Night clocked, and Layah, who was ready to leave in simple black pants and a jacket that had her weapons, such as a knife, stored in it, walked out of her room with her silk bag in hand. She strolled towards the royal cemetery and made her way to her mother's grave.
She stood in front of it and a smile ensued on her face as she got down on her knees to bow to her in respect for the last time. "I will be back, mother." She said, a single tear falling from her eyes, and got up from the floor.
With one last glance at the stone tablet, she turned around and began to walk away, making her way to the palace gate. She arrived there in a few minutes, and the guards pulled the huge gate open for her. She stepped out and turned to watch as they closed the gate, letting her know that this was the last time that she would ever glimpse the palace, till the day she returns.
She let out a low breath and instantly flinched when someone touched her shoulder. "Your highness, it's me." The person who was none other than Mishak smiled at her and she glared at him. "Don't sneak up on me like that," she said, and Mishak nodded. "My apologies."
"So... where do we go now?" She sighed as she asked, and Mishak glanced around the place before returning his gaze to her. "Out of the empire. I mean, you're exiled. I already have a horse ready for us at the farmers home, so... we have to go there and get the horse, then see if we can get to the Anai bridge before sunrise, "he explained, and Layah nodded. "Alright, let's go."
They turned around and began to walk away from the palace gate, not looking back at all. Layah's eyes glimpsed around, as this was actually the first time she had been out of the streets without a carriage carrying her and her having to keep the etiquette of a princess.
A smile ensued on her face, and she cheered herself up a bit to not let her exile bother her that much.
They walked for a bit more than thirty minutes and finally arrived at the farmer's house. On sighting Mishak, the farmer, who was an old man, hurried toward them and pulled the wooden gate of his compound open. "Welcome, welcome," he said, motioning to a seat as they entered the compound.
Layah sat down on the chair and gazed at Mishak as he spoke with the old man concerning something she couldn't hear or make sense of.
Mishak turned to look at her when it seemed like he was done with his conversation and waved his hand at her to come over. She stood up from the chair and walked over to stand beside him, then patiently waited for the old man who came out the next minute with his hands dragging two white horses behind him.
Layah's eyes fluttered on seeing this, and she turned her head to look at Mishak. "Why did you buy white ones? They cost at least six gold coins." She asked with what seemed like disbelief in her eyes, and Mishak shook his head at her, totally ignoring her.
What nonsense was this? She's currently exiled and has to strive for herself. Just how can he have the guts to buy two white horses, wasting the gold coins that they could have used for something much more important? Her face crumpled and a hot breath escaped from her nose on seeing Mishak handing twelve gold coins to the old man.
"Relax, princess. Okay, we need a fast horse. It's just twelve coins. We can forfeit that." He half-smiled at her and grabbed the ropes, dragging the horses along with him, outside of the compound.
With no other choice, a low breath fled Layah's nose and she walked after him. She climbed up the horses, and together, they rode off, heading towards the Anai's bridge.
It was the bridge they needed to cross, and once they do, it will take them at least two to three hours, depending on their speed, to get to the city gate and finally exit the empire.
A soft breath fled Layah's nose as she slowed down the horse and watched the sun slowly setting.
"Still sad?" Mishak asked, and she turned her head to look at him with her brow arched in a bewildered manner. "Sad about what?"
"About all this. You have never been in the open like this nor have you ridden a horse this far, so I am pretty sure it must be stressful for you," he explained, and Layah rolled her eyes at him. "Impossible! I may not have done this frequently then, as I was meant to always behave like a princess, but it doesn't mean I can't do it now. Don't forget that I am a tough girl. Things like this don't phase me, nor can they make me sad. I mean, I literally beat you in a fair fight." She smirked at him, and Mishak slightly shook his head at her. "I believed I will always hear this, every day, for the rest of my life, no?" he asked and Layah nodded at him. "Yes, indeed, you will."
He chuckled softly on hearing her admit that and sighed the next moment. "Your highness, when I asked if you were sad, I meant your family. Don't you miss them? I know that you aren't on good terms at all with your sister or his majesty, but... I think you miss them a little, no? "
"What makes you think I miss them? If anything, I am quite happy to be out of there. I have my plans in mind and this exile benefits me, so no... I do not miss them at all. Humph! It's not like they had ever contributed anything to my life, except troubles." She scoffed with disdain in her eyes, and Mishak slowly nodded his head at her. "I see..."
"By the way, when do we get to the bridge?" She inquired with her eyes contracted into a thin line.
"Probably in one hour more, considering we are going to take a bit of rest for now," he replied, and she nodded her head.