Chapter 3 Scene III

Only the coachman along with one of the Barony's guards was awaiting her at the front.

She had foreseen a lonesome farewell. And so, making an effort to forget the depressing emotions, Ewelina approached the men to greet them.

"... Greetings... I–"

"Are you the one we are to take?"

"..... Yes... It is I." - The harsh response of a wide, scowling man, made her lower her head to confirm his inquiry.

"... Hop in. We have to get to the second village in two nights, we have no time to lose."

Taking from her the little luggage, the man brusquely threw it on the modest carriage, invoking a soft thud for how light such luggage was. Eventually passing by her side and leaving the door open so she could also board the cart on her own.

The men settled themselves on the front coach seat and once she had struggled to climb inside it, closing its heavy door with difficulty, the coachman whipped the pair of horses with their reins, commencing the carriage's move at the sound of it.

"...huff..."

Tired from the effort, Ewelina still lifted her hand to pull away the thin curtain over the gap of an intended window.

Filled with longing and fear, she observed the castle she had inhabited since she was brought to this world.

The rocky walls that in her childhood were lively in the colourful shade were now dull under the shadow of the cloudy sky.

As the carriage began its pace, Ewelina watched intently, eventually leading her gaze to the hidden path that would invariably take her to the mourning woods where the blood before her rested.

"... Mother... I could not say goodbye to you again..." - Saddened by the cruel fate she was living, Ewelina mumbled with a croaking voice.

Nonetheless... she did not shed any tears.

The woman was to heed the current situation as no other choice was left for her defenceless position. However, she still promised under a condition to the no longer visible castle that hid behind the ruthless fort protecting it.

"If I manage to survive... I will come to see you again, Mother... I will come back... and dive under the lake where crystal water warms you by Father's side."

Fond of what she believed about her parents' graves, Ewelina drew her hand away... Permitting the light to be denied inside the cart.

The young woman could only wait directly for the carriage to take her to unknown places that would bring her closer to her new residence.

Therefore, she listened the outside as the wheels stomped over the dirt, rocking to the sides at times and wildly speeding up by the coachman's commands.

*******

The night was about to fall. Hence, their path was halted by the obscure skies.

Without leaving the safe insides of the carriage, the guard served Ewelina the rations prepared for their meals.

The light from the bonfire also lited the otherwise dark space she hid in. Eating quickly the roasted potato with the tasteful jerky, Ewelina also drank the bit of wine the guard shared to warm her body up and help it endure the cold night.

Unsettled by what was hiding outside, she forced herself to find comfort on the hard seats of the wooden carriage so as to gain rest to bear the exhausting journey ahead.

Morning arrived and little sleep was conceived. Taking care of her natural needs she walked away after notifying the men to then come back and enrol on their travels once more.

Their first stop was at an inn close to the first village.

"We arrived to the outsides of Varsun, miss!... Let's get some more rations for the trip. You keep watch Gilead." - The coachman told her loudly from his seat as he got down the carriage.

"A'ight... Bring some ale too, Half Hands!" - The unbothered guard answered the faulty coachman. - "haah... This place seems dead."

No sight of people could be seen. Therefore, the surrounding nature was the only sound accompanying their wait with unpredictable quiet.

Once again, their journey was to be continued. However, this time, only little breaks were done so the horses could regain energy.

No proper meal was eaten; for their agreed time and place was settled at the next village.

"Huff... Ugh..." - She silently complained.

The ride was exhausting Ewelina's low resistance, and nausea was beginning to intensify as no stop was granted. Nonetheless, she persisted in holding the sickness inside her.

'How much... How much longer...?'- The young woman asked at times unable to utter the sound of her inquiry.

Hence, when she saw how even as the sunset was turning into night and an awfully short stop was made. The certainty demonstrating the absent intention to stop as the dark menaced to blind them, the question commenced being asked in fainting consciousness.

Ultimately feeling dismayed at what her eyes noticed sliding from the outside as the man holding it chattered with the other. Ewelina just then confirmed that no end was soon to come to this undeserved torture.

"Hah... Light?...Huff.. cough.....gh... Phew....huff..." - 'Oh goodness... Please do not tell me...'

The strong orange of a torch that began moving along the carriage was the sign.

Even in the dark of the night, they were to continue the journey.

The horrible realisation intensified her ailment, losing consciousness at times when she laid herself on the seats, slightly crouched for the space was narrow.

Barely conscious she gasped for breath for the path was endless. Unable to create the energy to ask for help from the ignorant men driving her to the meeting place.

Her notion of time became hazy. And eventually, in the dead of night... the carriage finally halted its hellish pace.

The sudden stop woke her from her swoon with violence. And with trembling limbs, she sat correctly to wait for the opening of her prison's door, to then crawl her way, rushing outside to extricate the acidic juices making her sick. Only a few steps away from her wooden torment.

"Miss, we have–!?"

"Bw–rgh.... Huff!...hah... Cough!..... Haah..." - Her weak hands went to wipe the residuals around her mouth, hastily at the view of the men.

"..."

The men observed and exchanged surprised gazes at the pitiful woman, guarding silence at her struggle until she appeared well enough to listen.

"... We have arrived, miss."

"... Haa...ah... Where..?" - Ewelina inquired, weakened.

"... The nameless village between Varsun and Abna... They said they would take over the duty here tonight..."

"...w–..." - '... who?'

"I don't see them... However, by the looks of it... The moon's position says they should be near."

The men commented, glancing at their surroundings that only had a pair of measly candles illuminating the few shelters beside the humble tavern they stood in front of.

The crackling of the torches filled their silence while Ewelina composed herself after being offered a waterskin by the aloof guard, Gilead.

Drinking the pure liquid with great thirst, it was then that the sound of various horses and the far beam of several torches was noticed from the opposite direction they came from.

"There... They are here..." - Gilead announced. Severe as his brow lifted at the obnoxious arrival of a considerable group of armoured men.