Yunil, Tashi, and Altuna were perfectly observant and always seemed to know what to do, but the subject of their devotion only let herself get dragged along. Viyal felt like an outside observer, watching somebody else in her position. The tribe she had been born into treated her like an enemy now, and she did not know if her parents were still alive.

  Shizuru had always thought of herself as a chosen one. She had been raised that way in her previous life and treated the people around her accordingly. When she died and was given another chance, that only strengthened her impression of that fact. Surely, not everybody could be reincarnated with their memories intact and go into the next life with what essentially amounted to a cheat.

  She was even reborn as a member of the strongest species in these lands and the daughter of a powerful tribal chief. Then came her grand prophecy, promising a future that would go down in this world's history for all time to come. This collection of traits could only mean that she had been chosen by a higher power.

  However, it had all crumbled and slipped through her fingers like sand. Her prophecy had turned around to become her ruin. Viyal was now at the lowest point one could be. Her own people wanted to see her dead, and once word of her destiny spread, the entire world would come after her.

  The only saving grace was that she had three loyal companions. If she had to escape alone, she was unsure how far she would have made it before giving up and turning herself in. After all, where was she supposed to run? The steppe was a dangerous place for those without a tribe, and they were still only children.

  Whenever they tried to rest, their pursuers would soon catch up to them. They could not make a fire without giving away their location, so they had to eat the meat Yunil hunted raw. Days passed without much of an opportunity to sleep, and their nerves were strained to the breaking point.

  When they reached a small river flowing from north to south, Tashi suggested taking a detour. The Zakhira tribe's warriors knew they were heading for the sacred lands, so they could never find time to rest. And it was only natural to move in a straight line when one wanted to escape. In order to break that pattern, they rode their Shinoona on the rocky riverbank for the whole day before crossing to the other side. That evening, for the first time in many days, they did not spot any pursuers coming over the horizon and could finally afford to sleep.

  After twenty-two days of travel, they saw the snow-capped western mountains in the distance. A few days later, they entered the mountainous region and slowed down to proceed more carefully. Altuna constantly sent out Ravi to scout their path from the skies. It was more nerve-racking than the open plains since the winding mountain paths blocked their view, and every forest could hide a group of ambushers.

  They searched for a local home away from the larger roads to stay in for the first night. Although spring was around the corner, it was too cold to camp out in the mountains. An elderly Shangra couple took them in and welcomed them warmly with no questions asked. The hospitality of the people living in these peaceful lands was such that they accepted even criminals as long as they adhered to the laws of Azakhal.

  Viyal found herself wondering what they would think if they learned she was the Omen Child. A month had passed, and her stupor at losing everything had been replaced with gallows humor. She still could not muster any optimism about her future, but at least she was no longer teetering on the brink of giving up and lowering her head to the blade of destiny.

  After dinner on the first day, the four youths discussed how to proceed. Rowen sent them here, hoping the laws of Azakhal would keep them safe. Yunil argued that believers would not shed blood in their god's sacred lands, but Altuna rebutted that some people believed in divine intervention less than others. Additionally, any number of the Zakhira warriors or people who learned of the Omen Child by now could decide that killing her was worth incurring their god's wrath.

  In the end, they agreed to remain in hiding. But even now, nobody could offer any ideas about what to do in the long run. The three companions looked at Viyal for answers, but she was not in the right state of mind to make any plans. For now, they could only wait for things to blow over, knowing full well that a destiny as grand as the Omen Child's would not be forgotten in a long time.

  They decided to stay put with their welcoming hosts since moving around in the open haphazardly could get them found. Several days passed peacefully, but they did not let themselves get lulled into a false sense of security. Altuna still diligently sent Ravi out to scout every few hours even though they had not seen any pursuers since they hid their trail in the river.

  However, the food they brought would not last long. Only Tashi could survive on a purely vegetarian diet like what their hosts and all the other people in these lands could offer. But Viyal felt reluctant to suggest hunting the relatively abundant wildlife in the surrounding forests, where the act of spilling blood was an affront to Azakhal. She knew firsthand that gods existed, so perhaps this one would actually rain lightning on their heads if they broke his laws.

  Finally, they decided to depart and find hunting grounds outside the protected lands. The elderly Shangra couple said they were welcome to return and stay with them again. Since their home was rather remote, and their children and grandchildren had already left to make their own ways in life, they were happy for any company. Seeing them genuinely sad about their departure caused a painful twinge in Viyal's heart. This was now perhaps the closest thing to a home she could return to in this world. Still, it was not her own; she would only ever be a guest here. She would eventually have to find a new path in life.

  The lands under Azakhal's protection had no visible borders or markers. It was a general region considered to be sacred. Therefore, it was impossible to tell how far they had to go before they were allowed to hunt and kill. To be on the safe side, they traveled east for two days and reached a forest at the edge of the steppe.

  Yunil and Altuna were both skilled at hunting in their own ways. The Nokkoy chased down prey on her bare feet, running like the wind even in difficult terrain. The rabbit-like animals had no chance and were snatched up in her vise-like claws. On the other hand, the Shuva used her superior sight and the composite longbow of her people. She shot a small deer in the head from over a hundred paces away, killing it instantly.

  Viyal practiced her bow skills, which had improved after they blossomed in her desperation during the Ishtemur's betrayal. She remembered Soroca's lessons but felt a somber mood overcoming her when she thought of her archery teacher. She saved them during their escape from the Zakhira camp, and her fate was unknown. Surely, those out to kill the Omen Child would punish her for her interference.

  Tashi watched over Viyal from a nearby tree, glad to be able to climb trees again after spending years on the wide-open plains of the steppe. Although it looked like he was having fun stretching his limbs, his senses were trained on their surroundings to ensure Viyal's safety. Luckily, his caution was unnecessary.

  By the time the two hunters returned with their quarry, the sun had almost set. They camped in the forest and grilled the fresh meat, enjoying a warm carnivorous meal for the first time in recent memory. Viyal ate the unseasoned veal as if it were the greatest dish she had ever tasted.

  "What's wrong?" Yunil was worried when she saw tears rolling down her sister's face.

  "Nothing. Just remembering Mannogur's seasoning," lied Viyal, quickly wiping her face and smiling wryly. In reality, she cried because she could not recall the taste of the Rausam cook's food. It felt like a lifetime ago when she last ate one of his grilled skewers. Instead, the bland soup they had almost every day since the coalition war and the raw meat they were forced to eat during their escape seemed to have overwritten all the memories of better times.

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  The four youths fell into silence after that, each remembering their own time before the fall. They soon put out the fire and settled down for the night. Exhausted from the day's activities, they fell asleep quickly, with Tashi taking the first watch.

  The next morning, the two hunters went for another trip into the woods while Viyal sat with Tashi. He suppressed the urge to smile when she wanted to discuss their plans from now on. It looked like her spirit had left her body after being hunted by her own tribe, but she seemed ready to move on again.

  "The steppe people will be divided between those who want me dead and those who want to capture me and use me for my prophecy," Viyal analyzed her situation with a level-headed approach. "I assume we will have the same kind of luck in the Omagala Empire."

  "They likely won't believe in a prophecy of the steppe people, but the emperor would want to take control of anything that could be of use to him," Tashi responded with a meaningful shrug. If Viyal wanted to flee to the Omagala Empire and disappear somewhere in its massive lands, she definitely could achieve that. But he would not be able to accompany her. He did not want to reveal his past just yet and kept quiet about it for now.

  "We can't stay in these lands forever. Just traveling out here to hunt for food is a risk," Viyal continued after taking Tashi's words into consideration.

  "The only option is somewhere far away, where nobody knows about you or cares about such prophecies," the Samagshin looked up at the sky and said with a sigh.

  The question was where. None of them knew anything beyond the steppe or the Omagala Empire. They had heard of the White Dunes, but that was not a place they could survive in. Aside from their lack of adequate adaptations to the cold climate, it was the homeland of the Baagai and other giant beasts who did not shy away even from fighting adult male Mosyvvi.

  Viyal considered going to meet the Akhma Merkheleh for answers. However, her uncle surely already thought of that and posted guards near the Temple of Time. Truly, nowhere known to steppe people would be safe for her. Lacking any better ideas, they decided to camp out for another night and return to the Shangra hosts in the morning.

  The journey back was uneventful as they moved through a less-traversed region of these lands. When they returned to the elderly Shangra couple two days later, one of their sons had come to visit with his wife and newborn child. The moment he beheld Viyal, his eyes widened in recognition.

  "The Omen Child!" he exclaimed. Yunil, Tashi, and Altuna were instantly on high alert and drew their weapons, but the man quickly lowered his head and showed his open palms to signal he was harmless. "By the grace of Azakhal, I mean you no harm. I am but a humble herbalist."

  "How did you know who I am?" Viyal gestured for her companions to lower their weapons and asked cautiously.

  "I live by the pilgrims' road. I have heard the rumors of the Omen Child, a snow-touched Mosyv girl with red eyes. Once, even a foreign warrior came to us and asked if we had seen you," the Shangra man explained.

  "A foreign warrior?" asked Viyal. Had her prophecy spread so far in such a short time that the Gadat or people from the northern tribes came looking for her?

  "He had an air of death about him. Clad in black armor, unlike any I had seen before. His face was hidden under a red hood, but he had a long gray beard," he responded with a visible shudder at the memory, and Viyal's eyes widened.

  "When did you see him?" she demanded to know, causing him to shirk back. She realized that an excited Mosyv made for a scary appearance and calmed herself by taking a deep breath. "He is an important friend."

  "Just two days ago. He told me that he was staying in the hovel that used to belong to the old woodcutter Shiragun for a few more days and to inform him if I got news of you," the herbalist explained while exchanging a confused glance with his wife. It was a strange world indeed that she considered such a sinister man her friend.

  "Then we have to go meet him right away!" Yunil exclaimed, excited at the first piece of good news in a long time.

  "What if this is a trap?" Altuna wondered with a suspicious glare.

  "I would never dare lie to a Mosyv!" The Shangra man almost seemed indignant at the suggestion. Mosyvvi were considered holy in the local people's sect of Azakhal's faith. To sell one out would be to trample on their beliefs.

  Still, it was only natural to be suspicious of such a perfect coincidence. Yet, Viyal could not help but feel hopeful. Only one who met Rowen in person could describe him the way this herbalist had. She decided to put her faith in Azakhal and those who believed in him and asked the Shangra man to guide them to the old knight.

  The elderly couple offered a prayer for Viyal's future. She felt truly grateful for their help and promised to find a way to repay them. Of course, they refused, saying that it was only natural to show hospitality to travelers. The herbalist then left his wife and child with his parents and led the way.

  His home by one of the pilgrims' roads was half a day's walk away. The old woodcutter's hovel was a few more hours along the road and then down an overgrown path leading into a forest on the mountainside. They did not encounter anybody, and Ravi remained silent in the sky, showing there was no suspicious movement anywhere he could see.

  Finally, they reached a rundown house in utter disrepair. It looked like it had been abandoned years ago, with moss covering the rotting wood. The leaning entrance led into foreboding darkness. Altuna exchanged a worried look with Viyal. She still felt apprehensive about coming here but followed her friend's judgment. Whether that was a mistake would soon be revealed.

  "Sir traveler. I have brought the Omen Child," their Shangra guide announced into the hovel in an almost cheerful tone. That was not the voice of somebody with sinister intentions.

  They heard heavy footsteps and clattering metal coming from inside and prepared for the worst, but Rowen appeared in the doorway. The old knight looked like he always did, clad in black steel armor and wearing his crimson hood, leaving only his hooked nose and the bushy grey beard exposed. He saw Viyal atop her Shinoon and shook from joy before realizing his lack of decorum.

  "You are safe, young lady," he fell to his knee and lowered his head to her, sounding like he was moved to tears.

  "As safe as being hunted by the entire world can be," she responded with a self-deprecating smile. But then, she jumped off her mount and bridged the few steps separating her from the old knight. "I'm so glad that you're all right, Rowen."

  She jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly, ignoring his scratchy beard. The old knight seemed unsure what to do for a moment and finally returned the embrace. Yunil, Tashi, and Altuna dismounted and gathered around them. The Shuva bowed her head to the Shangra herbalist, apologizing for being suspicious of him.

  "How did you get out of the camp?" Viyal finally separated from Rowen and wondered. Then she remembered a more pressing matter, although she felt apprehensive about asking. "Are... my parents alive?"

  "Let us go inside first, young lady. There may be prying eyes and ears out here," the old knight suggested with a glance around the woods. He stood by the door and let the youths enter before addressing the Shangra guide, "How may I ever repay you for bringing the young lady to me?"

  "I have a home and a loving wife who gifted me my first child not long ago. I need nothing more in life, sir traveler," the man bowed to him with a warm smile. "May Azakhal guide you to a brighter future."

  Rowen watched the Shangra depart with newfound warmth in his heart. He had met many people in his travels, and few were so forthcoming and righteous as the people of these lands.

  "Mamai!" Viyal cried out when she noticed the Diao sleeping in a pile of dry leaves in the corner of the room. She was startled awake upon hearing her name being called and looked around in a panic. When she saw her mistress, her small eyes grew watery, and she ran over to bow to her. Viyal grabbed her and pulled her in for a hug, surprising the little girl.

  "Your mother bade me to bring her along," Rowen joined them inside the hovel and said with a noticeable smile under his beard.

  "Mother is alive!" The news brought such overwhelming relief that Viyal went weak in the knees. "Then father won against uncle."

  "Unfortunately, he did not." Rowen lowered his head in remorse. He realized that he could be misunderstood and quickly continued, "Your father is alive. Your uncle imprisoned him after his defeat and became the new chief."

  Viyal stared at the old knight with mixed feelings. On the one hand, she was overjoyed that her parents were still alive; on the other, she understood that she could not return to save them.

  "But what about you? Why did uncle let you go?" she wondered. There was no way he could have escaped the camp and outrun Shinoona riders on his headless horse.

  "So that I can lead him to you," Rowen responded calmly. Yunil, Tashi, and Altuna looked at him with alarmed expressions, thinking he might have chosen to side with Gavro, but he continued, "But worry not. We will be gone before the pursuers arrive."

  The very moment he finished his declaration, Yunil's ears twitched, and she turned to Altuna. The Shuva nodded and said, "I heard it too."

  Ravi let out a warning shriek high above them; their pursuers were approaching.

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