Chapter fourteen : the trip began
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Clack...clack...the echo of horses' hooves merges with the clatter of wheels on gravel.
The merchant caravan struggles its way over the rough tracks without stopping, the wagons shaking with every pebble that hits their wheels. At the edge of the extended caravan, in its last wagon, there is a stray suffering silently, facing the consequences of his actions.
Huddled in on herself, hiding among the piles of boxes and merchandise inside the swaying wooden cart, motion sick—it was Mai.
When the march began, Mai was terrified and had endless questions running through her mind.
She didn't know where this cart was going, where it would take her, or how to get out of it. But soon another suffering replaced her fears, and her condition became the last of her concerns.
She was now busy trying to hold back the urge to vomit from motion sickness, and the bumpy road and gravel that the cart wheels were hitting made her condition even worse.
The time that passed seemed like an eternity to her, until the carriage stopped after a long, arduous journey that lasted four long, continuous hours.
Mai breathed a sigh of relief, and removed the cover of the cart to breathe in the fresh air and relieve herself, but she was met with a scene she did not expect.
A bright glow hit her eyes, reflected off a smooth, shiny surface.
For a moment, it seemed as if the sun itself was standing in her presence, but it was stranger than she had imagined.
A round surface, perfectly smooth, with light dancing on it like a carefully crafted mirror.
She haven't immediately take in the scene...until the surface shifted and revealed deep grooves like cracks in an ancient statue, or perhaps, marks of honor bestowed by fate without consultation.
Those prominent, twisted lines seemed like a mysterious map telling you he lived a life you might not want to be a part of.
But his head, which was the scene of tales written by the hand of time, one scar after another telling stories of unforgettable battles, was no match for the red eyes that stared at her intensely, almost piercing her soul.
This was followed by a loud, deafening, and spine-chilling roar.
"Aaaahhhh—"
"Aaaahhhh—"
Mai's screams coincided with the bald man's screams, as if they had some strange kind of instant communication. The sound caught the attention of all the members of the caravan.
How could it not? Such a terrifying noise cannot be ignored, as long as the person is not deaf.
Soon the crowds began to arrive from the front of the long line of carriages, and while the scream still echoed in Mai's ears, the whispers filled the air and drowned it out, getting closer and closer. But that didn't stop the bald man from staring at her, his red eyes fixed on her with a fierce look, which concealed a sense of surprise and confusion.
Mai was Petrified In its place, only her eyes roam the arrivals and explore them.
She was trying to understand their reactions and read their varying facial expressions until she found a solution to her predicament.
Some were confused, as if the scene before them was difficult to understand.
While others were divided between those angry at the unexpected disturbance, and those laughing at the strangeness of the situation, not wanting to miss a single moment of the amusing show unfolding before them.
"Hey, look at her eyes!"
Someone said
"Red? Oh, a child from the main tribe!"
Another added.
Whisper whisper whisper...
That slight remark was enough to spark a flurry of gossip among the group. Mai could feel their eyes scrutinizing her from all sides.
At the same moment, she realized that some of them had the same red eyes, which made her heart beat faster.
'I'm in big trouble, now they're going to hand me over to my grandfather'
Mai thought and gulped
Gradually, the tension within the group increased and the voices of heated debate became louder.
"We must return her to the tribe immediately!" the first suggested fearfully.
"Yes, yes, the trip is dangerous for her, we can't take her with us." The second one nodded vigorously, agreeing.
"Humph, the trip is dangerous even for us and her presence will only make things more difficult," the third added, emphasizing that she was a burden.
The opinions exchanged were repeated, and the insistence on returning the girl to the tribe was the essence of them.
Then another intervened and said in opposition:
"It's impossible...we don't have enough time"
The sudden opposition has divided opinions, with each group fiercely defending its argument. Others remain mysteriously silent, as if they are not concerned with what is happening.
Mai stopped listening to their argument and became lost in her thoughts, trying to recognize those around her. She noticed that their faces didn't look familiar, even though they shared the same tribe.
It was clear that they didn't know her either, despite being the granddaughter of the tribe leader and a relatively well-known figure. As she stared at the others, she noticed that there were individuals who did not have the red eyes, and they seemed strange to her, which raised new questions in her mind:
'This is the first time I've seen normal people except for irin. What are they doing here? And why are they among us?'
" ———— "
" ———————— "
" ———you! "
"Hey girl! Can't you hear me?"
Her thoughts were interrupted by a shrill, sharp, violent voice calling her and scolding her in a stern tone.
" What are you doing here? How dare you sneak into the convoy? Do you realize how much trouble you've gotten us into?! " the angry man added, shouting.
Before she could comprehend the situation, the man grabbed her arm forcefully, pulling her angrily, as if to punish her for daring to sneak into the carriage. Her hand felt a pain, but before she could protest, someone else stepped in to defend her.
"Leave her. You can't treat a child that way, she probably had no choice." he said, his voice was calm but firm.
This man was different, he did not bear the features of the tribe, and he seemed weak compared to those he faced.
"No choice?! Do you know what would happen if someone found out she was with us?! She's a burden!"
He shouted angrily and tightened his grip on her hand.
"No, and perhaps you are right. But violence will not solve your problems." The kind man said with a wry smile.
"What's it to you? Don't interfere in what doesn't concern you!" the angry man replied agitatedly, looking at him with contempt.
"Why not? If you're making a mess in front of me, I have every right to interfere. Sigh, listen to me well. The girl may be part of your tribe, she may be of lower status than you, but I'm not, we're just partners, I'm not obligated to follow what you say and we're not in the tribe now, we're members of the allied trade caravan!"
His words were sharp enough to deter the attacker. He froze in place, and hesitantly let go of her hand, giving her a brief moment of respite.
" ... "
" ... "
The place was quiet and everyone's mood stabilized for a moment before a new person appeared, looking imposing and powerful, to join the group.
As soon as he stepped among them, the crowds bowed to him in reverence.
The man looked old, with the dignity and determination of years in his features, and his eyes shining with unchallenged authority. Everyone had dispersed to give him a way.
Even the sympathetic man who had previously defended her hesitated a little before stepping back, making way for the old man.
The old man roared in a quiet but heavy tone.
"What's going on here?"
Everyone bowed and moved away to make way for him, but the angry man took the opportunity to justify his position and regain control of the situation.
"Sir, we found a tribesgirl hiding in the carriage. We must return her home immediately!"
The old man completely ignored his presence and started to slowly walk towards Mai, examining her with a scrutinizing look and thinking silently without his harsh expression being affected.
'A child of the tribe? The chief's granddaughter, I think?'
Mai raises her head nervously, trying to stop herself from backing away.
'Who is this? He reminds me a lot of my grandfather, he even seems more cruel than him. It's a good thing I don't recognize him. That means he doesn't know who I am.'
The latter stood directly in front of Mai, staring at her in heavy silence, as if weighing her presence before him. Then, slowly, a provocative smile appeared on his lips, a mixture of defiance and mockery. Mai felt her pulse racing, her nerves flaring, and her anger burning silently.
Firmly, she resists the tremor in her voice and speaks in short, concise words.
"I'm not a child. I know very well that I can prove myself. I won't be a burden."
The old man laughs quietly, then speaks in a tone full of challenge.
"Prove yourself? Well, let's see if you're worthy of this chance. Don't tarnish the clan's honor and keep your word."
Mai continued to watch the old man walk away, determination burning in her eyes.
'I won't go back, I will prove to everyone that I deserve to stay.'