? The Path of Fire (Path of Light and Fire Book #1)(Completed) ?

Chapter 4.1: Rianna Calls

The warrior coughed before continuing in a raspy voice. "In order to protect Acadia and the Rianna Tribes from prevent further conflict, we have been ordered by King Lanius to prevent any riff-raff or lost travelers from entering Rianna and provoking them. In particular, in order to prevent issues with the Feral tribe, men are not allowed through this checkpoint without an official Rianna Pass." The soldier pointed to Leena. "You, come. You two, hold."

Rianna Pass?

"I'm on it." Leena patted Sabin on the thigh as she followed the soldier.

Sabin watched as Leena talked to the soldier for a few moments. He saw her flash a piece of paper, then there was laughter from the two of them.

What did she show them? I know she doesn't have a Rianna Pass.

The lead soldier waved the two of them forward and the other ones parted, creating a space for the three of them to pass. Leena put her finger to her lips, and mounted behind Turrent.

When they had a sufficient distance from the outpost, Sabin leaned over and whispered to Leena. "What did you show them?"

Leena batted her eyelashes. "You can't expect a lady to reveal all of her secrets, can you?"

"Lady?" Turrent snickered.

"More lady than you can handle," Leena retorted. "Now be a good little boy and hurry Midnight along, would you?"

"I know where you sleep," Turrent said. "I'd be careful if I were you."

"If you were me, you'd understand what a cocky prick you are."

Sabin tensed and thought he would have to step in, but Turrent's response surprised him.

"Fair enough."

Leena snickered and conflict seemed averted for the moment.

I guess this is 'getting along' for the two of them.

Feral was a few more days inward. There were no overt signs that they were in another country; the green canopy of shade that the trees provided was no different from Acadia. The stories made the Rianna tribes seem inhuman. He expected beastmen and barely human women to attack as soon as he entered the territory. As they went deeper, however, the environment began to change.

Heat Cycle was already oppressively hot, but here it was heavier. Sabin found himself thirsty and sweating heavily from the most basic tasks. The trees began to thicken into a dense forest. If not for the well-worn dirt trail that snaked inside and throughout the trees, he would have assumed he was lost. The forest eventually opened up into a sizeable village.

The buildings were made of a thick grass, tied together with vines. He did not see people going about their chores, and he worried if he had walked into some sort of trap.

"What is your purpose here?" A voice asked from behind.

When Sabin turned, he was face to face with a Yuan woman. He had never seen one in person, but from what he had read, this was how one would look. Her black hair flowed down her shoulders. She had brown skin like his, though it was much lighter than his own and she had the prettiest brown eyes he had seen.

It was the expression she had on her face that gave Sabin pause. It looked as though she wanted to eat him.

When Sabin opened his mouth, she held up her hand and turned to Leena.

Leena dismounted Midnight and the woman led her some ways away from Sabin and Turrent.

"Do you have any information on the Feral?" Sabin asked Wade.