True to his words, the man had arranged for her comfort at the inn. Warm Water and food were brought to her room at night and in the morning before they left. Though the comfort wasn't up to her standard, it was still better than what she got in the farmhouse where she had to rely on the man for food.
The scorching sun beat down on Ryder and Calantha as they traversed the parched landscape, the fourth consecutive day of uneventful travel lulled Ryder into a sense of security. They had encountered nothing out of the ordinary, their journey unfolding with monotonous predictability.
The silence between them was almost palpable, their conversations limited to brief exchanges when Ryder assisted Calantha with mounting and dismounting her horse. His teasing remarks often aimed to ruffle her composure, but she remained steadfast, refusing to rise to the bait.
As they rode, the only sounds were the soft thud of hooves on dry earth and the occasional creak of saddle leather. Ryder's face occasionally drifted to his partner. He knew she was still angry at him for the sudden travel, but he hoped that maybe with time, she would understand.
The landscape shifted, and the river came into view. Its tranquil surface was a welcome respite from the blistering heat. "Thank heavens." Ryder's voice broke the silence as he led his horse toward the shade, Calantha following behind.
"Time to refill our cans." Seeing how Calantha's face was soaked with sweat and her red hair plastered on her neck, he asked, "Do you want to soak in the water for a few minutes before we continue?" Seeing her accusing gaze, he added, "I won't watch if you don't want me to."
Calantha's eyes flashed with intensity, "What do you mean by 'If I don't want you to'?"
"It means I would watch you take a dip if you want me to."
"I would rather drown."
"Go ahead. I don't mind."
"Go and refill our cans." She looked away from him. The man was a devil.
"For your information, I am very much interested in my offer. I will be back in a few minutes."
"Suit yourself."
"Stay put, don't move from here." He said, his tone serious. He dismounted his horse and grabbed the water cans.
"Why? She asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
"We are close to the mountains. Bandits roam these parts."
Calantha's gaze flickered to the mountains, her expression unreadable. "I will stay right here." She replied and dismounted her horse.
"Good, also keep an eye out for any movement. I will be quick." With a curt nod, he made his way to the river. He first refilled the water cans before shedding his tunic and boots and entering the cool water, allowing it wash away the grime and fatigue.
The sound of gurgling water and Ryder's splashing filled the air as Calantha waited, her gaze drifting toward the mountains. She was startled by the sound of a rabbit that hopped out from behind a nearby bush.
Calantha's eyes widened in fascination, a soft smile spreading across her face. The rabbit nibbled on a nearby wildflower, its big brown eyes sparkling. Enchanted, Ryder's warning was long forgotten. She followed the rabbit as it hopped towards the mountains.
The landscape shifted, and Calantha found herself on a narrow trail, the river fading into the distance. Her heart sank as the rabbit vanished into a thicket. "Wait!" She called, realizing too late she had wandered from the river.
Panic crept in as she scanned the unfamiliar surroundings. "Oh heavens, what have I done to myself?" Her voice was low. She had to find her way back to the river.
She turned, but the dense foliage seemed to close in around her. Every step led deeper into the forest as the trees grew taller, casting long shadows. Minutes passed and she still couldn't find her way out.
Suddenly, rough voices echoed through the trees. "Looks like we have got ourselves a little lost lamb." One voice sneered.
Calantha spun around, her eyes meeting the cruel gazes of a group of men. She didn't need a seer to tell her they were the bandits Ryder talked about. Their faces and clothes were covered in dirt. They formed a circle around her, their weapons at the ready: daggers, bow and arrow and a menacing-looking axe.
Her breath caught in her throat, "Stay away from me," She whispered, trying to move back."
A burly bandit blocked her path. "You are a long way from home, sweetheart. Lance, come take a closer look at her." He leered.
One of the men approached her, he was ridiculously tall and big. Unlike others, he was clean. He was the leader. His meaty hands gripped her chin in a fierce hold. "She is a fine one. Are you alone?" She didn't answer. "We will take her. If nobody comes for her in the next two days, we will do with her as it pleases us. Tie her up."
The men's faces broke into a Cheshire grin. One of them stepped forward with a rope and did the work smoothly.
Ryder's horse trudged through the dense forest, the sun's last rays casting a long shadow. Hours of searching had yielded nothing. No sign of Calantha. No hint of her whereabouts. His anxiety and frustration grew with each passing moment. He had scoured the forest calling out her name until his voice was hoarse. As darkness loomed, he had one option left, the mountain.
Ryder's gut twisted with foreboding. Had they taken her? He had heard of the mountain bandits a couple of times. They were a bunch of ruthless men who had no mission in life other than tormenting travellers.
His jaw clenched. He spurred his horse toward the mountain, the trees thinning as he ascended. The wind picked up, carrying the faint scent of smoke. He approached cautiously as he rounded a bend, a flickering fire came into view. Dismounting his horse, he crept closer.
The fire illuminated a makeshift camp. Bandits. Ryder's eyes narrowed into slits, his frustration turning into anger as he saw Calantha bound and gagged. From where he stood, he saw things clearly. A burly bandit taunted her, his hand grasping her chin while others watched. His vision blurred. They were too focused on tormenting Calantha that they didn't notice him
"I hope you don't mind a visitor?" His voice effectively drew the men's attention to him as they all aimed their weapons at him. He raised his arms in the air and gingerly approached the men.
"What do you want?" One of them asked, dagger held out in front of him.
"The lady. She is my wife. Hand her over."
The leader stepped forward. "And what have you brought in exchange for your wife?"
From where Calantha sat, her eyes darted between the men. She prayed to heaven that Ryder had a plan before coming to the bandits.
"You can take my horse."
The man laughed, "Did you hear him boys? He brought us a horse in exchange for his beautiful wife." The men laughed.
"Forgive me, I should have prepared more for the journey. We can negotiate. You give her to me, I will return with a token of appreciation."
The leader's grin widened, "You are either brave or stupid." The man's eyes locked on Ryder's as he patted his facial hairs. "I can see you are desparate to get her back."
"I am."
"I have an offer for you."
"Name it." Ryder already knew what the man was going to say.
"A duel. I challenge you to a duel." The man's words hung in the air. "If you win, you can take your wife and leave in one piece, but if I do, I will keep you alive enough to watch me pleasure her in front of you."
"A duel?" Ryder repeated, his head tilted to the side as he took in the man's bulging muscles. He glanced over at Calantha to see her shaking her head furiously, her eyes begging him not to accept the challenge. "I accept the challenge, but I have just one condition."
"What condition?"
"We are not to use any weapons, just our fists."
"You have a deal." The man laughed, his eyes flashing with mischievousness. It had been a while since he had fun. Lance tossed all his weapons to the ground and his men formed a large circle around them, giving them enough room.
Calantha, still gagged, struggled against her restraints, her eyes wide with alarm. Ryder's was imposing, but the other man was a behemoth. The odds were against him. She pleaded with the damned man with her eyes, but the scamp wouldn't look her way. The relief she had once felt vanished into thin air knowing that her life was about to crash one more time as the two men faced off, their fists clenched.
Letting out a battle cry, Lance charged at Ryder, his massive arms swinging with precision. Ryder dodged, his agility countering Lance's brute strength. Within Ironhaven's unforgiving wallls, Ryder learnt to rely on instinct, cunning, and brute strength to survive. The constant threat of violence and the need to defend himself against ruthless inmates had honed his reflexes and tactical thinking.
The harsh conditions and endless battles had taught him to harness his adrenaline, channelling it into focused fury. This allowed him to overcome opponents larger and stronger than himself, like Lance.
Lance's blow rained down, but Ryder blocked each one. Calantha watched, horror-stricken. Ryder's face reddened, and his eyes gleamed like a madman. He refused to yield to his opponent's attacks. With a fierce cry, Ryder landed a solid punch to Lance's jaw, causing the huge man to stumble. Seizing the opening, he rained down a flurry of punches of his own that sent Lance crashing into the ground. The bandit leader struggled to gain control, but it was a futile attempt as he was pinned to the ground by his opponent whose eyes were red in anger.
Ryder's hold weakened when he felt a sharp pain jolt through his leg. Lance had stabbed him in the thigh. He should have known the man wouldn't keep his words. Furious, Ryder landed a hard blow to the man's face, knocking him out cold.