"Grandpa!"
Alpha and Oga rushed to the old man’s bedside, patting his back in worry.
The old man waved them off. "I am fine," he croaked. Then, fixing his gaze on Lara, he said, "Tell your master that Samuel says hello."
Lara hesitated but gave a small nod. "Alright, Grandpa. Take care of yourself. I need to go."
She turned toward the door.
"Wait! You forgot to tell your na."
Lara glanced over her shoulder. "Kane. It’s Kane, Grandpa."
A knowing look crossed the old man’s face.
"No," he murmured. "I want to know your real na... young lady."
Lara froze. She looked back at the old man, and her eyes widened.
For the third ti, she approached the bed and spoke softly.
"Grandpa, please don’t spout nonsense. Others might misunderstand." Lara pretended that the old man was wrong.
"Hmm! I understand why you are hiding your identity. With such a beautiful face, you will surely be in danger, especially in a place like this. Don’t forget to tell Jethru to swing by if he has a chance."
Lara nodded. She turned and headed to the door.
Before she crossed the threshold, she spoke in a not-so-loud voice.
"Lara"
The old man smiled. "Lara, what a beautiful na, just like its aning, which is a protector. Indeed, it matches her deanor."
"Grandpa, the porridge is ready."
Oga handed the old man with the newly cooked porridge placed on a porcelain bowl whose edges was chipped.
...
Lara got into the bullcart and headed to the front of the temple. The bull cart owner told them that there was a road that would lead to their village from the temple.
Before they could round up a corner, they heard the thundering hooves of horses—over a dozen n wearing red turbans passed by them.
However, the horse on the rear gave out a painful neigh before it fell on its knees, throwing the rider to the ground.
"Bandits!" The bull cart owner shouted, which attracted the attention of the bandit.
He hastily stood and ran toward the bull cart. He grabbed Barret by the collar but before he could pull his hostage off the cart, he felt a sharp pain on the hand that was grabbing Barett.
A knife has sliced against a flesh above his wrist. The man was so furious that with a strong pull with his uninjured hand, Barett was out of the cart and dragged to the dusty road where the injured horse was lying on the ground.
Barett looked pale as a knife was placed at his neck.
Lara was equally furious. How dare soone abduct a person under her nose?
She stood on the bull cart, took the rope from her waist, transford one end into a lasso, and in one precise movent, she threw the lasso and ensnared the man who held Barett hostage.
The man with the red turban was so shocked the knife in his hand dropped. He let his hands hang limply on his body before the rope tightened. If he did not do it, wouldn’t the rope tighten around his neck?
Lara hurried to the middle of the road.
’Why is today so unlucky?’ she muttered as she offered her left hand to Barett, who fell on the ground while her right hand was still holding the rope as the bandit struggled to free himself.
Lara glared at him and wanted to kick him when a few horses stopped two ters from where she was.
"Why, it is you again!" the familiar voice of the blabbermouth soldier caused Lara to look back.
Her gaze t the mocking eyes of the soldier she had t earlier. He was the only one who spoke among the soldiers, so she nicknad him Blabbermouth.
Then her gaze shifted and t a pair of obsidian orbs. It was looking at her as if looking through her.
It was just a brief contact, but after eting a second ti, Lara noticed how handso the man was. His honey-colored skin seed to glisten in the afternoon sun.
Blaabermouth drew his sword and pointed it at Lara.
"You! Are you their accomplice? You did this intentionally to block our way and let them escape, right?"
Lara’s eyebrows raised. The blabbermouth’s imagination was too wild.
"Sir, do not slander , even if you are a soldier. It is just my unlucky day to stumble upon you. You seem to be the harbinger of danger to and my companion. We just visited soone at the back of the temple, and on our way ho, we ca upon you." Lara tried to suppress her anger and sounded respectful.
"Sheath, your sword, Agilus." A commanding voice filled the air, and the blabbermouth obeyed without a word.
Lara pushed the bandit toward the blabbermouth with a kick. The man fell to the ground on his knees before his horse.
With a swift movent that just left a blur, the bandit was freed from the rope that constrained him, but he did not dare escape, for he would be turned into a dead at.
"Co, Barett, let’s go ho." She turned around and walked toward the bull cart unbothered.
Ari, sitting atop his horse, followed him with a deep gaze.
When the bull cart reached the crossroads, the sun was about to set. The bull cart owner looked worried, his eyes darting around as if trying to find soone. Lara noticed his movents but continued to look down as if she were half asleep.
Suddenly, four n ca from behind the narrow road’s shrubs.
Lara breathed deeply.
Today was an unlucky day. Misfortune followed her everywhere. She was tired and wanted to rest.
Without ado, she jumped from the bull cart and faced those four n.
"Hand us the silver and all these things on the cart, and we can let you and the boy live." The gang leader said haughtily as he brandished his sword in front of him.
Lara smirked. She made a move, and all four n were down on the ground unconscious.
"Give your rope."
The bull cart owner trembled and passed her the rope coiled on the floor of the bull cart.
Lara tied up the n with a rope in one fluid motion and then dragged them to the side of the road.
"Now, send us to the village, and don’t dare play any tricks, or else ..."
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