The cart rattled along the uneven road, its wooden wheels creaking under the weight of barrels and sacks of grain. Adila sat near the back, her cloak pulled tight around her shoulders, trying to make herself smaller.
Magari sat beside her, eyes narrowed as she picked at the loose threads on her sleeve. Neither of them spoke.
The driver, a wiry man named Havel, had barely acknowledged them when Sela had loaded them into the cart before dawn. "Stay quiet, stay low," he had muttered, cracking the reins before the girls could even thank him.
The sun was rising now, casting long shadows over the road. Trees lined the path on either side, their bare branches swaying in the wind.
Adila forced herself to breathe evenly. The farther they got from the village, the safer they would be.
But she knew better than to believe in safety.
---
The Travelers
By midday, the cart slowed near a crossroads where a group of travelers had gathered—merchants and farmers, their horses tied to nearby posts as they bartered with one another. The scent of dried meat and stale beer filled the air.
"We're stopping here for an hour," Havel announced, climbing down. "Don't draw attention to yourselves."
Adila nodded, but Magari was already hopping out of the cart.
"We should keep moving," Adila muttered, following her.
Magari shrugged. "We need supplies. We can steal something if we have to."
Adila clenched her jaw. She had expected this. Magari was growing bolder. Reckless.
She grabbed her arm. "We can't risk it."
Magari shook her off. "You want to starve?"
Before Adila could argue, a loud voice cut through the air.
"Travelers from the south?"
She stiffened.
A man stood nearby, dressed in a thick coat, his beard streaked with gray. He was watching them closely.
Magari straightened, her chin lifted. "Maybe."
The man tilted his head. "You don't look like traders."
Adila forced a smile. "We're just passing through."
The man studied them for a moment, then nodded toward a small fire where others were gathered. "Come eat. No sense in starving on the road."
Magari's eyes lit up, but Adila hesitated. Kindness was never free.
But if they refused, it would look suspicious.
So she swallowed her unease and followed.
---
Danger in Plain Sight
The fire crackled as they sat among the travelers. A woman handed them roasted potatoes and dried meat, her smile kind but distant.
Magari ate greedily. Adila forced herself to take slow, careful bites, her ears tuned to the conversations around them.
"More patrols on the roads," someone muttered. "Oryn's men are looking for runaways."
Adila's grip tightened on her food.
Another voice scoffed. "They're always looking for something. Taxes, runaways, spies. It's a wonder anyone still travels."
The bearded man who had invited them nodded toward Adila. "You two don't have the look of ordinary travelers. What are you running from?"
Magari went still.
Adila met his gaze, her pulse steady. "Nothing but bad luck."
The man studied her for a moment, then chuckled. "Aren't we all?"
Magari relaxed slightly, but Adila didn't let her guard down.
They had to leave. Soon.
---
The Hunter
They stayed by the fire longer than Adila liked, but leaving too quickly would have drawn suspicion.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Havel finally called them back to the cart.
Adila stood, pulling Magari with her. "We need to go."
Magari sighed. "Fine."
They turned—
And froze.
A man was watching them from the edge of the crowd.
Not just any man.
One of Renard's men.
He wasn't wearing armor, but Adila recognized him. She had seen him before, standing behind Renard in the marketplace, a loyal dog waiting for orders.
His gaze locked onto hers.
He knew.
Adila grabbed Magari's wrist. "Run."
Magari didn't hesitate.
They bolted.
Shouts rang out behind them. Adila's heart slammed against her ribs as they sprinted toward the cart.
"Havel!" she shouted. "Go—now!"
Havel saw the look on her face and didn't ask questions. He was already on the driver's seat when she and Magari leapt onto the back. The cart lurched forward, wheels kicking up dust as it tore down the road.
Behind them, the man shouted for a horse.
They weren't safe yet.