"Reya, do we really have to take the little girl along?" Lara asked, her voice dripping with indifference. She glanced at the child, whose small figure seemed fragile as she rested on Reya's back. In Lara's mind, the girl represented a distraction, an obstacle that could hinder her plans.
"Sister, I will not cause trouble," the little girl said softly. Her black, pleading eyes were invisible because of the darkness.
Lara pursed her lips. She walked ahead, leading the way toward the river.
"Miss, this is far enough." Reya lowered herself so the little girl could get off her back.
"You can take a moment to relieve yourselves now; I'll keep watch," Reya said, her voice calm as she glanced back at the darkened trail behind them. The faint glow of their campsite's flickering fire had vanished, swallowed by the darkness of the night.
Reya did not want to venture further into the shadows, but as the trees started to loom taller and the sound of nocturnal animals became louder, she realized that they were getting deeper into the embrace of the wilderness.
While her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she continued stumbling until Lara took her arm and led her.
"We are not stopping, Reya. We are escaping. Carry the child on your back, or I will leave her here," Lara announced, her voice hinting at coldness and commanding, similar to when General Odin would command his subordinates.
Reya was dumbfounded. "But, Miss, when those men catch up with us, we will severely be punished."
"We will not be caught! This is our only chance to escape." She did not give Reya the chance to reply. She grabbed the little girl, placed her on Reya's back, grabbed her wrist, and led her toward the river.
The east began to brighten, transitioning from deep darkness to soft hues of yellow and orange.
Reya gasped when she realized they had reached the riverbank. Although there were only a few trees, the bank was overgrown with reeds as tall as her.
Would snakes be hiding in the reeds? Reya shuddered at the thought.
Lara studied the river, noting that some sections were narrower than others. She led her two companions upstream until they heard the roar of water crashing over large boulders, creating turbulent waters rushing through the narrow channel. As the river widened, the waters gradually calmed down.
Those boulders did not exist in modern times. Perhaps the sheer force of the current washed them downstream or crushed them into smaller rocks.
Lara continued to walk forward, and Reya struggled to follow, stumbling along the way.
When did her Miss learn to walk this fast, not minding the obstacles of protruding roots, tall reeds, and stones on the path?
Lara gazed toward the east as the sky gradually brightened. Her delicate face showed signs of worry. In just one hour, the earth would be illuminated by the first rays of sunrise, putting them at risk of being discovered.
She studied the other side of the river, and a smile blossomed on her small face.
"This spot is perfect!" She spoke to no one in particular.
She uncoiled the rope from her waist and cut a portion of it.
Reya stood frozen, her eyes widening in surprise. It wasn't until the warm glow of the sunrise illuminated the area that she noticed a bundle strapped securely to Lara's back. The fabric, weathered and frayed at the edges, hinted at the weight of her young Miss's burdensome load.
A mix of curiosity welled up inside her as she tried to discern what secrets lay hidden beneath the makeshift wrap. Where and when did she get that stuff?
"Both of you, take off your outer clothes and give it to me." She commanded while hurriedly freeing herself of her heavy blouse and long skirt. What remained was a thin upper garment and a loose trouser-like undergarment that stopped at her shin.
Reya and the little girl obediently removed their outer clothes and passed them to Lara, who stuffed them inside her bundle.
All three shivered in the cold November morning.
Azuverda was a subtropical county. While it never experienced snow, the temperature in winter could drop to less than ten degrees.
Lara worked fast. She tied the rope around Reya's waist.
"Miss, what are you doing?" Reya asked worriedly.
In the distance, the rhythmic sound of hooves echoed through the still air, a stark reminder of the approaching danger. Their captors had undoubtedly discovered their absence, and a sense of urgency filled the atmosphere as the thundering gallop drew nearer—a relentless pursuit driven by the desperation to reclaim their most valuable captive.
Reya's heart raced in a frantic rhythm, almost drowning out the thunderous clatter of the horses galloping along the river bank. She could feel the vibrations of their powerful strides reverberating through the ground beneath her, creating a tension that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
Lara, who remained calm, took one end of the rope and tied the small knife around it, securing the knot.
She breathed deeply, and then, with all her strength, she threw the knife, which embedded itself in the trunk of a big tree on the other side of the river. Only the hilt was visible. The 15-centimeter metal part of the knife was buried in the trunk.
Lara's hand took out the skirt she had taken off earlier. Her hands worked nimbly, and she fashioned a cloth carrier.
Without talking, she grabbed the little girl and told her to hug her as she fastened the cloth carrier around the child and her body.
"Let's go!" With a quick glance back, Lara took a deep breath and began her descent down the rugged and steep riverbank. After some difficulty, the two ladies were on the water, and it reached up to their waist.
The little girl started shivering. The water was too cold for her.
Lara grabbed a piece of driftwood that floated nearby. She removed the bundle from her back and placed it on the weathered wood, instructing Reya to hold onto the log.
The echo of pounding hooves crescendoed in the air, growing ever louder with each passing moment. Their captors were coming nearer!