Ken sighed, ruffling his fingers through his thick short hair. They had continued riding for a few more hours, it was around 3 in the morning but he knew they couldn't stop until they reached Jaerim, but he was beginning to doze and the horse was tired as well.
His eyes were fighting to keep open when he noticed something, a light up ahead. The dreariness darted from him and he went on alert, quickly extinguishing their own lantern and reaching into the wagon to shake Anna awake.
"Hmmmmm…
Syl..." she murmured.
"Anna, wake up!" Ken whispered.
"Huh?" She sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"There's someone up ahead. Be on your guard."
Anna squinted and looked down the road, she saw the light and hid behind the edge of the wagon. They continued calmly down the road, and the two parties came to a cross. It was two watch guards on patrol, riding parallel to each other.
Ken gave them a salute, "Good evening gentleman."
The guards halted their horses.
"Inquisitor. What're you doing about? I didn't know a detachment was heading to Jaerim."
Ken's hand shook as he subtly laid it on his sword. "Oh, I'm delivering a missive to the bishop in Redgate. Urgent news from the capital, can't stop to dally!" He snapped the reigns and his horse trotted on.
The guards eyed him as he rode away.
"Hey! Hold on!" Shouted one.
Ken began to sweat, he didn't stop the horse. "Sorry! I have orders to get there as soon as possible!" His voice cracked.
"Who's that in your wagon?" Shouted the other guard.
Ken jittered and turned his head around. "H-her? Sh-she's a squire! Poor thing got too worn out sparring earlier and needed to rest!"
Anna laid still in the wagon, pretending to sleep.
"Girl?" The guards turned around and caught back up. They eyed Anna and Ken up and down.
"You know, we got a letter earlier that there was a blonde oathbreaker on the run… carrying a little pretty boy with him."
Anna clenched her fists.
"And by your cloak you're just a fledgling… why do you have a squire?"
Ken gritted his teeth and drew his sword, slashing the man's throat. He cracked the reigns and the horse went to a gallop. Anna held on tight as the wagon jostled wildly, she could see the guard had fallen dead off his horse. The other gave chase.
"So much for laying low!" Said Ken.
The guard was gaining on them, the wagon was slowing them down. Without thinking, Anna leapt from the wagon onto the horse and beckoned Ken to follow. He nodded, and carefully climbed onto the horse. He took his sword and swiftly severed the connection, letting the wagon go tumbling loose behind them.
The guards horse tried to zig zag, but collided with the wagon, sending the guard and horse tumbling to the ground. The two got back up, shaken but relatively uninjured, however it was too late and the fugitives had gained too much of a lead.
Anna sat practically in his lap, the two were hunched over and holding onto the horse tightly. Ken's armor pressed against her back, it was cold, but the arm he held around her made her feel warm.
Up ahead was a crossroad, from the right rode another horseman.
"Oathbreaker! Get him!" Shouted the man who'd been thrown off his horse. His voice carried, and the other guard understood.
"Damn!" Shouted Ken as he veered to the lefthand path to avoid the guard.
The horseman followed in pursuit, gaining speed.
"I can't lose him!" Said Ken.
"Let me handle it." Said Anna.
She pulled a bit of fleece from her pocket, and held it over her eyes.
"What are you-?"
Anna didn't respond, she was mumbling something Ken didn't entirely understand, and her hands began to glow.
"She's… a spellcaster?"