"What are you talking about?"
Kamila stood motionless, just staring at the man.
He raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to stay here to be hounded again by strange men? Who knows how many more are hiding somewhere?"
The thought was chilling. Kamila looked around the forest. Could men really be hiding behind the trees? Wouldn't she know if such a thing happened?
"Where is your home any way? A young maid so far into the trees is never a good idea." His lips tightened, creating a crease on his forehead. "I am surprised at your parents."
Some time passed before the fog cleared from Kamila's mind enough to weave a lie. "We have been short of food in the northern villages for some months now. People are starving. I just wanted to collect some radishes."
She hesitated, trying to remember some other detail that her father had relayed to her about the northern villages but could not take a risk. "All the radishes from near my house have been picked clean." She gave him a bitter smile which was not too difficult to muster. "It is easy to sit on your high seats and rule, my lord, when you do not have to worry about feeding yourself and your family."
Kamila and her father had not faced the harsh starvation that some of the farming villages faced. The reason simply was that they did not rely on planted vegetables and farmed animals that could catch disease and ruin everything. Nevertheless, there had been days when food had been scarce. She did not think that the lord could have faced such circumstances.
He took a step forward, startling her. His gaze was dark. "Let us not pretend that you know anything about me."
Kamila's breath hitched, reminding her that it was not an intelligent move to let her distaste for lords show. Being someone not well versed in human interaction, she still was aware of the dangers that such words could accrue.
"Forgive me, my lord. I think the attack addled my senses," Kamila forced herself to say through gritted teeth.
The lord seemed to read her expression as one of shame and his expression softened. "Nothing to worry about. Now that my men and I are here we can take you back home."
Her face twisted. "There is no need of that. I can not bother you with that. I am sure you have more important tasks to attend to," Kamila said and hurried on to add more so that the sarcasm in her last words would not be detected. "Still, it is really kind of you."
The lord just stared at her.
"I would get going then."
She turned but was grabbed immediately. The move shocked her into punching the lord on the arm. His eyes widened as he looked at her fist and then at her eyes.
She regretted it as soon as it had happened. But living in the forest, Kamila had learned to act on her instincts first and think later. Even a minute of delay could lead to a person's death. Thinking was a luxury that one just could not afford. Clearly, this kind of rationing of her thinking capabilities was not going to work in the human world.
"Where have you come from? You clearly lack the manners to be in polite company!" The words were delivered in a poisonous tone. The lord did not seem impressed by her ready reflexes.
Kamila cringed and gave a curtesy as she had seen her father describe. "Forgive me. As I said, addled brains and all."
Kamila tried to look as innocent as possible, trying not to meet the eyes of the lord.
"Get on the horse," he muttered.
Cyril came running to them. "I think the girl clearly is in shock." He looked at the lord's irritated expression. "Perhaps a little reassuring company would help her."
"And by reassuring I assume you mean yourself Cyril?" The lord gave the young man a sardonic smile.
"We can ask the girl who she wishes to ride with."
"There is no asking required. Perhaps you have forgotten who you are speaking to. I myself have no wish to see the faces of two people who have forgotten their stations. You can take her. I want some peace."
And with that he climbed his horse, holding it in place. He did not take his eyes off the pair until Kamila had awkwardly taken Cyril's help to sit on his chestnut. The horse was not as dark or daunting as the lord's own ride and it did reassure her a little. When she was settled with her dress pulled down again, the lord turned and started riding. Kamila realized that everyone was not following. It made her nervous. The lord had left some men behind with the corpses. When were they going to leave? What if her father was discovered? How could she warn her father?
A strange prickling started in her eyes and she realized that she was crying. It seemed like everything was over. Her path seemed fraught with dangers at every turn now.
From the corner of her eyes, she saw a hand stretch towards her, with a handkerchief on the palm.
She looked back at Cyril. He did not say anything but she could see pity and discomfort in his eyes. This strangely seemed to calm her. She took the handkerchief and wiped her eyes and nose with it. Taking some deep breaths restored her emotions. She knew what she had to do.
The horses started clomping and she did not take her eyes off the forest path, being conscious of which paths they were taking. So far she could recognize the surroundings but as time passed things started to blur.
"Stop," she whispered to her companion.
He didn't hear her.
She raised her voice but it garnered her the lord's attention as well.
"Stop!"
When both of them looked at her strangely, she quickly thought of a response. "I am tired of riding. I can't sit any more."
The young lord's eyes turned dismissive. "We just have some time left to reach the northern villages. I am surprised you walked all the way through but are unable to sit on a horse for a few moments."
"You call this a few moments!" Her voice was too loud even to her own ears.
She had no other option. She turned to Cyril who was looking between the lord and herself with an uncomfortable expression. She leaned towards him and whispered something in his ears.
The lord looked at them suspiciously.
Cyril reddened considerably and cleared his throat. "I think the girl would like some privacy."