Out Of The Reach

You leave that torturous room with haste and make your way back to Lexie and Zoe. You not only wanted to get out of here as soon as possible because you needed to get north to try to find Ashe, Rynlee and your Sunrider's but you also kind of wanted to get the hell out of Loner's Reach. This kingdom was such a sickening place with nothing but scum and trash and quite frankly you were sick of it. You were already in bed with Shade, that much is true but that didn't mean you had to stay in this area any longer.

"We're going to pack up and head out as soon as possible." you tell Shade as he just smiles and nods back at you. "Can I expect our horse and carriage ready to go?"

"Of course." Shade's voice is so smooth "I'll see you out." he informs.

You make your way to your room and immediately enter to see Lexie and Zoe sitting at the table and softly talking. Zoe is trying her best to eat some food but nothing is really sitting right at all where as Lexie just smiles at you. "We gotta go now." your voice is stern as you order your two ladies.

"W-Why? What's going on Darien?" Lexie stands up from the table and looks at you.

"It's bad, real bad." you grumble out, walking over to grab a pouch to shove some food in it "Rathkin is going to back stab the two Sunrider groups we sent to help their outer cities. So not only are Ashe and Rynlee in danger but also those hundreds of warriors as well."

"Oh my god..." Lexie mumbles out, almost in shock at the situation.

"N-No, not Ashe and Rynlee..." Zoe finally speaks, a sadness in her voice.

"Apparently it may have already happened, or will happen soon. I pray to the Syndicate Suns that they made it out safely..." you finish packing your bag as both Lexie and Zoe go and grab their own to throw some belongings in it. "We'll travel to Nillix, see if we hear any news...it's not like we can go back to Rathkin anymore." you're basically talking to yourself now, "Hopefully someone will know something in Nillix, it's a neutral city so if any Sunrider's make it there, they should be safe..."

It only takes about ten more minutes until you're packed and ready to go as well as both your girls. "Let's get outta here." you nod at them as the three of you leave the room and make your way back through the run down castle to the entrance. As you move with haste through the halls you realize you need to keep slowing down a bit as your strides are much longer than the two smaller girls behind you. "Hopefully we can make it to Lake Nier today before we take a rest, just like when we came out this way, then we can hopefully get to Nillix the next day." you tell them your game plan as you hurry around.

"Sounds good!" Lexie replies "Can't wait to leave this town, as I said...I'm not a huge fan."

"Agreed." you reply sternly.

As you reach the doors to the entrance of the castle you push them open and are greeted with those same stone steps that you killed those thugs at when you first got into Loner's Reach but this time, instead of thugs in your path, there was the leader himself, Shade just standing thirty feet ahead of you, at the top of the stairs just waiting.

You make your way up to him, wondering what he wants or if he's just here to say good bye "Shade..." he turns to you "Thank you again." you give him a nod. Even though you hate the way he got the information you still had to give him thanks for getting the task done in such a short period of time. "If you need me, get a hold of me, okay?"

"Darien, Darien, Darien..." he grumbles out "My friend. Fare well and good luck with the war." he smiles as his hand reaches forward, grasping yours and pulling tight "Don't go dying on me now..." he playfully laughs into your body as he releases your grip.

Next he moves over to Lexie and smiles at her "Pleasure again, soon to be Mrs Darien." he grins "Good luck with the pregnancy and best wishes." he steps forward, giving your fiance a kiss on the cheek before moving to the last High Commander in the line. "And you, the most beautiful..." he smiles out causing Zoe to blush a bit "The pleasure is all mine..." he steps forward, bringing his body extremely close to Zoe's as it looks like he's whispering something into her ear and slightly hugging the girl goodbye.

You don't think much of it as Shade is just trying to flirt with your High Commander because in your mind right now, all you want to do it get the hell out of the Reach. "Alright Shade, thank you again. We'll be in touch." you nod at him before you begin your descent down the stairs, making your way to the bottom where your horse and carriage is waiting for your return trip.

The horses were well fed and ready to depart which made you happy that he already prepared all of it. He could be very beneficially when he wanted to be, even though his ways of life may not be the greatest. "Anyone want to sit up front or...?" you ask both of them.

"I-I'm uhh, tired." Zoe says immediately as she moves to the back of the carriage and opens the door, stepping inside.

"Lex?" you ask, tilting your head.

"I'm going to talk with Zoe a bit, but after an hour or so I'll come up front and give you company as well." she smiles as she wraps her arms around you, pulling your bodies together and holding you close "I hope Ashe and Rynlee are okay..." she mumbles out "I truly hope they are safe..."

"Me too, Lexie...Me too." you swallow hard, thinking about your High Commanders and all the Sunrider's that could be slaughtered, "But come on, we're wasting time."

"Rude!" Lexie teases "Being affectionate with you is never wasting time!" she gives your arm a playful slug.

"Hah, I know I know! I love you too!" you roll your eyes as she turns around "But the faster we get outta here, the faster we find our people!" you say to her back as she enters the carriage. With that you jump up front, mush the horses and begin to guide them our of Loner's Reach.