Aya and Shassii had now reached the bridge. Beside the Bridge, they saw two drawn carriages with a band of twenty soldiers guarding it.

The bridge was still clear, but the men were rounding up villagers and torturing them.

The sky cleared and gave way to the drizzling of the rain.

The mud underneath them became wet and soggy. Inside the carriages there were women and men trapped inside, caged up.

Some little children were crying while cleaving to their mothers.

"HAAA HAAAA HAAA.... HAAAA"

The two girls started controlling their breathing to lower their sound.

They saw some soldier's boots stamp near them.

They hid behind a wooden box. Face to face they held each other's hand in prayer as the soldiers passed. A slap rang out, followed by a screech of a young girl.

"That's Chainik" Shassii whispered. Her face was astounded.

The soldier caught guard of the noise and turned to their spot.

Aya grabbed Shassi and ducked instantly, Aya then closed her mouth with her hand and signaled with her hand.

"Shhhh".

Paying no notice, the soldier kept slapping her around.

"Speak, you fucking bitch, or we'll kill you here and now".

"If she doesn't, don't worry. It's nothing the gallows won't fix. It turns these beasts civilized" responded another soldier.

To Chainik and the others, she couldn't't understand the soldiers in their foreign tongue.

Shassii vexed her fists clasped in rage, she wanted to go free her friend. Her nails tore into her skin causing her to bleed.

Aya restrained her repeating "I know, I know".

The soldiers then beat her up, which commenced with brutalizing her for around five minutes. Then they moved and threw her into the cage and locked her up.

Her tears and groans broke Shassii's soul and she fell into a depressed state.

A loud horn rang out, catching the soldier's ears. They all swayed to its direction.

"Move out!!! The leader yelled.

They all quickly mounted their horses and sprung into action. Chainik now broken gripped the iron bars with tears and blood covering her face.

She spat out all the blood and coughed emphatically.

Her gaze caught the box from where the noise earlier came from.

Aya looked back at the carriage respectfully, her eyes shed a tear. Chainik tilted her head and smiled back at her sorrowfully. The guard from before caught her starring at the box and he took cautiously and made a few steps towards it.

Aya quickly ducked hiding again before he noticed her.

Chainik vomited blood and grunted at him, distracting him. He froze in his steps, stopping and turning back to her. Then drew his sword I'll hit the bars mocking her. She fled back in fear.

He switched languages to a familiar tongue and muttered out.

"Remember beast, whatever is hidden there or anywhere can't save you. Not without this key. Haha. I'll be back to play later. Don't forget me. You'll give in and become my slave" he remarked and banged on the cage.

The leader then reigned his horse circling around the group.

"Get in formation soldier we've been summoned. The prisoners aren't going anywhere. We'll leave one behind to protect them" he commanded.

The soldier shook at the surprise of the commander's voice and mounted his horse and spat at the floor, grinning at the carriage.

"Samitt make sure none of them escape," he teased as he looked at Chainik and stormed off. The unit then fled out, leaving nothing in their tracks.

The carriage was now racing through the town. Gliding past all the soldiers who surrounded the shops. Some soldiers who were looting came outside to try to stop the wagon but ended up trampled under the weight as the carriage collided making a sharp turn right. Following the road to the bridge.

Yannu sprung into action spotting a band of armed cavalry heading their way.

"We're five minutes to the bridge. Let them pass, they won't spot us under the cover of dark" Kairui suggested to Sannu and the group.

Sannu pulled in the reins ceasing a stop as they slowly parked alongside the road. The rain had created a damp wet environment.

The horse's hooves clopped on the sandstone as they pulled the group to their destination.

The carriage stopped and they all retracted back into the wagon.

The cavalry slowed down as they drew near to the idle carriage. They took notice of the exasperated horse. Panting and kicking around the wet sand glued to its hooves.

The group inside grew anxious as they heard the horses outside snort and gulp.

They quietly drew their weapons with their eyes communicating with each other, their confirmation.

Kairui grinned, she was prepared and ready. This was nothing to her. She wasn't going out like this she thought.

"Śeingtt & Śeikless please let them pass" Ussu prayed solemnly in her head.

Yannu grasped her hand. Kissing it and looking into her eyes.

She let out a small weep and hugged him, while firmly pressing down on his hand.

Quine reaffirmed her position next to Kairui, preparing for a leaped assault with Sannu.

Kairui signaled to them using her fingers and signs. Even Rachel was ready as she took hold of a small dagger left alongside the chest and grains of rice.

Silence enveloped the area, as all they could hear was the sound of the droplets drip down from the bonnet to the floor.

Without warning a loud explosion rang out sending the horses into an array of chaos. The men threw into shook as the sound sent their heads spinning as they tried to locate the source.

A large fire bore out on the east side of the town, engulfing the houses as screams flew around the town. Reaching them, a call for reinforcements was being issued.

"Steady, steady"… the leader beckoned his men as he fought adamantly against his distraught mane.

They volleyed between the fire in the distance and then the carriage, arguing internally which one took priority.

"Uhhh" The leader let out as he whipped his horse away. In a hurry, he raced towards the source of the fire. The carriage didn't hold priority to him since they had already captured people at the bridge.

The rest followed suit and quickly gained some distance. Away from the carriage.

The sound of horses galloping around drew close but dissipated before resurging then distancing away once again.

The group lay in fear, straining their ears for any sound. The sound of the horses racing away had dissipated now.

"Close one, Śeingtt of fortitude is really with us today. Must've finally woke up!" Kairui cheerfully spoke out.

"Didn't take you a believer in our gods" Sannu flouted.

"Anyways can we just go, the bridge is near" proposed Rachid frustrated and weary of another interaction.

They all nodded in agreement.

They set out again racing against time, they were greeted by the heavy rain as they arrived at the bridge.

Seeing two slave carts parked alongside at the bridge.

Samitt the soldier took a fighting stance as they approached.

Chainik and the others yelled out in hope seeing the local carriage.

"HELP, HELP!!"

As they saw the wagon draw close.

"Ussu recognized the voices and shook Sannu to stop. Sannu ignored her remarks and kept pressing on to the bridge.

Yannu intervened as he heard Chainik's cries.

"Please help our friends are there, we can kill the guard and free them and continue. No less than five minutes I promise" he pleaded.

Quine backed the two's plea as well.

Sannu rejected their pleas howling "We'll die if we stay longer, we can't stop".

Kairui then came to the reins and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I know you're scared for Rachid and us, but let them say their goodbyes. Afford them that at least".

Confused at first at her words, she eased his tension.

Sannu panted and gave in, the carriage slowed down towards the bridge. The soldier raised his guard as he saw them slow down.

Kairui jumped off the moving carriage and raced to him.

The mud made it slippery so she fell giving way to him striking at her. She blocked his attack with her two daggers.

He popped his head down in between her daggers, sticking his tongue out to mock her.

His pivotal weight pressed down on her, eventually, she would have to give up under it. She let his weight force down on her, blocking his sword still, as she lay on her back she sprung her legs back to her chest and pushed out a ferocious double-sided kick with all her might.

It shifted him back and with the help of the wet mud, he stumbled back. He soon got his footing and prepared to swing back on her. Marching forward he had his sword ready.

Quickly she pulled herself up with her hand behind her, a swift throw of her dagger landed right in his head.

Splitting his nose in two.

"ARGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH"

"Pervert" she mocked while spitting at him.

The pain surged through his body. He was disorientated.

Yannu and Ussu hopped out of the wagon. Falling behind as Quine flew ahead with a short sword in her hand she plunged deep into him collapsing on top of him. He squirmed and tried to get her off. Using his dirty gauntlets to punch and scratch her face. Resisting it all Quine pressed harder and pushed the sword deep in him, as he twitched and eventually gave in.

Blood seeped out his mouth as his pupils dilated and passed away.

She subsided letting go.

"Haahhh, Haaahh"

Quine gathered her breathe together.

Yannu and Ussu reached down and helping her up, with Ussu kicking him in frustration. Quine got her bearings together and cramped down. Breathing heavily she huffed and puffed while looking at them

"Thanks... guys".

Glancing back at the dead body she vomited beside it.

"Ooops, and there it is. Okay, am out" Yannu said waggling away while to the carts.

Ussu laughed, as she helped clean off Quine's clothes.

Quine sighed at him as he left and mentioned adamantly to Ussu, "Arghh, I think he stuck his hand in my mouth during all that, yuck!" wiping the vomit from her mouth.

Then she pulled her sword out of him.

Kairui looked amazed at the group. Sannu drew the carriage in closer and stopped beside her, looking down at her. Rachid by his side.

"Didn't expect that did you? Maybe I choose the right bunch" he teased while winking before drawing the wagon closer to the bridge.

Kairui wiped the mud off her and chuckled. As she wiped herself clean, she looked at Rachid and Sannu. Rachid although shocked held her nerves together and nodded too her.

"Maybe you did, Sannu maybe you did" she responded as she looked at the sky.

She closed her eyes and took it all in as the rain kissed her face.

Removing the mud that had smothered it. Yannu was at the cage lock. Messing around with it to free them. Quine and Ussu joined him shortly while Chainik met them at the doors, crying and shivering.

"Am glad y'all are alive. Am soo glad" she let out, shivering under the cold wet weather.

"Save your strength!" Yannu snappy replied as he banged the lock annoyed.

Aya and Shassii seeing the group came out of hiding. They caught eyes with the trio beside the cages.

Aya was stunned as she came close, stuck in disbelief.

Quine saw her and froze.

"Aya, you guys are alive??" Quine asked.

"You too???" she responded.

"Śeingtt's are really with us. All" Ussu let out in shock.

Yannu spotted them but drew his attention back to the lock, as the villagers urged him.

Ussu fell and broke down in tears.

"Sanni'Sai Śeingtt, ..... Śanni'Sai Śeingtt!!" she praised lifting her hands up to the heavens and sending kisses up above.

Sannu smirked at the sight of all of them.

Yannu had a smile on his face as well but was working away on the lock.

"Id hug and kiss you all if we had the time. Surely, I would," he announced.

"Focus on the lock, loverboy" Quine irritatedly spat out.

The group of friends laughed as they hugged and confided with each other.

Shassii followed along behind but went came up to the cage, instead.

The hands of the villagers all touched hers as she came close to Chainik. They met and caressed hands.

"Am sorry,..... am soo sorry" she let out. "I should've .....helped you" she stammered out fill in regret.

Chainik looked down and swayed her head.

"It's not your fault".

"Am glad. Am glad you didn't hea...me weeping or crying out or you'd be dead too" she responded as she shed tears.

Shassii burst into tears again and slumped herself on the carriage weeping. Aya approached Hugging Quine spontaneously again.

"How've you all been?".

"Good for the most part" Quine sniffed as she embraced Aya again.

"I can't complain, these two dragged me along while I was drunk" Ussu sniveled and laughed.

"Fated we all must be, to meet up again. On this damned day," Quine said in a bewildered manner.

"Can I speak to you both in private, please? Aya suggested anxiously.

The two of them shot up with concern as she requested that.

"Sure you can, what's... what's the problem girl??" Quine reciprocated as she rubbed Aya's arm to console her.

"Were, were here for you... Aya just say, what it is. It can't be bad" Ussu restated confidently.

"Quine… Quine saved us by killing a man" Ussu interjected as snot rolled down her face.

Quine pressed her hand around Ussu and dragged her close. She then kissed Ussu's forehead and said "We all need to get out of here. Together. okay all of us" she reaffirmed to both of them.

"What's troubling you Aya?? Quine leaned into her.

Aya exasperated, taking a moment to glance over to Shassii crushed on the floor.

Sannu and Kairui had now parked the carriage across the bridge.

"We need to get moving, any luck on that lock Yannu," Kairui asked.

"No" he responded.

"Rachid take the reins" issued Sannu chucking them at her.

"Let me look at it".

Sannu then went and got his blacksmith kit in the back of the wagon and went to the lock. He conversed with Yannu and the villagers as he worked on the lock.

Some recognized and thanked him graciously.

"This lock is different. It's foreign. You shouldn't have slammed it this much with your sword" he lectured.

"I didn't know," Yannu said defensively.

"Well, we've got to hurry up and leave soon before the soldiers we passed return".

"We can't just leave….. them… please" Shassii wailed. Chainik rushed to the doors squeezing past the other village prisoners.

"Please just hurry up!!" Chainik quivered as she approached them.

"I will, I'll try it on a fresh and untampered with, lock first and then do yours" he confirmed with her.

Sannu made his way to the locks on the other carriage, the villagers looked distraught but filled with a gleam as they saw him.

After shimming around with the lock for a while it finally gave in and released. The villagers rushed out, fleeing past but showering the group with blessings and thanks.

Ussu and Quine looked at Aya, then Shassii. Ussu was confused.

"Is something wrong with Shassii?" she asked.

Aya smiled and rubbed Ussu's chin. Ussu although pretty and bright at best lacked common sense at times, she was also the toddler of the group being the shortest and youngest.

"Protect her for me, please" Aya calmly said.

The villagers from the released carriage gave thanks to the group and remanded Sannu their savior then fled past the bridge into the darkness of the night.

Aya, Ussu, and Quine all felt relieved seeing this. It lightened the mood around everyone for a minute or so.

"Am not coming with" Aya blurted out.

Ussu spun around to Aya, quickly stretching her arms out, and grabbing her vexed and confused.

"What do you mean you're not coming!?".