After an hour's journey, they finally made it to the Anai bridge, and not even taking a rest or anything, they rode towards the city gate and arrived before the sun was completely up.
The royal guards made a path for them, and they rode out, finally leaving the huge empire. Layah turned around and stared at the bustling road with people walking up and down, and a bit of a sad smile ensued on her face. She took a long deep breath and glanced at Mishak. Then, they began to ride away, this time no longer in a hurry.
"So where do we head to now?" she asked, and Mishak stayed silent for a few moments before turning his head to look at her. "I don't know at all. I have been a soldier all my life... and it's so weird being out here and not having to be in battle. Haha...I believe you feel the same way." He asked, and she slightly nodded her head. "Kind of."
"Well, we just have to keep moving and see where we find ourselves. The closest kingdom to the empire is currently the Dreybar kingdom...So, we might as well make our way towards there and find somewhere to stay and get ourselves together," he explained, and she nodded at him in agreement, before they went silent and continued on their journey.
The whole day passed so quickly, and another new day arrived. Currently, they have almost made it to the Dreybar kingdom. All they needed to pass was the lonely road with forest on each side of it before arriving at the city gate.
Mishak does have an idea that the road was quite troublesome and it was often packed with robbers, but they had no other choice. If only he knew the other road, which was the one the crown prince of the Tecren Empire had taken during his journey, they would have followed it.
"Mishak...Are you sure this road is okay? It seems very lonely." Layah, who wasn't feeling quite well about just how lonely the road was, inquired in a very soft tone, and Mishak slowly nodded at her. "It may be a bit dangerous, but it's not that bad. I mean, this is the only road we can follow to make it to the city, so... it's our only option." He explained in a very calm voice to calm her down, and Layah nodded before suddenly touching her belly.
"What's wrong?" He asked, seeing the grimace on her face, and Layah slowly turned her head to look at him. "I feel so hungry. It's been a whole day already and I haven't eaten a thing." She complained and a low breath exited Mishak's nose. "Just endure it for a bit, okay. We will soon make it to the city and then you can eat as much as you want." He half-smiled at her and Layah nodded, then parted her lips to say something, but instantly sensing what seemed like danger, she carelessly jumped off the house, narrowly escaping an arrow that could have penetrated her head and falling heavily to the ground on her left arm,
A painful shrill escaped her throat at the amount of pain she felt, and Mishak hurriedly jumped down from his horse, then rushed towards her and helped her up from the ground. "Are you-" He was not even done with his question yet when people dressed in black with half of their faces covered with clothes jumped out of the forests on either side of the lonely road and apprehended them with their swords aimed at their throats.
"Who are you all?" Layah questioned, and the one who seemed to be their leader smirked at her. "Drop everything you're with and I will spare your lives." he said in a very deep voice, and Mishak turned his head to look at him. "We don't have anything," he replied, but as though that annoyed the man, his black eyes glared at him, and he moved the tip of the sword closer to his neck, causing it to touch his skin and cut it a little.
Layah watched as the tiny injury began to bleed and she proceeded to berate the man, but Mishak grabbed her hand and stopped her the moment he figured out that they were nothing but the famous thieves that everyone talks about. They were dangerous and not to be underestimated as they were quite numerous.
"If we give you everything we have, will you spare our lives?" he asked, and the man's face grimaced in irritation. "I just said that!" he scowled at Mishak and Mishak slowly removed the silk bag he wore on his left arm to submit it to the floor.
The man smiled on seeing this, and with his sword still pointed at Mishak's neck, he moved to take the bag, but Mishak, however, took the opportunity and struck the sword away, then grabbed him by his clothing and mercilessly struck him on the face with his knee.
The man screamed in pain and Mishak struck him one more time before pushing him away. He quickly grabbed the silk bag and Layah's hand and ran into the forest, dashing in a direction they didn't even know.
The man clutched his bruised face and opened his left eye to see his men standing with dumbstruck expressions on their faces. His face turned red in fury, and he grabbed the sword, slaying one of them with no mercy in his eyes. "Are you all stupid?!! Find them, whether alive or dead!" he yelled, and they nodded their heads furiously before rushing off with fear in their eyes.