•Thunoa North Forest•
[Kai's POV]
The rhythmic, monotonous creak of the wagon wheels and the steady, dull clop of the horses' hooves were the only sounds breaking the deep, watchful silence of the forest. In the bandits' own wagon, which we led behind ours, they lay in an unconscious heap, their unnatural slumber so deep not even the wagon's jostling could stir them. Meanwhile, in our wagon, my men and I sat in a comfortable, sated silence, the shared meal from Mrs. Melinda a warm, pleasant weight in our stomachs, its rich aromas still clinging to the air.
I tore off a large piece of the stew meat with my teeth, its rich, savory flavor bursting on my tongue. The herbs were fresh, so tender from slow cooking. "This is so good," I mumbled around the mouthful, my words slightly garbled. "Mrs. Melinda could convince a king to abandon his throne for her cooking."
