"We'll reach Mountain Valley in six days' time" Pam gave the information she gathered.
Other than fighting, they all have their specialities. Ruby was best at talking, Pam in extracting information, Allen…speed..best quality of a spy, Erich…a leader and her…a strategist. And that is what makes them the best Dark knight's - Crows, each of them fill their role on field like a puzzle.
"The terrain ahead is dangerous," Pam continued in the dark, not even moon light filtered enough to make a proper silhouette but burning ambers provided little light near the center.
"But as per riders, they are the best guides, and have been to the dark mountain multiple times, it's basically their job to deliver people and information" That makes sense, because all they did was to feed horses, order them around and sleep.
"Did you find anything about the mission?" Ruby asked while scanning the area.
The clearing in the middle of the forest is not even large enough to accommodate everyone, they were scattered under separate trees, all snoring like pigs. Keeping watch in such an obstructed space is difficult, but the worst that could happen here is the random animal attack, not to forget the privacy they got for talking and being women…for personal care.
"Not much, the usual part is a fight which we already know, but why this group was chosen this way, they couldn't tell" Surely there's more that they didn't know.
"Where did the lord go after his dinner?" Pam asked, which perked Daria's interest, she saw him leaving towards the stream, but then they got busy with eating and cleaning.
"I saw him getting in his carriage," Ruby replied. Daria turned to notice a small light still flickering out of the carriage window, how did she miss it? Is he keeping eye on them, he surely rested enough to become an owl for the night. Well what can they do if he wants to.
********
"Hurry, we have a long way to cover before the sun sets," One rider shouted. They were already on their horses. Even with most of their masks gone, she couldn't tell much difference between one another.
Everyone started getting back to their carriage, a doubt started as soon as she stepped in, which compartment, front or back?
"Do you need a separate invitation everyday?" He said while passing by to take his usual seat in the front, and her breath hitched…she followed him without a thought.
He simply took the seat and leaned his head back, hand folded on chest, eyes shut. He must be tired out of all that owl activity he did last night. He actually looked vulnerable. She was amazed by the stark contrast of someone powerful and vulnerable, but at the moment he looked both.
"Sit" He ordered without stirring. And she followed without delay.
They didn't look, they didn't move, but she surely didn't turn away her gaze this time, or couldn't, she was not sure.
And Carriage begun following the rhythm of her heart
******
A simple routine settled in like a rhythm for the past four days, they would stop somewhere by sunset. Farmers gathered woods, prisoners carried water, young boys helped in errands. And three of them cooked then did night watch, as no one else looked worthy enough to perform either cooking or night watch duty.
"Tomorrow we will enter Dark Valley, everyone stay alert as we are not responsible if you wander alone" Rider, who always informs them of precautions for the day ahead, said in a serious tone, when they were gathered around the campfire for dinner.
"Why?" The prisoner asked lazily, she's been noticing his careless attitude since day one. She should beware of the company they're traveling with.
"Its ungoverned crest field area, the main crest field" A sharp pain returned like a blade slitting her heart. Main crest field, where it all started...her home.
She felt the weight of her ignorance. Since that day, Daria didnt let her forget a single detail of that bloody, gruesom memory, of her mother covered in blood, red…everywhere…even if it's a torture. It was more for her own peace than justice. It's the only thread pulling her through this cruel world she lived in and…she let herself distract, for such fickle emotion, Love? Is this what it is? Maybe not yet, but she has seen men destroying themselves, women getting trapped and losing every ounce of freedom, just in the name of a single word - Love.
Look at her…let's be practical, she can never afford that emotion.
She has to plan…and act soon…this opportunity might not come again. An ungoverned area! Troven's really never cared about the people of Crest Shield since the day they acquired the land. But…no one can own her in an ungoverned land.
Her head was running with possibilities, planning and outcomes when someone called her.
"Hey you, go fetch some water, Lord needs a bath, he is waiting behind those trees"
"Bath?"..bath!..her?. She was frozen on the spot, no..definately not..
"Yes, hurry, he's not a patient man"
Of course he's not..