” With that, Michael made to take Athena’s hand.
However, Athena took a step back and shook her head slowly. “I can’t go back.”
Michael stared at her, a mix of disbelief and frustration in his eyes. “Don’t be so headstrong, Athena! You’re in grave danger right now, I can’t guarantee your complete safety. Only by returning to Pidence City can you escape these assassins.”
Athena made her decision. “That’s exactly why I must go on.”
Athena had doubted Belle’s words at first, but now she was certain, Belle had been telling the truth. It was Leonard who murdered Train and his entire family. Otherwise, these assassins wouldn’t have come after Athena.
Wendral Mountain must hold something Leonard…
Under the pallid moonlight, Athena’s hair was tousled, but her gaze remained razor sharp. She had to go to Wendral Mountain.
Michael’s eyes flashed with urgency as he demanded in a low, grave voice, “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“If it means clearing my grandfather’s name, I’d gladly give my life,” Athena declared resolutely, her eyes utterly fearless. The frigid wind whipped at the hem of her robes, making them billow and snap. Despite her petite frame, she appeared exceptionally resilient.
Michael gazed at her for a long moment before finally relenting, “Alright,” he conceded, “I’ll go with you.”
To Michael’s surprise, Athena offered a graceful curtsy. “My deepest thanks for your life-saving kindness, Lord Osborne. I will repay this debt in time. But this is a personal matter, I wouldn’t dare burden you with it.”
Polite yet distant, she rebuffed Michael’s kind offer. Michael gazed at her, emotions warring across his face until sorrow slowly darkened his eyes.
“All I ever wanted was to protect you. Why won’t you even give me that chance?” Michael’s voice trembled with suppressed emotion.
There were so many things Michael had bottled up inside. He wanted to tell Athena everything, to lay his heart bare. The marriage to Willow hadn’t been his will; his family had forced his hand. Deep down, the only one he ever truly longed to have by his side was Athena. That had never changed.
But Athena’s aloofness left Michael unable to voice these thoughts. That would only make him look desperate.
Athena offered Michael a faint, polite smile. “Thank you for your kind offer, Lord Osborne. You can simply assume I’m ungrateful.” With that, she gave Michael a polite nod and then turned to leave without another word.
However, Michael grabbed her arm again, looking utterly defeated as he gazed at Athena, “Don’t go back.”
Athena looked at him, puzzled. “Jessa is still there, how could I possibly abandon her?”
Michael’s brows knitted tightly, a fierce intensity brewing between them. Instead of releasing Athena’s hand, Michael tightened his grip and commanded, “I said, you’re not going anywhere.”
Michael was acting so out of character that she couldn’t help but feel irritated. “Let go.” Athena’s voice was icy cold. “Michael, I’m grateful you saved my life, but that doesn’t mean we can rekindle what we had. You have no say over my…”
Athena struggled fiercely to break free, only to find that Michael’s grip on her arm was like an iron vise; unyielding.
Michael pinned Athena against the wall with bruising force, his voice raw with desperation. “Athena, why won’t you listen to me? If you go back there, you’ll get yourself killed! Can’t you see that?”
Athena stared at Michael, shock and fury flashing in her eyes. A chilling realization began to dawn on her. But before Athena could fully process what was happening, a deafening explosion ripped through the night.