Chapter 86: Redemption's Path

Jared POV

Since morning, the wind had gained strength. Sharp, biting, and relentless. A threat, the way it sliced through trees and howled around the bone-white branches. Early winter this year, and with it crept danger, it seemed, lurking behind each shadow.

I pulled the frayed cloak around my shoulders and cinched the leather strap of the satchel draped across my chest. Inside were the supplies Claire had given me—herbal remedies, bandages, a clean water bottle, and rations. Simple. Enough to get by. Enough to assist.

Not long ago, I would not have bothered assisting anyone save myself.

At this point… I could not look away.

Not after what I had witnessed. Not after what I had accomplished.

Following the scent trail I would pick up at dawn, I raced quickly through the underbrush. Burnt wood. Moist coat. Bloodshed. The indications of wounded rogues running from something—or someone. I would say Ashborn's patrols. Every day they became bolder, edging closer to Redwater land and slashing down those too feeble to resist.

I was among the few who had witnessed their movement—like toothy ghosts. Unforgiving. Quiet. Logan was not a boy any longer.

Sniffing the air once more, I crouched low. Now the aroma was stronger. And combined with something else—fear.

The fear of a child.

I got up and began to run.

Finding them did not take long.

Huddled inside a fallen cave near the riverbank, three young rogues—two barely older than pups and one who looked perhaps fifteen—were huddled. The oldest was using a broken branch to try to keep the entrance closed. Deep and new, I noticed claw marks all down his arm. Dripping down to his fingers, blood marked the ice-covered terrain.

Ashborn scouts were already converging. Two of those. Big guys with blackened hair and deep scars all over their faces. Too preoccupied with the cave, they had not yet spotted me.

Before I could consider it twice, I emerged from the trees and shouted.

Hello!

The bigger one turned to face me, eyes narrowing.

"Jared," he growled. "You should have remained in exile.

Strange. I was just considering the same regarding you.

He was not tardy. Claws out, he charged.

I ducked low and avoided the first swipe, pushing my shoulder into his belly. He fell back, and I took advantage of the gap to sweep his legs out from under him. The second scout came at me from behind as he fell to the ground.

But I was prepared.

I turned, pulled a short knife from my belt, and cut up. It struck his facial side. He staggered and screamed.

The first one charged once more.

This time I allowed him.

Stepping into his assault, I grabbed his wrist and spun, tossing him over my shoulder and forcefully driving him into a nearby tree trunk.

He stayed down.

The second one, bleeding from the cheek, was unsure. I glared him down.

I said icily, "Run back to Logan." Say Redwater is still there. Tell him I do as well.

The scout growled but retreated. He disappeared into the woods in seconds.

I looked in the direction of the cave. The oldest rogue boy was looking at me with wide, terrified eyes.

Kneeling next to him, I said softly, "Do not move." You are bleeding far too much.

He winced at my touch on his arm but stayed put.

He enquired, "Why did you assist us?"

I looked into his eyes. "Because I did not last time. And it cost everything.” 

Cleaning and wrapping their wounds took hours. Most of the food and the water I provided. The tiniest puppy, a girl with knotted brown curls, hung onto her older brother the whole time but kept looking at me as though I were a ghost from an ancient nightmare.

Perhaps I was.

But I didn’t run from it. 

While they slept, I kept watch and sat by the fire I built for them. Thick flakes of snow that quieted the world had begun to fall once more.

The fire popped gently.

I stared into it, remembering another fire—long ago—when I had stood over a Redwater scout I’d beaten nearly to death.  I had told myself it was justice. That I was due retribution.

But all I had done was turn into the monster I dreaded.

Perhaps I was attempting to burn that monster away now.

Perhaps.

The rogue boy—Talin by name—woke up near dawn and sat next to me.

You were formerly Midnight Moon, correct?

I was.

But you now battle with Redwater.

"I do not know whether they would consider it fighting with them," I remarked. "But I no longer fight against them."

He was silent for a time before adding, "Last winter I lost my parents. They claimed we were too rogue to be saved. I believed they were correct.

I gazed at him.

"They weren't."

He said nothing more. I let him, though, when he rested his head on my shoulder. I stayed still.

The guards nearly denied us passage when we got to Redwater's outer patrol queue.

Jared, why on earth are you bringing rogues into the core of the village? One of them, Markus, insisted with his hand on his sword.

“They’re not threats,” I said calmly.  "They are survivors. Turning them away would make us no better than the Ashborn.

A second fighter advanced. A lady. Sharp eyes. Soft voice.

"We will take them to the healers," she said, looking at me for a long time. You acted correctly.

Before the fighters drove him and his siblings away, Talin reached out and held my hand.

"Thanks," he murmured.

I said nothing.

I simply nodded.

I was summoned to the council chamber later.

Both Claire and Derek were present, next to Elder Rowan and Beta Lena. When I entered, the room was tense. I held no grudge against them.

“You could’ve died out there,” Derek said.  Going beyond the eastern ridge disobeyed orders.

“I know,” I said. 

Claire crossed her arms, staring at me.  “Why did you risk it?” 

"I had to, thus"

She looked at me closely and for a long time. Her face was impossible to read.

Jared, you did not have to save them. You decided to.

I did.

What for?

I hesitated and then stared directly at her.

"Once, someone decided I could improve. And I never had the opportunity to express gratitude.

Her face relaxed somewhat.

“We can’t change the past,” she said. 

“No,” I agreed.  "But we can prevent it from happening again."

There came a protracted stillness. At last, Claire nodded.

She remarked, "We will talk more later." "But for now... thanks." Without you, those kids would not exist.

I quietly exited the room and bowed my head.

Outside, the sky was still grey.  But for the first time, it did not feel weighty.

It seemed hopeful.

I found myself heading for the training fields.

Not to battle.

Simply to recall.

Then I spotted Sophia standing at the forest trail's edge.

She appeared anxious.

“Something’s wrong,” she said as I reached her.  "Very wrong."

What is it, then?

A scout just arrived from the far west ridge. He claimed to have seen activity close to the Ashborn ruins.

Logan?

Not at all. She shook her head in denial. "Worse."

I scowled. "What could be worse than Logan?"

Her response sent chills down my spine.

Lila.

But I witnessed her death.

Sophia's voice fell to a whisper.

He claimed she was living. Or something similar to her.

We both gazed into the trees.

Then the wind shifted once more.

Bearing a familiar, haunting aroma.

Ash and lavender.