The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 329: The Stalking Figure

With a deep breath, she stood up, her body still shaking but her resolve unyielding. She couldn’t stay here. The others would be searching for him soon. This night, like so many before, offered no rest, no solace—only survival.

"Come on, boy," she whispered to Jostein, her voice soft but firm. The horse neighed gently, as if sensing her urgency and fear. His large, intelligent eyes locked onto hers, and in that brief moment, Jessamyn felt a flicker of reassurance.

She climbed onto his back, her legs weak but determined. Every muscle in her body screamed for rest, but rest was a luxury she couldn’t afford. The moonless night stretched ahead like an endless abyss, but she urged Jostein forward, pushing him into a swift gallop.

The sound of hooves beating against the forest floor echoed in the stillness, a rhythmic heartbeat in the silence. The caw of Jaylene followed her.

Jessamyn’s mind raced alongside her horse. She couldn’t afford another encounter like this, not with her son so close to being born and so many enemies lurking in the shadows. The weight of her unborn child pressed down on her body, a constant reminder of the life she had to protect at all costs. Each mile she traveled, every second she kept moving, was one step closer to safety—or at least, she hoped.

Jerrick told her that he would be back in a week. That place was that close. And yet, how come it was hard for her to reach? Why didn’t he return? Was something nefarious happening?

Her thoughts were filled with questions. But she rushed, not giving up on hope. She needed to be strong for the sake of her baby. She wanted to look at Jerrick’s face once more.

The cold night air bit at her skin, but Jessamyn barely noticed. Her focus was on the path ahead, her senses sharp despite the exhaustion gnawing at her bones. She rode without direction, trusting Jostein to guide her through the maze of trees and winding trails.

He had never failed her before, and tonight, she prayed he wouldn’t start.

Behind her, the forest began to blur into a dark smear of tangled branches and shadows. She could no longer hear the Altanian soldiers, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there, hunting her, ready to pounce. The night was far from over, and danger lurked in every corner.

She tightened her grip on the reins, her knuckles white with tension. "We have to keep moving, Jostein. We can’t stop now."

The horse snorted in agreement, picking up the pace. The wind whipped through Jessamyn’s hair, and her cloak billowed behind her like a shadow chasing her through the night.

---

Eyes glinted in the darkness, fixed on Jessamyn as she rode through the night. Hidden deep within the shadows of the forest, a figure stood still, blending perfectly with the undergrowth. Cloaked in darkness, the figure’s presence was undetectable—an apparition that moved silently with predatory grace. He observed every twitch and every movement Jessamyn made with meticulous care.

The figure’s breath was shallow, almost nonexistent, as if the very act of breathing would give away his position. The only sound was the faint rustle of leaves in the night breeze and the soft rhythmic beat of Jostein’s hooves.

But the figure wasn’t fazed by the horse or the woman, only focused on the task at hand.

With a flick of his wrist, a small, glowing orb materialized in his palm. Whispering in an ancient tongue, the hooded figure spoke into the orb, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.

"She is getting closer," the figure reported, his tone quiet yet urgent. "Even with all the deviation spells, she continues to find her way. She will reach the perimeter by tomorrow."

The orb shimmered, acknowledging the message. The figure waited for further instructions, his eyes never leaving Jessamyn as she rode ahead, oblivious to the danger lurking so close.

A pause hung in the air before a response crackled from the orb, the voice on the other end equally detached and cold. "Fortify the area. She must not enter."

"Any idea what happened to Elaine?" the figure asked.

"Do whatever is necessary to stop her." The reply came.

The dark figure’s lips curled into a thin, joyless smile as he slipped the orb back into the folds of its cloak.

His gaze followed Jessamyn, watching her disappear into the distance, the weight of the order sinking into his mind. The task was clear. She could not be allowed to breach the stronghold.

His eyes scanned the area. Some of the soldiers came in the direction of the dead soldiers. The hooded figure moved along the shadows and appeared in front of them. Before they shouted out of shock, he thrust his dagger into their necks and they plopped on the ground, dead.

He snorted with displeasure. If only the council didn’t want Jessamyn alive, he would kill her with pleasure. Too bad she was needed.

He wondered how she managed to go the right direction even when he cast the most powerful labyrinth spells he had known. Anyone would be stuck there for years without even knowing they were stuck in a maze.

But Jessamyn managed to come out of every labyrinth he put forth. He had tried to kill her son, but he couldn’t get anywhere near her. He sensed no protective spells around her and he couldn’t figure out how she was doing it.

It was very well possible that she knew that he was following her. But he needed to do what needs to be done. True light should rule this world. And for that Jessamyn and her annoying husband should be eliminated along with their son.

The figure’s form dissolved into the shadows, moving with the wind like a phantom. Steps light, he navigated the forest in complete silence, heading toward the fortification site. The air around it seemed to ripple as if reality itself bent to its presence.

He put forth another labyrinth spell. With the speed she was travelling, she might reach the site within hours. He didn’t want that. He needed time to figure out how to handle her.

-----

Jessamyn didn’t stop until the sun hung high in the sky. She had left the forest in the morning and had reached the path of a flowing river. As she followed the river upstream, she reached the place that was surrounded by mountains and a valley in the middle.

Is this the place Jerrick mentioned?

With her heart pounding with excitement, Jessamyn pressed her heels into Jostein’s sides, trying to urge him forward, but the horse didn’t budge. His powerful body, usually so obedient and attuned to her commands, stiffened, his muscles trembling with unease. His ears flicked back and forth, alert to something Jessamyn couldn’t see.

"Come on, Jostein," she whispered, her voice soft yet laced with frustration and apprehension. Her heart, which had been pounding with hope and anticipation, now skipped in nervous uncertainty.

Jostein snorted and pawed the ground, his hooves digging into the earth, but he still refused to move forward.