Daria's head stopped spinning by the time they hit the road, the soup must be made with medicinal herbs, knowing their mission's importance, Grover wouldn't be stingy to spare some herbs, she is really thankful for Erich's kindness.
"Where's your armor?" Ruby asked as she checked the surroundings, one hand on the hilt of the sword; ready to attack if needed and the other already holding her signature silver dagger. She is their leader for today's job.
Even though Ruby had a curvy figure of desired women, all she looked like a young short men, because of their one shaped armors - all designed for men, on top of it, they had to wear helmets to hide their identity, so any mishap can be seamlessly removed and nothing would go back to grover.
When she didn't get any answer knowing fully well the reason behind the silence, she simply threw an age-old scarf towards Daria to cover her face and tied her long dark hair in a bun. Knowing the reason Daria simply secured it around her face. No thanks needed as it was Ruby's responsibility to take care of everything today. Still she gave her a nod in appreciation.
Daria knew the scarf was not only to tick-mark all the rules required for their mission, but to hide the gruesome scar on the left side of her face, from the corner of her lip to the end of her cheek. A Stark contrast against her fair skin but a vivid reminder of the day her mother was killed and the day her whole life reset to only one goal, revenge. Revenge for the brutal life imposed on her mother. And though there were many culprits, there was only one mastermind- Brawer Mollen, King of West Crest and her Grandfather. Yes! The real Grandfather, but this doesn't make Daria any Princess, in fact she has been forgotten...completely!. No one ever cared that she existed to begin with.
"Stay in your positions, Do not let your eyes rest.." Ruby ordered them as they entered the Hatt market. A crowded, colorful place in regular eyes, just outside the city border, but it's a dangerous place for their business, still lucrative enough for Grover to pull all kinds of strings.
On the market days it could be filled with thieves and lowly thugs, but they are not the real danger. The people dark knight should beware of are royal knights, officials and authoritative figures, as without grabbing a sword they could all be executed on the spot. This might be the only thing about Grover that Daria admired to the level of acknowledgement, his connections, his sneaky power over handling politics; follow the instructions and you'll stay hidden from accusing eyes in the crowd. There are only a few instructions, a red flag over carriage, and blend in the crowd. Even with armors on, they can blend well as many people come to the market with guards.
Anyways, they are not here to protect anyone but to deliver the package safely and to make sure they return in one piece and not to get stolen which could be the worst. Men are allowed to check the girls as they please inside the carriage and take any of them after paying the set price, for the whole night. One knight will follow the buyer and once he's done, the knight will bring the tavern girl back. As simple as that.
Even after assisting in this cruel trade for the last three years, she still didn't get used to it all, and she doesn't think any of them did. To endure this all, Daria can only turn her heart into a tone, the less they feel the better it is for everyone as no one can skip Grover's wrath afterward.
Men came and went, Daria kept circling in designated area for any suspicious activity, when a group of royal knights passed through her, she tried to move aside but those impatient morons just pushed her while passing by and her hand brushed one by mistake, but before she could pull it away, a jolt of electricity ran through her entire body, reaching her heart with lightning speed, leaving her paralyzed for a moment, like her mind gave away all controls to her own body to someone else...gladely passing in others hand.
Her one hand subconsciously reach to her chest, trying to push down her heart from snatching away, though she didn't realize when she kneeled down to stop this extreme force of excitement and mixture of helplessness.. from shattering herself, her head jerked up to find the cause and to her surprise she saw a tall men's figure covered in black hood and black mask, one hand holding on to the worried knight standing next to him, supporting himself. And the other clutching his own chest helplessly. All she could see were those dark blue eyes, furious? Upset? Filled with desire at the same moment. Darkness was engulfing them, not the evil-dark kind but the bright night and open universe kind. Like they hadn't found their world but their own universe. It was a vast feeling she couldn't decipher in a few moments.
"My Lord! We have to hurry" Finally those shadowed eyes helplessly turned toward the men next to him and he was surrounded by the rest of the knights before they all left.
But she didn't even get a chance to breathe when someone came out from behind her pulling Talia the tavern girl's hand mercilessly. And like woken up by her own sheer training, she skipped a step while swirling herself to gain momentum before landing a blow on the men's chest with her elbow. He lost his balance and let go of talia. Daria pulled her to her chest and gave a protective hug out of instinct, and let go the next moment.
"You bitch! Who do you think you are?" judging by the tone, he must know Grover.
"Grover's orders, can't let these bitches escape, before he gets back what he invested, plus interest" she said in usual tone, wondering if this would work.
"Then why don't you take her place and I'll let your insolence go unnoticed" His smirk, wanted Daria to throw a punch and place those dirty sets of teeth where they belong - in cow-dung perhaps.
"You can just pay 150 coins and take the girl for the night and Grover won't come back to you or pay for her later" Ruby flicked her head towards Daria, to let him know he can't skip paying them both ways.
The man spat to show his arrogance and stinking teeth, but he got the message and pulled out his pouch "Don't forget Grover will value me more than you" he spat as he threw coins towards Ruby.
"Brad, follow them" Ruby ordered the Vilton team member of dark knights, second to us, perfect for such jobs. Brad nodded and left.
Daria avoided Talia's eyes, knowing she is going to have a harsh night. But it could get much harder, rather than lingering on useless hopes better focus on their task for the day. They spent rest of the day without any accident. She didn't even give her aching, pulsating heart a chance to linger on the previous event, as soon as she put her mind in that direction, those furious eyes leaves her shaken and breathless, she forcefully pushed everything aside, as soon as she could before those feelings engulf her again and before anything else happen, because good or bad Grover is her only savior. She will look for the answers once she's back.
Even after her resolve, she looked around once to see if she could find him, but it's like he vanished as soon as he appeared.