Smoke bloomed across the sky like ink spilled on parchment.
Ren and Lilith reappeared in a flash of light and distortion, creating a ripple in the air around them as they stepped onto the rooftop where Thorn, Elias, and Valen were already perched.
The noise from the chaos of the Summerhold riot filled the air around them, acting like background noise. The people were still chanting, businesses were still burning, and through it all, the church bell was still rolling, like it was singing a song to commemorate the violence that was taking place.
Thorn turned the moment they appeared, his face breaking into a wide, crooked grin. "I see my little riot worked out perfectly."
Ren couldn't help but laugh at the greeting. "Why am I not surprised that you were behind this?" He said. "I should've known. Only a devious mind would cook this up. You've always had a flair for the dramatic."
"Dramatic? I'll have you know I'm a humble public servant." Thorn replied, placing a hand over his heart. "I just happened to help thousands question divine authority all at once."
"Right." Elias muttered. "Completely humble."
"So, did it work?" Thorn asked eagerly, like a kid at the candy store.
"It did." Lilith grinned. "We found the Blood Chosen."
Ren unfastened the white cloak from his shoulders. This wasn't the time to pretend to be a Chosen. But that didn't mean the cloak couldn't come in handy later on, so he folded it carefully and slid it into his spatial pouch.
Lilith did the same, pausing only to glance down at the chaos she'd almost joined in full. The white cloak glimmered once before disappearing into Ren's storage.
"No more symbols of false unity." Lilith stretched gracefully like she had been crouched somewhere cramped. "Time to move forward."
"Next step?" Valen asked.
"Yeah." Elias spoke up, sheathing the sword he'd been sharpening. "What next?
"Horses." Ren said. "Fast ones."
They made their way down through the remarkably untouched building. While the rest of the street burned, the building stayed the same. It probably belonged to someone related to the ring leaders in charge of the riot.
They burst out into the main street, smoke filling the air and obscuring vision. The sound of chanting reached them, a group of people coming in their direction.
"Come." Valen spoke, and they followed him immediately, ducking into the nearest alley and sticking to the relative darkness as they moved through it.
As they passed the alleys, they sometimes got glances of the streets, where the rioters ran past them, angry and wielding kitchen knives and sticks, torches and broken tools.
With most of the Chosen still guarding the church and holding lines with their backs to the gates, the whole of Summerhold was on the edge of collapse.
Through the chaos, Valen led them to the lower district where fires hadn't yet reached. He pointed it out to them. A tall stone building with its windows dark and cracked, and its wide ground-level doors partially open.
"A stable." He said. "I saw it when we entered the city."
They slipped inside quickly. The air was warm with the smell of hay and sweat. Most of the horses had either been taken or fled, but luck was still with them. Six horses remained, tied nervously to the posts. Thankfully, they only needed five.
"They're still fresh." Elias said, running a hand down one of the mare's necks. "They haven't been ridden out yet."
"Take them." Ren said. "We don't have time for ethics."
Valen and Thorn untied the horses while Ren and Lilith picked out the ones they wanted. Valen went to the other end of the stable for his horse.
When they converged, Lilith perked up. "Midnight and Dawn!" She pointed out, eyes wide. Her horse had white fur, and Ren's had dark fur. Just like their previous horses that had died in Rainhold.
Ren chuckled as he stood before the group. "Everybody ready?" He asked.
Lilith answered with a kiss on his cheek. Thorn gave a half-salute. Elias nodded once, and Valen didn't respond. He already looked like he was born ready.
Ren held out his hand, and each of them placed their hand on his, holding tightly to the reins of their horses. And with a final smile, he teleported away.
The world twisted and turned itself inside out. In an instant, the stable and the screams of Summerhold were gone.
When they reappeared, they were standing a bit away outside the gate of Summerhold.
"You dropped a coin here?" Thorn asked, brows raised.
"Buried." Ren grinned.
And so, they mounted their horses.
Behind them, a great plume of smoke climbed into the heavens from within Summerhold like a wound on the world.
And with a final look, they began to ride. Lake Nihilum awaited.
Atop a grassy hill right at the other end of the horizon outside Summerhold, Vesper watched them through slitted eyes.
The crimson mist from his ribs coiled lazily in the wind as the power of the Red Tree flowed through him, conserving energy.
"You let them escape again." Nero said, his voice soft and amused. He stood beside Vesper, his lion mask firmly on his face.
"I didn't let anything happen." Vesper replied. His voice cracked slightly as the branches within him slithered just under the skin. "I wanted them to run. Let them think they're winning."
"Interesting philosophy." Nero murmured. "But I assume you have more pressing matters to attend to?"
Vesper didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained fixed on the riders in the distance, now no more than flecks on the horizon.
Finally, he spoke. "What of the King? Mikael?"
Nero chuckled beneath his mask. "Our dear king is even more ambitious than we all thought. He's raising an army. An actual army with power. He's building something even the Church would fear."
"And the Pope?" Vesper asked, almost lazily.
Nero tilted his head. "Knows nothing."
Vesper grinned. "Then Elnoria will burn."
"Whether Albion attacks or not." Nero finished.