Florian Laveaux's Arc

Chapter 8 of 10

The ride south began at midday. Florian adjusted his grip on the reins and glanced at Griffin riding beside him. The silver ring caught the light each time Griffin's hand moved. BelloSaros rode ahead with Daveth, their horses moving in step along the dirt road. A dove dropped from the sky and landed on BelloSaros's outstretched arm. The prince pulled a small leather tube from the bird's leg and unrolled the parchment inside. His face darkened as he read. He turned his horse and rode back to where Florian and Griffin waited. The serpent-people had attacked travelers on the southern road, he said. Three merchants were dead. A woman reported seeing eggs left at the roadside as markers before each ambush. Florian felt his chest tighten. He asked if they should turn back. BelloSaros shook his head. Gracia needed soldiers, not cowards. They reached the merchant's cart an hour later. It sat abandoned at the roadside, its painted wood splintered and cracked. Apples and grain spilled across the ground. Florian dismounted and walked to the cart. A green snake coiled on the driver's seat, its scales bright against the dark wood. It didn't move as Florian approached. Griffin came up beside him and drew his sword. The snake's head turned toward them, and Florian saw intelligence in its eyes. Not a serpent, but something more. He stepped back and told Griffin to leave it. BelloSaros called from his horse. They needed to keep moving. Florian climbed back onto his horse and looked at the cart one last time. The snake watched them ride away. He realized this was what becoming a knight meant—not just training in the yard, but riding toward danger when others fled. Griffin met his eyes and nodded. They had asked for this. Now they would see it through to Gracia, whatever waited there. Florian touched the ring on his finger and pressed his heels into his horse's sides. The road stretched ahead, and they followed BelloSaros south.