Page 34 of Kingdoms of Tides and Twilight

Selenia's occasional snores punctuated the silence, the younger woman seemingly unbothered by their surroundings. Renya envied her ability to fall into such a deep sleep, remembering a time when she too had been less aware of the world's dangers.

After what felt like hours of restless attempts at sleep, Renya felt an inexplicable pull drawing her outside the tent. Moving with careful stealth so as not to disturb Selenia, she slipped out into the night. The sight that greeted her was both expected and comforting: Grayden's dark figure sat by the fire, his gaze fixed on the dancing flames as he nursed a steaming beverage.

“Couldn't sleep?” she asked softly as she approached.

Grayden looked up, his eyes softening at the sight of her. “Too much on my mind.” He patted the spot next to him on the log, and Renya gladly accepted the invitation. The moment she was within reach, Grayden enveloped her in his arms, his body heat instantly chasing away the chill that had settled in her bones. He placed a soft kiss on her temple, and Renya felt the tension in her body begin to melt away.

“What are you thinking about?” she prompted gently, sensing the weight of his thoughts.

Grayden's hand moved to the sheath of his sword, a habit Renya had noticed more frequently since her return. It was as if he was constantly preparing for battle, ready to defend her at a moment's notice. The thought both warmed her heart and filled her with a sense of unease.

“The alliance with Triston,” he began, his voice low and contemplative. “Getting the other kingdoms together. Ensuring we are training our men properly. Trying to figure out how to defeat an army of dragons. How to best protect you and Selenia.”

The length of his concerns made Renya's heart ache. “I wish I could help you,” she said, feeling suddenly inadequate in the face of such monumental challenges.

Grayden turned to her, his gaze intense and sincere. “Your presence is enough help. You give me strength. Hope for the future. You are the most important thing in my life. Trust me, Little Fawn, you are the reason I keep fighting.”

Renya snuggled deeper into his embrace, finding comfort in the solid wall of his chest. After a moment of comfortable silence, she ventured a question that had been lingering in her mind. “Do you think about our future?”

“Of course I do,” Grayden replied, his fingers absently tracing the length of his sword sheath. “I think of our future a lot. I can't wait until the Shadow Queen is defeated and we can feel safe at the lodge. I can't wait to show you off to the people of the Snow Lands, dance with you at a grand ball, and wake up beside you every morning.”

The picture he painted made Renya's heart swell with longing. “I certainly wish I could wake up beside you tomorrow.”

A confident grin spread across Grayden's face. “Ah, can you not sleep without me, Little Fawn?”

“I can't,” Renya admitted. “You're like my own personal fireplace.”

Grayden's laughter rumbled through his chest. “I was hoping you'd miss something else.”

“That too,” Renya conceded, rising to her feet with reluctance. “I better head back to bed. I know tomorrow will be another long day of riding.”

The next four days seemed to stretch endlessly, each hour a test of endurance as they pushed further into increasingly inhospitable terrain. While Selenia and Grayden appeared to adapt more easily to the biting cold, Renya felt its effects acutely. Her hands and feet remained in a constant state of numbness, her cheeks perpetually flushed from the harsh wind.

Each night, before they retired to their separate tents, Grayden would remove Renya's boots by the fire, his strong hands working to massage feeling back into her frozen feet. These tender moments of care made their nightly partings all the more difficult. Renya yearned to sleep in Grayden's arms, to feel his warm breath against her neck as she burrowed into the safety of his embrace.

The journey proved more challenging than any Renya had undertaken thus far. As the path grew steeper and rockier, the horses' progress slowed, requiring more frequent rests as they ascended to higher elevations.

On the fifth day, Renya awoke with a renewed sense of determination. Barring any unforeseen complications, they were set to reach the mountain camp by evening. The thought of a reprieve from their grueling travel filled her with a mix of relief and anticipation.

The ascent to the camp consumed half the day, the trail becoming a series of increasingly tight switchbacks as they climbed higher and higher. The thinning air began to take its toll on Renya, leaving her gasping for breath even as she simply sat atop her mount. Her lungs burned with each inhalation, the frigid air seeming to settle in her chest and triggering frequent coughing fits.

In some sections, the snow gave way entirely to vast sheets of ice, forcing them to dismount and lead their horses across treacherous terrain. Frost, true to her obstinate nature, refused to obey Renya's commands, necessitating Grayden's intervention. As she watched him struggle with the stubborn mare, Renya felt a pang of longing for Starlia's steady temperament.

As the sun began its descent towards the horizon, they finally approached the pass leading to the camp. The scent of woodsmoke reached Renya's nostrils before any visual signs of the encampment came into view. Cresting the final slope, an awe-inspiring sight unfolded before them.

An enormous mountaintop loomed ahead, its face split by a crevasse that stretched several stories high. The natural contours of the surrounding terrain had concealed it from view until this moment, making its sudden appearance all the more dramatic. As they drew nearer, Renya's eyes widened at the sight of a vast, snow-covered landing that opened up before them, flanked on either side by majestic mountain slopes.

A hawk circled overhead, its piercing cry cutting through the thin air before it descended to land on a large, man-made perch. Another of its kind already rested there, its keen eyes surveying the bustling camp below with lazy interest.

Renya's gaze swept across the open area, taking in the sheer scale of the operation. Hundreds of soldiers milled about, engaged in various activities: sharpening weapons, practicing archery, tending to cooking fires, and sparring with one another. A herd of horses, their coats thick and shaggy from life at the timberline, grazed on sparse vegetation at the camp's edge. Along the outskirts, several dozen wooden cabins stood resolute, their backs pressed against the harsh, jagged mountain face.

The reality of the camp far exceeded Renya's expectations. She had envisioned a modest field of tents housing perhaps a few dozen men. Instead, she found herself facing a well-established, efficiently run training facility that, despite its remote location, hummed with purpose and activity.

Before Renya could fully process the scene before her, a blur of crimson and velvet streaked past, accompanied by an excited cry.

“Jurel!” Selenia's voice rang out as she raced towards one of the campfires. Renya's eyes quickly found the young man in question, his face a mask of shock as Selenia launched herself into his arms. A flush of embarrassment colored Jurel's cheeks before fading as he awkwardly returned the embrace.

Renya glanced at Grayden, noting the tightening of his jaw at the display. Sensing his discomfort, she decided to attempt the calming technique he had used on her after her nightmare. Focusing on the serenity of their snow-covered surroundings, she took a deep breath, channeling a sense of tranquility. With careful concentration, she directed this feeling towards Grayden, towards that special place inside her where their bond resided.

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