Thankfully, just as his throat grew dry and his legs threatened to give in after nearly five hours of walking, Rayven spotted a carriage halted at a lonely crossroad.
The vehicle itself appeared simple… It was made of wood with almost no decorations.
However, at this time, its front wheel had sunk into a muddy patch. One of the passengers crouched near the wheel, struggling to free it with a long stick. There was also another man pushing the carriage while the coachman was trying to get the horses moving.
The others who lingered nearby were talking softly as they carried some heavy items to lighten the carriage.
It was at this time that Rayven approached cautiously…
He could see that there were five travelers in total—three men and two women. Their clothing was simple but clean.
They saw Rayven approaching, but seeing that he was just a kid, they looked worried for him as he traveled alone.
One of the older men gave a warm smile.
"Hard road ahead for one so young." He said as he stopped pushing for a bit.
"Still, we could use a strong back, if you don't mind lending a hand. Ahh… Before that, I'm Kaspian… We're family here, and we're planning to move to another village.
Rayven nodded, and he also introduced himself.
The group seemed to have hurried to leave their previous place as they weren't carrying a lot of things... Still, they seemed really warm and kind.
Furthermore, if he were able to help, he'd most likely get a chance to ride the carriage with them. Since they were in trouble, they should feel a bit thankful for his help…
With this in mind, he took another stick and helped pry the wheel loose.
Thud!
Once it popped free, the group applauded quietly.
One of the younger women handed him a waterskin. "Now that I look at you, you must be parched. Please, have some."
Rayven held it and felt that the water was cool, better than anything he'd tasted for a while.
"Thank you," Rayven said. "I've been trying to reach Hesa City. Do you know the roads well? I'm still unfamiliar with the territory."
"Hesa?" the older man repeated… That's a good stretch east. We're headed to Dollen Village first, just a couple of hours from here. Smaller than Hesa, but there's food and shelter."
Rayven hesitated. "Do you know if I could rest there and find a ride toward Hesa?"
"Possibly," another man chimed in. He introduced himself as Gerald.
He was the one holding a stick a while ago. He also had a merchant's satchel slung over his chest.
"Dollen Village has caravans passing through every few days. We know folks who can help."
Rayven smiled with relief. He was thankful to meet these people first…
They then mentioned a few things about themselves and their plan to do in Dollen Village. Because of that, Rayven had to speak about himself, to ensure them that he wasn't here to cause trouble.
'Wait… No… My caravan was attacked by beasts and other masked people… We're probably being targeted. I should've picked a different name.' Rayven thought, but it was already too late.
He was already tired, weak, and thirsty… He wasn't able to think properly about the consequences of telling the truth, but thankfully, there shouldn't be a problem based on their reactions.
"You're also lucky to find us then… It'll be tough to walk in this heat." One of the women said softly as she looked at Rayven's condition.
Well, no one questioned his situation too deeply. Everyone had a story, so they simply welcomed him.
Then, as they continued together toward the village, Rayven noticed small things within the carriage. There was a locked trunk in the back of the carriage with thick iron bars… There was also a set of chains half-hidden under a folded blanket… Then, there were faint scars on the wrists of the youngest woman, the one who had given him the waterskin.
Anyway, he didn't think too much as he tried to rest as much as he could.
Later, when they stopped to rest, he heard Kaspian talking to Gerald. It was a soft murmur, but perhaps due to his ability to use magic, he was able to hear things a lot clearer.
Kaspian just murmured something that made Rayven's stomach twist.
"…Healthy for his age. Might fetch a good price."
Rayven froze. With the memories he had obtained, he realized that he was probably not traveling with a family, but with Slave Traders!
He didn't know exactly what they were planning for him, but he now understood what they were. His journey just became a lot more dangerous than he thought…
***
A few hours quickly passed, and they finally neared the outskirts of Dollen Village. Rayven noticed how the dirt road curved gently through a patch of tall grass, and in the distance, Rayven could see smoke rising from chimneys and the faint outline of wooden fences.
"We'll be there soon…" Gerald said while patting the side of the carriage. "You'll be able to rest properly once we arrive."
Rayven nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. The words he'd overheard, "Might fetch a good price", still repeated in his mind.
He hadn't confronted them yet. But he certainly had a plan…
As they slowed down, Kaspian pulled out a waterskin and handed it to Rayven.
"Here," he said with a smile. "Drink up. You've earned it… We're going to stop here for a while since we're waiting for someone."
"Thank you…" Rayven took the waterskin, but something felt… off as he opened it.
The scent was faintly metallic. Not like the fresh water they'd given him earlier.
Just like that, he knew that these people were about to show their true colors.
Poison? A sedative?
He then pretended to drink, tilting the waterskin just enough to wet his lips, then wiped his mouth and handed it back.
"Thanks," he said while trying to sound casual.
Kaspian watched him for a moment too long, then turned away.
That was the final confirmation Rayven needed.