Only the Jaw and Cart titans were to aid the search party, but Sören practically begged to be part of it. Despite having exchanged only a few words with Hildegard throughout his life, he felt some sort of kinship between them, like she also carried a great weight on her back. He had to help however he could. Approximately fifty warriors on horseback, plus Sören and Grimwald Lehmann, the current holder of the Cart Titan, had moved a great distance from Eldia in the southeast direction.
— I will go on ahead and search beyond this hill. The rest of you circle around it and meet me on the other side. — Grimwald ordered.
He was on titan form since they left Eldia. The Cart Titan, quite small when compared to most shifters, had an elongated face that resembled a horse with human skin and a very wide mouth.
— May I accompany you, Lehmann? I, too, would like to be on the vanguard. — Sören asked.
— You must stay here to protect these men. What will we do if the group is ambushed? Us two can easily deal with hundreds of humans, but our companions might not be able to do the same.
— I understand… See you on the other side.
Grimwald ran faster than the horses and in a few moments was climbing the hill. It had the advantage of being able to traverse a wider variety of terrains than the horses. The regularly used strategy when they came across elevated terrain was to send the Cart to cross it and the cavalry to circle around, just as they were doing now. If an attack were necessary, Grimwald would signal with a shout and position himself opposite to the cavalry, locking the supposed target in a pincer attack and leaving only one direction open for escape. Then the Cart would simply pursue and finish off the threat if it were necessary. Luckily, none of that had happened yet. The strategy was made just for this expedition into lands outside of the Eldian Empire's jurisdiction. Minutes later, the cavalry completed their route and met with Grimwald, who was looking into the distance.
— I see smoke rising. Sören, please lead the detachment and go into the grove to see where that smoke is coming from.
— Understood.
— Ten of you shall go with Brandt on foot to make as less noise as possible. I will stay here and protect the remaining ones. Besides, a titan walking through a grove will call much attention.
— I will transform if something goes wrong. — Sören added.
Grimwald nodded and gave a horrifying smile with his titan's elongated mouth. The men climbed down from the horses and entered the grove, walking at a slow pace and taking care not to step on any branches or scare away animals. After some moments, one of the warriors remarked:
— Hey, do you see Hans anywhere? Seems like he simply vanished.
— He was always a chicken. — Another one sneered. — I bet he went back to Lord Lehmann.
— Quiet, you two. I think I can see a house. — Sören interrupted.
They saw a house of wood and stone with smoke coming out of its chimney. Sören made some hand signs and sent three men to investigate further. One of them fell to the ground. The other approached his comrade and looked back to signal "arrow". Before he could get up and leave the corpse, an arrow struck him on the head. The others were afraid to go closer to the house, but Sören decided to do it himself in an attempt to inspire them. Suddenly, two dogs jumped at him, one clenching its jaws on his leg and the other on the arm, throwing him to the ground.
— That's right, hold him down! — Said a tanned man in Marleyan coming out from the grove.
No one had seen him coming. It looked like he was among them but hidden somehow. In his hands was a drawn wooden bow, ready to shoot a deadly arrow. Sören cursed the moment he left his weapons and armour behind on the wagon.
— This barbarian is speaking Marleyan! Lord Sören, end him! — One of the warriors shouted.
— Now die, Eldian devil. Go meet your goddess on the other side. — The man taunted.
— Stop! — Exclaimed a very familiar voice.
Sören was incredibly surprised to see the queen running to his aid. Did this barbarian kidnap her? Was he planning to use her as a hostage?
— It's just an Eldian, Octavia. You don't need to have compassion for these devils.
He loosened his fingers and the arrow pierced Sören's chest deeply. He gasped for air while blood rose through his airways. Luckily, the arrow missed his heart by a grass blade's length, piercing his right lung. The warriors promptly charged on, swords in hand. The Marleyan wouldn't be able to take all of them alone.
— All of you, stop! — Hildegard shouted in Eldian.
The warriors froze, confused if they should obey the queen or kill the man who threatened a titan shifter's life. Hildegard sweated profusely and panted as her mind raced to think of the next steps. She didn't want anyone to die.
— Octavia… How come these Eldians are obeying your commands? — Vitellius questioned suspiciously.
— Drop the bow and order dogs to stop attack. Now. — She ordered decisively despite her crude accent.
He put the bow on the ground and said something to the dogs, which released Sören. Steam was coming from his wounds as he coughed blood. With all the strength left in his body, he got up and removed the arrow with his hand, casting it aside.
— It can't be… A titan shifter… — Vitellius' legs began to tremble.
Hildegard looked back at the house. Saturnina was peering out from the window, horrified. Perhaps she heard it all.
— I am not a slave, Vitellius.
She approached the Eldians. Her face had an apathetic expression.
— Leave them alive. Let's go back home.
Without saying a word, they followed after her. Sören, limping and wheezing, was carried by two warriors. Once they reunited with the other group, there was much noise and commemoration. The queen would finally be back after a little more than a week away and better yet, she was safe and sound.