There were rumours around the house that Gustavo wasn't just any normal guard. It was said that he had come from up north, these people were known to dabble in arcane magic unlike in Astoria where only a few people had an affinity for magic and were mostly healers.
The people from the north were known for being mercenaries for hire. It was said that he was sent on a bit on lord Blackthorn himself but somehow ended up being turned to Blackthorn's most trusted and only bodyguard. The story wasn't exactly clear but his aura and presence around the house always felt out of place.
'What in the hell is he doing?' Mara thought.
Gustavo's eyes, cold and calculating, scanned the area. For a heart-stopping moment, Mara thought he had spotted her. She held her breath, pressing herself harder against the rough bark of the tree. But his gaze moved on, and she exhaled silently, relief washing over her.
The bodyguard's attention seemed to be caught by something on the ground. He crouched, his fingers tracing patterns in the dirt that Mara couldn't see from her vantage point. A frown creased his forehead, deepening the already intimidating lines of his face.
'What is he looking for?' Mara wondered, her curiosity warring with her fear. 'Could he possibly be tracking them?'
As if in answer to her unspoken question, Gustavo suddenly straightened, a glint of metal catching the faint moonlight as he drew a dagger from his belt. The blade seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, confirming Mara's worst fears about his rumored magical abilities.
Without hesitation, Gustavo plunged into the thick undergrowth bordering Zafron's property, moving with a speed and surety that spoke of years of training and experience.
Mara's heart leaped into her throat. 'No! He's found their trail!'
For a moment, she remained frozen, indecision paralyzing her. The smart thing would be to run, to flee back to the relative safety of the Blackthorn mansion and pretend she knew nothing. But the thought of abandoning Zafron and Matilda to whatever fate Gustavo had in store for them made her sick to her stomach.
'I can't leave them,' she thought, clenching her fists. 'I won't!'
With a deep breath, Mara steeled herself and darted from her hiding place. She moved as quietly as she could, thankful for the skills she'd developed as a servant in the Blackthorn household, where being unseen and unheard was a prized ability.
The undergrowth was dense, branches snagging at her clothes and hair as she pushed through. Ahead, she could just make out Gustavo's dark form moving swiftly through the foliage. Fear gnawed at her insides, but she pressed on, driven by a desperate need to protect those she cared for.
'Please,' she silently prayed, 'let me reach them first. Let me warn them somehow.'
Gustavo seemed to be following a path only he could see, his movements sure and purposeful. Occasionally, he would pause, crouching to examine something on the ground or running his hand along a tree trunk. Each time, Mara's heart would skip a beat, fearing he had lost the trail. But he always resumed his relentless pursuit, the dagger in his hand glowing faintly in the darkness.
The eerie light emanating from the blade sent chills down Mara's spine. She had heard whispers of the northern magic, of its power and its price. What dark arts was Gustavo employing to track Zafron and Matilda? And what would he do when he found them?
The forest grew denser as they moved deeper into its heart. Mara's progress slowed, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to keep Gustavo in sight while avoiding detection. The bodyguard, however, seemed unaffected by the difficult terrain, moving with an almost supernatural grace.
'How can I hope to stop him?' Mara thought, despair threatening to overwhelm her. 'He's too strong, too skilled. I'm just a servant girl.'
Suddenly, Gustavo halted, his body tensing like a hound that had caught a scent. Mara froze, barely daring to breathe. The bodyguard raised his dagger, its glow intensifying until it illuminated the small clearing they had entered.
There, just visible through the trees on the far side of the clearing, Mara caught a glimpse of movement. Her heart leaped as she recognized Zafron's familiar gait, Matilda's slender form hurrying beside him.
'No!' Mara's mind screamed. 'They're so close!'
Gustavo's lips curled into a predatory smile, his eyes gleaming with triumph. He took a step forward, the dagger pulsing with malevolent energy.
In that moment, Mara knew she had to act. There was no time for subtlety, no room for fear. With a courage she didn't know she possessed, she burst from her hiding place.
"Zafron! Matilda!" she screamed, her voice shattering the eerie silence of the forest. "Run! He's here!"
Gustavo whirled, his face contorting with rage as he spotted Mara. For a heartbeat, their eyes locked, and Mara felt the full force of his terrifying presence. It was like staring into the eyes of a storm, dark and merciless.
But there was no time for fear. Mara turned and ran, crashing through the undergrowth in the opposite direction from where she had seen Zafron and Matilda. She could hear Gustavo's heavy footsteps behind her, closing fast.
'Please,' she thought, her heart pounding, 'let them get away. Let my sacrifice mean something.'
As she ran, branches whipping at her face and roots threatening to trip her at every step, Mara realized that her silly dreams of a future with Zafron might never come true.
As Mara's desperate cry echoed through the forest, Zafron's head whipped around, his eyes wide with shock and recognition. He froze mid-step, causing Matilda to stumble slightly beside him.
"Did you hear that?" he whispered urgently, his gaze darting back the way they had come. "It sounded like... Mara."
Matilda's grip on his arm tightened, her face pale in the dim light filtering through the canopy. "Zafron, no," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "We can't stop. We can't go back. It's too dangerous."
But Zafron wasn't listening. His mind raced, replaying the scream he had heard. There was no doubt in his mind - it was Mara's voice, filled with terror and warning.
'She came for us,' he thought, a mixture of gratitude and dread washing over him. 'And now she's in danger because of it.'
"I have to go back," he said firmly, gently but insistently removing Matilda's hand from his arm. "If that's really Mara, she's in trouble. I can't just leave her."
Matilda's eyes filled with tears of frustration and fear. "Zafron, please," she begged. "We're so close to escaping. If you go back now, everything we've risked will be for nothing."
Zafron turned to her, his face set with determination. "I'm sorry, Matilda, but I have to do this. It's Mara... I can't abandon her,"
He could see the conflict in Matilda's eyes, the war between her desire for safety and her understanding of his loyalty. For a moment, he thought she might try to physically restrain him.
Instead, she took a deep, shuddering breath. "You're right," she said softly. "We can't leave her. But Zafron, please be careful. If it's Gustavo..."
Zafron nodded grimly. "I know. I'll be as quick and quiet as I can. You should keep moving towards the docks. I'll catch up with you there."
Matilda hesitated for a moment, then pulled him into a fierce embrace. "Don't you dare not come back," she whispered fiercely.
With a final nod, Zafron turned and began to make his way back through the forest, his heart pounding. The sounds of pursuit grew louder as he moved, and he quickened his pace, praying he wasn't too late.
'Hold on, Mara,' he thought as he ran. 'I'm coming. Just hold on.'