"Well, it's settled," Vika announced, her voice cutting through the tension in the room. "Welcome... You two."
The men didn't like it, but their boss had made it clear they had no say in the matter.
"This is wrong... so fucking wrong," they murmured among themselves.
"Just accept it... We can't argue with the boss... Anyway, don't let your guard down while they're around, especially that kid."
As Vika left, disappearing into her private quarters, one of the men approached Aya with a lecherous glint in his eyes. "So... How long will you stay here? A beautiful girl like you will need a comfortable place to sleep, right?", Aya ignored him, her expression cold and indifferent. Undeterred, the man placed his hand on her shoulder, his touch lingering.
Nosil, standing nearby, spoke up, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
The man barely had time to register the warning before Aya moved with startling speed. She grabbed his hand, twisted it with a deft motion, and forced him to the ground. With a swift, brutal motion, she snapped his fingers. His scream of agony echoed through the hideout. "Stop it... I beg you!"
Aya's expression remained unchanged, her eyes cold and unyielding as she looked down at the writhing man. Then she turned her gaze to the other men, her eyes sharp and daring. The message was clear: any transgression would be met with a heavy price, or rather, the loss of their fingers.
The men, now silent and wary, understood perfectly. They would tread carefully around Aya and Nosil from now on.
Nosil wanted to avoid any further unnecessary accidents, so he addressed the group, his tone casual but firm. "That's the finger breaker for you... You saw what happened. Don't touch her, people—she doesn't like it."
Aya released the man's hand, and he stared at his broken fingers in immense pain, on the verge of tears, unable to believe what had just happened to him. "You monster... Damn you, how could you do this to him?" the other men cursed Aya, trying to alleviate their friend's suffering.
Aya couldn't care less. She walked outside with an elegant stride, her indifference palpable. Nosil lingered, feeling a twinge of sympathy for the man with the broken fingers. Then Aya called to him, "Hee... come with me."
Nosil glanced at the injured man once more, then followed her outside.
"Another one... Is this the seventeenth? I've lost count," Nosil said, attempting to lighten the mood with a joke. "He deserved it... Anyway, there's something I want to do while we're here."
Nosil raised an eyebrow, curious. "Oh? What's that?"
Aya's expression softened slightly, though her determination was clear.
"Do you remember how we came here from Kylian?" Aya asked.
"Of course... We sneaked through the mountains, and woods, and crossed the border," Nosil recounted, recalling their journey.
Aya interrupted, "Not that, you moron... I meant how we traveled. We came on foot, walking."
Nosil laughed. "Yeah, I thought you were talking about the route we took... Now that you mention it, it took us a while."
"Exactly," Aya continued. "When we fought against Makal's troops, we couldn't outrun them. Not because we lacked speed, but because they used horses."
Nosil finally caught on to what Aya was implying. "You mean we need horses, right?"
"Indeed," Aya confirmed. "But first, we need to learn how to ride them... It will be easier to travel on horseback, especially since we need to go back to Kylian soon."
Nosil nodded, the plan falling into place in his mind. "Horse riding huh... Got it. We'll need to find some horses and someone who can teach us how to ride them"
Aya looked at him with a hint of a smile, appreciating his quick understanding. "Yes. Let's start by finding a horse or someone willing to help us... It's going to be a lot faster to travel than on foot."
As they continued their walk, both understood that having horses would give them a significant advantage.
Aya approached one of the guards, "Hey you, do you have horses here?" she asked, her voice carrying an edge of urgency.
The guard, taken aback by her directness, nodded slowly. "Yes, we have a few... Why do you ask?" His curiosity was piqued.
Nosil stepped closer to Aya, placing a calming hand on her shoulder. "Maybe we should ask Vika first, don't you think?" he suggested gently.
Aya considered this for a moment and then nodded. "Yeah, why not."
They waited, the minutes stretching into what felt like an eternity. Finally, Vika emerged from the shadows, her presence commanding attention. "I heard you were looking for horses," she said, her tone questioning. "Why so sudden?"
Nosil stepped forward, eager to explain. "We want to learn to ride horses to travel easily and quickly... Traveling on foot is exhausting, as you know."
Vika listened attentively, her eyes narrowing in thought. "I understand," she said at last. "We do have some horses here, but they are not the type you are looking for." She paused, her gaze sweeping over them as if assessing their resolve. Then, with a decisive nod, she added, "Alright, know that we will find the right horses for you. Get ready to go."
As they prepared for the journey ahead, Aya couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. Nosil, too, seemed invigorated by the prospect, his usual calm demeanor giving way to a rare display of enthusiasm.
Vika watched them both, a faint smile playing on her lips. She knew the road ahead would be challenging, but she also knew that since they shared her wish and took it upon themselves, so helping them with something as little as finding a horse was nothing compared to their coming stragglers.
Nosil pondered their next steps, his brow furrowing in thought. "So...Where are we going then?"
"Forget it," Aya interjected, her tone tinged with resignation. "We don't have money to begin with."
Vika, who had been observing their exchange with an amused smile, spoke up. "Who said anything about money? You're looking for the strongest horses, right? You won't find good ones in the market. Instead, we'll capture wild horses and tame them. Those are the strongest without a doubt."
"Wild horses... an interesting idea," Nosil mused aloud. But then doubt crept in. "They are free, certainly, but how could we tame them? We have no idea how to do that."
Aya nodded in agreement. "We lack any experience with horses, let alone wild ones."
Vika, sensing their hesitation, reassured them with a confident smile. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing. You must trust me and be decisive."
Nosil took a deep breath and nodded, determination replacing his doubts. "If you say so, okay... let's go... Lead the way."
With that, Vika, Aya, and Nosil set off, accompanied by a few of the bandits. They began their descent from the mountain, the air growing warmer as they moved lower.
As they walked, Aya turned to Vika with curiosity. "So, Vika... where exactly are we supposed to find these wild horses?, I haven't seen any while coming here"
"This time of year, the wild horses gather in the plains near the river. It's mating season for them," Vika explained, her eyes scanning the horizon.
"Mating season?" Nosil echoed, his curiosity piqued.
Vika nodded, a knowing glint in her eye. "Yes, if we're lucky, we'll catch some young and strong horses... They will be ideal for what we need."
The group continued their journey, the landscape gradually changing from rocky terrain to lush plains. The river, sparkling in the distance, seemed to promise a fresh start. The anticipation of finding and taming wild horses added a sense of purpose to their steps.
As they approached the plains, Vika turned to them, her expression serious. "Remember, wild horses are unpredictable and strong-willed... We must be patient and assertive... Moreover don't make any stupid move, you hear me?"
Nosil and Aya exchanged a glance, their resolve hardening.
"As for now, let's wait and scout for the whereabouts of the herd of wild horses".