"Don't worry, Miss. Your father will definitely catch up with us soon." Reya said in a hushed voice, glancing around nervously.
Lara humd.
She wanted to share with Reya the possibility of her family not knowing about her predicant. However, the thought lingered heavily in her mind, and she hesitated, fearing that sharing what was in her mind might extinguish the flickering hope that Reya clung to so desperately.
Reya settled beside her and closed her eyes to rest.
The last hues of twilight already faded from the sky, and the sun completely disappeared in the west. The surrounding landscape was swallowed by darkness, and a symphony of crickets filled the night. Their rhythmic chirping weaved through the cool November air, making it difficult for Lara to fall asleep.
Her gaze was fixed on the sky above, where millions of stars glittered like distant fireflies. She recognized the constellations, which confird her belief that she was in the sa world she had known in the twenty years of her life.
Lara felt a soft warmth nestled against her feet, an unexpected presence that startled her. Just as she was about to kick it away, the gentle flicker of the embers in the makeshift stove cast a warm glow, revealing the figure curled at her feet.
It was the little girl with whom Lara shared her porridge, the sa girl who lay on her feet when she awoke in the carriage.
Lara wanted to move her feet, but after thinking about it, she let the little girl be.
"We really hit the jackpot this ti. That girl holds imnse value and will demand a handso ransom. General Turik's animosity towards General Odin runs deep, stemming from the humiliating defeat of the Centuria, which ultimately led to it being annexed by Northem. He would be happy to have Odin's only daughter as his hostage, then that proud Northem general will be at Turik's rcy."
Lara heard the croaky voice of one of the two n who were guarding the vicinity of their carriage.
"Yeah! Tomorrow afternoon, we will cross the River Praya, and then it will be a done deal!" The other man replied in a good mood.
Lara recognized his voice. It was Scarface.
Lara's vision has already adjusted to the darkness. She could make out the outline of the second carriage a few ters from the one they were riding. The four n were resting inside.
Earlier, she pretended to pick up sothing on the ground and took the opportunity to study the two carriages. As she guessed, ropes were hidden under the carriage's bottom. She deduced that a hidden compartnt should also be where the weapons and supplies were stored.
After an hour, when the two n leaning on the tree seed to doze off, Lara moved. She sneakily slipped from underneath the cloth that Reya had covered her earlier. She fashioned the fabric she used as a pillow into a bulge and covered it with the other cloth.
She crawled until she reached the second carriage. She touched the wooden floor with her fingers, and when she found what she was looking for, she gently slid a piece of wood sideways.
She was right! There was a hidden compartnt. She felt with her hand, took a big knife, and placed it on the ground. She groped and took out a sword.
After fifteen minutes, she managed to take out a small knife, a bag of at jerky wrapped in sothing that felt like a leaf, and a bundle of fabric. She gently restored the small wooden door to its place and removed the coiled rope from where it was hooked.
She gathered her spoils, crawled out from under the carriage, and stealthily carried the things to the direction where the two n fetched water.
She knew there was a river half a kiloter from where they camped. The river was not wide but it was deep. She wasn't just sure if the river was the sa one that she was familiar with.
Nature, after all, was unpredictable. Heavy rain and flash floods could cause a river to change course, to narrow down, or to widen.
Reya stirred from her sleep. A mosquito bit her arm and she unconsciously slapped it away. Then, her hand went over to the area where Lara was sleeping but found it empty.
With eyes still closed, her hand moved further up, but she felt nothing. Her eyes opened wide, and she sat up abruptly.
"Miss Lara!" She called in panic.
The two n who has dozed off were awakened. Scarface took a piece of burning wood and moved toward the area where a few people were sleeping.
"Damn it! The girl is gone!" Scarface shouted. "You! Why did you not watch over her?" He was so angry that he kicked Reya on her back.
Reya cried out in pain. The little girl who was curled up started sobbing.
"Brutus, you search over there while I'll ..."
"There's no need to search for . I'm right here," Lara's soft, hesitant voice broke through the tension, surprising Scarface. Monts later, her head erged from behind a cluster of tall, swaying reeds. She looked slightly embarrassed. "I just needed to pee."
She walked with cautious steps, as if she couldn't see the path she was walking on.
"Why didn't you wake up, Miss? I was so worried!" Reya exclaid, rushing to catch up with her. As she hurried forward, her foot caught on a jagged stone, causing her to stumble awkwardly.
"It is just very near, and it is just quick." Lara lowered her gaze as she spoke.
Scarface was angry because his sleep was interrupted. He was about to kick Reya a second ti, but Lara innocently stepped between them, blocking Reya from his line of sight.
"Go back to sleep. Next ti, don't disturb other's sleep." Scarface barked. He went into the other carriage and woke soone up. He said that it was their turn to sleep in the carriage.
The other two n, their brows furrowed in discontent, begrudgingly settled into their spots beneath the tree. As the night deepened, their eyes grew heavy, and soon the soft rustle of the breeze lulled them into a deep slumber.
Just before the crack of dawn, Lara's eyes opened. She turned to Reya, still nestled in her blankets, and leaned in, shaking her maid gently to stir her from sleep.
"Reya, my stomach hurts. I need to relieve myself." She clutched her stomach to emphasize that she was in pain. "Please accompany ."
The little figure curled on her feet sat up.
"Sister, I also have a stomach ache. Can I co to relieve myself?" She asked in a pleading tone.
Lara looked conflicted. But before she could reject the little girl, Reya had already offered her back.
"Co, just piggyback on !"
Lara gritted her teeth. The little girl was not part of her plan.
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