Chapter 40. The Only Home I Had

AURELIA

“Keep up the pace, my lady. We must make haste,” Sigrid called out from ahead. Her voice was faint, muffled by the thick fog that blanketed the forest. I could barely see her outline through the mist, and even her voice seemed to fade in and out.

I wasn’t sure if it was the fog, or if I was just too exhausted to keep track of her anymore. We had been walking nonstop for hours, and it felt like we hadn’t eaten in days. Except for the wide berries we survived on since we escaped Swede Land.

I didn’t remember us eating any other thing, so I couldn’t understand how she was still moving with such energy and urgency. Despite my wariness, I kept following her. My gut told me I had nothing to lose by trailing behind even though my instincts warned me to stay alert and close.

“My lady, stop slacking!” Sigrid’s voice cut through the fog again, sharper this time. I groaned and pushed myself to catch up until I finally saw her form reappear in the mist.

“Si