The carriage creaked as it rolled over the uneven dirt path, the steady clopping of the horse’s hooves the only sound cutting through the silence. Lara and Percival sat stiffly inside, their expressions unreadable, while Jethru guided the reins, leading them away from the village. The sun was beginning to dip westward, casting long shadows along the road.
Lara’s mind was already racing, piecing together the fragments of information her Uncle Primo had shared earlier. Their maternal grandfather had been ensnared in a rival’s scheme in Zamaya. To protect the family’s honor, his youngest son, Primo, had shouldered the blame, accepting punishment in their place—a crime severe enough for banishment.
If the Lenard family in Zamaya had truly been strong, she reasoned, they would have fought back. Instead, they had accepted the outcome without resistance. Were they weak? Or simply unwilling to challenge the ruling power? Uncle Primo had refused to speak further, insisting that the past was best left buried.
The weight of silence grew unbearable.
"How many siblings did Mother have?" Lara finally asked, her voice cool but inquisitive.
"Four, including Uncle Primo," Percival answered, breaking out of his thoughts. "Mother has two sisters. Uncle Renor, the eldest, is now in charge of the family business."
"Are they merchants?" Lara’s brows furrowed. If they were merely traders, why would someone go to such lengths to conspire against them?
Lara’s frown deepened. "When Grandpa died, did the Lenards lose their wealth or property?"
Percival turned his head slightly, finally shifting his gaze toward her. Between them, the three children lay curled up, their small bodies rising and falling in deep slumber, exhausted from their play at the Lenard house.
"I’m not entirely sure," Percival admitted, his voice thoughtful. "But I heard that the Prime Minister’s brother seized the lands in the Zandaya range that once belonged to Grandfather."
Lara’s sharp eyes narrowed. So it was about the land. A knowing glint flickered in her gaze. "Could there be something valuable hidden beneath it? A mine, perhaps?" She murmured the thought aloud, almost absentmindedly. Even in modern times, the Zandaya Mountain Range was known for its rich mineral deposits—several mines in that region were controlled by the government and powerful elites.
Percival’s back stiffened. He heard her. Though the voice was soft, he heard her loud and clear. He turned to her, his eyes widening in alarm.
"Lara," he hissed, lowering his voice, "don’t say things like that so carelessly, especially in public. People might take it the wrong way and land you in trouble."
"Hmm," she hummed noncommittally, shifting her gaze toward the passing scenery. Her fingers tapped idly against her knee.
Something felt... off, when she noticed the road they were passing.
Her grandfather had taken a different route.
"Grandpa," Lara called out, raising her voice so the coachman could hear. "Are we going somewhere? This isn’t the way back to town."
Jethru didn’t turn around. "I need to gather some rare plants by the riverbank near the provincial road. Won’t take long."
Lara nodded. But she felt an uneasy feeling in her chest.
Before long, the carriage came to a halt. The children stirred awake at the sudden stop, their drowsy eyes blinking against the golden afternoon light.
"Are we home already?" Ivy asked, her small voice high-pitched with sleep.
"Not yet," Percival answered. "Grandpa just needs to pick some plants."
Ivan, now fully awake, scrambled up and leapt from the carriage. "Grandpa! I’ll go with you!"
Jethru hesitated, but before he could refuse, Lara interjected. "Take him with you, Grandpa. It’ll be good training for him."
Jethru wavered for a moment before relenting. When Ivy, eager as ever, tried to follow, he hardened his heart and shook his head. "No. The path is rough, full of thorny vines. It’s too dangerous."
Sandoz, too, wanted to go, but one look at Jethru’s firm expression made him bite his tongue. Instead, he turned to Ivy. "Let’s play here for a bit."
As Lara watched them, her ears caught a distant sound—hooves pounding against the earth. At first faint, but drawing closer with each second. Her eyes snapped northward. A line of carriages, six in all, was approaching.
Just then, Sandoz clutched his stomach and shot Lara a desperate look.
Lara sighed. "Perci—"
Percival flinched in surprise. It had been years since she last called him that. A small smile tugged at his lips.
"Can you take Sandoz? He, uh... needs to go."
Percival’s smile vanished. So that’s why she called him by his nickname? To send him on latrine duty? He groaned but nodded.
Sandoz, unwilling to do his business too close to the others, insisted on going further into the trees. Percival gritted his teeth but complied.
As they disappeared into the woods, Lara absently studied her own shadow, noting the angle of the light. Judging by the length of the shadow on the ground, she estimated it was around four in the afternoon. Her mind wandered—perhaps she could construct a decorative sundial for her master’s house.
The rhythmic pounding of hooves suddenly ceased.
A chill ran down Lara’s spine. She turned just as the lead horse stopped directly in front of them.
Ivy, who had been plucking wildflowers, shrieked in fright, when a man grabbed her.
Lara’s eyes sharpened. Danger.
In one swift motion, she struck.
A sharp cry split the air.
"ARGH!" A bearded man, likely in his early thirties, staggered back, clutching his bleeding forehead. His long hair was matted with sweat, his rough clothes stained from travel. He spun around wildly. "Who the hell hit me?!"
Ivy, realizing she was free, darted toward Lara and buried herself against her side.
"You! Get back here!" the man snarled.
At his outburst, several others leapt from their carriages. Eight men. Their ragged clothes, battle-scarred faces, and the gleaming knives strapped to their belts left no doubt.
Were they bandits or human traffickers?
Muffled cries came from one of the carriages.
Lara’s fingers twitched. Tch. Trouble. It was payback time. She now have the opportunity to avenge what happened two years ago.
The men spread out, encircling her and Ivy. Their weapons glinted in the afternoon sun.
Lara took a slow breath, steadying herself.
She had no intention of going down easily.