Chapter Thirty -Two

The Unmarked: Book One

Mar 05, 2026

Scarlet.

Apparently, she hadn’t eaten in over a week. It sure felt like it. Scarlet was famished. However, she had been advised to start off slow, and then gradually begin to eat solid foods. So, while the rest of them ate bread and fish stew that the man – Jeziah – had prepared for them, Scarlet was left to drink a vegetable broth.

It was the most delicious thing she had ever tasted in her entire life.

She, Dawn, River and Jeziah sat by the fire. The sun was setting, and her clothes were finally getting dry. No one really spoke much, and Scarlet wasn’t going to be the one to break the silence. It didn’t matter though. The silence didn’t seem to bother anyone, because they were all focused on satiating their hunger and keeping warm. When they had finished their meal, just as Rosemary had, Jeziah took a basin of water and began to wash their feet, one by one.

All three of them were caught off guard by the act, though River most of all.

It must be their custom Scarlet thought. Even their leader washes our feet. Something shifted inside of Scarlet’s heart at that notion.

Once finished with Scarlet and River, Jeziah knelt at Dawn’s feet.

“What brought you through the mountains?” he asked her.

“We were looking for the Unmarked,” Dawn replied.

Scarlet tensed. That was evidently a lie. She cast a glance at River, but he was nodding his head, as if he were in on it.

Why are they lying?

“I’ve been told you’re their leader,” Dawn added.

That piece of information caused Scarlet’s eyes to widen, and she tried to redeem herself by taking a sip from her broth. Dawn would probably scold her later for having been so obvious. As Scarlet attempted to shield her face with the bowl to hide any more unwanted facial expressions.

“I am” he replied.

“Where are the rest of your people?” Dawn asked casually.

Scarlet looked to River again. It seemed like they had come up with some sort of plan while she had been ill. Earlier, before Jeziah and River had returned from tending to the horses, Dawn had briefly updated Scarlet on their situation and whereabouts. They were in the Torrem Mountains, off the Member’s Highway. Where exactly? Dawn wasn’t sure yet. They had met Jeziah by surprise.

In response to Dawn’s question, Jeziah said, “my people are spread out across the entire land of Erom. In the known places on the continent” his eyes gleamed, “and the secret places as well”.

“So, there are people living in these mountains”. It sounded more like a statement than a question.

“Yes, but not all of them Unmarked”.

“What do you mean by that?”

“What is done in secret can either be condemned or rewarded. The line between what is good and what is evil is drawn by the intentions of the heart”.

“So, there are people living in the mountains with evil intentions?”

“There are.”

Dawn narrowed her eyes: “and who decides which intentions are good, and which are evil?”

Scarlet tensed at the sudden challenge in her sister’s tone.

“Who condemns?” Dawn continued, “who rewards?”

Without hesitation, Jeziah replied: “The one who is without darkness”.

He seemed undisturbed by Dawn’s confrontational attitude. Scarlet, on the other hand, sat quietly, stomach knotting with nerves.

Jeziah continued. “The light makes known the things of the heart. It reveals good and exposes evil”.

Jeziah wiped Dawn’s feet dry and went to sit on a cushion by the fire.

“Tell me” Dawn said, breaking her gaze from Jeziah, “where exactly are we?” She went to her bag and fumbled inside. Scarlet cast another glance at River. This time, he caught her gaze. He shrugged, as if he too were confused by the exchange.

His gesture made Scarlet blush. She quickly went to sip from her bowl, even though it was now empty.

Returning with a map, Dawn sat crossed legged and spread it across the floor. It was a map of the Torrem Mountains. Scarlet leaned over and saw circles and scribbles reading “safe”, “not safe”.

“This place isn’t on any map”.

“Not on any known map of Erom. But this is a map of the Mountains, and that’s where we are, isn’t it?”

“That’s where you came through.”

Dawn sat silent for a moment. Scarlet cast another glance at River, hoping that he’d catch her gaze again, but he sat with elbows leaning against his knees, lips pressed against his fists, and brows furrowed. A look of contemplation. Clearly, he had no idea what was going on either, and where it was going. He was most likely thinking the same thing as Scarlet was.

Dawn can be so strange sometimes.

The fire’s orange glow and the shadows it cast on Jeziah’s face made him look kinder, but it made Dawn look fiercer. Her gaze was filled with intensity. Her clear blue eyes reflected the flames like a pond amid a forest fire. In a low voice, as if she didn’t want anyone else in the room to hear, she said: “So this is the Shadow Realm”.

Neither Scarlet nor River understood what that meant.

“Shadows do not light the path”

“What light’s the path?”

“Not what, but who”

She narrowed her eyes. “Who”

His eyes gleamed. “I do”.

Dawn watched him with a skeptic air. “What path should we take, then?” she asked, brushing her fingers across the parchment.

Jeziah looked down at the map and smirked. “If I told you, you still would not understand” his expression became sad. “You are still concerned with the things of people. But if I can tell you in a way that you want to understand, then I will show you where to go on your map of yours”.

“Where do we go?”

“Anywhere but here” he said, pointing to the only place on the map where it was marked ‘not safe’. “There are Unmarked camps across the Torrem Mountains that will welcome you. Once you leave my home, you will find yourself near this one” he said, pointing to another area on the map that was in the complete opposite direction of the place that was marked as unsafe.

Dawn folded the map without saying anything, which put the conversation to an awkward and abrupt end. She glanced towards the window and back to Jeziah. It was night now. “Can we spend the night here?” she asked, “we can’t travel in the dark”.

Jeziah nodded. “Of course,” he replied.

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The creaking of floorboards woke Scarlet from her slumber. She opened her eyes. The room was warm and filled with the orange light of the fire that still burned in the hearth. It was still dark outside. Scarlet stayed unmoving in her bedroll. She saw a pair of feet walking towards the stairs that led up to where Jeziah had retreated for the night.

Dawn? Scarlet thought, still confused with sleep.

She sat up, rubbed her eyes, and glanced to where her sister’s bedroll lay empty besides her. Next to Dawn’s bedroll, was Rivers’, with him still sleeping in it. Scarlet felt a pang of jealousy at the sight. She wished she could have slept besides him. She allowed herself to look at him. She’d never had the chance to really look at him before, because she had always been too shy or too far away. Yes, Scarlet often spent her time watching River when she was absolutely certain that he wasn’t aware of her. Like now. She’d never seen him sleep before. His brows were furrowed, and his lips were slightly parted. She could hear his breath. The sight of him formed a knot in her stomach and made her heart flutter. He was… beautiful. For the first time since she’d left home, she longed for a pen between her fingers and a sketch pad on her thighs so that she could capture this moment. She had never drawn River before for fear that her sister would find it and mock her. She had also never gotten the chance to look at him closely enough to draw a portrait that would do him justice. Scarlet had often entertained the thought of asking him to pose for her, but even the thought made her cheeks burn and palms sweat. She imagined having the courage to ask him, but she knew that she never would. River was head over heels for Dawn, and Scarlet did not want to interfere in her sister’s relationship. Or whatever she had going on with River.

Frustration suddenly weighed itself upon Scarlet. What did Dawn have going on with River? When Scarlet had left for Ardus, Dawn and River had not made anything official. Their relationship remained as it always had: a little more than friends, but a little less than romantic. While Scarlet was away, she had assumed that nothing had changed between River and Dawn, because Dawn had made no mention of it in her letters.

Dawn had made no mention of River when she had travelled with Scarlet for the past six weeks either. More so, despite River leaving everything behind to find and protect Dawn, and spending an entire week travelling together while Scarlet was in her strange, unconscious state, it seemed like there was tension between them. They didn’t act like a couple and Scarlet had barely seen them speak to each other. And it wasn’t like they were cuddling up to sleep either.

After having read her Mother’s letter, Scarlet was relieved that that was the case.

A sigh left Scarlet’s lips. She didn’t understand her sister. Scarlet would have given anything to have River be in love with her the way he was in love with Dawn. Yet Dawn just never seemed to care. Since Scarlet could remember, Dawn had always teased him while he chased after her, and she never let it go any further than that.

Scarlet tore her gaze away from him and brought her attention back to Dawn’s empty bedroll and the fact that her sister had gone up the stairs to do who knows what.

Curious, Scarlet slipped out of her bedroll and tiptoed up the stairs, brushing her hand along the wooden railing. She stopped at the top and peeked behind the wall to see a small antechamber where there were two rooms. The door to the first room was open. She saw Dawn standing in what looked like a study. Her sister stood behind a wooden desk and was shuffling through some books that stood on a shelf.

The door to the second room was closed. But the moment Scarlet glanced at it, the doorknob began to turn. Scarlet quickly skipped down a few steps, squatted, and held her breath so that she wouldn’t be noticed. She heard the floor creak, and then a voice.

“Looking for something?” she heard Jeziah say. Scarlet’s heart slammed in her chest and she dared not move an inch.

There was a moment of silence.

“The Book of Books” she heard Dawn reply.

Scarlet furrowed her brows. She did not understand what that meant.

No response. Only footsteps. Scarlet let out a very long, slow, quiet breath and crawled up the stairs again. She peeked ever so slightly from behind the wall and into the study. Jeziah was brushing his finger along the spines of his book collection. He rested his finger on one, tapped it, pulled it out and handed it to Dawn. She clasped it in both hands and regarded it for a moment, as if she were stunned to be holding it. She looked up at Jeziah.

“What is it about?” She asked.

“Me” he replied.

She looked at it again. “It’s in the Dead Speech” she stated.

“I’ve been around for a long time”.

Silence.

“Why is it so important?”

“It chronicles things that have passed, things that are, and things that are to come”.

“What’s to come?” Dawn asked in a small voice, “if this book’s about you, then you should know”.

“Before you know what’s to come, you must know what has passed, and what is”.

“Then tell me.”

“My word is this book, Dawn. Everything you ask about is recorded in these pages”.

“How can I read it, if the words are in a different tongue?”

Jeziah lay a hand on the book. “My people have translated these words. Find them, and you will understand”.

“Why won’t you just tell me?”

“Because searching is part of the journey towards Truth. If you really want to know, then you will do the work”.

“How do I know the journey is worth the work?”

“That’s where faith comes in”.

Dawn looked back down at the text. Jeziah removed his hand. He regarded her with a pained expression. Before stepping out of the room, Jeziah paused at the door and looked at the ground. “Go quickly” he said quietly, his tone heavy with emotion, “and do what you have to do”. He walked away and Scarlet tiptoed down the steps and practically threw herself back into her bedroll before anyone knew she had been eavesdropping. She quickly shut her eyes and tried to steady her breathing. Moments later, footsteps sounded down the staircase. Scarlet opened one eye and watched as Dawn slid Jeziah’s book into her satchel.

She’s taking his book?

Scarlet closed her eyes again. Footsteps. Dawn was shaking her shoulder.

“Wake up, Scar” her sister whispered.

Scarlet pretended to wake up from a deep sleep. She blinked several times and put on a frown. “Wha…” she groaned.

“We’re leaving” her sister breathed.

Scarlet suddenly forgot that she was supposed to be pretending.

“What?” she squeaked, “already?”.

“Yes” Dawn said and was already shaking River awake.

“What is it?” he asked in a sleepy voice.

“We need to go, we’ve stayed here too long already”.

River sat up. “Leaving? Dawn, we just got here”.

Dawn froze. Anger clouded her expression. “Have you two already forgotten why we ran away from our homes? That Jeziah is the leader of the Unmarked Rebels?” she hissed. “We shouldn’t be here. Scarlet’s better, there’s no reason to stay”.

“But he saved me!” Scarlet dared to say. She looked around the room, “he’s taking care of us”.

Dawn walked over to her. “One good deed doesn’t redeem someone from a lifetime of evil, Scar. Don’t let yourself be so easily fooled”.

Scarlet bowed her head in embarrassment. Once again, Dawn had proven her to be nothing more than an easily manipulated child.

“Okay” Scarlet said in a small voice, “you’re right”.

They quickly packed and gathered their belongings. The sky was becoming a lighter shade of blue, though the sun had not risen yet. Scarlet felt a pang in her chest. Although Dawn was right, she still felt guilty for leaving Jeziah’s home without saying thank you and goodbye. He had saved her life. Maybe one good deed didn’t redeem a man from a lifetime of evil, but at least it was a step towards the right direction, wasn’t it? And if it was a step towards the right direction, should it not be acknowledged?

“River and I’ll get the horses” Dawn announced, “start bringing our things outside” she told Scarlet. Scar nodded. As soon as both River and Dawn left, she began to frantically search the living space for a pen and paper on display. Then another idea crossed her mind. She ran outside and went to the patch of lilies she had noticed growing on the side of the house upon their arrival. She pulled one out of the ground, ran back into the house, up the staircase, and delicately set it at the foot of his bedroom door. She hoped Jeziah would understand what it meant.

She tiptoed back down the stairs and quickly began hauling their satchels and bedrolls out of the house.

Dawn and River brought their horses from the barn and began loading them. Scarlet stood on the porch, twirling her thumbs, a habit she did when she was nervous. Their departure felt like an escape.

What are you trying to escape, Dawn?

Once they were done loading the horses, Dawn looked to Scarlet. “Ride with River” she commanded.

Scarlet thought she was going to faint. “Oh- Okay!”.

River climbed up on the horse and reached towards Scarlet. She took his hand and feared she would slip from his grasp because of how clammy her palm was. River’s grip tightened around her hand. She placed one foot inside the stirrup.

“Okay” he began, “get ready to push yourself up in one, two, three”. Scarlet pushed herself up and swung her leg over the animal’s body. Then she wrapped her arms around River’s torso and hoped he would assume that the rapid thrumming of her heart was due to her jump, and not because she was so close to him. She had never been so close to him. The heat of his flesh seeped into her skin. Scarlet reveled in every moment of it.

Her sister climbed her own horse. “Alright” she said as if to herself, “let’s get out of here”. Dawn signaled for her horse to move.

As they set off, Scarlet couldn’t shake the feeling that they were doing something wrong.

The line between what is good and what is evil is drawn by the intentions of the heart.

What were her intentions in all this? Scarlet wondered. In leaving behind her home? In going to Tariah with information that would destroy the Unmarked…and Jeziah?

Scarlet had yet to search her heart for the answer. She turned to take one last look at her savior’s home. But to her confusion, she saw nothing but a patch of lilies amidst pine trees and bushes.

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Chapter Thirty -Two

The Unmarked: Book One

Table of Contents:

Scarlet.

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