"sari..sari…Dari wake up!" Pam's voice pulled her from the same dream she has dreamed millions of times, men dragging her mother, feasting on her body and her mother's cries…begging her to run away.
"Where are we?" pushing it aside, she looked around. It was dark, the front seat was empty. She doesn't remember falling asleep.
"Not sure, somewhere in the middle of the forest" Pam answered checking outside.
"How's Ruby" Her worries came back.
"Doing ok, waiting outside, there's a stream nearby, we can change her bandages, let's go".
As she stepped out, she saw men gathered around the campfire, Daria instinctively looked for the man she shared the ride with. She didn't see any rider, horses or…him.
"Where are the riders?" she carefully asked Ruby.
"Watering their horses," Ruby replied.
Daria can hear babbles of water coming from nearby. She assessed the situation, one group of men busy with horses, others in chit-chat, they might not find a better opportunity.
"Lets change your bandages inside, Pam you go and chat with them and keep an eye for us" No one questioned her, they quickly went in. She quickly pulled Ruby's armor and waist down, changed bandages and swiftly cleaned the space but before they could get out she heard a footstep.
"What's going in there?" Not the voice she expected.
"Changing his bandages, we are done" Daria quickly answered him as they came out, without letting any doubt linger.
"Looks like Grover even keeps his man in check" he smirked. Daria immediately felt an urge to snatch it away with a punch.
"Hurry up, Lord requested your presence" Lord? Her heart was back on track within a moment. The reason was worry at first but also that darn luxurious feeling followed in the next- excitement.
*********
"Did you take my kindness for privilege?" He asked in a calm relaxed tone, lazily leaning back on the tree trunk, one hand in his pocket and the other…she couldn't say as Daria only looked at his now..muddy shoes.
She had no strength or courage to meet his gaze.
"Our apologies my lord" Ruby took her role of communicator.
"Everyone has to contribute…you have rested enough, after dinner you will be doing the first watch".
"Yes my Lord" Ruby replied politely.
"Can't he talk?" He demanded and Daria's head jerked up.
What she saw left her speechless, she hoped she was not drooling. Such beauty deserves to be in a palace and kept guarded, she never ever…even in her dreams…saw such a handsome face.
He raised one eyebrow in question, that brought her to her senses as she immediately turned her head back down.
"As you wish my…my Lord" she managed to finish the sentence. But couldn't manage to keep her running heart in place.
"Get in line" another rider came to give them tasks for the day, Daria followed like a puppet unable to think straight. She didn't notice when Pam followed them behind and pulled toward fire.
"Chop these, ill clean the meat" Are they cooking? She turned to check what others were doing.
Three people were gathering woods, wearing simple tunic and canvas pants, must be farmers - volunteers that Allen had mentioned. Two were in chains, long enough to fill water buckets.
There were also few boys in shabby clothes, volunteers or maybe...orphans- helpless to decide their own paths. It filled her with rage, he was just like others and why would he be an exception just because he held her interest. Every man is the same, she is wrong, her heart is wrong…
"Hey, easy, these are just vegetables, not Grover's fingers" Ruby tapped her back to bring her into reality, without asking for an explanation. What was she thinking? She had seen countless orphans in her life, in the worst conditions…this is all absurd.