THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR-Chapter 376: DAWN MOVEMENT

The first tendrils of dawn stretched across Valemir's skyline, painting ancient spires in hues of amber and gold. At the Moongate Inn, activity stirred well before the city proper awakened. David stood at the window, watching as a nondescript carriage bearing the insignia of a well-known wine merchant approached from the eastern thoroughfare. The vehicle's weathered exterior suggested regular commercial use, but his trained eye noted subtle reinforcements in the wheel hubs and traces of enchantment woven into the seemingly ordinary canvas covering.

"Right on time," he murmured, turning from the window to where Elara was securing her travel cloak. Their preparations had been minimal, a necessity born of both haste and caution. The fewer possessions they transported, the less attention they would draw.

"Is that our transport?" Elara asked, her tone betraying none of the tension evident in the slight crease between her brows. Her crimson eyes, now concealed behind enchanted contacts that rendered them an unremarkable brown, swept the room one final time, checking for anything they might have overlooked.

David nodded. "Seraphina's arrangements are always precise."

As if summoned by the mention of her name, a soft knock sounded at their door. Three taps, a pause, then two more, the prearranged signal. David opened it to find Seraphina standing in the hallway, now dressed in the simple attire of a wine merchant's senior assistant. The transformation was remarkable; her aristocratic bearing and deadly grace concealed beneath a veneer of commercial efficiency.

"The preparations are complete," she announced without preamble, her voice pitched low enough that it wouldn't carry beyond their immediate vicinity. "Two additional attendants are positioning themselves near the service entrance. The street has been cleared of potential observers."

Her gaze shifted to Elara, professional assessment momentarily softening into something more personal. "Your disguise is quite effective, Lady Archon. Few would recognize the Flame of Lysora in such modest attire."

Elara's lips curved in a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "The greatest armor is often invisibility," she replied, a soldier's pragmatism evident in her tone. "Though I confess, I prefer more direct approaches."

Seraphina inclined her head in acknowledgment before turning back to David. "Shay waits with the carriage. She says that the cargo space has been modified as instructed, adding padding and stabilization enchantments for our injured passenger."

The mention of Sylindra drew David's attention to the matter most likely to complicate their departure. Moving the elven princess required delicacy beyond simple stealth; her injuries demanded careful handling, while her true identity necessitated absolute discretion.

"Let's proceed," he decided, retrieving a small vial of pale blue liquid from his pocket. "The inn will be stirring soon, and I'd prefer we be well away before the morning gossips begin their rounds."

________________________________________________________________________________

The adjoining room where Sylindra rested had been transformed into an improvised healing chamber under Luna's vigilant supervision. The elven princess lay motionless upon the narrow bed, her breathing shallow but steady. The temporary servants Elara had acquired stood in silent attendance, their expressions betraying nothing of the unusual circumstances they had been drawn into.

"How is she?" David asked, approaching the bedside with measured steps.

Luna materialized from the shadows at the room's edge, her golden eyes gleaming in the half-light. "Stable," she reported, her melodious voice carrying harmonics no human throat could produce. "She gained consciousness briefly during the night. Recognized me. Asked about departure arrangements."

David nodded, relieved that Sylindra remained lucid despite her physical fragility. He uncorked the vial he'd been carrying, the liquid within shimming with faint luminescence as it caught the candlelight.

"Stabilization elixir," he explained, sensing Elara's questioning gaze. "A variant of standard imperial healing tincture that Yue provided before we left the guild. She modified it with elements more suitable for elven physiology. It should ease the discomfort of movement."

With gentle hands that belied his combat-hardened nature, David carefully administered the elixir, supporting Sylindra's head as the liquid passed her cracked lips. The effect was gradual but visible, the tension in her features easing as pain receded beneath the potion's influence.

Violet eyes flickered open, focusing on David with surprising clarity given her condition. Her fingers twitched, forming symbols in the ancient elven sign language that only he could interpret. freewebnσvel.cøm

Time to move? they asked.

"Yes," David replied, responding both verbally and with subtle hand gestures of his own. "The path is prepared. You'll be transported in a specially modified carriage. The journey should take less than an hour."

Sylindra's gaze drifted to Elara, assessment in her violet depths. The flame woman. Trustworthy?

"Yes," David affirmed without hesitation. "She has proven herself many times over."

Something like recognition flickered in the elf's expression before exhaustion claimed her once more. Her eyes closed, though the rhythm of her breathing suggested meditation rather than unconsciousness, a distinction those unfamiliar with elven physiology might miss.

With practiced efficiency, the attendants wrapped Sylindra in layers of light blankets, creating a protective cocoon that would shield her from both prying eyes and the inevitable jostling of travel. Two of the strongest among them lifted her with careful coordination, their movements suggesting training beyond ordinary household service.

"Follow the central corridor to the service stairs," Seraphina instructed them, leading the way as their small procession moved with silent purpose. "Maintain standard spacing. If questioned, you are transporting a noblewoman afflicted with sleeping sickness to receive specialized treatment."

________________________________________________________________________________

The morning air carried a crisp bite as they emerged into the inn's rear courtyard. Mist clung to the cobblestones, swirling around their ankles as they crossed to where the merchant carriage waited. At their approach, the driver's seat remained conspicuously empty, another carefully orchestrated detail that drew immediate attention from anyone watching, ensuring eyes would focus there rather than on the passengers boarding.

Vivian emerged from around the carriage's far side, her crimson hair concealed beneath a servant's cap, though a few rebellious strands had escaped to frame her face. At the sight of David, her expression softened momentarily, professional discipline temporarily yielding to something far more personal. Her fingers lingered against his as she reached for his hand, the brief contact conveying volumes of unspoken longing.

"Perimeter secure, my love," she murmured, her voice dropping to an intimate register that caused Elara to glance away in momentary discomfort. "Draven reports no surveillance detected along our primary route, with two alternative paths cleared as contingencies."