Chapter 320

The group broke camp shortly after Arran had rescued the farmer’s son . Although the boy’s disappearance and retrieval had caused some consternation, there was no time to discuss the matter at length — not with the border of the Imperium fast approaching .

As the captain had made clear, the guards would accompany them for another day before turning back . And only after that would the group’s members discover whether their decision to leave the borderlands had been the right one .

While nobody said it outright, Arran could tell that there had been a subtle change in his fellow travelers’ mood . They weren’t quite as eager to continue as they had been before, as if the boy’s brief misadventure was suddenly causing them second thoughts .

From the captain’s reaction, it was obvious that he had truly believed the boy’s life was lost . And even if Arran had safely returned the boy, at least some of the travelers seemed to wonder just how dangerous and ruthless the Hunters were .

Even bandits would not kill a child for so small a matter . But it seemed the guard captain had no doubt about the Hunters’ willingness to do so — a grim omen for the reception they would receive .

Yet while the others spoke in hushed whispers of their destination, Arran’s attention was focused elsewhere .

As they followed the road through the densely forested wilderness, he Sensed that they were not alone . On either side of the road, barely two hundred paces into the forest, two small groups of people moved along with them .

Hunters, Arran knew . And while he had no reason to believe they meant harm, he could not help but feel uneasy at being surrounded in hostile lands . But then, the Hunters did not know that he was an enemy — nor would they find out, if all went well .

Despite the borderlanders’ concerns and their unseen escorts, the morning passed quickly, with the group maintaining a steady pace as they traveled toward their destination .

By midday, they met another group of returning guards . Much like the previous day, the captains spoke briefly, though the exchange lasted slightly longer this time . And from the glance the other group’s captain gave Arran, he knew the boy’s tale had already begun to spread .

They departed again some minutes later, and after they set off once more, Arran spent some time pondering the constant stream of people traveling into the Imperium .

Every day, two hundred people left Esran to join the Imperium . While a sizable number, it wasn’t so much that it would have a noticeable effect on the war to come .

But Esran wasn’t the only city on the border .

Arran had studied Brightblade’s map well, and he knew that there were at least several dozens of other towns and cities that bordered the Imperium . If each of these was allowed to send two hundred people each day, the total would run well into the thousands .

And that was only the number for a single day .

In a month, there could be well over a hundred thousand borderlanders who joined the Imperium . In a year, the number would swell to over a million . And even if they were only commoners, Arran could not help but think such numbers would have no small effect .

Suddenly, he found himself doubting the wisdom of the Ninth Valley’s strategy . They intended to delay the war as long as possible, preparing their mages for the battle ahead as well as they could .

But with each passing day, the Imperium was adding to its numbers — building its strength while the Ninth Valley tried to do the same . Yet mages were slow in training, and if the Darians’ methods were faster, then time might not be on the Valley’s side .

The Shadowflame Society should be well aware of this, of course . Yet Arran knew that most mages had a blind spot for commoners, and he could easily see the Ninth Valley’s leaders dismissing the borderlanders as unimportant .

He considered the matter for several hours, but eventually, he let out a deep sigh as he realized there was nothing he could do .

Years would pass before he returned to the Ninth Valley, and he could only hope that Brightblade wasn’t as blind as he expected the Valley’s other leaders to be .

Arran’s own task was a different one — and one that would soon begin in earnest .

The group continued onward until early evening . Then, suddenly, the captain raised his hand .

“Halt!” he called out, causing the guards to stop in their tracks immediately .

The borderlanders followed their example a moment later, and as Arran looked ahead, he saw that there were two massive boulders on either side of the road . They were the size of small houses, far too large to have been placed there by normal means .

“We have reached the border of the Hunters’ lands,” the captain said in a loud voice . “We will camp here tonight . In the morning, my men and I will return to Esran, and you will travel onward to face your future . “

There was a hint of grimness in his voice, as if he didn’t have much hope for the borderlanders’ prospects .

Yet most of the borderlanders had traveled here out of desperation, not choice . If they returned to Esran — assuming they still could — nothing would await them but a slow descent into wretchedness . Their coin would eventually run out, and when it did, they’d have to resort to stealing, begging, or worse .

None of them knew what they would find in the Imperium, but it offered something that Esran lacked: hope . Perhaps they would meet only disaster in the Imperium, but just the chance of replacing the homes they’d left behind was enough for them to accept the risk .

The group made camp quietly, with all but a few of the borderlanders occasionally casting nervous glances at the lands that lay behind the two large rocks .

Arran, for his part, ignored the sight . Rocks or not, it was no different from the wilderness behind them .

The true difference would not be in the landscape, but in the actions of the small group of Hunters who had followed them for the past day .

The Hunters had gathered in a small camp barely half a mile away, and Arran suspected that once the borderlanders entered the Imperium, it wouldn’t be long before they emerged from the trees to welcome the outsiders .

The real question was whether the welcome would be a friendly or a hostile one . And for that, Arran still had some preparations to make — though not before night, when most of the others would be asleep .

Yet to Arran’s surprise, as the sun began to set and the borderlanders wrapped themselves in their blankets on the cold ground, the guard captain came over to him .

The man had a serious look on his face as he approached Arran, and in a low voice, he said, “Come with me for a moment . “

Arran frowned, but he did as the captain said, following him a few dozen paces back along the road — as far as the man dared to go, Arran guessed .

When they were just out of earshot, the captain faced Arran . “You shouldn’t go,” he said in a grave voice . “Return with us tomorrow . The city guard has plenty of room for a brave man like you . “

Arran gave the man a puzzled look . “You want me to return to Esran?”

The captain nodded, and said, “It isn’t safe to cross the border . I don’t know what it is they do to the travelers, but it can’t be good — no one’s ever returned, not even to visit their family . “

“I’ve heard as much,” Arran replied . “But I figured it’s just because they’re wary of spies . With the conflict, I can’t say I blame them for being cautious . “

“That’s another thing,” the captain said . He cast a wary look at the two boulders in the distance, then continued at a whisper, “Even if they let you join them, nothing good will come of it . When they go to war against the mages, they’re bound to lose . “

“How do you figure that?” Arran asked, suppressing a smile at the man’s unexpected faith in the Shadowflame Society . It certainly was more confidence than he himself felt .

“My father was a scholar,” the captain replied . “Told me that the mages were here long before the Hunters came, and that they’d be here long after the Hunters disappeared . “Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www . webnovel . com for visiting .

It wasn’t much of an argument, but the look of conviction in the man’s face suggested that he considered it an indisputable fact .

“Perhaps you’re right,” Arran said . “But I’ll take my chances with the Hunters . It’d be a waste to turn around after having come this far . “

The captain shook his head, a disappointed expression on his face . “It’s your choice to make . But when the mages defeat the Hunters, remember my words . “

Arran chuckled . “If it comes to that, I’ll remember your words . I’m sure I’ll feel like a right fool when some mage sets me on fire . “

When he returned to the camp, Arran quickly wrapped his blankets around himself, then pretended to sleep as twilight slowly turned to night .

He lay quietly for several hours, observing the surroundings with his Sense even while his eyes were closed . Then, when the sky was pitch black and most of the borderlanders and guards were asleep, he set to work on his final task before entering the Hunter’s lands — hiding his weapon .

Once they crossed the border, Arran knew there was a good chance that the Hunters would not allow the outsiders to keep their weapons . Yet if he stored his sword in his void ring, he wouldn’t be able to rely on its Sense .

The only way around that was to get his sword to change shape . And although he knew it could do so, it was something he had little experience with .

For well over an hour, he tried unsuccessfully to get his sword to do what he wanted . Yet although it seemed to understand his intent, it was like it was reluctant to follow the command — as if it disliked being anything other than a sword .

Just as Arran was starting to feel desperate, however, a feeling of acceptance suddenly came through the bond, almost like the sword had felt his desperation and decided to put a stop to it .

In an instant, it shrunk to a fraction of its previous size . Then, a slight blur went through the air around it, and a moment later it reformed itself into a simple steel ring .

Arran sighed in relief as he put the ring on his finger, not at all surprised to find it was a perfect fit . And although its shape was now wholly different, he found that its Sense had not diminished in the slightest . The only real difference was that a mild feeling of discontent now came through the bond .

But the sword would just have to endure . Because the next morning, Arran would finally enter the Imperium .