NARRATOR

Aldo hoisted Gordon onto his back like a sack of potatoes, while Tomas carried the remaining crate.

Now, more than ever, they needed to find out exactly what this dangerous magic was. They ran nonstop, communicating mentally the entire time.

No matter what, if they kept going like this, they’d be captured.

“Leave me behind, damn it! Get out of here! If you stay, they’ll take you prisoner too! Warn the Duchy!”

“Shut up, damn it!” Tomas shouted at Gordon. He dropped the crate, placing it at the river’s edge.

This area was deep, the currents strong enough to drag the crate and the injured man away. But they didn’t dare throw themselves in and try to swim across.

"Climb on—quickly! Try to reach the other side and find help, go!" Aldo lowered him from his back.

Gordon could barely stand, but he pushed through.

"No, no, let’s all go—wait!" Gordon protested, realizing their intentions. Aldo and Tomas couldn’t waste time explaining.

"We can take care of ourselves. The crate won’t hol