The Ride To Nillix

With the birds chirping during the rising morning sun your eyes begin to part open, allowing the golden rays of light to enter your gaze. With a slight stretch and grumble out of your mouth you push yourself up and look around. Next to you your fiance is still sleeping on her side with her hands up by her head and peacefully breathing away. You can't help but stare at her for a few moments as every time you look at her you can't believe how lucky you are.

Soon after you look up, curious where Zoe is and then right by the fire, sitting on her butt with her legs pulled up to her chest she's slowly rocking her body back and forth just slightly, "When did you wake up?" your voice is soft as not to startle Zoe.

"Ahh..." Zoe shakes her head and looks at you, "I umm, well I..."

"Did you even sleep?"

"Maaaaybe." she smiles at you, her eyes completely wide and full of energy. "I just, I just, I just...I'm awake! Slept a lot yesterday, so much energy."

Something still seems so very off with your High Commander and as you think that your hand immediately goes to your pocket and with a sigh of relief you feel that bag of Snuff inside. "Anyway," you grumble out, "We should probably hit the road, we can probably make it to Nillix before nightfall."

"S-Sounds good to me!" Zoe skyrockets to her feet, shooting her body into the air before landing back on the ground, "Let's go, let's go, let's go!"

With a smile and a roll of your eyes you take your hand and place it on Lexie's shoulder and softly give her body a few pushes. After you get a groan from her you lean down, "I'm gonna put you in the carriage, feel free to keep sleeping, we're leaving for Nillix." you purr directly into her ear which she reciprocates with a soft moan.

"Front with me or back with Lexie?" you ask Zoe as you pick up the still partially sleeping girl and move towards the carriage.

"Umm, back with Lexie!" Zoe replies "I may umm, relax in the back for a bit!" she tells you.

With a shrug you get Lexie inside the carriage and place her down on the ground. Zoe is helping you with the horses as you prepare them and tie them back up and before you know it, your journey towards Nillix can continue, "Enjoy." you give Zoe a smile as she steps inside the carriage, closing the side door behind her as you jump up from with the horses, mush them once and get the carriage rolling.

Your goal was to hug the outskirts of Rathkin to not travel any of the main roads into or out of the city. As you got closer you would have to make a big loop around the capital city itself but hopefully that would keep you out of trouble. Even if Rathkin warriors spotted you hopefully they would assume you were a random merchant or royalty making their way around the lands, although in your armor and your weapons at the ready, if they had any idea who you were, they would know instantly.

As the horses galloped forward your mind went back to thoughts about the potential surrounding and slaughtering of your Sunriders. You didn't know if they would be in Nillix or if any of them would even be alive but you knew one thing for sure, Ashe is intelligent. She would know that Nillix is a neutral city where nobody would dare draw blood or battle with one another as that would have terrible consequences. If Ashe, Rynlee or any of the Sunriders do get away from Rathkin ****, you hope they will either travel north back to the Syndicate or take the quicker journey to Nillix and hold up there to recover and recoup.

The Ride itself went by smooth and the two girls that came with you each traded off mushing the horses, sitting up front with you and even allowing you to take some time in the back of the carriage and relax. You got into no trouble at all with Rathkin warriors even though you did pass by a few of them and prayed they wouldn't question or give problems.

Strolling down the roads you pass through many smaller Rathkin villages which were bumbling with townsfolk but still saw no signs of any Sunriders, fallen comrades or even stories of things to come. What if the attack hasn't happened yet or what if the information Shade gave you wasn't even legitimate? You hated that feeling, the thought of the unknown but with every reflection in your head you just took a deep breath and continue to pray on that hope, the hope that everyone will be okay.

The sun rose high into the sky, reaching it's peak before slowly starting to set again. As it was sinking down through the sky you knew it would only be a matter of time before you reach Nillix again.

Nillix, a city you haven't been to since that Grand Tournament oh so long ago, the one where you lost to Commander Rixx but also learned all about Claire and where she was at. It was strange, before you were traveling to Nillix to find information regarding your sister, now it's to find information regarding another woman in your life, sure, you were hoping all your Sunriders were safe, but honestly your mind was totally focused on one person.

You take the reins again as the Sun is about to set and off in the horizon, torch lights as well as that giant stone structure looking ever so glorious comes into view. That structure is the arena, the place to do battle, the epic Colosseum where only the best of the best fight. You smile as you know you're almost there, almost ready to start your search for answers and hopefully, almost back to reuniting with that feisty red head you've grown ever so fond of.