It's Gabby—a new friend in Tony's life. She might prove to be good… or maybe not. No one knows.
"I'm Tony," he said. "Yeah, from Abergdon."
Just then, she gave him a sharp look. Tony felt something was off. He began to suspect something. An event was about to happen.
Suddenly, Gabby got behind him, drew her sword, and pointed it—not at him—but behind him.
Tony froze, confused. With his hands up in the air, he turned to face her. "You would, right?"
"Yeah," Gabby said.
"Would what?" he asked, still confused.
"Sell me to them."
"I don't get you," Tony said, his face twisted in confusion.
When Gabby looked into his eyes, she saw something—he truly had no idea what she was talking about. She slowly lowered her sword and sat down on a fallen log.
"It's alright. I'm sorry," she said. "Didn't mean any harm."
"Oh? So someone would sell you to… them? And who is 'them'?" Tony asked.
"It's nothing," she replied, brushing it off.
But before either of them could say another word, a distant sound rolled through the forest—the clatter of hooves. Horses. Riders.
Tony tensed, eyes fixed ahead, heart pounding.
Something was coming.
Gabby grabbed Tony's hand and pulled him behind a thick tree, tucking them into the shadows between its roots and branches. "Stay low," she whispered.
The sound of hooves grew louder. Riders. Could be bandits—or worse.
She quickly pulled her veil over her face, leaving only her eyes visible. They gleamed with alertness, scanning every movement. One of the riders looked toward them suspiciously. Tony's heart sank. The man leaned in, pointing. "Over there," he said, drawing the others' attention.
Tony cursed under his breath—the tip of his shoe had slipped out into the clearing.
One of the men—young but clearly a seasoned fighter—dismounted slowly, blade in hand. He approached the spot, using his sword to sweep aside leaves and creeping vines.
There they were.
Gabby and Tony—discovered.
The man's eyes narrowed as he took in the sight of Gabby. Recognition flashed across his face. "It's her!" he called out. "Gabby—the fugitive. The one the councilor wants!"
Tony's eyes widened. Fugitive?
Gabby said nothing. Her silence was louder than words.
Without hesitation, she leapt up with a swift, trained motion, aiming to strike. The soldier reacted quickly, dodging with the grace of experience.
Steel clashed against steel. The sound echoed through the trees as Gabby and the soldier engaged in a fierce battle. She was fast—like a blur. But he was skilled.
Tony stood frozen—torn between confusion and fear.
Then instinct kicked in.
He grabbed a thick branch from the ground and charged, swinging it hard. He struck one of the approaching soldiers across the back, knocking him down with a groan.
That moment gave Gabby an edge.
She slashed her blade across the main soldier's thigh. He cried out, stumbling back. Blood stained his uniform—he could barely stand.
Breathing hard, Gabby turned to Tony. "We have to run. Now."
Gabby hesitated for a split second, then they took to their heels.
Before they could vanish into the brush, a voice rang out—clear, commanding, and young. "There!" It was Jasmine. She had been quiet during the search, observing more than speaking, and her sharp eyes had caught the faintest shift of motion.
With fluid speed, Jasmine raised her bow and let loose an arrow. It whistled through the air and struck Gabby's cloak, pinning it against the bark of a thick tree. The impact didn't harm her, but it halted her escape just long enough. Gabby cursed under her breath and tore at the fabric, but she already knew they were surrounded.
The soldiers closed in like a tightening snare. Their swords gleamed, their boots pounded the earth, and in moments, Gabby and Tony stood trapped, blades pointed at their backs. One of the soldiers seized Tony roughly, pulling the saddlebag from his shoulder and tossing it to the main soldier. It landed with a heavy thud, spilling just enough of its contents to reveal what it held.
The Codex.
The Time-Traveller's Clock.
Jasmine dismounted; her long boots brushed softly against the ground as she approached. She knelt by the scattered items, picking up the Codex with careful fingers. The glowing sigils reflected in her eyes, and something flickered across her face—recognition, maybe fear. "This isn't ordinary," she said to the main soldier. "This boy… he's carrying ancient knowledge. Forbidden things."
Gabby lunged, her sword flashing with defiance, but Jasmine was ready. Their blades met briefly in a hiss of steel before the soldiers overwhelmed her. Gabby fought like a flame, swift and unrelenting, but it wasn't enough. A blow to her shoulder knocked her to her knees, and a heavy boot pinned her sword arm.
Tony struggled, shouting, but his voice was drowned by the chaos. They bound his wrists and forced him to his knees beside Gabby.
The soldier she fought with—Muller—stepped forward. Under Muller's command, two seasoned soldiers expertly escorted Tony and Gabby, securing them with sturdy ropes as they navigated the rugged terrain. Meanwhile, Muller and Jasmine rode horseback, leading two additional steeds, their eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings as they followed the procession.
And off they took them away.