Ennael woke to the stabbing pain at her side. She felt her side. A bandage had been put around her waist. She removed her hand at the feeling of moisture. She looked at her hand and her eyes swelled open at the sight of blood. A figure to her left stirred and woke with a start. A book hit the floor and woke the figure fully. Will had been resting at her side. He smiled slightly then the smile faded. He walked over to the side of the bed then knelt down.

"I'm sorry. I tried to heal it but it just didn't work."

He hung his head in shame. Ennael shifted in the bed pulling the sheets securely under her armpits then with her free hand, found his chin and lifted it.

"You don't have to be sorry."

Will stared into her dark, exhausted eyes.

"There is still something wrong with your side. I don't know what's wrong with it. It won't stop bleeding. We have to leave for Belisaere immediately."

Ennael nodded. Will's mother entered the room with Ennael's clothes draped over her arm. Will held Ennael's hand, kissed it then let go and exited the room.

"Willem will take you straight to Belisaere. Hopefully help will find you there. Now we must get you ready."

In only a short matter of time Ennael and Will were packed and ready to head off to Belisaere. Will lifted Ennael carefully onto their horse Fidel. Will's mother came out of the house holding a food parcel. She handed it to Will, whispered something in his ear and kissed him on the forehead.

"Be safe. If you don't make it to Belisaere by nightfall, head straight for the nearest inn and stay there until dawn. Do not go out after nightfall."

"Yes, I know mother, thank you."

Will hugged her then climbed on the horse behind Ennael. He grabbed the reigns and lightly dug his heels in Fidel's side.

"Heeya."

The horse bolted down the road as fast as it's legs could carry it. Ennael was still exhausted from her side. She could feel Will behind her, bracing her, making sure she wouldn't fall if she fainted again. She smiled at this.

"If we keep at a fast pace I think we can make it to Belisaere before nightfall. We'll head to Ochyre then take a boat from there."

Will seemed to say this partly to Ennael but also to reassure himself of his destination.

"What did your mother say?"

Will let out a little laugh.

"She told me not to be stupid. She said even if we make it to Ochyre before nightfall, not to take a boat until dawn if it means travelling in the dark. My mother is a bit weird sometimes. She gets feelings, before something goes wrong. It's hard to explain."

"Is it kind of like premonitions, but instead of the foresight, it's with senses?"

"Yes. It's happened a couple of times. It happened when my father was killed, then again the night we found you and Ligir on the doorstep."

"Did it happen before we left?"

There was a short silence. Ennael could sense his answer before he said anything.

"Yes."

Ennael shut her eyes then opened them slowly. Will's arms tightened around her in an awkward embrace. Trees, bushes, and fields rushed by as Fidel continued to bolt down the road. Hours past by before Will pulled on the reigns to slow Fidel down. When Fidel stopped, Will slipped off his back then helped Ennael off. They were in a lightly wooded area. Will let the horse graze in the grass while he pulled out some food and water. Ennael slunk herself down beside a tree. Her side was still hurting but lightly enough so that she could bear with it. Will joined her and they broke out the picnic. Silence stirred between them. Ennael couldn't get what Will had said earlier off her mind. Will didn't know how to react to her silence. Finally he spoke up.

"You're worried aren't you?"

Ennael looked up form her sandwich into his bright blue eyes. They were peaceful yet serious looking. Ennael nodded in response. Will moved beside her. He put his arm around her and her head fell on his shoulder.

"I will never let anything happen to you. I promise you that. No matter what that may mean."

Ennael looked up at hearing this.

"I'm not worried about something happening to me. I'm worried about loosing you."

Will stared back into her eyes. Tears filled her eyes yet did not break and stream down her cheek. They just stayed contained in her eyes. He moved in to kiss her but she backed away. A look of terror struck her face. Before Will could ask her what it was she answered him.

"Gore crows, flying in from the west. They're only minutes away."

Will helped Ennael to her feet, packed up the remaining food then raced to the horse. They flew down the road again, running faster than before.

"How many are there?"

Ennael closed her eyes and let her senses find the answer.

"Only about five but I fear there might be more. Either that or…"

Ennael broke off but Will knew what she was going to say. He knew that they might only be marking them for other things, dead things, to come.

"I meant what I said. I will never let anything happen to you."

Ennael wasn't sure if she was relived or worried about this. The trees soon broke away and they were between two fields. Ennael looked to her left. She could see the black bird figures flying closer and closer. Feathers were dropping from their decapitating bodies under the noon sun. Who would send gore crows out in the middle of the day? What reckless Necromancer would be that stupid, or desperate? The gore crows seemed to get closer no matter how fast they ran. Something needed to be done.

"What are you doing?"

Will was shocked to feel Ennael swell up with Charter Magic.

"You're not strong enough yet…"

Ennael released the marks for blasting and destruction right at the gore crows. Three crumpled at the blast and dropped to the ground but the other two kept flying. Ennael focused on the marks again but they slipped away with her energy. As soon as she thought it was a lost cause she filled up with energy again and Charter Magic. The Marks came to her and she blasted the remaining two gore crows out of the sky and back into the earth from whence they came. Exhaustion consumed Ennael into a deep sleep. If it weren't for Will bracing her from behind she would have fallen off the horse.